He took out the bit of sausage he’d found in Ema’s pantry and tossed it toward the house. It was an idea he’d had the last time a dog surprised them, and it worked. There was a single bark, then a huge brindle hound ambled from the shadows and went for the sausage. Alec whistled softly and when the hound looked his way Alec raised his left hand, first and little fingers extended, and made the turning motion of the thief’s cantrip, whispering, “Soora thasali.” He wasn’t certain the charm would work at this distance, but the dog didn’t bark.
Alec shifted the rope and climbed down into the garden. The dog trotted over for a scratch behind the ears, then disappeared into the shadows again. Avoiding the shell paths, Alec made his way to the terrace and sidled up to one of the tall glass doors. All was dark inside, but the faint moonlight spilled across a patterned carpet and the slender curved legs of what looked like a dining table. It was unlikely that servants would be sleeping there, so he picked the lock and slipped inside.
At the far end of the room a set of double doors was outlined in some faint illumination, probably a night lamp. Alec waited to be certain the light was not moving-a lantern carried by some watchman-then stepped out into a long corridor. To his left he could see part of a receiving hall, the source of the light, and a corridor continuing on from there. The place was huge, and he sent up a silent plea to the Lightbringer that whatever there was to find was down here somewhere. This was a two-man job, though he wasn’t about to admit it to Seregil later. He didn’t have to prove himself again, he knew. He just had to prove to Seregil that he could let Alec out of his sight and not lose him again. He had no intention of getting caught.
The back of the house was taken up with the dining room, several sitting rooms decorated in different styles-none of which contained any sort of secret hiding place that he could find-a larger dining room, two garderobes, and the kitchen.
From there a plain stairway led up to what was most likely the servants’ quarters. The corridor past the receiving hall led to a lavish ballroom.
In the receiving hall, a marble staircase led up to the part of the house he next needed to explore. He judged he’d already been at it for nearly an hour, and wondered fleetingly how Seregil was doing keeping Laneus and the others occupied.
Night lamps burned along the upstairs corridors, as well. Shoes set out for cleaning along the upper corridor showed him which rooms were occupied-five in all. Avoiding those rooms, he discovered a huge library and a large, mostly empty room that served for sword practice, judging by the various styles of blades in racks on the walls.
At the far end of the corridor he at last found what appeared to be a man’s study. It was rather small and by far the coziest room yet, with a pretty fireplace and a jumble of books, scrolls, and male bric-a-brac on the shelves that lined the room. It was tempting to take some small item as a present for Seregil, but he didn’t want to chance leaving the slightest sign of his visit.
The writing desk under the window overlooked the top of the garden wall and the side of the neighboring house. He took out his lightstone and fitted a leather cone around it to shield it from anyone happening in. Rifling the locked correspondence box first, he found a half-finished letter. As he read it his eyebrows arched in dismay.
There was no signature, but comparing it with other letters in the box, it appeared to be in Laneus’s hand. He debated taking it, then decided against it and instead copied the letter out. His script was far less elegant and clear than Seregil’s and he blotted a few places in his haste, but it was soon finished. There was also a sealed letter addressed to General Sarien.
Alec carefully pried the seal loose. The letter was wrapped in the sheet with the general’s name on it. The letter itself had no date or salutation, just a few lines in Laneus’s bold script.
Seven more to the cause. Will bring them to our next meeting. Must have assurances of your men soon.
There was nothing overtly damning in it, but knowing what he did and whom it was addressing, it wasn’t too difficult to guess what was really being said.
Seven more-
This bore out their concern that arresting the principal players would cause the unknown followers to scatter.
He rubbed the bottom of the sealing wax with his thumb to soften it, then stuck it back down and turned his attention to the desk, and then the room. Try as he might, however, he couldn’t find any secret caches of papers, though he searched every available surface except the ceiling and wiggled anything he could lay hands on, looking for a trigger for a secret space, or a passageway like the one Seregil had found at Kyrin’s house. Nothing.
