Shuden nodded. "Often, my lady, our deceptions turn on us."
"The gyorn is good," Roial said. "It's always a masterful stroke when you can turn someone's guise to your advantage."
"I have often found that no matter what the circumstance. it is most useful to be oneself," Shuden said. "The more faces we try to wear, the more confused they become."
Roial nodded slightly, smiling. "True. Boring, perhaps, but true."
Sarene was barely listening. She had assumed that she was the one doing the manipulating; she had never realized the disadvantage it gave her. "The facade is troubling," she admitted. Then she sighed turning back to Shuden. "But I am stuck with it, at least with the king. Honestly though, I doubt he would have regarded me any other way, no matter how I acted."
"You're probably right," Shuden said. "The king is rather shortsighted when it comes to women."
The king returned a few moments later, his face dark, his humor obviously ruined by whatever news he had received. The courier escaped with a look of relief, and as he left, Sarene caught sight of a new figure entering the room. Duke Telrii was customarily pompous in bright reds and golds, his fingers speckled with rings. Sarene watched him closely, but he didn't join—or even acknowledge—the gyorn Hrathen. In fact, he seemed to doggedly ignore the priest, instead making the proper hostly overtures, visiting with each group of guests in turn.
"You're right, Lord Roial," Sarene finally said.
Roial looked up from his conversation with Shuden. "Hum?"
"Duke Telrii," Sarene said, nodding to the man. "There's something between him and the gyorn."
"Telrii is a troublesome one," Roial said. "I've never quite been able to figure out his motivations. At times, it seems he wants nothing more than coin to pad his coffers. At others . . ."
Roial trailed off as Telrii, as if noticing their study of him, turned toward Sarene's group. He smiled and drifted in their direction, Atara at his side. "Lord Roial," he said with a smooth, almost uncaring, voice. "Welcome. And, Your Highness. I don't believe we've been properly introduced."
Roial did the honors. Sarene curtsied as Telrii sipped at his wine and exchanged pleasantries with Roial. There was a startling level of . . . nonchalance about him. While few noblemen actually cared about the topics they discussed, most had the decency to at least sound interested. Telrii made no such concession. His tone was flippant, though not quite to the level of being insulting, and his manner uninterested. Beyond the initial address he completely ignored Sarene, obviously satisfied that she was of no discernible significance.
Eventually, the duke sauntered away. and Sarene watched him go with annoyance. If there was one thing she loathed, it was being ignored. Finally, she sighed and turned to her companion. "All right, Lord Shuden, I want to mingle. Hrathen has a week's lead, but Domi be cursed if I'm going to let him stay ahead of me."
¤ ¤ ¤
IT was late. Shuden had wanted to leave hours ago but Sarene had been determined to forge on, plowing through hundreds of people making contacts like a madwoman. She made Shuden introduce her to everyone he knew, and the faces and names had quickly become a blur. However repetition would bring familiarity.
Eventually, she let Shuden bring her back to the palace satisfied with the day's events. Shuden let her off and wearily bid her goodnight, claiming he was glad that Ahan was next in line to take her to a ball. "Your company was delightful," he explained, "but I just can't keep up with you!"
Sarene found it hard to keep up with herself sometimes. She practically stumbled her way into the palace, so drowsy with fatigue and wine that she could barely keep her eyes open.
Shouts echoed through the hallway.
Sarene frowned, turning a corner to find the king's guard scrambling around, yelling at one another and generally making a rather large nuisance of themselves. "What is going on?" she asked, holding her head.
"Someone broke into the palace tonight," a guard explained. "Snuck right through the king's bedchambers."
"Is anyone hurt?" Sarene asked, suddenly coming alert. Iadon and Eshen had left the party hours before her and Shuden.
"Thank Domi, no." the guard said. Then, he turned to two soldiers. "Take the princess to her room and stand guard at the door," he ordered. "Goodnight, Your Highness. Don't worry—they're gone now."
Sarene sighed, noting the yelling and bustle of the guards, their armor and weapons clanking as they periodically ran through the hallways. She doubted that she would be able to have a good night with so much ruckus, no matter how tired she was.
CHAPTER 15
AT night, when all melted into a uniform blackness, Hrathen could almost see Elantris's grandeur. Silhouetted against the star-filled sky the fallen buildings cast off their mantle of despair and became memories; memories of a city crafted with skill and care, a city where every stone was a piece of functional art; memories of towers that stretched to the sky—fingers tickling the stars—and of domes that spread like venerable hills.
And it had all been an illusion. Beneath the greatness had been wreckage, a filthy sore now exposed. How easy it was to look past heresies gilded with gold. How simple it had been to assume that outward strength bespoke inward righteousness.
"Dream on, Elantris." Hrathen whispered, turning to stroll along the top of the great wall that enclosed the city. "Remember what you used to be and try to hide your sins beneath the blanket of darkness. Tomorrow the sun will rise, and all will be revealed once again."
