Casket of Souls

have a fight? Personally,
I
don’t want to fight.”
    Alec’s lips quirked in a half smile as he turned in Seregil’s arms and kissed him back. “Then that only leaves one other choice.”
    Their lovemaking that night was fierce and full of need. Surging and tumbling, each got as good as he gave, leaving a few fingertip-shaped bruises and teeth marks in their wake. Afterward, they fell away from each other, sweaty and winded. A rare night breeze wafted in through the open window; cooled, Seregil rolled over and lay with his head pillowed on Alec’s smooth chest as Alec lazily stroked his hairthe way that made him feel especially content. Seregil kissed the warm skin over his lover’s heart, savoring the salty taste and strong pulse beneath his lips.
    If you die, I won’t be far behind
.
    Some emotions and thoughts traveled over the talímenios bond more clearly than others, or perhaps Alec knew him too well. Gently tugging a strand of Seregil’s hair, he murmured, “I’d wait for you at Bilairy’s Gate. Now stop worrying. I love you.”
    “I love you, too, talí.”
    They waited well past midnight, then stole back to Kyrin’s house in dark clothing. Retracing Alec’s previous route, they made it to the library window without trouble. Seregil opened the inside latch with a thin lime-wood shim.
    Alec retrieved all the documents he’d found and they laid them out on the carpet, then held them one by one in front of the lightstones and one by one discarded them until they came to the scroll. Alec unrolled it and held it up for Seregil, who had the stone. Tiny points of light shone through the parchment like miniature constellations.
    “What does it say?” Alec whispered.
    Seregil squinted at the letters for a moment, then his eyebrows shot up in surprise. “It’s in Aurënfaie.” Seregil scanned the page, muttering under his breath. “Dark moon with the tide. Twenty-five. More?”
    “More what?”
    “Who knows? But ‘dark moon’—perhaps the traitor’s moon—and ‘tide’ suggest smuggling to me.”
    Alec nodded excitedly. “That and the manifests!”
    “Sounds like our marquis is stockpiling valuables. The question is, why?”
    “It must have something to do with that list of names.”
    “Very likely.”
    Putting the room back in order, they went out the way they came in and headed back to the inn.
    Early the following morning they carried the news to Thero, who was at breakfast with several other wizards. Aspread of fresh currant buns, ham, pears, boiled eggs, white cheese, puffed berry pastries—an Orëska House specialty—and pots of strong tea were laid out on one of the worktables. Nysander’s breakfasts had been famous, and to everyone’s surprise, Thero had continued the tradition.
    The other wizards greeted them warmly, believing, as intended, that Lord Seregil and Lord Alec had just arrived back from their travels.
    “Ah, you’re just in time for another free meal,” Thero noted dryly as they came in.
    “Cranky this morning, are we?” Seregil grabbed him in a hug and kissed his bearded cheek, much to the wizard’s dismay.
    “Do that again and you’ll find yourself at the top of Mount Apos,” Thero warned, slopping his tea on the table as he shook Seregil off.
    “At least it would be an escape from this heat,” Alec said as he filled a plate.
    There was no choice in front of the other wizards but to make small talk and pretend they’d come for nothing more than breakfast. But when the wizards were gone Seregil and Alec detailed the findings of their night’s work.
    Thero nodded as he listened, then considered it for a long moment. “There’s no way of knowing if the list of names and the apparent smuggling are related. You did find the suspicious documents in different places.”
    “There could be any number of reasons for that,” said Seregil.
    “Maybe Kyrin was waiting until nobody was there to move the scroll to the hidden cupboard behind the tapestry,” Alec pointed out.
    Seregil nodded. “Perhaps.”
    “And don’t forget Elani’s stolen letter,” Alec reminded them. “If Kyrin is sharing secrets with Reltheus and the others, maybe they know about the letter, too.”
    “Korathan’s secretary, and someone stealing the princess royal’s letters.” Thero frowned. “This could strike at the heart of the court.”
    “More work to be done,” said Seregil. “I think LordsSeregil and Alec will be out of the city again for a bit while the Cat