Alex and William returned to the main avenue, and the prince handed his companion the sheet he'd gotten from the bookseller. Inside, along with the names, there were also addresses.
"I don't know the city, so you'll be the guide."
William read the addresses and frowned. "Do you intend to visit all of them?"
"I think it's our best option."
"How are we supposed to know which one is Jonah's father?"
Alex gave a little smile. "We'll ask him."
"Your Highness, I don't think—"
"Which one is the closest?"
"Please don't change the subject."
"Will, trust me, all right?" He kissed him on the forehead. "I might not be as sharp as you, but I've got an idea."
William sighed. "Let's hope it's a good one."
The mage led the way to a small building wedged between a shop selling paintings and frames, and a tailor's. The façade was elegant, recently painted, with colorful flowers on the small metal balconies.
"Is this the place?" asked Alex.
"Yes."
Alex knocked on the door and, after a moment, a maid opened it.
"How may I help you?"
"We'd like to speak with Master Roderic Dornwald, the book merchant."
The woman looked at them coolly. "And you would be…?"
"Men in service to His Highness the Crown Prince." Alex flashed a broad smile. "We have a request concerning a book purchase for the duchess."
The maid nodded and let them in.
"Please wait here."
She disappeared upstairs, leaving them alone in a narrow entryway paneled in mahogany and steeped in dim light. William looked around, his brow furrowed.
"Gentlemen," said a harsh, clipped voice, "to what do I owe your visit?"
A thin man with olive-toned skin descended the staircase with cautious, measured steps. He wore a fine suit, though without flaunting wealth. His gaze was cold.
Alex put on a pleasant smile. "Master Dornwald?"
"In person. And you are men in the prince's service?"
"In person. His Highness is looking for a book to give to the duchess. Something precious and sought-after."
"Then you've come to the right man."
He reached the bottom of the stairs and gestured for them to follow him.
He led them into a study furnished with a large desk and several wall-length bookcases; in the center stood a small wooden table and armchairs.
"Please, have a seat. May I offer you something?"
Alex declined with a wave of his hand. "We're fine, thank you. His Highness doesn't like us drinking on duty."
"A strict man, then."
"Demanding. But working for him is an honor, and the pay is good."
"I can imagine."
"Do you have trusted men, sir? Or do you manage all this on your own?"
Dornwald smiled. "Mostly on my own, but I'm trying to convince my son to take over the reins of the business."
Alex raised his eyebrows. "He's not convinced?"
"No, Jonah is… complicated."
Jonah—the same name William's brother had mentioned. They'd really had a stroke of luck, finding his father on the first try.
The merchant twisted his lips, as if something had disgusted him. "Never mind, I'm boring you." He clasped his hands in his lap. "So, what kind of book are you looking for?"
"His Highness is looking for a precious and unique volume."
"I have some texts imported directly from the Empire of Xia. Ancient texts. One of the emperor's ministers sold them to me."
Beside Alex, William stiffened.
"What kind of texts?" the prince asked.
"Classics, I believe. I'm no expert in Xianese literature, but the man who appraised them said they were rare pieces of great value." Dornwald shifted his gaze to William. "Your companion might know more than I do, I imagine. Is he Xianese?"
"He's Vellarian, born and raised here in Lenz. His Highness holds his learning in very high regard."
Dornwald nodded; if he recognized William, he gave no sign of it. "Then His Highness is a wise man. One should always keep men of culture close."
"I'm sure the prince thinks the same."
"Would you like to see the texts?"
"Yes, if possible."
The merchant stood up. "Wait here."
He left the study, and once they were alone, Alex shot William a triumphant glance.
"Surprised?"
William crossed his arms over his chest. "A little. You're becoming shrewd."
"I learned from a beautiful sulky raven."
"I'm not that sulky."
"So you're saying you're beautiful?"
"Would you deny it?"
"Never."
Dornwald returned at that moment, carrying two boxes in his arms. He set them on the small table and took out two volumes wrapped in velvet cloths. He put on a pair of gloves and opened them in front of them to show the inner pages.
The paper looked like parchment and was thin; the illustrations were in black ink, yet so vivid they seemed on the verge of emerging from the page. The characters were fluid, similar to those in the book of poetry Alex had given William weeks earlier.
"It looks… beautiful." The prince glanced at the mage. "Do you know what it is?"
William furrowed his brow and studied it in silence for a moment.
"It seems to be a classic of Xianese literature. 'Memoirs from the Inner Court'—that's the title."
"Is it a good edition?"
"I'd say so. The characters were traced by someone skilled in calligraphy." He pointed at the page. "You can tell from the strokes. Each character has its own proper way of being drawn, and these are well done. If you get the stroke order wrong, the result isn't harmonious."
Dornwald's lips curved into a sharp smile. "Your companion has a keen eye."
"His Highness has a keener one than I do."
Alex held back a laugh. That compliment was complete nonsense. "His Highness might be interested. Bring the volumes to the duchess's palace tomorrow, and he'll examine them himself."
"Of course."
"You'll negotiate directly with him."
Alex stood up, followed by William, and the merchant escorted them to the entrance. Once outside, they moved away from the house and plunged back into the lively bustle of the city.
