Luck in the Shadows

death of her husband, into her bed.
    He'd never been certain if she'd guessed him to be the faceless, unpredictable «Cat» of Rhнminee fame rather than a mere intermediary, but she often relayed requests for services to him, knowing that results were generally swift.
    Whatever the case, she was one of the few nobles in whose discretion he had any faith. If Alec should falter in his role tonight, she would not broadcast the fact. And Alec did appear to be enjoying her company.
    Keeping up his side of the agreement, he turned his full attention on Ysmay and flirted outrageously with her until she quivered in his arms.
    Alec was midway through his second dance with Kylith when Micum laid a hand on his shoulder.
    "Forgive me, lady, I must borrow your partner for a moment," he said, bowing to Kylith. "Alec, a word?"
    Trouble?
    Alec signed as Micum walked him toward the front entrance of the hall. The big man's grim sidelong glance was answer enough.
    In the small entrance chamber at the front of the house they found Seregil boxed in by four bluecoats. Another was binding his hands in front of him. Seregil's old manservant, Runcer, stood wringing his hands and weeping nearby.
    An officer wearing the chain of a Queen's Bailiff rolled up a black-ribboned scroll as Micum and Alec approached. Seregil's stony expression revealed nothing.
    "What's going on here?" Micum demanded.
    "And who might you be, sir?" replied the bailiff.
    "Sir Micum Cavish of Watermead, friend of Lord Seregil. This boy is his ward, Sir Alec of Ivywell. Why are you arresting this man?"
    The bailiff consulted another scroll and took a second look at the two of them. "Lord Seregil of Rhнminee stands accused of treason. I am also charged to instruct Sir Alec not to attempt to leave the city."
    Eyeing the man with chilly dignity, Micum asked quietly, "Am I to understand he is under suspicion as well?"
    "Not at present, Sir Micum. But those are my instructions."
    "Seregil, what's happening?" asked Alec, finding his voice at last.
    Seregil gave a grim shrug. "Some sort of misunderstanding, apparently. Make my apologies to the guests, would you?"
    Alec nodded numbly. Glancing down at Seregil's bound hands, he saw him give the sign of Nysander's name, one long forefinger curled tightly over his thumb.
    "Come along, my lord," said the bailiff, grasping Seregil's elbow.
    "Where are you taking him?" Alec demanded, following as the guards led Seregil out to an enclosed black cart.
    "That's not for me to say sir. Good evening."
    Climbing in behind Seregil, the bailiff motioned to the driver and the cart rumbled off down the cobbled street.
    "Seregil said to go to Nysander," Alec whispered, feeling Micum beside him.
    "I saw. We'd better go."
    "But what about the guests?"
    "I'll have a quick word with Kylith. She'll manage things."
    Alec watched miserably as the cart disappeared into the night. "Where do you think they're taking him?"
    "It's a Queen's Warrant arrest, so it'll be Red Tower Prison," Micum said, looking bleak. "And that's one place not even Seregil can get out of on his own."

26 Plans at the Cockerel
    Alec and Micum were halfway to the Orлska House when a tiny message sphere winked into being in front of them.
    "Alec, Micum, come to the Cockerel at once!"
    Alec blinked in surprise. "That was Thero."
    "Bilairy's Balls!" muttered Micum, changing direction.
    At the Cockerel they found Thero waiting for them, but not his master.
    "Where's Nysander?" Alec asked, somewhat taken aback that Thero also knew how to enter Seregil's closely warded rooms.
    "With the Queen," the young wizard replied, looking stiffly out of place in the midst of SeregiFs mess. "He sent me to meet you. He'll join us here as soon as he's able."
    "I take it he was as surprised by the arrest as we were?" asked Micum, tossing Seregil's sword belt onto the table.
    "Events have moved more rapidly than any of us anticipated. Nysander is quite worried over the fact that Idrilain did not consult with him before ordering the arrest."
    "But what happened?" fretted Alec, pacing in frustration. "Nysander stopped the letter! Seregil said they'd never dare to send another without knowing what happened to the first."
    "I have no idea. The Queen sent word that he'd been taken to the Red Tower, nothing more. Was the arrest carried out discreetly?"
    "If it hadn't been for Runcer, we might have missed it altogether," glowered Micum.
    Thero rubbed his chin pensively. "That's a hopeful sign, anyway."
    For