"What exactly are we looking for?" Brinn asked as they entered the Prince's chambers.

"It's only a hunch, but I think we are looking for a magic mirror," Gandr responded.

"That sounds very specific to be only a hunch." Brinn raised her eyebrows. She glanced around, deciding where to start searching.

"Well, Cafer and I used to communicate through two magic mirrors. Mine disappeared after I was stabbed by that selfish gnome. I thought Zan took it without knowing what it was, but he firmly denies having seen it. If Cafer took it, then it makes sense that he could have given it to the prince." Gandr pulled back the pillows of the couch and peeked below the chairs. "They use very low level magic, and Cafer believed that even the Fates could not detect it."

"If what you say is correct, then Alaron and Cafer could have been talking for years without anyone knowing." Brinn rifled through a cabinet.

"That is my assumption, yes." Gandr stepped back. "If you were a teenage boy, where would you hide a valuable item that you do not want anyone to know about?"

"I was going to ask you the same question," Brinn said dryly. "I figure you have more experience being a boy as I never have been…"

Gandr sighed. "I hid things, sure, but not from my parents. I never knew my elven mother and my father wanted nothing to do with me." If not for Cafer's intervention concerning the child's value, King Baak probably would have had Gandr killed very early. It was ironic that Cafer was also the one who tried to end his life when Gandr lost his worth in the gnome's cause. The halfling pulled himself from his thoughts. "I hid anything valuable in a wooden box in the wall. Then the other gnomes could not sense it and take it from me."

Brinn had heard very little about Gandr's past, and she was glad for the small glimpse into his head. "While I am sorry for your rough upbringing, I think you stumbled upon something. Can you sense the walls and look for recesses?"

The gnome nodded. He had used the skill a few times when they were on missions. It turned out people also liked to hide things in walls. He touched the closest stone wall and closed his eyes. A map of the wall appeared in his mind's eye. Everything seemed normal. He moved to the other three walls of the receiving room with the same result. "We should check the bedroom next. It is the most logical place he would be alone."

In the bedchamber, the gnome struck gold on the first try. "What is it?" Brinn asked as she saw a smile bloom on his face.

"There is something down there," Gandr said as he indicated a spot near the base of the bed. Brinn removed the façade to reveal a hidden compartment. There was a locked box, but the spymaster made quick work of it. She was an elf of many talents, some of which were less than legal.

"Well, too bad you are not a betting man. You could have won a fortune." Brinn lifted the mirror and gave it to Gandr. "Is this yours?"

Gandr looked at the gilded glass and nodded. "It used to be."

The elf tucked her hair behind her ear and gave a half smile. "Wonderful! Then you get to tell Her Majesty the good news."

Gandr looked at his boss sidelong. "Thanks…"

———————————

The back and forth between the prince and the Emperor and Empress went on for quite some time. Alaron felt too much loyalty toward Cafer to give his parents any additional information. The boy was also upset at their sudden distrust of him. Nevermind that he had stolen a priceless magical object from his mother to help a traitor. He deserved respect!

"You aren't listening. Cafer was set up. He never meant to hurt anyone." Alaron said for the third time.

"He encased my feet in stone and then destroyed the balcony, son. Sounds pretty intentional to me," Aurora responded curtly.

"But you are still alive," the prince pointed out.

"Because your father saved me at the last possible moment. Thank you for that again, dear," The Empress gave a small smile to her husband. Alaron rolled his eyes.

"It was an accident. I'm sure," the boy insisted.

Devrim tried a different track. "What about the assassin he sent after your mother? Actually, he sent all of the gnome kingdom after her."

"The assassin lied, and the gnome king misunderstood what Cafer asked." It was like talking to a brick wall. No amount of reason was going to get through.

"He is calling me a liar now, is he?" Gandr entered with Brinn after a brief knock. "I probably deserve it because I called him one earlier. The difference is I am not a liar. I am also not a very good assassin." The gnome gave a lopsided grin.

He handed a bag to the Empress after bowing. Peeking inside, Aurora and Devrim exchanged a confused look. "What is it?" Alaron asked. His mother pulled the mirror from the bag.

"This used to be my mirror that I used to communicate with Cafer, Your Majesty." Gandr said with sadness in his voice. "We found it hidden in Prince Alaron's room.

"You went through my things?!?" The prince was livid. "This is an invasion of my privacy! I will have your head for this," he spat at Gandr. Somehow the threat amused the halfling and he had to look away.

"You will do no such thing. We ordered the search," Aurora said.

"How could you!" The prince was ready to launch into a grand speech on how he had just been wronged when Devrim cut him off.

"None of that righteous indignation. How long have you been talking to Cafer? How long have you been lying to us?"

Wisely, Alaron shut his mouth. Tears flowed down Aurora's face. "Please tell us, dear boy."

"Mother, I…"

"Please," she begged.

"Since he left. I have been talking with my friend Cafer since you made him leave," Alaron said through gritted teeth.

"Years! You've been lying for years," Devrim said angrily.

"To be fair, you never directly asked me if I was communicating with him." The boy held up a finger as if he had made a legal point.

Zan, who had been hovering along the wall like a shadow, came forward. "Hiding information that you know you should share is a kind of lying. And to that point, I will share my secret with you. I am not just a councilman."

"I knew it!" Alaron felt vindicated.

"I am a Guardian." Zan said meaningfully.

"You are not a vampire?" The boy blurted.

"A vampire?" Devrim asked.

"Who said anything about vampires?" Aurora's mouth hung open like a cave.

"Vampires aren't real… I don't think." Zan said as he stroked his chin. There was a moment of silence as they all contemplated. The humans all looked at Brinn and Gandr, who both shrugged. "No, I am not a vampire. I am an agent of the Fates sent to protect you and your family. Cafer tried to destroy everything your mother has built."

"I won't believe it. Cafer is good."

"He is good to you, my son, because he needs you." Aurora shook her head sadly.

Gandr cleared his throat, "Cafer raised me too, in a way. When he no longer needed me, he tried to murder me. He very nearly succeeded if not for Chief Zan."

"I don't trust you," Alaron said bluntly to Gandr.

Aurora held up her hands before an argument began. "Then trust me, Alaron. I will tell you the real reason I went to see the Fates."