He replaced the letter in the desk and made a quick check of what was in Reltheus’s secret cache today, which turned out to be one coded document. A scan proved it to be another field report from Rider Caem, which must have been sent before he’d been caught. It was long and took several moments to puzzle out, but finally Seregil read Klia joined queen at Vremont. Heard shouting from royal tent. K chafes at her losses. Chided by queen, K vowed loyalty. K called her officers to her tent for secret talk. Repeat loyalty to queen. Battle tomorrow. Forefront again.

The battle of Vremont had been reported by the royal heralds as a victory several weeks ago. He wondered how long it would take Reltheus to notice that no more messages were coming.

Seregil put everything back the way he’d found it, and made a quick search of the rest of the large desk. In the

locked drawer he found the beginning of a letter to the queen in which Reltheus expressed some concern about Elani’s evident “infatuation” with Alec. He worried that it was unseemly for her to show feelings toward a young man known to be another nobleman’s lover.

Well, well, you double-dealing old fox, Seregil thought with wry amusement. You think there’s a weasel loose in the henhouse and you’re not about to stand for it. Still, Reltheus must think he or Alec could be useful or he wouldn’t keep them in his circle as he had.

He made himself a bit more disheveled and rejoined the company. Reltheus was playing bakshi with Selin while the others talked. Seregil caught Elani’s name.

“That was a pleasant afternoon with Her Highness, wasn’t it?” Seregil drawled drunkenly, flopping down on the velvet tufted couch beside Stenmir just to annoy the man. “The more I see of that girl, the better I like her. Marvelous wise head on those young shoulders. What a queen she’ll make!”

“There are those who disagree,” Count Tolin sniffed. “I’m surprised you don’t have more to say about Princess Klia being passed over, given your friendship with her.”

Seregil waved a dismissive hand. “She doesn’t aspire to be queen, as far as I know. Loyal as the day is long.”

“The days are getting shorter though, aren’t they?” Stenmir mused, deep in his cups.

Reltheus gave the man a sharp look, then smiled at Seregil. “I’m sure yours is the more valuable observation.”

“Don’t tell me people are worried about her trying to take the throne!” Seregil exclaimed.

“There are those who think she might.”

Seregil pretended to swallow another mouthful of wine and shrugged. “Reckless, foolhardy gossip. Don’t they know that could rip the country apart?”

“I told you he’s the queen’s man,” Reltheus said to the room at large as he pushed his last bakshi stone into place and defeated Selin.

“To the queen!” Seregil raised his cup unsteadily and the others joined in the toast.

Reltheus stood and held out a hand to him. “I need some

air and you look like you could do with some, as well. Come take a turn in the garden with me.”

Seregil wavered to his feet, still playing half inebriated, and took Reltheus’s arm. “Just the thing!”

The rain had stopped and a light fog had risen from the harbor, pleasant against the skin.

“I must say, it’s been a delight getting to know you, my friend,” Reltheus said warmly, patting the hand on his arm. “For all your reputation, I believe there’s more to you than you let on.”

Seregil schooled his expression to a tipsy grin, wondering if Reltheus meant to slit his throat here in the darkness. “I hardly think so. As I’ve often said, most of what you hear about me is true.”

“But I’ve heard a great deal, and not all of it scandalous. You were an important envoy in Aurenen, it’s said, threading the complicated politics of that country.”

Seregil relaxed slightly. “I was glad to be useful to Skala. I love my adopted homeland very much.”

“And you wouldn’t see it come to harm.”

“Of course not.”

“Then I may have a way for you to forestall that.”

Seregil stopped in the light of a garden lantern and looked up at him. “Me? How?”

“Oh, just a little thing,” Reltheus assured him. “As it happens, I have reason to believe that your friend Duke Malthus may be one of those wanting to put Klia on the throne in Elani’s place. I fear he might even be planning to assassinate Phoria and the girl. And I think our friend General Sarien may be in on the plot, as well.”

Seregil gave him a horrified look. “That can’t be!”

“I do hope for their sakes that I’m wrong, but I’m trying to find out for certain before I go to the vicegerent. And I think you can help me in that. You socialize with Malthus frequently. Has he ever said anything to you that would make you think he’s unsympathetic to Elani as heir?”

“Never! Do you think it’s really possible?”

“Yes, I do. If you could keep your ears open, even sound him out a bit, it would be a great service to Skala, the queen,

and Elani, of course. I couldn’t bear to see that girl come to harm.”

I’m sure you couldn’t, thought Seregil, although the man did sound genuinely concerned. After what Elani had told Alec about her feelings for Danos, Seregil was anxious to see her around Danos, to see if there was any real affection on the young man’s side, or just a dutiful son following his father’s wishes-or a mercenary desire to share the royal dais.

“I’ll certainly pay attention to see if Malthus says anything about it, but he is a friend, and I don’t want to get him into any trouble.”

“But you wouldn’t want anyone to think you were colluding with him, either, would you?” Reltheus asked mildly.

Now the gloves were coming off. “Why do you think anyone would think that?” Seregil asked in alarm that was not entirely feigned. If Reltheus turned on him and Alec, he certainly had sway at court.

Reltheus patted his arm again. “I’m sure you’ll prove your loyalty to Skala, Seregil. If you do hear anything compromising, it would be best if you brought it directly to me.”

“Not Prince Korathan?”

Seregil caught a fleeting look of exasperation in the other man’s eyes. Reltheus was quite the dissembler. “No, I think it will be better if you come to me.”

“Very well. I’m sure you know best,” Seregil replied.

They went back inside to find that Alec had arrived.

“And how is your distressed friend?” asked Reltheus, pouring wine for him.

“He’ll live,” Alec said with a smile, catching Seregil’s eye. “Got himself into a bit of trouble in a rough neighborhood. He’s gone home now.”

He and Seregil stayed long enough for Alec to have a few games, and it was closer to dawn than midnight when they finally took their leave. The wind had come up, swirling the thickening mist and blowing out street lanterns. Even here in the Noble Quarter, the lamplighters had turned in for the

night. It was the sort of night footpads crept into the finer streets, looking for an easy mark in the darkness.

“Atre’s all right?” asked Seregil.

“Minor knife wound from a girl cutpurse he tried to help, according to him. Brader came and fetched him.”

“How did he know where Atre was?”

“I didn’t think to ask,” Alec admitted. “Atre must have sent a messenger.”

“No matter, I suppose, so long as he isn’t mortally wounded.”

“Speaking of mortally wounded, I found a man with the sleeping death on the way back. I took him to a temple, and there were more.”

“Up here? How many?”

“Five in all. Tonight it was a god-touched young man, and-two little boys.”

A small but clear stab of heartache slipped along his bond to Seregil. He reined in close beside Alec. “Is it because they’re mostly children, tali?”

“Yes.” It was a hoarse whisper, and Seregil felt that tingle of pain again. Alec had always been good with children. Having Sebrahn for so short a time and then losing him had left a deeper wound than Alec would admit. Though he wouldn’t talk about it, every so often something would bring the sadness to the surface. It happened less often now, but the pain was still just as deep.