Travis stepped out of Kate's place, and she waited until he had found the guardsman that was waiting to escort him home, before she blew out the light.

He walked in silence, thinking. Some of the ideas Kate had amazed him. She was really good at what she did, which is why, although he kept asking her to marry him, he would never push until his father changed that stupid law. She was far too talented to waste as royalty under the current definition, and far too special to him to even seriously ask. He joked, so she knew he still thought about it, but if she ever said yes, he would probably argue her out of it for her own good.

He had no doubt that he loved her too much to give up completely.

Inside the gates, he waved the guard back to the barracks and let himself in. A tired footman was watching the main door, and blinked a few times before he recognized the Prince, then went back to his dozing. No need to raise an alarm there.

In his room, Travis yawned and took off his boots, took his papers from his desk, and laid back down to finish up what he had started. His mind kept going to the case of the missing Count, though. Kate had ideas, but no solid clues yet. Still, she seemed to have more to go on that the Palace Guards did, and after only one day. Travis made a mental note to check with his father the next day about word from Arriland, and then fell asleep.

After a servant woke him and helped him stack up the scattered papers he hadn't put away the night before, he ate a quick breakfast and took himself to the room his father used as an office.

He had no doubt that his father would be awake and working already. The King was strict with everyone in his employ but no more than he was with himself. His clothing was perfect, every item on his desk had its place, and not a stray paper peeked out from any hiding spot. The King was perfectly groomed and had not a hint of a smile.

“Good morning Father.”

“Good morning, Travis. Can I help you?”

“I was wondering if there have been any messages from Arriland that might help the investigation.”

“I heard that your detective interviewed the delegates again yesterday,” the King replied, which didn’t answer Travis’s unspoken question.

“Yes, she is following up on some ideas today.” His father admitted Kate's talent, but grudgingly, and would only use her job title to refer to her. Travis guessed he was probably lucky, considering how his father felt about the relationship, that he admitted that she existed at all.

“Hmph, so she hasn't solved it yet, hmm? No, there is no more news yet.”

The King was being short even for him. Normally Travis would take any opportunity to remind his father about changing the law, but he sensed that now was not a good time. He scanned his eyes around the office for a clue about what was annoying His Majesty, but of course saw nothing out of place.

“We will let you know if there are any developments from our end, as well.” That might remind the King to tell them if he had new information come up, too.

“Do that. And please keep in mind that, since you requested this assignment, the outcome of it may have bearing on other requests you might make, also. War with Arriland would be inconvenient.” The King gave his son a meaningful look, then turned away.

Travis bit his lip and left the room, pausing just outside to take a deep breath. So that was the way it was going to be? He didn't make so many requests to his father that he didn't know what was being referred to. If Kate didn't solve this, the law would never be changed. Travis felt like hitting something, but resisted and stomped his way to the office just down the hall that Edmund used.

“Good morning, your Highness,” the secretary greeted him as he peeked around the open door.

“Good morning Edmund. I was just to see my father.”

“I'm sorry. His Majesty is in a bit of a mood today, I am afraid. He complained of some small pain but of course refuses treatment for it.” Edmund handed the Prince a small stack of papers pertaining to the affairs that he handled for the crown.

Travis was happy to see that there weren’t many. His father had been asking him to take on many domestic tasks, allowing the King to focus on international ones. “Is there anything I need to know about?”

“A messenger brought news from Fresburg that their Ambassador would not attend the King until he is reassured that no harm will come to him here,” Edmund started.

Travis interrupted. “That's the Ambassador about the big lumber trade, isn't it? Damn. No wonder he is angry.”

“Indeed.” Edmund continued, “Gillik is asking for a contract stating that if anything happens to their ambassador we will compensate them, and Arriland is threatening to send in a “small force” to sort things out unless we do it ourselves sooner than later.”

The prince was shocked. “It hasn’t even been a week! And the first day was lost just expecting the man to wander in drunk. And since it takes a day and a half for even an express runner to reach us from Arriland’s capital, aren’t they being a bit impatient?”

Edmund shook his head. “Who can say what their motivations are?”

“Can I tell Kate about this? Their King being this impatient may be a clue to her.”

“I don’t see why not. Whatever might speed the investigation up. I certainly hope this Arriland affair is cleared up soon, one way or the other.”

“What other ways are there?” Travis asked.

“Well, either the criminal who harmed the Count is found, or the Count himself is found.”

Travis started in surprise. Why had he never considered that the Count might still be alive? After all, he had just disappeared, not been found dead. Certainly it was much easier for a man to take himself off, than for another man to do it! He wondered how Kate had missed that possibility, then as he thanked Edmund and departed, decided that she probably hadn't. She was probably wandering the town making inquiries and making sure that the Count wasn't just cuddled up with a particularly fetching young lady.

As he got back to his own apartment though, a messenger greeted him. “Sir! Lady Kate needs you at the constable's station, she said they found the body!”