The Dragon Kings' Forbidden Witch

”By whom?” Matthias asked immediately.

”By a member of the guard,” Cedric said. ”Someone whose duty is to know her movements, her conversations, her interactions with others. That person reports to me, and I report regularly to this council.”

”And the kings?” Varrick asked. ”What if they object to having one of their potential...” he paused, searching for the right word, ”...investments being monitored?”

”They need not know,” Aldrich said calmly. ”The observation can be conducted discreetly. It will appear to the kings as though the girl is simply going about her duties. Meanwhile, we gather intelligence.”

”What kind of intelligence?” Brennan asked.

”Everything,” Cedric said. ”Her habits, her preferences, the people she interacts with. Whether she shows signs of magical ability. Whether she communicates with anyone outside the palace. Whether her behavior changes in response to the kings’ presence. Over time, a pattern will emerge. Her true nature will begin to show itself.”

”And what if it doesn’t?” Garrison asked. ”What if she’s just a mysterious girl with an odd background and nothing more?”

”Then at least we will know that,” Cedric replied.

There was a moment of hesitation as the council members processed this proposal.

Then Matthias nodded slowly. ”It’s the only option that doesn’t immediately create conflict with the throne. Observation buys us time and information.”

One by one, the other elders gave their assent. Even Varrick, though clearly unhappy, acknowledged that observation was a reasonable path forward.

”It is decided then,” Cedric said formally. ”The girl remains a servant in the palace. She is placed under discreet observation. A spy...one loyal to this council, will be assigned to gather intelligence about her. That spy reports to me, and I will bring findings to the council on a regular basis.”

He paused, letting the weight of the decision settle.

”This is official council business,” he continued. ”A formal decision made by the council of elders regarding a matter of state security. I will need volunteers or I will need to make an assignment.”

There was silence. No one wanted to be formally associated with the spying operation, should it later be revealed.

”I will handle the assignment,” Cedric said finally. ”I have someone in mind, someone discreet and reliable. The rest of you need not concern yourselves with the specifics.”

Elder Aldrich was watching him carefully, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. Cedric was handling this perfectly. Making the spying seem necessary but routine. Making it seem like observation rather than aggressive monitoring. Buying them time to understand what was happening without creating an immediate crisis.

***

The meeting continued for another hour, discussing various other matters of state.

Grain supplies for winter. The status of the borders. Trade relationships with neighboring kingdoms. Minor disputes between noble houses requiring mediation. The normal business of maintaining a kingdom.

But underneath it all, Cedric was preparing his trap.

As the meeting began to wind down, Cedric stood once more.

”Before we close,” he said, ”I must address something important. The information discussed in this council chamber today is sensitive. It pertains to the security of the realm and the stability of the throne. I must ask....demand, that every member of this council maintain absolute confidentiality regarding what has been discussed.”

The elders nodded, accepting this without question. Such discretion was standard.

”However,” Cedric continued, ”I understand that information sometimes travels. Guards hear things. Servants observe movement and changes. It is possible that rumors might begin to circulate about why I called this meeting, what was discussed, what decisions were made.”

He paused, letting the implication hang in the air.

”Therefore,” Cedric said carefully, ”I am sharing certain information with each of you. Information that, should it reach the ears of anyone outside this council, would allow us to identify the source of the leak.”

Elder Aldrich’s expression didn’t change, but his aged eyes gleamed with recognition of what Cedric was doing.

Cedric moved to each of them and passed informations to them in the manner he and Elder Adrich had planned.

Matthias received his own information and nodded, understanding that this information was specifically for him.

Varrick received his own version of events, slightly different emphasis from what Matthias had heard.

Venn’s eyes widened with excitement at receiving his own version, which explicitly confirmed the prophecy connection.

Brennan received his own information, which emphasized the girl as victim rather than threat.

Garrison received another version, which emphasized opportunity and benefit.

Each elder had received a slightly different emphasis, a different interpretation of the same basic facts. None of them had received an outright lie, but each would leave this room with a different understanding of what the investigation had revealed.

And Cedric had just explained that if any of these versions leaked outside the council, they would know who had leaked it.

The trap was set.

Elder Aldrich watched this entire exchange with what could only be described as professional admiration. Cedric was masterful at political maneuvering.

”In summary,” Cedric said as the meeting drew toward its conclusion, ”the girl represents a significant development in the realm’s situation. She is connected, in ways we do not yet fully understand, to the kings and possibly to the curse. We are proceeding with observation and investigation. The council will convene again in one week to discuss findings.”

He looked around the table at each member.

”Until that time, I ask for your discretion and your patience. We are operating in circumstances of significant uncertainty. Our actions must be measured and strategic. Panic will serve no one.”

”Agreed,” Aldric said, his voice carrying weight that caused several of the other elders to nod in acceptance.

”One more thing,” Cedric added. ”If any of you receive communications from outside parties regarding this matter, communications from noble houses, from other representatives, from anyone, I want to know about it immediately. There may be forces working against the realm that we are not yet aware of. Vigilance is required.”

This, too, was part of the trap. If someone was a mole, receiving messages from the houses they were reporting to, now they had been warned to expect Cedric to be listening.