Casket of Souls

Klia’s name spelled backward. But still with no clue as to who the hawk is, or the wolves.”
    “ ‘Wolves’?” said Seregil, surprised the wizard hadn’t twigged. “
Urghazi
is Plenimaran for ‘ghost wolves.’ It’s common knowledge, especially in the cavalry.”
    “The message said that the wolves are too loyal. Too loyal to do what? Involve in a coup to convince her to mutiny? Or too loyal to turn against her?”
    “Either one could be true, believe me. They’re her personal guard.”
    “You don’t need to convince me, Seregil. What else did you make of them?”
    “All three were written in the same hand, so one spy,” Seregil replied. “And they were all written on grubby scraps of parchment with rough surfaces and torn edges. Cheap scrap. What does that suggest to you?”
    “That’s what the military uses. Even Klia.”
    Seregil nodded. “So there may be a spy in the regiment. And I think I know who it might be.”
    “Who?”
    “Reltheus’s son Danos also serves under Klia.”
    “He serves in Klia’s squadron?”
    “You didn’t know?”
    “He didn’t at the time of the hunt last winter. Perhaps Elani had something to do with it, since she was so taken with him.”
    “More likely the father.”
    “But it makes sense. The father would trust his own son above anyone else. I do wish he’d been a bit more forthright in his communications, though this is quite a help all the same. But why spy on her at all?”
    “Perhaps it’s not only Klia they’re worried about. Perhaps there’s a rival cabal who favor Klia for the throne. I hate to say it, but the letter from Malthus, and the fact that Reltheus has it, suggest that he may be part of one.”
    Thero frowned down at the messages. “Two warring cabals. That doesn’t bode well.”
    “Not with the unrest already brewing in the city. I can’t help thinking of that list Alec found, the one with us and a number of our acquaintances, including Malthus, on it. I think it’s safe to say that Reltheus’s cabal has taken an interest in us, though I have no idea why. But we’re going to need a lot more than we have here to prove anything one way or the other.”
    Thero turned back to the messages regarding Klia. “Even by the royal courier service, it takes at least a week by land to get a message back to Rhíminee, and nearly that long by sea,” he mused. “These messages could be old news by thetime they get here. And by the time any kind of answer was sent, things could have changed completely.”
    “I’m afraid this is as far as I can take you for now,” Seregil told him, “unless we find more of these.”
    “This is frustrating. Without names, interpretation is impossible. And he has letters from Elani, as well. What is he doing with those? They don’t contain anything particularly sensitive. Do you think it’s connected with the cabals?”
    “If Malthus had them, then I’d be more inclined to think so, but with it being Reltheus? He’s very anxious for Danos to marry Elani. Could be he’s looking for signs of favor, or mention of rival suitors.”
    “I’d like to know who in Elani’s household is doing the copying.”
    “I’m working on that.”
    “If you’re right, then Reltheus is taking a terrible risk. If word of this ever got out, he’d be ruined at court, if not worse!” Thero paused, drawn to the coded messages again. “Why would anyone think that Klia would betray her sister and niece in the first place?”
    “Because someone other than Klia is thinking of doing it? Reltheus clearly knows something we don’t.”
    “Klia simply wouldn’t involve herself in something like that!”
    Seregil clapped Thero on the shoulder. “I don’t believe it, either. But there could be a faction building that plans to put her on the throne, even without her knowledge of what they are planning.”
    Thero ran a hand back through his black curls. “You must get me more than this. There’s nothing that proves that Danos is the one, other than supposition.”
    “Don’t you think it’s time we communicated directly with Klia? I’m guessing you can do that.”
    Thero nodded. “I will, after you and I are done.”
    “I see.”
    “Don’t give me that look.”
    “What look?”
    Thero scowled. “Like you know something.”
    Seregil held up his hands, grinning. “I don’t know a thing, and I’m not asking. I’ll leave you to it.”
    When Seregil was gone, the wizard went to his bedchamber, shut the door,