Rain hammered against the palace windows.
Kai had spent half the night staring at the torn piece of paper.
Akshay.
Removal.
Ceremony.
Three words.
That was all.
Yet they refused to leave his mind.
He turned the fragment over again.
Nothing.
No signatures.
No symbols.
No clues.
Just three words.
Three very dangerous words.
A knock came from the door.
Before Kai could answer, Andre walked inside carrying a loaf of bread.
"Why do rich people always have free food?"
Kai looked up.
"Do you ever stop eating?"
"No."
Andre tore off a piece.
"What's got you looking depressed?"
Kai hesitated.
Then showed him the paper.
Andre squinted.
His reading ability appeared to be fighting for its life.
"What does that say?"
Kai pointed.
"Akshay."
"That's Akshay?"
"The word right here."
"Oh."
Andre stared at it again.
"Looks bad."
"That's what worries me."
Andre surprisingly became serious.
For nearly ten seconds.
A personal record.
"If they're planning something against the king, why haven't they done it already?"
Kai frowned.
That was actually a good question.
The paper didn't say assassination.
It didn't say attack.
It said removal.
A strange choice of wording.
Before either could continue, palace bells rang throughout the city.
Both men immediately stood.
The bells rang again.
And again.