“Yes,” Sergeant Brock said, “what, and who?”
“Do you mean to say this Man Who Went Out the Window is not the only one to have a reason for slaying Prince Gaheris?” Sir Orizhan asked, scandalized.
“It is mean to say it, I know,” Matt said sympathetically, “but it’s probably true. In fact, he might have been hired by another one of the people who had a reason. Let’s start with Brion and John.”
“You cannot mean his own brothers would slay him to gain the throne!” Sir Orizhan demanded.
“Yes I can,” Matt said, “and so can you; we’ve heard of it happening in other countries.”
“If I did not know Brion to be so honorable, I would say that he might; he would thereby become heir.” Sir Orizhan gazed off into space. “John would not gain by it, though.”
“He would now,” Matt pointed out. “Whether Brion had Gaheris assassinated or not, they’re probably both thinking up ways to kill each other this minute.”
“Yes, John to gain Brion’s place as heir, and Brion to save his own life,” Sir Orizhan said. He shuddered at the thought, but pursued it relentlessly. “Even then, Brion is too chivalrous to strike before he is attacked, or to attack by treachery. John though, would gain not only the throne, but Rosamund, too.”
“And Rosamund wouldn’t like that,” Matt said, “unless she has very odd tastes.”
Sir Orizhan stiffened, eyes glinting dangerously. “Do you accuse my princess of murder?”
“Of course not.” Matt backpedaled quickly. “Of course, if she did, she’d be planning the same little surprise for John— but since she didn’t, she isn’t.”
“If she did, I could sympathize with her,” Sergeant Brock said darkly.
“Indeed, so could I.” Sir Orizhan shivered, the bodyguard gaining ascendancy over the honor guard for a moment.
“The only one of those three princes who was never repulsive in either looks or personality was Brion,” Matt said, “and he’s so arrogant that I can’t say I was surprised when Lady Rosamund showed flashes of irritation with him.”
“He is justly proud of his prowess as a warrior and troubadour,” Sir Orizhan said slowly.
“But such arrogance might disguise weak self-esteem in other areas,” Matt pointed out. “Sometimes the second child feels he can’t possibly measure up to the first. Of course, when his mother favors him as obviously as Petronille favors Brion, that shouldn’t be much of a problem.”
“What if his father does not?” Sergeant Brock asked.
“Yes, let’s think about Drustan for a minute.” Matt turned to Sir Orizhan. “Rosamund didn’t seem too happy about his attentions at dinner last night, nor did her fiancee, Gaheris.”
Sir Orizhan stiffened again, and Sergeant Brock protested, “You cannot mean the king could desire Rosamund for himself!”
“In a country in which noblemen still practice the droit de seigneur, bedding each virgin on her wedding night?” Matt countered. “I’d say it’s quite possible.”
“But his own son’s bride, milord!”
“I do not like to speak of such things,” Sir Orizhan grated, “but I have indeed heard of men who have such feelings, and in an unscrupulous king who is accustomed to having whatever he wishes, such lust might be reason enough for him to have his own son assassinated.”
“So.” Matt looked directly into his eyes. “You’ve had to protect Lady Rosamund from her betrothed already, haven’t you?”
“Young men are apt to be overeager,” Sir Orizhan said stiffly.
“Meaning you never left her alone with Gaheris if you could help it. Bet you even used the pretext that a princess has to learn swordplay, too.”
“Every woman who will grow to be a chatelaine must,” Sir Orizhan countered, “for she must defend her husband’s castle in his absence.”
“But you couldn’t defend her from her new king,” Matt said quietly.
“There was no such need,” Sir Orizhan grated.
“Only because you made sure there was no opportunity.”
“My king is not such a villain!” Sergeant Brock rested his hand on the dagger under his tunic.
Matt turned to him and locked gazes for a minute. Then he bowed his head a little. “Of course not. I’m sorry, Sergeant— I was carried away by my zeal for finding Gaheris’ murderer.”
Sergeant Brock stared, completely at a loss; he had never heard a nobleman apologize to a commoner before.
Even Sir Orizhan seemed to be unsettled, and took refuge in duty. “Besides, with Gaheris dead, Rosamund will soon be betrothed to Brion.”
“Which, as we pointed out, is a reason for Brion to have Gaheris killed,” Matt said.
Sir Orizhan threw up his hands. “Why do you not indict Queen Petronille while you are about it?”
“Not a bad idea.” But one glance at Sergeant Brock’s expression was enough to persuade Matt to drop the issue. “Of course, it’s possible that the Man Who Went Out the Window did kill Gaheris on his own, and for his own reasons only— but one way or another, we have to be sure.”
“Yes, quite so.” Sir Orizhan frowned. “At the moment, we do not know if this sorcerer-footpad even committed the murder.”
“No, we don’t,” Matt agreed. “At the moment, though, he’s the most likely candidate. Of course, any of the soldiers in that inn could have slipped behind the prince for a few seconds. It had occurred to me that the wound could have been made by a spear point.”
“It is the right length,” Sir Orizhan said, gazing off into space.
But Sergeant Brock shook his head. “I’ll warrant that no soldier, Merovencian or Bretanglian, bore a spear or halberd into that inn. We leave them behind when we have liberty.”
“Yes, it would be rather cumbersome hauling an eight-foot shaft through the streets,” Matt agreed. “I don’t suppose a man might have cut a spear point off with a foot of shaft for holding it?”
Knight and soldier exchanged surprised glances. Then Sergeant Brock said slowly, “It would have been possible, and such a sawn-off spear could easily have been hidden under a soldier’s livery—but it would be quite unlikely.”
“So is the killing of a prince, though,” Sir Orizhan said. “You amaze me by your ingenuity, Lord Wizard.”
“Thank you,” Matt said with a wry smile, “but as the sergeant points out, it’s more ingenious than probable. Our hypothetical soldier would have had to carry that weapon around every time he went to a tavern on the off chance that the prince might stop by for a brawl.”
“No, for some wenching, no more,” Sir Orizhan pointed out. “You yourself have shown that the theft of the purse was done deliberately to start the brawl.”
“Why, so I did, didn’t I?” Matt said in surprise. “And that the murderer waited until the royal family was on Bretanglian soil. Once they checked in at Alisande’s castle, it wouldn’t take much imagination to realize the princes would probably check out the high life in the continental capital.”
This time knight and soldier exchanged glances of puzzlement. “Your terms are difficult to understand, Lord Wizard,” Sir Orizhan complained.
“You get the gist, though, don’t you? Once our murderer knew the royal family was going to visit Merovence, he saw his chance. Sawing off his hypothetical spearhead and taking it along on a night’s carousing would have been easy then.”
“So was the blow struck by magic,” Sergeant Brock asked, “or by a stealthy hand.”
“Yes,” Matt said, “one or the other. We can’t tell which until we catch up with the Man Who Went Out the Window, catch him at a disadvantage, and cadge a few more facts out of him.”
“You truly think you can defeat him?” Sir Orizhan asked in disbelief.
“Sure, now that I know I’m up against another magic-worker.” Matt spoke with far more confidence than he felt. “I’ll go in with a round of spells prepared this time—and directions for you guys to knock him over the head while I’ve got him distracted.”