They made use of the individual tubs first, Alec with a flannel cinched modestly around his waist, then went to the griffin pool to swim. Seregil was floating happily on his back, hair spread around his head like a dark halo, when he opened his eyes and found Thero looking down at him with a wry smile. “I half expect to find you taking up residence here.”
“I’m considering it.”
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“But I know you’re glad to see us,” Seregil said.
“Especially since we brought you a present,” said Alec, swimming over to join them.
“Really? How nice. Will you join me for supper?”
Seregil grinned. “Have you ever known us to turn down a free meal?”
“When you’re done, then.”
They left the pool reluctantly, and when they were dry and dressed climbed the five flights of stairs to the east tower. Wethis let them in and directed them downstairs, where a light repast of cold sorrel soup, cheese-a rare delicacy these days-and sweet spice bread awaited in the sitting room. With a snap of his fingers, the young wizard summoned a snow-crusted jug of wine from his store on Mount Apos. Some things didn’t change, even with the war.
“First things first,” he told them as they settled down to eat. “I have a letter for you, from Beka Cavish.”
“From Beka!” Alec exclaimed. “Why didn’t you say so?”
Thero raised an eyebrow. “I just did. It came in a letter Klia sent me.”
“She’s sending you reports from the front now?” Alec exchanged a knowing grin with Seregil.
Thero ignored the comment and did not choose to share the contents of his letter with them, except Klia’s news that the war was being hard fought, and that they’d captured a significant gold shipment on the Folcwine. Going to a cabinet across the room, he took out a sealed square of parchment with their names scrawled across the front and gave it to Alec. “There was one for her family, as well. I sent a servant out to Watermead with it.”
Seregil looked over Alec’s shoulder as he unfolded the letter and read in Beka’s slanting script about the battles she’d fought so far this summer, and the raids she and her celebrated Urghazi Turma had made into enemy territory. Her Aurenfaie husband, Nyal, had proven himself among them and served as a scout.
“It’s dated nearly a month ago,” Alec pointed out. “A lot can happen in a month. I don’t suppose you’ve cast a wizard eye for her?”
“You know how unfeasible that is if I don’t have some idea of where she is,” the wizard replied. “But what about you two? Did you have good hunting?”
“Very good,” said Seregil. “Though we were interrupted while we were at it.”
“Interrupted? As in almost caught?” asked Thero.
“A pair of servants snuck in to have a quick go of it,” Alec explained.
“Go of what?”
“Fucking,” Seregil clarified.
“Ah. Well, the duke is probably on his way back to the city now. Duchess Palmani gave birth earlier than expected-a son. So, what did you find?”
Seregil gave him the copies of the letters from Alaya first.
“The princess royal’s dowager lady-in-waiting?” asked Thero, surprised. “Don’t tell me you suspect the archduchess of some kind of disloyalty to Princess Elani?”
“She never struck me as the type for intrigue of that sort,” said Seregil.
“You know her?”
“I met her when I was at court. She pinched my cheek and gave me sweetmeats whenever she saw me, but I doubt she remembers me after all these years.”
Thero perused the letters. “Hmmm. Not anything treasonous, at least.”
“I saved the best for last, though.” Seregil handed him Elani’s letter.
Thero gave him a questioning look, then began to read. His eyes widened when he realized what it was.
“We thought it was a bit odd, the duke having a personal letter between the princess royal and the queen hidden in a compartment under the carpet in his study,” said Alec.
“Indeed,” Thero replied, frowning. “What could he want with it?”
“Hard to tell yet. But what we saw appeared to be a copy,” Seregil told him.
“So it had to come from someone who has access to her inner apartments. Alaya herself would be in the best position to see Elani’s correspondence, and from what you found, it’s clear she’s in touch with the duke.”
Seregil helped himself to another cup of the excellent wine. “But the handwriting appeared to be in the style of a royal scribe. You wouldn’t happen to know who serves Elani?”
“No idea.”
“Too bad. But the question remains: why would a letter like this be of interest to Reltheus?”
“Perhaps because she mentions Danos.”
Seregil blinked. “You know who Danos is?”
“Of course. He’s Duke Reltheus’s eldest son. I think the duke has some hope of the young man taking the princess royal’s heart. They did spend a lot of time together. He’s of marriageable age, and she will be, too, before long.”
“Still, it seems rather underhanded, stealing Elani’s letters,” Alec remarked.
“I would like you two to find out more about that for me. What can you do?”
“As it happens, we have a mutual friend. Young Count Selin,” Seregil replied.
“He’ll be at my party,” said Alec. “There was a letter from him in Reltheus’s correspondence, too. Apparently he and the duke are friends.”
“Which seems a bit odd, given the difference in their ages, wealth, and rank,” Seregil added. “Their friendship appears to have started since Reltheus began frequenting Alaya’s salons. Selin was already a family friend. His mother and the archduchess are close.”
“So you think Reltheus is trying to worm his way back into the inner court?” asked Thero.
“Easier to charm his way into the good graces of an old woman and a girl young enough to be his daughter than those of the formidable queen herself,” Seregil replied with a shrug.
“That’s certainly a possibility. See if you can insert yourselves into Alaya’s circle.”
Alec reached across the table and tapped the letter. “What about Reltheus?”
“He lives on Silvermoon not far from the archduchess. It should be an easy enough job for you to keep an eye on him, and see who he meets with.”
“We will.”
“When are you two planning to reappear in society?”
“Not until the night before the party,” Seregil replied.
“I don’t need a party, you know,” Alec said for what seemed like the hundredth time.
“Yes, you do,” Seregil countered, grinning. “And that gives us some time to pay the duke a visit.”
“Burgle him, you mean?”
“Of course.”
“Do you think we should say anything to Prince Korathan, Thero?” asked Alec.
“I’d like to know what this is really about first. Until we have more certain evidence, I want this kept to Watcher business.” Thero refilled their cups. “Will the Cavishes be at the party?”
“Yes.”
The wizard smiled. “It will be good to see them again. It’s a shame Magyana is away in Sarikali. She’ll be sorry to miss it. So, what else will you two be doing, when you’re not burgling houses or floating around in my bath chamber?”
“The usual small jobs, I suppose,” Seregil said as they rose to go. “Though the Cat has had more commissions from the pleasure houses than Silvermoon with so many nobles out of town.”
“I’m not surprised. By the way, Seregil, I’ve been refining that translocation spell that gives you so much trouble. I’d like to test it to see if it still makes you so terribly ill.”
“Another time. I’d hate to lose this fine supper,” Seregil told him, hurrying for the door.
“Coward!” Thero called after him.
“Sadist!” Seregil shot back with a laugh.
CHAPTER 3. Beka Cavish
BEKA Cavish crouched in the deeper shadow of a huge oak tree and bound her wild red hair back with a bit of leather lacing. Syra, her fellow scout tonight, did the same with her own dark hair. Or at least that’s what the uncertain shape in the darkness seemed to be doing. Between the gloom and the light ground fog, Beka could see her fellow soldier only because she knew where to look.