Kaelen's new routine of study and observation began to yield results. His map of power grew more complex with each passing day, a web of ink connecting names to debts, ambitions to fears. But with this new activity came a new sensation: a persistent, prickling feeling on the back of his neck. It was the unnerving certainty that he was being watched.
At first, he dismissed it as lingering paranoia from the assassination attempt. It was only logical to feel exposed. Yet, the feeling persisted, a quiet hum of unease beneath the surface of his thoughts. His historian's mind, trained to discard emotion in favor of evidence, began to search for patterns.
He found the first thread in the Royal Library. While researching the trade agreements of House Veylan, he became aware of a new acolyte—a young man with bland, forgettable features—who was meticulously cataloging scrolls in the same section. The acolyte never looked at him, his focus absolute. Still, Kaelen made a mental note of his face.
The next day, Kaelen took a walk through the West Gardens, a place he favored for its seclusion. He saw a gardener trimming the hedges of a secluded path, his movements efficient and unremarkable. But as the man turned, Kaelen's blood ran cold. Beneath the wide-brimmed straw hat were the same bland, forgettable features of the library acolyte. A coincidence was possible; the palace employed hundreds. A double-duty assignment was not unheard of. But for the same man to appear in two of Kaelen's preferred locations for solitude felt statistically improbable.
The watcher was real. He was skilled, a ghost who could change his skin to fit the background. The question now was not if he was being watched, but by whom. The prime suspect was Vorian. His brother was arrogant, but not stupid. He would want to know what the "new" Kaelen was up to.
Kaelen decided to set a trap. Not to catch the spy, but to confirm his existence beyond any doubt. Through Finn, he let a piece of false information slip into the servant's grapevine: Prince Kaelen was to have a secret meeting near the old, abandoned north watchtower at dusk. It was a place no one had a reason to go.
That evening, Kaelen made his way toward the watchtower, taking a deliberately open path. But instead of going to the tower, he veered off at the last moment, slipping into a narrow, overgrown passage between the outer wall and the armory—a route he'd discovered on old schematics of the palace grounds. From the deep shadows of a crumbling archway, he had a perfect, concealed view of the path leading to the watchtower.
He waited. Dusk bled across the sky, painting the clouds in shades of orange and purple. Just as the light began to fail, a figure appeared. It was a palace guard on patrol, his gait steady and purposeful. But his route was wrong. This patrol path was obsolete, decommissioned years ago. The guard stopped, his gaze fixed on the dark, silent watchtower. He lingered for a moment, a predator waiting for its prey, before melting back into the growing darkness.
It was him. The same man, now wearing the uniform of the palace guard.
Kaelen didn't move until the man was long gone. He now had undeniable proof. He was being tailed by a professional, someone who could seamlessly adopt multiple identities within the palace. This was not a common soldier. This was an agent of the Cloak Court, or someone trained in their methods. And only a handful of people in the kingdom could afford such a resource.
He returned to his chambers, his mind a whirlwind of implications. The danger had escalated. But with the danger came an opportunity. A spy who believes he is undetected is not a threat; he is a conduit. A direct line to the heart of his enemy's operations.
Kaelen walked over to his desk and looked at the intricate map of power he had been drawing. He then pulled out a new, blank sheet of parchment. Vorian had placed a watchful eye on him, hoping to uncover his secrets. Kaelen smiled faintly, a cold, hard expression that would have shocked the court.
Perhaps it was time to give the eye something to see.
Chapter End
Next: Chapter 6 - Silent Schemes