When the Prime Minister didn’t move, clearly waiting for an answer, Ice said, “We did the best we could considering our mission was cut so short.”
“Excuses,” Hallow growled before he began pacing again.
“Nonetheless, we’re launching a full investigation into the sabotage—”
“Sabotage?” He stopped again, eyeing all of them in turn. “You should be careful using such terms before you’re certain. Investigate your malfunctions, and then determine whether it was sabotage and who might be to blame. But jumping to conclusions so you have an excuse for this failure is unacceptable, Minister Silverkiller. Don’t you agree, Commander Dreadhowl?”
Storm, ever the military man, gritted his teeth together and said, “Yes, sir.”
Ice couldn’t hold it against him. Sometimes one had to play the game, no matter what the truth might be.
“Ambassador Grim, do you think you were sabotaged?” the Prime Minister asked.
Ice turned to Grim, waiting to see what his reaction would be. In typical Grim style, he said, “I do. And I also think we’ll get to the bottom of how and who soon enough. We’ve put our best people on it.”
The Prime Minister nodded. “I understand you’ve cleared this investigation with the emperor already? No doubt, while he was praising all your efforts on this mission?”
“Yes, exactly that,” Grim said, his chin held high. Ice wished he had the urge to smile. It seemed like an appropriate moment for it.
“Very well.” The Prime Minister walked away, waving his hand at them in dismissal. “But when your investigation shows a mere malfunction or sheer incompetence, I’ll be making my recommendations to the emperor about your performance on this mission. And when this Alana Watson proves herself as useless as I’m guessing, he might take a dimmer view of all your efforts.”
They left Prime Minister Hallow’s meeting chamber, and as soon as they were clear of the door, Storm turned to Ice. “If there was no sabotage on that ship, I’ll eat my own hair. And yours.”
“Agreed. Interesting that he seems so sure, though.”
Grim rubbed his chin. “Is interesting really the word?”
Ice met his eyes, his suspicion against the Prime Minister even stronger now that it was clear Grim shared it.
Storm looked between them, frowning. “Are you two saying that Hallow might have had something to do with the ship’s malfunctions?”
Grim clapped Storm on the back. “We were only thinking of the possibility, Storm. You’re the one who said it.”
“Only because it seems to be what you’re implying.”
Ice put a hand on Storm’s other shoulder. “You’ve seriously never considered it?”
“I’m considering it now,” he said, eyes narrowing. “The Prime Minister has always been conservative. His views on Arcana are not the mainstream. He almost sounds nostalgic when he speaks about it, as if Crimea would be better off if Arcana were still in place. But holding those views doesn’t make him a saboteur.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Ice agreed. “But it makes him a suspect.”
“Agreed.” Storm squared his shoulders. “No matter who it was, we need evidence to prove it. I’m going to examine the ship with the investigators. Perhaps I can be of some use.”
Grim nodded and began walking again. “Of course. But you’ll attend the banquet first.”
“I can be much more useful if I’m working.”
“Yes, but Emperor Chaos wants to honor us all, so we’re obliged to go.”
Storm’s jaw muscles twitched. “Very well. But, as soon as I can get away, I’m going to figure out what was done to our ship.”
Storm may not have been very good at first contact with humans, but with Crimean, he was formidable. Ice was grateful he was on their side.
Ice left Grim and Storm to debate the possibilities and suspects. He wanted to have that discussion with them, but not now. He was in a hurry to find Alana.
He’d been by her side while she was transferred from the Campania to the planet, and had even stood looking down at her for several minutes while she slept peacefully. He wondered if he’d done the right thing in bringing her there. He also noticed the way her nose twitched and how she smiled a little in her sleep. Ice found it surprisingly charming.
Her rich, reddish-brown hair had fanned out behind her head and shoulders, and he’d touched it and her cheek before he left her to brief Emperor Chaos and then the prime minister.