"My lord? Did you say something?'
Hrathen turned. He had barely noticed the guard passing him on the wall, the man's heavy spear resting over his shoulder and his wan torch nearly dead. "No. I was only whispering to myself."
The guard nodded, continuing his rounds. They were growing accustomed to Hrathen, who had visited Elantris nearly every night this week, pacing its walls in thought. Though he had an additional purpose behind his visit this particular time, most nights he simply came to be alone and think. He wasn't sure what drew him to the city. Part of it was curiosity. He had never beheld Elantris in its power, and couldn't understand how anything—even a city so grand—had repeatedly withstood the might of Fjorden, first militarily, then theologically.
He also felt a responsibility toward the people—or whatever they were—that lived in Elantris. He was using them, holding them up as an enemy to unite his followers. He felt guilty: the Elantrians he had seen were not devils, but wretches afflicted as if by a terrible disease. They deserved pity, not condemnation. Still, his devils they would become, for he knew that it was the easiest, and most harmless, way to unify Arelon. If he turned the people against their government, as he had done in Duladel, there would be death. This way would lead to bloodshed as well, but he hoped much less.
Oh, what burdens we must accept in the service of Your empire, Lord Jaddeth, Hrathen thought to himself. It didn't matter that he had acted in the name of the Church, or that he had saved thousands upon thousands of souls. The destruction Hrathen had caused in Duladel ground against his soul like a millstone. People who had trusted him were dead, and an entire society had been cast into chaos.
But, Jaddeth required sacrifices. What was one man's conscience when compared with the glory of His rule? What was a little guilt when a nation was now unified beneath Jaddeth's careful eye? Hrathen would ever bear the scars of what he had done. but it was better that one man suffer than an entire nation continue in heresy.
Hrathen turned away from Elantris, looking instead toward the twinkling lights of Kae. Jaddeth had given him another opportunity. This time he would do things differently. There would be no dangerous revolution, no bloodbath caused by one class turning against another. Hrathen would apply pressure carefully until Iadon folded, and another, more agreeable man took his place. The nobility of Arelon would convert easily, then. The only ones who would truly suffer. the scapegoats in his strategy, were the Elantrians.
It was a good plan. He was certain he could crush this Arelish monarchy without much effort it was already cracked and weak. The people of Arelon were so oppressed that he could institute a new government swiftly, before they even received word of Iadon's fall. No revolution. Everything would be clean.
Unless he made a mistake. He had visited the farms and cities around Kae; he knew that the people were stressed beyond their ability to bend. If he gave them too much of a chance, they would rise up and slaughter the entire noble class. The possibility made him nervous—mostly because he knew that if it happened, he would make use of it. The logical gyorn within him would ride the destruction as if it were a fine stallion, using it to make Derethi followers out of an entire nation.
Hrathen sighed. turning and continuing his stroll. The wall walk here was kept clean by the guard, but if he strayed too far, he would reach a place covered with a dark, oily grime. He wasn't certain what had caused it. but it seemed to completely coat the wall, once one got away from the central gate area.
Before he reached the grime, however, he spotted the group of men standing along the wall walk. They were dressed in cloaks, though the night wasn't cold enough to require it. Perhaps they thought the garments made them more nondescript. However, if that was the intention, then perhaps Duke Telrii should have chosen to wear something other than a rich lavender cloak set with silver embroidery.
Hrathen shook his head at the materialism. The men we must work with to accomplish Jaddeth's goals. . . .
Duke Telrii did not lower his hood, nor did he bow properly. as Hrathen approached—though. of course. Hrathen hadn't really expected him to do either.
The duke did, however, nod to his guards. who withdrew to allow them privacy.
Hrathen strolled over to stand beside Duke Telrii. resting against the wall's parapet and staring out over the city of Kae. Lights twinkled; so many people in the city were rich that lamp oil and candles were plentiful. Hrathen had visited some large cities that grew as dark as Elantris when night fell.
"Aren't you going to ask why I wanted to meet with you?' Telrii asked.
"You're having second thoughts about our plan," Hrathen said simply.
Telrii paused, apparently surprised that Hrathen understood him so readily. "Yes, well. If you know that already, then perhaps you are having second thoughts as well."
"Not at all," Hrathen said. "Your mannerism—the furtive way you wanted to meet—was what gave you away."
Telrii frowned. This was a man accustomed to being dominant in any conversation. Was that why he was wavering? Had Hrathen offended him? No, studying Telrii's eyes. Hrathen could tell that wasn't it. Telrii had been eager, at first to enter into the bargain with Fjorden, and he had certainly seemed to enjoy throwing his party this evening. What had changed?
I can't afford to let this opportunity pass, Hrathen thought. If only he had more time. Fewer than eighty days remained of his three-month deadline. If he had been given even a year, he could have worked with more delicacy and precision. Unfortunately, he had no such luxury, and a blunt attack using Telrii was his best bet for a smooth change in leadership.