CHAPTER 18: THE THIRD TOAST

Riley observed something odd.

At first, it was just movement, a servant carrying a tray cutting through the crowd.

But the servant’s hands shook ever so slightly, causing the tray to similarly shake.

On it sat an ornate goblet. The liquid inside shimmered faintly. Too faintly.

Riley spoke low and fast. "Far corner. Third servant. Tray."

Kael’s golden eyes flicked once and locked on the target.

"Intercept it," Kael said simply.

Riley didn’t argue.

He moved through the crowd fast, weaving between guests with an apologetic smile and murmured excuses.

"Pardon me. Sorry. Important."

The servant barely noticed him until he reached out and plucked the goblet clean off the tray.

"Thanks. I’ll take that."

The servant froze. "No, that’s not for you."

Then he attempted to bolt.

Riley didn’t hesitate and lunged after the fleeing figure.

It didn’t take long. He caught the servant by the sleeve just before they reached the doors.

"Going somewhere?" Riley asked lightly, though his grip was steel. This was the advantage of dealing with another human.

The servant hissed something guttural and tried to wrench free, but Riley pushed him firmly toward two waiting Ministry guards.

"To the waiting room," he ordered and left as if nothing had happened.

Now, the waiting room was exactly as described: it was a room devoid of anything and was merely a holding area for suspected criminals.

And while this might as well be a holding cell, they couldn’t call it that unless they wanted beings screaming for injustice.

So much for undermining the law when they commit crimes, then thinking they’re above the law when they get caught.

"Have this examined, and while you’re on that, please get him searched."

Both human and magical detectors came up empty-handed. But the anxious waiter, whose paling face improved just for a moment, likely wouldn’t survive after the results of the goblet’s testing came out.

"It’s Velaris Draught."

"What’s that supposed to do?" Riley asked Corwin, their resident forensic expert.

"It’s a suggestive charm of sorts. Whoever takes it would have suppressed resistance to influence or suggestions."

"They’d be conscious, and what makes this problematic is how the commands would feel like their own choices."

"In reality, something like this would last for about 1 to 3 hours, but for someone like our boss, it’ll be strong enough if it lasts for something like five minutes."

"Yeah, sure. But Kael barely needs seconds to destroy the whole place. Five minutes would have been tragic."

"True."

"What about the surveillance? Surely we could figure out how he managed to get this thing inside?"

"Ah, about that, Mr. Hale, you might want to see this."Riley and Corwin watched every single one of the waiter’s interactions with the goblets. Patiently, they tracked his movements for nearly an hour before realizing the truth.

He hadn’t even been the one to fill the goblets.

The person they needed wasn’t the waiter at all, but another staff member—the one who washed the goblets and set them back on the cart.

No wonder they couldn’t find anything earlier.

The liquid had come from the tap itself.

"Look," Riley muttered, leaning closer to Corwin. "He’s washing all of the goblets. But that one—" he pointed subtly "—was placed back into the cart with liquid still in it, while the others were empty."

They continued watching as the waiter they’d already detained calmly filled the clean goblets with wine, as if oblivious.

Riley and Corwin exchanged a sharp look before one of them signaled the guards.

"We need to catch the accomplice. Now."

But by the time they got to the wash station, the person was already gone. Not even a shadow left behind.

Tsk.

Riley clicked his tongue in quiet frustration.

Kael eventually arrived after the crowd left. It didn’t really even take that long, and while they didn’t create much of a scene, any unpleasant and unusual behavior would’ve alarmed the party attendees. After all, anything could cause dragon dissatisfaction and could end in an unexpected blood bath.

He swallowed thickly as Kael’s golden gaze swept over him.

Riley, of course, had the unfortunate luck of being the one to explain what they’d just discovered.

Once he finished his report, Kael was quiet for a long, dangerous moment. Then his eyes narrowed.

"They’re likely being aided by a merfolk," Kael finally said coldly.

Riley froze at that. Of course. The water.

Kael began issuing orders immediately, his voice smooth but laced with threat.

"Have the pipes inspected and coated with sealing enchantments to prevent this kind of creative method in the future. I expect a full report."

Then he straightened, his gaze flicking briefly toward the ballroom doors before returning to Riley.

"And lastly," Kael added, his tone almost lazy, "we’ll be taking a scenic field trip as soon as possible."

Riley felt the chill run down his spine.

A field trip.

As soon as possible.

And it was soon alright, as the Riley who took on a power nap for the sake of his psychological well-being was rudely woken up.

He’d stayed in the Ministry’s guest room, but even then, he didn’t think he’d deserve this very unusual wake-up call.

Out of the blue, he heard a knock on the door. Tap. Tap. Tap.

Riley ignored it. He told himself, "Five more minutes, just five more minutes."

The knocking came again. Louder. Bang. Bang. Bang.

Then the door magically opened.

"You’re awake," Kael snapped.

And Riley felt like smothering his screams with a pillow.

But he was professional.

As professional as someone still wearing spare pajamas would be in the morning.

"Good morning, my Lord," uttered in the sunniest tone a zombie could muster.

"Get up. We leave in a few minutes."

Riley sat up, clutching the sheets. "Leave? What do you mean, leave? I have just arrived in this room."

"We’re going to talk to the merfolk," Kael walked out and slammed the door.

Riley rubbed his eyes. "Oh, good. I’ve always wanted to drown at work."

Ten minutes later, Riley stumbled after Kael through the Ministry’s marble corridors, still buttoning his collar and cursing under his breath.