"It's him," said the prince. "I doubt there's another merchant with a son named Jonah."
"We can ask for confirmation."
"From whom?"
"From the baker in my neighborhood."
Alex stopped. "The girl's father?"
"We could ask him to testify against the offender."
"And you think he'll agree?"
"I don't know, but we can try."
"And make him relive what his daughter went through? Don't you think that's… cruel?"
William hesitated. "It is, but we're doing it for her too. And for everyone else."
He lowered his gaze and brushed Alex's hand with his fingers.
"This isn't pain that should be buried. I know that—I made that mistake for three years. They should face it."
"But you can't be the one to tell them how and when."
"I know." He withdrew his hand. "Maybe I'm just a bastard."
"No, you're not." Alex took hold of his wrist. "You're a bit too blunt and pragmatic, but that's what I'm here for—to balance things out."
"Thank you." William looked at him. "So what do you wish to do?"
"Do your parents know who he is?"
"I assume so."
"We could ask them. Or someone else from your neighborhood."
"My mother doesn't… have a very high opinion of you."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Did I disrespect her?"
"No, she thinks you're taking advantage of me."
"You're joking."
"No. She saw us when we said goodbye, and last night she made a point of telling me that our relationship is wrong."
Alex clenched his fists, fear digging its claws into his chest. "And you… do you think the same?"
William shot him a sharp look. "Your Highness, I'm a grown man and perfectly capable of thinking for myself. My mother is entitled to her opinion, but she doesn't know you."
"Good. I mean, I'm sorry, but in the end you're the only one whose opinion matters to me. And it would hurt to know you think our relationship is wrong."
"I don't. You've never made me feel obligated, and when I'm with you, rank disappears. We're just two men."
Alex smiled. "Thank you."
He slipped his arm through William's, and they started walking again. William led the way to his neighborhood, then they reached his parents' shop. From the forge came the rhythmic sound of a hammer striking an anvil.
"My father is working, but maybe we can interrupt him."
William leaned in and knocked on the doorframe; the man stopped and turned to look at them.
"Your Highness! Will! What are you doing here?"
"Father, I have a few things to ask you."
"Has something happened?" Edward cast a brief glance at Alex, then back at his son. "You're not in trouble, are you?"
"No, don't worry. If I were, there wouldn't be much you could do to help me anyway."
"That's not very comforting, son."
"But it's the truth." William turned to Alex. "Would you like to continue?"
The prince nodded and cleared his throat. "We've heard about some recent incidents in the city. Assaults, to be precise."
Edward frowned. "I don't know what you're talking about, Your Highness. Lenz is fairly quiet."
"Noah was attacked."
"Just a scuffle between kids."
"Except the kid in question is an adult. Your son could have died."
"It won't happen again. We told him to stay away from trouble and not to pick fights with people older than him."
Alex pressed his lips together and shot William a glance, but his companion shrugged. He hadn't thought it would be this hard to get these people to talk. Did they not trust him?
"We've heard that this man assaulted a little girl and a young woman."
"So they say."
"He's Dornwald's son, isn't he?"
William's father stiffened, his gaze turning evasive.
"Your Highness, I'm sorry, but I need to get back to work."
"We're trying to have a rapist arrested, Edward, and the cooperation of the people of Lenz would be greatly appreciated."
"And why should we? These things never lead to anything good. If you do this, the baker shuts down his shop and his family ends up destitute. Whatever justice you think you can bring, their daughter will never be well. And that poor girl will never come back to life."
"But if we let him go free, he'll hurt other people."
William stepped forward, his expression detached. "Father, he could hurt Noah. Is that what you want?"
"Of course not! He's my son!"
"Then why not cooperate?"
"His father is powerful. The baker's wife wanted to report the assault, but she was threatened. They say he could set the entire neighborhood on fire. Do you really think any of us want to end up on the streets over something like this?"
Alex frowned. "I can protect you, but you have to trust me."
"That's the point, Your Highness. You're asking a lot of Lenz, but you have no guarantees to offer us."
They didn't trust him. Despite his title, despite the role he would one day assume, these people didn't see him as someone they could rely on. His influence was limited to the capital—perhaps only to the court—and even there it often wavered.
"Then answer this question: is he Dornwald's son?"
Edward hesitated, then nodded. "But I didn't tell you anything."
"You didn't have to. I just needed confirmation."
That was all he would ask of these people. If he didn't have their trust, he would act on his own—and earn it. He didn't need formal accusations; he could find a way to have that bastard arrested without involving anyone from the neighborhood.
"Will, if you want to stay here tonight, I'll return to the palace alone."
"There's no need. I'll come with you."
Alex smiled at him. "You can stay, if you want. Your brother will be happy to spend some time with you."
"I can't. We still have to figure out how to trap him, and we can't stay away from court for too many days. Not with the situation we're facing."
"I can handle it on my own. Really, it's not—"
"It's fine, Your Highness." William smiled. "Duty comes before anything else, and this city needs us. Both of us. We work together, after all."
He was right—but Alex hated that he couldn't make him happy.
They returned together toward the palace, in silence.