At Eirual’s brothel, Seregil found the lady in question still in her dressing room. The little chamber was filled with the sweet fragrances of expensive perfumes and powders. She was admiring herself in a long mirror as her maidservant adjusted the folds of Eirual’s pale green silk gown. Several pairs of fancy shoes were lined up for inspection in front of the wardrobe.
“You’re just in time, my love!” the courtesan greeted him, smiling at Seregil in the mirror. Lifting two ornately woven jeweled necklaces from a casket on the dressing table, she turned and held them up for him to judge. “Pearls or the peridots?”
Seregil struck a thoughtful pose. “Pearls, I think. They look so cool and inviting against your skin.”
“Pearls it is.” She handed the necklace to Seregil and lifted her black ringlets from her neck.
Seregil dutifully fastened the heavy strands and brushed his fingertips playfully down her nape. “Hmmm, yes. Most inviting.”
She turned and kissed him on the cheek. “Such a tease. I do miss you, you know. You were always one of my favorites.” She noticed the black armband he wore as she reached for one of the pearl hairpins on the dressing table. Her coquettish smile faded. “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”
“Nor I.”
Eirual shook her head as if repelling sadness and began decorating her elaborately braided hair with pearl hairpins. “And where is the fair Alec? Still downstairs?”
“No, he’s not well tonight. I’ll be escorting both you lovelies myself, and will be the envy of all who see me.”
“You always are, I suspect.”
Myrhichia hurried in with a white silk girdle embroidered with pearls. “I thought you might want this,” she said, draping it around the older woman’s shapely hips. “What do you think, Seregil?”
“Perfect! The pair of you are a vision of loveliness not to be outdone by all the titled heads of Rhiminee.” Indeed Myrhichia looked as beautiful as her benefactress in midnight-blue silk stitched with crystal beads, and matching hairpins glittering in her dark hair. “You look like the night sky in Bokthersa, full of stars and mystery,” he told her, kissing her cheek.
“But where is Alec?”
“Indisposed, I’m afraid.”
“Oh, and I was so looking forward to teasing him a bit!”
When the women had completed their adornments to their mutual satisfaction, the three of them strolled arm-in-arm to the Red Hart, glittering among the evening crowd and drawing admiring glances from many they passed. At the elegant tavern the master of the house escorted them to the private room Seregil had reserved for the evening.
Laneus, Malthus, and their ladies soon joined them, and introductions were made all around. Malthus and Ania knew the two courtesans, and greeted them warmly, as did Laneus and his young wife. Eona seemed particularly thrilled to meet the famous Eirual.
They dined on poached butterfly fish, jellied eel, raw oysters, warm sesame bread, dishes of olives and pickled vegetables, and a rare Mycenian white wine of excellent prewar vintage.
The courtesans were charming as always, and Seregil could see Eirual’s tutelage in Myrhichia’s sparkling conversation, and her knowledge of current events and politics. She
and Laneus had a spirited debate over the tax on gemstones, and ended the argument with laughter.
Seregil watched the two men with veiled intere
st; both gave every indication of being delighted to dine with him, and their ladies expressed great concern over Alec’s supposed fever. His wound was remarked upon and Laneus’s shock at the story of how Seregil and Alec had been waylaid by assassins seemed quite genuine, but perhaps not as violent as Malthus’s, who went white to the lips and stole a glance at Laneus as Seregil elaborated.
“By the Light, he might have taken your head off!” Duchess Ania exclaimed.
“If the bluecoats hadn’t come along and chased them off, he probably would have!” Seregil told her. “Of course, all I could think of was Alec, but he was much better at fighting his man off, though he cut his hand quite badly.”
“You didn’t tell me that! I hope that’s not the source of his fever,” Myrhichia exclaimed, fanning herself in agitation. “Blood poisoning is a serious ailment. I lost an uncle to it, and he’d only pricked his finger on a rusty arrowhead.”
“Brother Valerius saw to it personally,” Seregil assured her. “It’s just a summer fever. He’s been out in the heat too much.”
