Kelvin thought the interruptions were done for the day, but he was wrong, apparently. He'd been in the process of approving repair requests for Eastern Barracks. They wanted the walls repainted and floors replaced, even though the floors were only three years old. The color they were stained wasn't in fashion anymore. The price quoted for all this was more than Kelvin had spent on both his daughter's weddings combined.

He signed the approval just as Chancellor Floritan entered without knocking, bypassing Kelvin's aide. Though the man may not have even been at his desk, so it wasn't that surprising that Floritan had let himself in.

Setting down his pen, Kelvin stood to bow. Annoying as the interruption was, he couldn't ignore the Chancellor's rank. A Count was higher than the second son of a Viscount, even if that man was the Knight Commander of the Palace Guard.

"To what do I owe--"

"You clearly haven't heard yet," Floritan said, "Otherwise you'd be far more alarmed."

Kelvin scowled. "If it has to do with the Western Barracks--"

"Prince Solace," Floritan interrupted and began pacing. "That empty husk has been replaced by an impostor that looks so convincingly like him that even I'm having a hard time believing it isn't a miracle from Nyltia."

Shocked, Kelvin leaned against his desk. "You jest."

"I do not!" Floritan said firmly, turning to face Kelvin. "I spoke with Harthford and Duke Cross. They've both dismissed my concerns. I hope that you will take the matter seriously. We cannot have this interfering with our plans."

Covering his mouth with his hand, Kelvin silently considered Floritan. He was a bit of an alarmist at times; a goose that saw threats where there were none. However, it was clear that Floritan had seen something this time, and if it was some impostor posing as Prince Solace...

"Does the queen know?"

"Yes," Floritan hissed. "She's accepted this impostor as her son."

Kelvin looked away in disgust. Gwain was such a pushover that Charlotte would be able to talk him into allowing this impostor to be considered a candidate. "Duchess Wenkels wouldn't dare support him. It's clear Charlotte's just replaced that husk with someone who looks like him. Despite everything, the old bitch is smart enough to see that."

"It doesn't matter," Floritan insisted. "His Grace wants it gone. Get rid of it. And find the real prince. That will prove that Charlotte is scheming and discredit her. Look in Elk Palace. I'm sure she hid that sack of meat there."

"I'll send someone immediately." Not that Kelvin really trusted any of his men to do it. They couldn't be trusted to stand at their assigned posts, after all. He supposed he would go to Ponds with this. Investigating things, especially when they involved royals, was more his duty anyway. In the meantime, Kelvin knew he would have to take a closer look at this impostor. If he could get the miscreant to crack, it would save a lot of effort on everyone's part.

Floritan, at least, seemed to be settled with Kelvin's response.

"Get this done before dinner," the Count ordered and let himself out of Kelvin's office.

Sighing, Kelvin looked at the papers littering his desk. The Eastern Barracks were running out of luxury goods. They squandered their budget on scented candles and imported food from the coast. Kelvin appreciated fish as much as the next man, but getting it from the coast was expensive, and they were already taking so much from the Western Barracks. He had to wonder if perhaps Duke Cross intended to drain Durshand dry.

In any case, he needed to go investigate what was going on with the husk.

**

Kelvin found Sir Ponds in his office on the second floor. The Commander of the Royal Guard was wearing his reading glasses, looking at a report.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Ponds asked as Kelvin was let in by Ponds' aide.

Quietly jealous that Ponds had people who were actually capable of doing their jobs, Kelvin put on an air of bluster. "Chancellor Floritan came to my office, stating that Prince Solace has been replaced with an impostor. I suggest we split the task of investigating. I will interrogate the impostor. Your men can investigate Elk Palace."

Ponds slowly set his reading glasses on the desk. He was a man in his sixties who had inherited his country through a bloody civil war, and despite that having been decades ago, Ponds still retained a very dangerous aura. His deliberate movements were like a circling hawk, and Kelvin was the insignificant mouse that would soon be dinner. "So you heard a strange rumor and decided to come tell me how to handle it."

