Casket of Souls

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.

 
    B EKA 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.
    It had been tricky getting this close to the Plenimaran encampment; the moon was just past full, and oak mast rustled and crunched inconveniently under cavalry boots. Beka envied her Aurënfaie husband his ability to make little noise as he moved and wished he were here, though Syra was a skilled scout, as well. Luckily there was no starlight to betray their movements.
    From here they could make out the enemy watch