“Playing with Princess Elani,” Malthus noted with a smile, having recovered. “Or so I hear.”
“By all reports, you two have suddenly been spending a lot of time at court,” said Ania. “It was Duke Reltheus who introduced you, wasn’t it?”
“Actually it was by way of Count Selin,” Seregil replied, popping an olive into his mouth. “He got us admitted to Archduchess Alaya’s salon, and we met the princess royal there. He also introduced us to Duke Reltheus. Quite the gambler, the duke.”
“As are you,” Laneus said. His expression was bland, but Seregil was certain he caught just a hint of double meaning.
After the cakes and sweet wine, Ania and Eona unexpectedly rose to go.
“We’re off to the Swan,” Eona told them, extending her
hands to Eirual and Myrhichia. “Won’t you come gamble with us, ladies, and we’ll leave the men to their boring talk?”
“Go on,” Seregil said with a laugh. “Who am I to stand in the way of a woman’s pleasure?”
“I can vouch for that,” Eirual laughed, taking Eona’s hand.
Seregil felt strangely outnumbered when the women were gone, though he hardly expected the two men to attack him. They sipped their wine and made small talk about horses and tailors for some time, then Laneus struck.
“Malthus tells me that you have some concerns regarding the princess royal’s safety,” he told Seregil. “He was left with the impression that you believe there may be some dark movement against her.”
“I merely passed on rumors that I had heard among the royal set, purely out of concern for Malthus’s safety.” He turned to Malthus. “I’m sorry if I didn’t make that clear. I wasn’t accusing anyone of anything.”
“I’m pleased to hear that,” Laneus answered for the other man. “It wouldn’t do for such rumors to go any farther.” He paused a moment. “May I ask where you stand on the succession, Seregil, now that you’ve come to know the heir?”
“The princess royal is a remarkable young woman, but so young!” Seregil exclaimed, selecting another olive from the common dish.
“Young for what?” asked Malthus, rising to the bait as hoped.
Seregil shrugged. “Well, if-Sakor forbid-our queen should fall in battle as her mother did before her, then don’t you think Elani is, well-” He paused as if unsure of his audience. “What I mean to say is, the war seems to be far from over and she’s untried in battle. Perhaps if Phoria had taken her into the field, as Idrilain did with her, it would be a different matter, but to put the weight of Skala’s future on such slim shoulders…” He looked around as if he’d said too much and nibbled the olive. Laneus was doing a fine job of watching his face without being obvious about it. “Not that I’m speaking against the succession!”
“You’re right to be careful, my lord,” Laneus warned.
“Especially as your friendship with Princess Klia is so well known.”
Seregil pretended to be momentarily baffled. “But what-” He gave Laneus a wide-eyed look of surprise. “What are you saying, Laneus? That I-? Illior’s Light, no! You know I never involve myself in politics. My friendship with either of the princesses is strictly on a personal level. I’m immensely fond of both of them.”
“But if it came to a choice between the two?”
Seregil made a sign against bad luck. “Pray the Four it never comes to such a pass, my lords! It’s unthinkable.”
“Really? You wouldn’t back either?” asked Malthus.
“If it came to that, then it would be civil war, and I’m sure I’d take to my heels in that event,” Seregil said with a delicate shudder, adding quickly, “But I would fear for both their lives.”
“I can’t decide if you’re a sly fellow, or just a coward,” Laneus remarked.
“I’ve been called worse in my time,” Seregil replied, a little surprised at the abrupt turn of the conversation.
Malthus intervened. “Come now, Laneus, there’s no need to be rude. What he means, Seregil, is that it seems odd that you, who have been friends with Klia for nearly her entire life, are suddenly so close to Elani and Reltheus.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“You don’t know, then?” Laneus asked with a tinge of sarcasm.
“Know what?” Seregil persisted in his obtuseness, wondering how far he could draw the man out.
“That Reltheus and his cronies mean to assassinate Klia, and perhaps even Phoria. We believe there’s already been one attempt on the princess’s life, though news of it has been suppressed.”
