"That wine merchant is suspicious."
Marius stood beside Tales, frowning as he watched Dagori Morse raise his hands cooperatively while the grim-faced Rolf searched him thoroughly.
"Hmm?"
"We just checked his accompanying convoy."
"And?"
"Their wheels were clean, and they weren't carrying much cargo. His attendants were only a few locals hired temporarily, and so was his coachman." Marius studied the wine merchant carefully. "I'd guess he didn't come from far away to attend the celebration as he claimed. On the contrary, he'd been waiting in Emerald City for a long time, specifically waiting here for you. Perhaps someone with ulterior motives instructed him to come."
Someone with ulterior motives.
Tales recalled what he had seen and heard earlier in the Kingdom Secret Bureau.
I already knew that, though.
"You mean he might be from Emerald City?"
"Or somewhere else."
Tales sighed. "I understand, Thor. Thanks."
Marius turned his head. "You still insist on meeting him?"
Tales was silent for a moment before nodding.
"This is the only way to uncover the truth."
"Fine." Seeing this, Marius stopped arguing and waited for Rolf to finish searching him. "Remember, have Arendt and Gollor keep an eye on him."
"Of course."
"But, Your Highness, since we can tell something is wrong with him..." The Watcher added, "others can tell, too."
"Yes, I know."
Tales nodded cautiously.
"Others."
"So, your name is Moss?"
A few minutes later, Tales looked the richly dressed, slightly portly merchant before him up and down. The man's entire manner was cautious.
"Dagori Morse, Your Highness," Dagori said with a stiff smile, an imperceptible tremor running through his words. "I am merely an honorary director of the Central Territory Wine Merchant Guild. I came to Emerald City to attend the Queen's Day celebrations, never expecting that I would—I