"I only now thought of it," I said.
"I thought of it before they left," Doyle said.
"Why didn't you speak up?" Cortez asked.
"It is not my job to protect the ambassador."
"It's everyone's job to help another human in such a state," Shelby said, then he looked surprised, as if he'd just heard what he'd said.
Doyle gave the smallest curl of lips. "But I am not human, and I think the ambassador is weak and without honor. Queen Andais has lodged several complaints with your government about the ambassador. She has been ignored. But even she could not have foreseen such treachery as this."
"Treachery of our government against yours?" Veducci asked.
"No, King Taranis's treachery against someone who trusted him. The ambassador saw that watch as a mark of high favor, when in fact it was a trap and a lie."
"You disapprove," Nelson said.
"Do you not also disapprove?" Doyle asked.
She started to nod and then looked away, blushing. Apparently, even with her jacket turned, she couldn't help reacting to him. He was worth reacting to, but I didn't like that she was having this much trouble. The charges would be hard enough without us making the prosecutors blush.
"What would the king have gained from poisoning the ambassador against your court?" Cortez asked.
"What have the Seelie always gained from blackening the name of the Unseelie?" I asked.
"I'll bite," Shelby said. "What have they gained?"
"Fear," I said. "They have made their people fear us."