Casket of Souls

and retrieved the marble box containing Klia’s handkerchief from the wardrobe. Opening it, he held it to his nose for a moment, imagining that the scent of her perfume still lingered there. Her fingers had brushed his when she gave it to him, one of a hundred such innocent touches that heated his body—
    Stop it!
he told himself sternly. A princess and a wizard? It was impossible, but that didn’t cool his passion, just made him ache to the center of his being. Seeing her wounded so recently had only made it worse.
    Pressing the precious handkerchief between his palms, he spoke the spell softly and waited for the vision to take shape. His unruly heart was racing again at the thought of actually seeing her.
    The vision came almost instantly. Klia was lying on a cot again, grimacing as a healer bandaged a wound on her leg. Her breeches were off, leaving her in just her linen, and he felt a rush of heat through his body at the sight of those smooth, slender legs.
    He waited while Myrhini covered her with a blanket. The tall, dark-haired woman’s face was solemn as she looked down at the princess and asked, “How is it?”
    Klia flexed her leg under the blanket and gave her friend a wincing grin. “I’ll be able to ride tomorrow.”
    “You heard what the healer said.”
    Klia snorted as she folded her arms behind her head. “I’ll be fine.”
    Choosing his moment, Thero opened a small window spell a few feet from the two women and whispered, “Your Highness.”
    Myrhini’s hand flew to her sword hilt as she looked around, instantly alert to possible danger.
    “It’s all right. It’s just Thero coming to call again,” Klia said with a chuckle as she found Thero’s face floating in midair. “Hello, my friend. Do you have some news for me?”
    “May we speak alone?”
    “Since when do I not speak openly before Myrhini?”
    “It’s all right, Klia,” Myrhini said, stepping out of Thero’s view.
    Klia waited a moment, watching her go, then turned back to the wizard. “Well?” she asked, keeping her voice low.
    How to couch it?
thought Thero. “Seregil and Alec have been working for me. I believe they’ve uncovered a spy in your regiment.”
    Her bright blue eyes widened. “A spy? Who?”
    “Captain Danos.”
    “That can’t be right!”
    “We have some evidence, Klia, but not enough, and it’s not completely clear what he’s up to. It appears that he’s been sending his father coded messages about your movements.”
    Klia’s expression darkened. “Impossible! Why would he be doing that?”
    Thero paused, not relishing what he had to say next. “We think that his father, Duke Reltheus, believes you might be plotting to supplant Elani for the throne.”
    The incredulous look she gave him eased his heart considerably. “On what grounds?”
    “Again, we’re not quite sure, except that there may be a cabal unknown to you who want you on the throne. But Reltheus definitely means to marry Danos to the princess royal.”
    “Thero, are you asking if I am plotting against Elani and the queen?”
    “I don’t believe it.”
    “Thank you for that. But if it needs to be said, I’m not. I have no reason to.”
    “I know. But Duke Reltheus seems to think there is a cabal working on your behalf. He could be right about that. Alec found a list of names, including his, mine, Seregil’s, and Duke Malthus’s. And yours.”
    “If word of this got to Phoria—”
    “I understand. We’re working as quickly as we can to learn more. We haven’t even spoken to your brother yet. In one of Danos’s coded letters, he mentions someone called ‘thehawk,’ someone close to you. Does that mean anything to you?”
    “That’s what the riders call General Moraus.”
    “Is it unusual for him to visit you?”
    “Not at all. He’s my commanding officer, and he’s known me all my life. He’s been concerned about my losses.”
    “He is not alone. There are those in Rh
í
minee who think Phoria is trying to get you killed.”
    “That’s ridiculous. We’re stretched thin this year. Every officer is doing all they can with what they have. You know the Queen’s Horse has always been in the forefront.”
    “In one of the messages Seregil found, it sounds as if the queen was considering making you general of the regiment, then changed her mind?”
    “There was some concern about General Moraus’s health—a summer fever—but he recovered. I have no hard feelings over it, Thero.”
    Thero feared that