No, not now

"Lady Trina, you have my leave to retire to your quarters," you say. "Doubtless we shall need to deal with this matter further in the morning, and although to my mind and the Sultan's you have been cleared of suspicion, it is important we find the true murderer quickly so that you will be innocent in the eyes of all. We will all need to have our wits about us, so we should sleep while we can."

"Yes, Sire. I take my leave." She bows from the neck, and then turns to go - and perhaps she hesitates just slightly at the door, and her head turns halfway to look back at you, but it is only for a heartbeat and then she is gone.

The following morning, you and the Sultan are both up with the Sun, and break fast together in your parlor.

"There will be no keeping this quiet," Subhi says as he helps himself to another poached egg. "As is often the case with a man who has many enemies, Abdul also had many friends. My guardsmen kept the body hidden through the night, and when he does not immediately appear it will be assumed that he is sleeping late, but it will only be a matter of hours before the word gets out that he has been murdered. And Xavier, you know as well as I that Lady Trina will be the one who most think guilty of this crime."

"I don't suppose you have any idea who did this, Subhi?"

The Sultan sighs heavily. "None whom I could accuse with any conviction. And if it were one of my own, I cannot fathom why they would choose here and now to act, or why such a crude and brutal method. My kingdom is not as peaceful as your own, and we do see our share of murders committed, but the assassins of my lands seem to take a peculiar sort of pride in quick and clean kills. Poisons and strangulation are the usual means to the end."

What a pleasant conversation to have first thing in the morning, you think to yourself. "We still have far more questions than answers. Subhi, I'm afraid the anniversary celebrations must continue despite this turn of events, and both of us have much to do. We have little choice but to leave the matter in the hands of others. As the head of the City Watch, Lady Trina would ordinarily take charge of the investigation, but under the circumstances I have asked Mshindi to work with your people on this. Whatever resources you need from me will be provided."

"Thank you, my friend. I shall take my leave."

"Liam, what is on my agenda this morning?" you ask your valet as he helps you into an outfit which is far less comfortable than you would prefer - though at the very least, you are able to forgo that abominable breast-plate.

"Sire, I believe that you had told your advisors that you wished to avoid making any appointments for this morning, so that you could attend events of the festival at will. You are not expected anywhere until luncheon in the castle gardens."

"Remind me to congratulate myself on my foresight, then," you say, smiling for the first time since before Trina's duel. "Perhaps you can help me to recall what events are taking place this day?"

"There will be minstrels performing at the Sandstones throughout the day," Liam says. "The Tournament continues, of course; this morning is given over to competitions of sport rather than combat. Lady Melisande will be hosting a private party in the courtyard of the Inn, to which you have been invited; the event has already begun and will continue until the noon bell. Due to popular demand, the Samurai from the east will be giving a demonstration of swordsmanship, and this will take place at his encampment in an hour. Er... I had planned to attend that event myself, Sire."

"I never knew you were interested in the art of swordplay, Liam."

"The rumors say that the Samurai is the finest swordsman in the known world, Sire. I cannot help but be curious to see him. Insofar as the remainder of the day, once the sporting competitions are finished, the rest of the Tournament events will be displays of special talents rather than contests. The Sultan's dancing girls are expected to be the most popular."

It suddenly occurs to you that Captain Navarre will be taking a small part in the afternoon events, showing his skills at falconry. As he will not be acting as your personal guard at that time, Lady Trina will be taking that duty. It was an unimportant footnote when it was decided on a fortnight past, but now the thought of it makes your cheeks flush.