Casket of Souls

delightful woman, and a fearless warrior.”
    Alec nodded. “She’s as brave as she is beautiful and intelligent.”
    “Spoken like a true devotee,” Reltheus said with a smile. “I suppose that’s what makes her such a fine commander. And there are those who think she’d make a fine queen.”
    “I suppose there are,” Seregil replied noncommittally.
    “Well, you are lucky young men, to be counted as friends of one so near the throne.”
    “So near, yet so far.” Seregil watched for a reaction.
    “Indeed,” said Selin, shaking his head.
    “Word around court is that the queen is cold toward her youngest sister,” Reltheus said. “Do you know anything of that, Seregil?”
    “Klia doesn’t bear her sister any ill will that I know of. As I understand it, they had their differences over allying with Aurënen.” Once again, this was common knowledge. “The queen had already chosen Elani as her successor, though. That had nothing to do with her decision, as far as I know.”
    “Why do you suppose Queen Phoria recalled her sister from Aurënen so suddenly?” wondered Reltheus.
    Seregil laughed and waved a hand. “I’m sure I don’t know. We haven’t seen Klia since she came back, and we’re certainly not privy to the queen’s reasoning.”
    “Oh, of course not,” the duke replied. “I was only curious as to your opinion.”
    “Queen Phoria must need all the commanders in the fieldshe can get, given how many she’s lost since the war started,” Alec offered.
    “What else could it be? Or do you think differently, Reltheus?” asked Seregil.
    “As you say, Seregil, I’m not privy to the queen’s thoughts. But we grow too serious. Bilairy take politics!” He raised his wine cup. “To the queen!”
    The rest joined the toast.
    “And the princess royal,” Seregil added, and saw how Reltheus’s gaze flickered his way. Surprise, perhaps?
    “Alec, young Selin here tells me that you’re a good man with a bow,” said the duke.
    “He can shoot the eye out of a woodcock at a hundred paces in the dark,” Malthus told him.
    “That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Alec demurred.
    Reltheus clapped him on the shoulder. “And modest, too. That’s a good trait in a young man. I must have the two of you out to my estate for the hunting. You do hunt, don’t you, Seregil?”
    “Not well, though not for lack of Alec trying to teach me.”
    “And sadly, he’s not just being modest,” Alec put in with a grin.
    For the next hour Seregil and Alec took turns telling altered tales and outright lies for the amusement of their companions, and the duke called them both “friend” before the night was over and renewed his invitation to come with him to the duchess’s salon as he and the other visitors took their leave.
    Seregil and Alec lingered behind in Eirual’s room.
    Eirual yawned behind her hand. “Pardon me, it’s been a long day.”
    “We’ll leave in a moment,” Seregil told her. “But first—”
    She gave him a knowing smile. “You want to know more about Duke Reltheus?”
    “He’s a new acquaintance, and he interests me.”
    “Well, he likes my girl Hyli, and has had more mistresses than you have teeth. But you already heard the best bit of gossip tonight. Reltheus means to marry his son Danos off to Princess Elani.”
    “Who are Reltheus’s friends?”
    “Oh, Earl Stenmir, of course, and Count Tolin. Those are the ones I’ve seen him here with.”
    “I understood he is friends with Marquis Kyrin, as well,” Seregil prompted.
    “Perhaps, but from what I’ve heard of the marquis, he doesn’t frequent brothels, or gambling houses, either. Rather boring fellow, wouldn’t you say?”
    “I would, indeed.”
    “Why this sudden interest in Reltheus?” she asked.
    “I like to know who I’m gambling against.” Seregil rose and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, my friend.”
    “It’s very late,” Eirual noted with a mischievous smile. “You could both sleep here tonight.” She patted the bed to either side. “There’s plenty of room.”
    “But if we stayed, we might not get any sleep at all, and we have a busy day tomorrow,” Seregil teased back. “Another time.”
    As he and Alec came down the sweeping staircase overlooking the salon, Seregil grinned as he caught sight of Atre, together with Count Tolin and a few other young lords, lounging with a cluster of courtesans. Atre appeared to be the center of attention, as always.
    “My, my,” Seregil