Once Upon a Time (Calluvia's Royalty 3)

“Look, what does it matter?” Xhen said, looking around nervously. “Do we have to stay here?”

“Do you think you were followed?” Sirri said.

“No, but…”

Rohan leaned against the tree and closed his eyes. He listened to the rest of the conversation with half an ear, paying more attention to his senses. The boy radiated anxiety and bitterness, but Rohan couldn’t sense any deception from him. Sirri was toying with the boy, making him open up. She might lack diplomatic skills, but she knew what she was doing. Warrehn… he seemed torn between impatience and something that felt a lot like loss. He was probably thinking about his little brother, who would have been around that boy’s age had he been alive.

Rohan couldn’t sense anything else. Anything but the golden bond pulsing softly at the back of his mind. Hungry. Yearning.

Just one more time, it whispered. You’re already on the planet. One brief visit wouldn’t change anything. Just one more.

Rohan bit his lip hard until he felt the sour taste of blood. He forced himself to focus on the conversation. This was important. This was what he was here for. Not anything else.

“What does the Order know about the rebels?” Sirri said.

“I don’t know.”

“Why did the Order tamper with Dalatteya’il’zaver’s memories?”

Xhen scoffed. “You think a lowly initiate would know that? But I know she’s under the Order’s thumb, has been for years. She doesn’t sneeze without the Order’s permission.”

Rohan frowned. While he had suspected that the High Hronthar had been tampering with the regent’s memories, he hadn’t thought their control over her was so absolute.

“Do you know if the High Hronthar has anything to do with Prince-Consort Mehmer’s death?”

Although Xhen’s face didn’t betray anything, Rohan could sense his unease. “I’m not sure,” the boy said. “There were rumors that the prince-consort found out something he shouldn’t have. I remember all senior masters gathering to discuss it with the former Grandmaster, and a few days later, the prince-consort died.” Xhen shrugged, glancing around anxiously. “Look, it could be a coincidence,” he said uncomfortably. “I really don’t know what happened. Gossip is discouraged since Master Idhron became the Grandmaster.”

“Why?” Sirri said, cocking her head.

“Grandmaster Idhron is…” Xhen pulled a face, his aura darkening with hatred, grudging admiration, and fear. “What does it matter?” he said evasively. “My point is, I can’t give you proof that the Order has anything to do with that royal’s death.”

“That’s helpful,” Warrehn cut in, his voice flat. “If that’s all you know, your information isn’t worth a damn, I’m afraid.”

Xhen flushed. “That’s not all! I know something that can help you with the Grandmaster if you’re smart about it.”

“Really?” Sirri said, raising her eyebrows.

“His apprentice,” Xhen said, a fresh wave of hatred rolling off him. “If you can kidnap him, it will give you leverage against the Grandmaster.”

Rohan frowned.

Warrehn mirrored his thoughts. “I don’t know who you think we are, but we don’t kidnap kids, lad.”

“He’s hardly a kid,” Xhen said with a scoff. “He’s about my age.”

“Then it doesn’t make sense.” Sirri fixed him with an unimpressed look. “The Grandmaster of the High Hronthar would hardly care about a kidnapping of a grown apprentice—at least not enough for it to be good leverage. Aren’t you monks supposed to be all about no emotions? I’ve seen the High Adept. He’s as unemotional as it gets.”

Xhen sneered. “Well, yes. But his apprentice is the only exception. They are weird about each other. Trust me, it will be good leverage. As good as it gets.” He looked from Warrehn to Sirri. “Now, about my payment. Information isn’t free, you know.”

“Sure,” Warrehn said, looking him in the eye.

Within moments, the kid crumpled to the ground.

“No finesse at all,” Sirri said, shaking her head.

Warrehn leaned down, put his hand on Xhen’s telepathic point, and closed his eyes, a look of concentration on his face.

“Was he lying?” Rohan said, stepping forward.

Straightening up, Warrehn shook his head. “He seems to believe he was telling the truth.”

“What are we going to do with him?” Sirri said, nudging the unconscious kid with her boot. “I feel a little bad about this if he was being honest with us.”

“We can’t risk taking him with us to Tai’Lehr,” Rohan said. “Even if he doesn’t betray us, his absence will be noticed.” He looked at Warrehn. “Did you modify his memories?” Warrehn was the strongest telepath on Tai’Lehr. Although he lacked specific gifts like the ones Rohan and Sirri had, he made up for it by the sheer strength of his telepathy. Altering memories was as easy for him as breathing, even those of unconscious people.

Warrehn nodded, his brows furrowed as he hauled the kid over his shoulder. “I’ll take his aircraft and leave him near the monastery. So do we use his tip? Should I grab the High Adept’s apprentice if I see him? I know what he looks like now.”