Dominic frowned. "Such a long-term servant? I can see that happening if they were actually a spy for a Noble House, or even another nation. But an embedded assassin that waited an entire decade for the trigger to attack? That doesn’t sound right.
Could she have been turned later? Did she have any family that might be used against her? Perhaps a lover?"
Princess Alexis shook her head, but the maid nodded.
"Out with it." Alexis demanded.
"She has been sleeping with one of the Palace Gardeners for the last year or so. He was still at work yesterday, though." The Maid replied nervously.
"Well, that is somewhere to start. We will head for the Strategy Room soon, I’m just waiting for the painkillers to start working." Princess Alexis insisted.
"All of us?" The Maid squeaked.
Alexis patted her reassuringly. "No, you two can stay here and wait for the investigators. Don’t clean or alter anything. They will want it exactly as it was when everything happened.
Dominic, did you alter anything in your room before you came here?"
Dominic shook his head. "I didn’t touch anything. Even his arm was still laying on the floor, still holding his knife. The Palace Guard apprehended the attacker when he jumped out the window, as there is a Guard stationed at the doors to the garden."
Princess Alexis straightened her back and got to her feet.
"Let’s get going to the Strategy Room. All hell is about to break loose, and I suspect that we’re both going to be needed there."
Dominic let his mind wander to her odd remark as they walked. Of course, they were needed. They were not only a Princess and her advisor, but they were both attacked. So, they would be needed for the debriefing.
Four Royal Guards fell in around them as they walked down the corridors of the castle, which were now eerily silent, as all staff had been ordered not to leave their stations as the guards searched for the traitors and infiltrators.
Anyone out of place, not in a location where they should have been, would be a suspect. So, none would dare to move without direct orders.
The sound of heels clicking was the only noise as they approached the Strategy Room, whose door was open, with armed guards both inside and out.
"Princess, Advisor. It’s good to see you minimally injured. Please enter. The Crown Prince and the King are waiting for everyone to be accounted for before they begin."
The room was nearly half filled, and even the Queen, who was normally not directly involved in the military affairs of the nation, was present. Her preference, and her role, were those of matters of state.
The political answer to problems, not the military answer.
The Crown Prince turned his attention to Dominic.
"Advisor, why are you not armed?" He demanded.
"Your Highness, I am a Sorcerer, I am always armed. I wasn’t aware that wearing my sword was a requirement, but I will fix that now."
Princess Alexis snorted in amusement. Normally, it wasn’t a big deal, but everyone was so worried that an invading force had infiltrated the castle that they were snapping at everything.
Moments later, a whole group of Royals was escorted in, still in party outfits and reeking of sex and liquor.
Dominic did his best not to laugh at the confused group, who clearly had no idea what was going on other than that there was an alarm and their party was cut short.
"Father, what has happened? Why is everyone gathered?" A very drunk Prince, whose name Dominic didn’t know, slurred.
"Just sit down and shut up. Now that everyone is here, we can get started.
Someone brew the Prince a coffee. Bring the entire pot.
The first order of business is the report on the invasion. We have apprehended over thirty attempted assassins tonight, and another traitor Noble.
Margrave Malton’s younger son was apprehended in the garden tonight, and is expected to succumb to his wounds. He was given treatment, but the Palace Physicians believe that he may have ingested a poison that prevented healing.
Some of the assassins came with his entourage. Others were among the Palace staff. But most concerningly, one was a Palace Guard." The King explained.
"Most of the attempted assassins are dead already, but Advisor Dominic disarmed one, and he is being held for interrogation."
The King paused as the guards at the door chuckled.
"Something funny, Captain?"
"My apologies, Your Majesty. It was just the word play." The Guard replied, straightening his back and silencing his amusement.
The Crown Prince smiled, and the King sighed as he realized the issue, but the other Royals were left confused.
"Advisor Dominic severed the attacker’s arm during the altercation. The weapon and limb are being examined now." The King explained, then looked down at his notes to get back on track.
"Dagos has moved forces to the border by Staptontave, two hundred thousand men strong. We expect them to head for Burton in the morning, and then set up a base near Kilksey Lake to resupply.
The Royal Regiments will be moving to intercept, and I need volunteers to lead before I assign the rest."
There was a short pause, then Princess Alexis rattled her sword.
"I volunteer to lead the defence of Burton."
Those weren’t words that Dominic was hoping to hear, and he could tell by the King’s expression, that he was hoping one of the lesser Princes could be chosen for what was likely to be a suicide mission.
Or worse, a failed defence that would end up with a Royal Prisoner to be ransomed later in the war, or in the aftermath.
Dominic’s mind immediately went to the number of weapons that they were going to need to hold the fortress, and what the average soldier was already equipped with.
Magitech Rifles were a relatively new addition to the battlefield, and Dagos was a more traditional nation. So, they fought mostly with conventional weapons and armour. Armour that could be penetrated by a powerful enough bullet.
But as the appearance of large fleets of airships showed, they weren’t content to stay stagnant, so it would be wise to expect previously unseen additions to the battlefield.