Seregil affected shocked astonishment. “How do you know about it, then?”
“I have my channels.”
“By the Light, why? And why Phoria?”
Laneus sighed, as if dealing with a half wit. “It’s perfectly obvious. Klia is still the rightful heir in many minds. They
can’t chance her taking Elani’s place. As for Phoria, Elani is still young, impressionable, and fatherless. She’s obviously devoted to Reltheus, regarding him as a second uncle. Better to be the power behind the throne now, than when she’s matured and has ideas of her own. Now is the time to strike.”
“But that’s monstrous!”
“You’ve never heard your friend Reltheus let drop any such sentiment, perhaps only a passing comment?” asked Malthus.
“Never,” Seregil assured him, aware again of how Laneus was watching him without seeming to. “Then again, we never discuss politics.”
“Well, I hope we’ve put your mind at rest about our own intentions,” said Malthus. “We mean to protect all three women.”
“A noble endeavor,” said Seregil. “But what can just the two of you hope to accomplish against such dark forces?”
“That’s none of your concern,” Laneus told him. “Knowing what you do, can you support us in that?”
“Support you,” Seregil said slowly, as if puzzling out the hidden meaning. “Keep my mouth shut, you mean?”
Laneus smiled at that. “Bluntly put, but yes.”
“How could I not support such a noble endeavor?” Seregil replied. “It’s certainly in the country’s best interests.”
“Very good. Then we have your word?”
“There’s just one thing I don’t understand, though. Why haven’t you gone to Prince Korathan about all this?”
That set Laneus back on his heels for a moment, but he recovered quickly. “We’re still gathering intelligence. We don’t have sufficient evidence yet.”
“Perhaps Seregil could help us, given his close association with Reltheus?” Malthus suggested.
Laneus raised an eyebrow at Seregil.
“Spy on Reltheus?” he asked, inwardly amused.
“He might let something slip in front of you. Or one of his compatriots. We have reason to believe that he’s not alone in his plotting. You’re in his set now. Can you think of anything you’ve heard that might be suspicious?”
“I’m not so much in his set as in the princess royal’s. I
haven’t socialized with many of Reltheus’s other friends.” Seregil grinned. “I think he may be a little embarrassed at our association. Now you have me afraid to be around him. What if I was suspected?”
“I would speak for you, if it came to that,” Malthus assured him.
“Well… I suppose, if it’s to protect Klia and the queen. Yes, you have my word, I’ll back you.”
He shook hands with both men. Perhaps Malthus believed what he’d told Seregil, but Laneus had liar’s eyes.
Apparently the evening’s business was complete, for they went to meet the ladies at the Swan, a gambling establishment set aside for women. A manservant met them at the door and left them in an elegant waiting room with a few other husbands and lovers, where Eona and the rest soon arrived to collect them. The two duchesses appeared to be on the best of terms with Eirual and Myrhichia.
“This lovely girl is a luck bringer!” Eona exclaimed, holding the younger courtesan’s hand as if they were sisters. “As long as she sat by me at the card table, I couldn’t lose! And she and Eirual tell such saucy stories!”
Anxious to prolong the evening for Alec’s sake, Seregil said, “I’d like to test that luck, myself. Why don’t we go on to the Three Dragons?”
“Ah, yes, I’ve heard of your very interesting performance there,” Ania said with a knowing smile. “I wonder if they’ll allow you in again?”
“Or perhaps a repeat performance will be required,” Eirual teased.
“If the former, dear ladies, then I know I am welcome at the Drake. And if the latter, well…” He trailed off suggestively.
“I fear we must beg off,” said Laneus, much to his wife’s disappointment. “I don’t care for such pursuits, but the rest of you go on.”
Bilairy’s Balls! Seregil cursed inwardly, trying to gauge how much time had passed, though the only emotion he allowed to show was disappointment. “Perhaps you’re right. I should probably go home and see how poor Alec is doing.”
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll be asleep by now,” Malthus chided. “Come, just a few games and then we’ll let you go.”
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