Shadows Return

“Be assured I fear none of you. Does he speak for you, Lord Seregil?”
    “He does.”
    “And you, Lord Alec?”
    “Yes, Majesty!”
    “Then let us leave it at that for the moment. Thero, you have taken your master’s place as the head of the Watchers?”
    “Yes, Majesty. But while in Aurënen these past months there’s been little I could do on your behalf, other than help oversee the trade agreements at the behest of the princess. I hope I have served you well in that capacity.”
    “Your efforts are noted. However, it is my command that you disband the Watchers. No more secrets. If I require your aid in any fashion, I will order it, and you will answer to no one except me. Is that understood?”
    “Yes, but—”
    “I have spoken!”
    Thero pressed a hand to his heart and bowed deeply. “You have my oath, by my hands, heart, eyes, and voice.”
    “Good.” Phoria sat back, regarding Alec and Seregil again. “As for you two, I am satisfied for now. In fact, I have a task for you—one you’re well suited to.”
    “We are yours to command, Majesty,” replied Seregil.
    “You most certainly are. You’re going to Aurënen as my emissaries to Princess Klia. My half sister is to return at once and resume her duties as my field commander. Her swift obedience is imperative, as proof of her love. You are to return with her as quickly as possible. Is that clear?”
    “As spring water, Majesty. But crossing the Osiat this time of year—it’s already late enough that there could be problems.”
    “I’ll give you a decent ship.”
    “Am I to go with them, Majesty?” asked Thero.
    “What use would you be? There’s work enough for you here. You’re dismissed.”
    Thero bowed and made a hasty retreat. He didn’t look at the others, but Alec saw the angry flush suffusing his thin cheeks.
    “I’m sending an escort for you under the command of Lord Traneus. And I’ve had these prepared.” She gestured to Korathan, who stepped down and handed Seregil three small, painted sticks.
    Alec recognized them; they were message wands. These talismans were infused with a simple magic, usually a message of some sort, which would be released when the wand was broken in two. Such devices required no magic from the user; even Seregil could make them work.
    “Use the red one when you arrive at Gedre, to signal that you arrived safely,” the prince explained. “The blue is for Bôkthersa. The last is for Klia. She’s to break it on the morning she sets out to return. The messages will come to me directly.”
    “I trust your sister will have no objection to the princess cutting short her visit there?” asked Phoria.
    Seregil’s expression betrayed nothing but mild surprise. “I’m certain she won’t, Majesty. She understands the gravity of the situation.”
    Phoria rose. “I’m sure I don’t need to stress the importance of your task. Korathan, I’ll leave the rest to you. Farewell, my lords, and may your voyage be a swift one.”
    Alec stood at stiff attention as she took her leave, then let out a shaky breath.
    Korathan grinned at him. “You look like you’ve just escaped the block, Lord Alec.”
    “I think maybe we just did.” Seregil strolled over and hitched himself up on the edge of the dais. “So, how long did it take you to talk her out of having us executed?”
    “Oh, not quite so bad as all that. There was talk of exiling you, though.”
    This was too much for Alec. “For what? What did we ever do to her?”
    “She knows of your role exposing her indiscretion in the Leran affair and the ‘misplaced’ gold shipment she and Vicegerent Barieus were embroiled in.”
    “Completely by accident!” Seregil reminded him. “We didn’t know anything about it when we started, and we’ve never said anything about it since.”
    “True, but you know how she is. She was embarrassed, politically and personally, and not likely to forgive you for that. But that’s not all. There’s also your close friendship with Klia. And now Klia is fast friends with your sister, the khirnari of a powerful clan.”
    “Ah, so that’s why she was even colder to me than usual,” Seregil said with a wry smirk. “Now my whole clan is conspiring against her, too? This little jaunt is really a loyalty test all around.”
    “But Klia has served Phoria well in Aurënen,” Alec pointed out. “The agreements she got securing stores and trade, and wizards to fight for her—surely that’s been to Skala’s