"Me?" Sarene said with mock indignation. "What danger could I be?"
Ahan snorted. "Ask the king." he said, shoving a wafer into his mouth. "Actually, you can ask me-just look what you're doing to my poor wife. She refuses to eat!"
"I'm enjoying my fruit, Ahan," Seaden said. "I think you should try some of it."
"Maybe I'll try a plate of it after I'm done here," Ahan huffed. "You see what you're doing. Sarene? I would never have agreed to this 'fencing' thing if I had known how it would ruin my wife's figure."
"Ruin?" Sarene asked with surprise.
"I'm from southern Arelon, Princess," Ahan said, reaching for some more clams. "To us, round is beautiful. Not everyone wants their women to look like starving schoolboys." Then, realizing that he might have said too much, Ahan paused. "No offense intended, of course."
Sarene frowned. Ahan really was a delightful man. but he often spoke-and acted-without thought. Unsure how to properly respond. Sarene hesitated.
The wonderful Duke Roial came to her rescue. "Well, Ahan, we have to keep moving-I have a lot of guests to greet. Oh, by the way-you might want to tell your caravan to hurry."
Ahan looked up as Roial began to lead Sarene oft "Caravan?" he asked, suddenly very serious. "What caravan?"
"Why, the one you have carrying sourmelons from Duladel to Svorden, of course," the duke said offhandedly. "I sent a shipment of them myself a week ago. It should be arriving tomorrow morning. I'm afraid, my friend, that your caravan will arrive to a saturated market-not to mention the fact that your melons will be slightly overripe."
Ahan cursed, the plate going limp in his hand. shellfish tumbling unnoticed to the grass below. "How in the name of Domi did you manage that?"
"Oh. didn't you know?" Roial asked. "I was half partner in young Lukel's venture. I got all the unripened fruits from his shipment last week-they should be ready by the time they hit Svorden."
Ahan shook his head, laughing in a low voice. "You got me again. Roial. But just you watch-one of these days I'm finally going to get the better of you, and you'll be so surprised that you won't be able to look at yourself for a week!"
"I look forward to it," Roial said as they left the serving tables behind.
Sarene chuckled, the sound of Seaden scolding her husband rising behind. "You really are as good a businessman as they say, aren't you?"
Roial spread his hands in humility. Then he said, "Yes. Every bit as good." Sarene laughed.
"However." Roial continued, "that young cousin of yours puts me to shame. I have no idea how he kept that sourmelon shipment a secret-my Duladen agents are supposed to inform me of such things. I only got in on the deal because Lukel came to me for capital."
"Then it's a good thing he didn't go to Ahan instead."
"A good thing indeed," Roial agreed. "I would never hear the end of it if he had. Ahan's been trying to best me for two decades now-one of these days he's going to realize I only act brilliant to keep him off-balance, and then life isn't going to be half as entertaining."
They continued to walk, speaking with guests and enjoying Roial's excellent gardens. The early-blooming flower beds were cleverly lit with torchlight, lanterns, and even candles. Most impressive were the crosswood trees, whose branches-leafed with pink and white blossoms-were lit from behind by lanterns running up the trunks. Sarene was enjoying herself so much that she almost lost track of time. Only Ashe's sudden appearance reminded her of the night's true purpose.
"My lady!" Ashe exclaimed. "The king is leaving the party!"
"Are you certain?" she asked, her attention snapping away from the crosswood flowers.
"Yes, my lady," Ashe said. "He left furtively, claiming he needed to use the privy, but he called his carriage instead."
"Excuse me, Your Grace," Sarene curtly told Roial. "I must be going." "Sarene?" Roial asked with surprise as Sarene walked back toward the house. Then, more urgently, he called again. "Sarene! You can't go."
"I apologize, Your Grace, but this is important!"
He tried to follow her. but her legs were longer. In addition, the duke had a party to attend. He couldn't just disappear in the middle of it.
Sarene rounded the side of Roial's house in time to see the king climbing into his carriage. She cursed-why hadn't she thought to arrange transportation of her own? She looked around frantically, searching for a vehicle to requisition. She picked a likely candidate as the king's carriage pulled away. hooves clopping against the cobblestones.
"My lady!" Ashe warned. "The king is not in that carriage."
Sarene froze. "What?"
"He slipped out the other side and disappeared into the shadows on the far side of the driveway. The carriage is a ruse."
Sarene didn't bother to question the Seon-his senses were much more acute than those of a human. "Let's go," she said, heading in the proper direction. "I'm not dressed for sneaking: you'll have ro keep watch on him and tell me where he goes."
"Yes, my lady," Ashe said, dimming his light to a nearly imperceptible level and flying after the king. Sarene followed at a slower pace.
They continued in that manner, Ashe staying close to the king and Sarene following at a less conspicuous distance. They covered the ground surrounding Roial's mansion quickly, then moved into the city of Kae. Iadon moved strictly through alleys. and Sarene realized for the first time that she might be putting herself in danger. Women didn't travel alone after dark-even in Kae, which was one of the safest cities in Opelon. She considered turning baek a half-dozen times, once nearly dashing away in a panic as a drunk man moved in the darkness next to her. However, she kept going. She was only going to get one chance to find out what Iadon was up to, and her curiosity was stronger than her fear… for the moment at least.
Ashe, sensing the danger, advised that she let him follow the king alone, but she pressed on with determination. The Seon, accustomed to Sarene's ways, gave no further argument. He flitted back and forth between her and the king. doing his best to keep watch over Sarene while at the same time following Iadon.
Eventually, the Seon slowed, returning to Sarene with an apprehensive bob. "He just entered the sewers, my lady."
"The sewers?" Sarene asked incredulously.
"Yes, my lady. And he is not alone-he met two cloaked men just after he left the party, and was joined by a half-dozen more at the mouth of the sewers."
"And you didn't follow them in?" she asked with disappointment. "We'll never be able to tail them."
"That is unfortunate, my lady."
Sarene ground her teeth in frustration. "They'll leave tracks in the muck," she decided, stalking forward. "You should be able to follow them."
Ashe hesitated. `'My lady, I must insist that you return to the duke's party." "Not a chance, Ashe."
"I have the solemn duty of your protection, my lady," Ashe said. "I can't allow you to go climbing through refuse in the middle of the night-I was wrong to let you go this far. It is my responsibility to stop this before it goes any further."
"And how will you do that?" Sarene asked impatiently.
"I could call your father."
"Father lives in Teod, Ashe," Sarene pointed out. "What is he going to do?" "I couId go get Lord EondeI or one of the others."
"And leave me to get lost in the sewers on my own?"
"You would never do something that foolish, my lady," Ashe declared. Then he paused, hovering uncertainly in the air. his Aon so dim it was translucent. "All right," he finally admitted. "You are indeed that foolish."
Sarene smiled. "Come on-the fresher those tracks are, the easier it will be for you to follow them."
The Seon sullenly led the way down the street, which soon ended in a dirty, fungus-lined arch. Sarene strode forward with determination, paying no heed to the damage the sludge would do to her dress.