Captain Tidal arrived at the crisis chamber within the hour, accompanied by a small team of elite guards whose bearing suggested extensive training beyond standard palace security. He was a lean man in his forties, with graying hair and eyes that seemed to catalog every detail of his surroundings.
"Your Majesty," he said with a precise bow to Princess Liyana. "His Majesty has briefed me on the investigation's progress. My team is at your disposal."
"We appreciate the additional support," Princess Liyana replied, though she was curious about what specialized skills an elite guard unit could bring to a murder investigation.
Captain Tidal studied the evidence they had gathered with obvious expertise. The ritual circle diagrams, the interview reports, the timeline of events, he absorbed it all with the methodical attention of someone accustomed to complex cases.
