We arrived at the capital two days later. We could have arrived the day before but prince Gideon didn't want to arrive by night. He was after all dead set on dragging the issue of the attempted assassination before his father.
I was asked to remain inside the prince's mansion with the rest of his retinue while the prince went to see his father and the assembly of nobles. I wanted to see what would happen so I secretly attached a sense sharing rune to prince Gideon's shoulder.
Like the stubborn prince he was, Gideon stormed into the palace while making a racket and demanded to see his father, the emperor. Feeling a sense of urgency at the prince's vehemence the guards quickly let him through and soon he was standing before his father's throne.
"Father, you must hear this! On my journey to mirage lake, I was assaulted by assassins. They were led by Tristan, our court mage and tried to kill me. I'm sure that they were sent by Sullivan to silence me as I oppose his expansionist plans. You must have justice for me, Father!"
The emperor seemed troubled by his son's outburst. He looked over to his a specific noble to his right. The man looked like a younger version of the emperor himself, presumably crown prince Sullivan. Sullivan showed true talent as an actor by looking both astonished and outraged at the same time.
"How can you make such accusations towards me, Gideon?! I know we don't always see eye to eye on political matters but that is no reason to slander me. I would never order the assassination of a relative of mine."
Gideon had been expecting denial but he failed to notice the trap in Sullivan's words. At this point, many nobles already thought that prince Gideon was merely trying to besmirch his brother's reputation. Even the Emperor seemed doubtful of his son's words.
"Gideon, my son, when did this assassination attempt happen?"
"Four days ago, when we were about to leave the mirage lake the assassins came for us and tried to drive us into the lake so Tristan could kill us more easily."
As the prince yelled out the time of the assassination a murmur spread through the nobles in attendance. At first, it kept a low murmuring and whispers but then I observed a noble look over at prince Sullivan, look down at a paper in his hand and then yell out.
"What are you saying, prince Gideon! His Majesty only just visited lord Tristan three days ago. Are you trying to take advantage of the fact that lord Tristan had entered his workshop for the past week to make a new enchanted mechanism? How shameless can you be!"
Prince Gideon was baffled by those words. Things weren't going as he had envisioned them to. He had believed that the entire assembly would be on his side but it was actually the opposite.
"Father, you believe me, right? Tristan tried to kill me! The one here must have been an imposter, I'm sure of it!"
"An imposter? Do you have any evidence of your claim? And how convenient that the fight was at mirage lake where it cannot be checked by the magic residue of a fight."
"How did you even survive in the first place? If it were true that lord Tristan attacked you then you wouldn't be standing here, would you?"
"You couldn't survive the assault of a rank two archmage! What are you telling us!"
After the first stone had been cast more and more nobles joined in. Prince Sullivan had only needed to get things rolling by using a single noble. The others were like vultures attracted by the weakness and confusion prince Gideon was showing.
Prince Gideon wanted to say something presumably about my assistance that had allowed him to survive but he was drowned out by the nobles.
Not being heard made his confidence sink even lower and prompted more nobles to add on or repeat what had already been said. While prince Gideon was further falling into this pit he dug for himself I took note of the few nobles that didn't join in. Those were the guys that I wanted to pull onto my side. Wouldn't be easy but all the more worth it.
After having taken note of the few nobles that didn't get involved I connected a mind bridge to the prince's mind.
'Prince Gideon, without solid evidence they will not believe you. Even if you inform them of my presence and the assistance I have given you that will prove nothing. Prince Sullivan will merely shrug it off as a collaboration against him.'
'A mind user? Is that you, lord Raven?'
'Indeed, I usually wouldn't intervene like this', a lie,' but since I was the one to save you I think I cannot simply let you fall here. I suggest that you divert all this attention by saying you do not have proof yet but wished to tell your father to be cautious.'
'And what will that help?'
'It will give you the time to find evidence or at the very least you can avoid a direct confrontation with your elder brother. Because as the nobles stand at the moment you may lose everything when you clash.'
Prince Gideon seemed to realize the supposed sense behind my words and calmed down. His expression returned to a poker face.
The nobles immediately quieted down. A face without expression was a representation of self-control and self-control meant strength. This little change scared the nobles enough to shut down their attempts to further worsen his situation. Seeing the situation quiet down the emperor took the word.
"Son, I wish to believe you but the accusations you make are heavy. Do you have evidence?"
"No father, as one of your many advisors has mentioned, the location of the attack makes evidence collection near impossible. I do not expect you to take action for me but I urge you to be cautious even towards me if you deem it necessary."
Nice twist. With his last sentence prince Gideon managed to silence all nobles that had hoped to point out that he was acting suspiciously too.