"Though a nobleman's not likely to Pass his Seon to some random peasant," Galladon said. "Seons, like wealth, tend to say in the family. Kolo?"
Karata frowned. "So… what happens if the owner dies, and hasn't told the Seon who to move on to?"
Raoden paused, then shrugged, looking to Galladon.
"Don't look at me, sule," Galladon said. "I never had a Seon."
"1 don't know," Raoden admitted. "I guess it would just choose its next master on its own."
"And if it didn't want to?" Karata asked.
"I don't think it would have a choice." Raoden said. "There's… something about Seons and their masters. They're bonded, somehow. Seons go mad when their masters are taken by the Shaod. for instance. I think they were created to serve-it's part of their magic."
Karata nodded.
"My lord Spirit!" called an approaching voice.
Raoden raised an eyebrow. closing the tome.
"My lord," Dashe said as he rushed through the door. The tall Elantrian looked more confused than worried.
"What is it, Dashe?" Raoden asked.
"It's the gyorn, my lord," Dashe said with an excited look. "He's been healed."
CHAPTER 35
A month and a half and you've already dethroned the king. Never let it be said that you don't work quickly. 'Ene." Her father's words were jovial, though his glowing face betrayed concern. He knew, as she did, that chaos in the wake of an uprooted government could be dangerous for both peasant and noble.
"Well, it isn't as if I intended it," Sarene protested. "Merciful Domi, I tried to save the fool. He shouldn't have gotten mixed up in the Mysteries."
Her father chuckled. "I should never have sent you over there. You were bad enough when we let you visit our enemies."
"You didn't 'send' me here, Father," Sarene said. "This was my idea."
"I'm glad to know that my opinion counts for so much in my daughter's eyes." Eventeo said.
Sarene felt herself soften. "I'm sorry. Father." she said with a sigh. "I've been on edge ever since… you don't know how horrible it was."
"Oh, I do-unfortunately. How in Domi's name could a monstrosity like the Mysteries come from a religion as innocent as Jesker?"
"The same way Shu-Dereth and Shu-Korath could both come from the teachings of one little Jindoeese man," Sarene replied with a shake of her head. Eventeo sighed. "So, Iadon is dead?"
"You've heard?" Sarene asked with surprise.
"I sent a few new spies into Arelon recently. 'Ene," her father said. "I'm not going to leave my daughter alone in a country on the edge of destruction without at least keeping an eye on her."
"Who?" Sarene asked curiously.
"You don't need to know." her father said.
"They must have a Seon," Sarene mused. "Otherwise you wouldn't know about Iadon-he only hanged himself last night."
"I'm not going to tell you, 'Ene," Eventeo said with an amused tone. "If you knew who it was. you would inevitably decide to appropriate him for your own purposes."
"Fine." Sarene said. "But when this is all over, you'd better tell me who it was."
"You don't know him.-
"Fine." Sarene repeated, feigning indifference.
Her father laughed. -So, tell me about Iadon. How in Domi's name did he get a rope?-
"Lord Eondel must have arranged it," Sarene guessed. resting her elbows on her desk. "The count thinks like a warrior, and this was a very efficient solution. We don't have to force an abdication, and suicide restored some dignity to the monarchy."
"Bloodthirsty this afternoon, are we 'Ene?"
Sarene shivered. "You didn't see it, Father. The king didn't just murder that girl, he… enjoyed doing it."
"Ah." Eventeo said. "My sources say Duke Telrii will probably take the throne."
"Not if we can help it," Sarene said. "Telrii is even worse than Iadon. Even if he weren't a Derethi sympathizer, he'd make a terrible king."
" 'Ene, a civil war will help no one."
"It won't come to that, Father," Sarene promised. "You don't understand how unmilitaristically minded these people are. They lived for centuries under Elantrian protection-they think the presence of a few overweight guards on the city wall is enough to dissuade invaders. Their only real troops belong to Lord Eondel's legion, which he's ordered to gather at Kae. We might just be able to get Roial crowned before anyone's the wiser."
"You've united behind him, then?"
"He's the only one rich enough to challenge Telrii," Sarene explained. "I didn't have enough time to stamp out Iadon's foolish monetary-title system. That is what the people are accustomed to, and so we're going to have to use it. for now."
A knock at the door was followed by a maid with a lunch tray. Sarene had returned to live in the palace after spending only one night in Roial's manor, despite her allies' concerns. The palace was a symbol, and she hoped it would lend her authority. The maid put the tray on the table and departed.
"Was that lunch?" Her father seemed to have a sixth sense regarding food. "Yes," Sarene said, cutting herself a piece of cornbread.
"Is it good?"
Sarene smiled. "You shouldn't ask, Father. You'll only upset yourself." Eventeo sighed. "I know. Your mother has a new fascination-Hraggish weed soup.
"Is it good?" Sarene asked. Her mother was the daughter of a Teoish diplomat, and had spent most of her growing years in Jindo. As a result, she had picked up some very odd dietary preferences-ones she forced upon the entire palace and its staff.
"It's horrible."
"Pity," Sarene said. 'Now, where did I put that butter?"
Her father groaned.
"Father," Sarene chided. "You know you need to lose weight." While the king was nowhere as large-in either muscle or fat-as his brother Kiin, he was more portly than he was stocky.
"I don't see why," Eventeo said. "Did you know that in Duladel they consider fat people attractive? They don't care about Jindoeese notions of health, and they're perfectly happy. Besides, where has it been proven that butter makes you fat?"
"You now what the Jindos say, Father," Sarene said. "If it burns, it isn't healthy."
Eventeo sighed. "I haven't had a cup of wine in ten years."
"I know, Father. I used to live with you, remember?"
"Yes, but she didn't make you stay away from alcohol."
"I'm not overweight." Sarene pointed out. "Alcohol burns."
"So does Hraggish weed soup," Eventeo replied, his voice turning slightly impish. "At least, it does if you dry it out. I tried."
Sarene laughed. "I doubt Mother responded very well to that little experiment."
"She just gave me one of her looks-you know how she is."
"Yes," Sarene said, recalling her mother's features. Sarene had spent far too much time on diplomatic missions in the last few years to suffer from homesickness now, but it would be nice to be back in Teod-especially considering the seemingly endless series of surprises and disasters that had filled the last few weeks.
"Well, 'Ene. I have to go hold court," her father finally said. "I'm glad you occasionally take the time to call your poor old father-especially to let him know when you've overthrown an entire nation. Oh, one more thing. As soon as we found out about Iadon's suicide, Seinalan commandeered one of my fastest ships and set sail for Arelon. He should be arriving within a few days."
"Seinalan?" Sarene asked with surprise. "What part does the patriarch have in all this?"
"I don't know-he wouldn't tell me. But, I really have to go, 'Ene. I love you." "I love you too. Father."
"I've never met the patriarch," Roial confessed from his seat in Kiin's dining room. "Is he much like Father Omin?"
"No," Sarene said firmly. "Seinalan is a self-serving egotist with enough pride to make a Derethi gyorn look humble."
"Princess!" Eondel said with indignation. "You're talking about the father of our Church!"