Kelvin clenched his teeth. "It seemed the logical division of labor."

The Royal Commander snorted. "Refrain from insulting us both," he ordered. "I will investigate the matter fully. Return to your regular duties."

Furious, but unable to do anything, Kelvin saluted and left. Regretting asking Ponds for assistance at all, Kelvin headed for the stairs at the end of the northern hall.

Passing his office on the way to the eastern junction, Kelvin's thoughts returned to the joke that was the Palace Guard. What would Durshand look like under Duke Cross' rule? Would he put an end to wasteful expenditures? Kelvin couldn't imagine himself or anyone else going without the luxuries he was used to. He knew Cross' army, Ogre Company, consisted of commoners. Not even his officers were noble. That had been a safety precaution, since even Kelvin knew young nobles couldn't keep their mouths shut.

Continuing past Fisk's office, he glanced in to find Sir Blanch entering. She was good in tournaments, but honestly, women had no business holding swords.

**

Ponds stared at the door after Kelvin had left.

"Arrogant," he muttered. Much as he wanted to ignore the stupid rumor, this was the second time he'd heard about it. The first had been from a servant who had attended Their Majesty's lunch with the prince. Kelvin had not verified the rumor before coming to Ponds, so his word wasn't as credible. However, Kelvin hearing of it meant that someone higher up had pissed in the man's ear.

"Nelson," Ponds called.

His door immediately opened, Nelson stuck his head in, "Sir?"

"Get Jessic."

Saluting, Nelson retreated.

Moments later, Vice-Commander Jessic arrived.

Saluting crisply, Jessic said, "Is this about the rumor?"

"Get some men together and check Elk Palace." Admittedly, if the real Prince Solace had been stashed somewhere, that'd be where Charlotte would put him. She was kind of predictable like that.

Jessic cocked his head with a puzzled look.

Ponds immediately realized that this issue with the impostor wasn't the only rumor going around. "What rumor did you hear?"

"Western Barracks is a pile of trash just waiting to topple down," Jessic said. "They've been saying all morning that Sir Owen will probably get hanged for it."

Unable to keep his eyes from rolling, Ponds asked, "Why is that noteworthy?"

"Because he's been requesting repairs once a week since his promotion but always getting denied," Jessic said. "The funds are being dispensed, though, and no one knows where they're going."

Ponds rubbed his eyes, then across his bald head. He knew where the funds had gone. But denying all repair requests hadn't been part of the plan. Someone had messed up. This could jeopardize the whole operation. "Find out where Prince Solace really is first," Ponds ordered. "Charlotte's hired an actor to pretend to be the prince and will likely make a mess of dinner tonight. Afterward, find out what Albany's been doing with the funds."

Jessic hesitated. "Are we going to save Sir Owen? He's been pretty useful."

"Davis is the one running the Western Barracks," Ponds dismissed. It didn't matter whether Owen or Davis was in charge over there, so long as their operation ran smoothly. Years ago, Ponds had investigated Sir Owen out of curiosity. The man was young, just knighted, and immediately made Barracks Captain, despite Sir Davis having been there for years. It had made no sense at the time and irritated Kelvin to no end, since his achievement of being the youngest to make captain had been shattered by a boy barely past puberty.

Jessic saluted and left.

After looking into Owen, Ponds could see how it was a brilliant move on Sir Bass' part. It was his final act of defiance and care for the men he was leaving behind. Owen was good at being just annoying enough to keep Kelvin distracted. Davis might not have the official title, but he had all the responsibility and did a very fine job running the Barracks. The pair made a good team. However, their arrangement could only work if they both knew and understood their roles. Ponds didn't understand how Owen took those weekly beatings without complaint or resentment, though. There was no compensation for his suffering.

Owen had the worst luck. His suffering would be for nothing. He'd only delayed the inevitable.