Sarene didn't bother to question the Seon-his senses were much more acute than those of a human. "Let's go," she said, heading in the proper direction. "I'm not dressed for sneaking: you'll have to keep watch on him and tell me where he goes."
"Yes, my lady," Ashe said, dimming his light to a nearly imperceptible level and flying after the king. Sarene followed at a slower pace.
They continued in that manner, Ashe staying close to the king and Sarene following at a less conspicuous distance. They covered the ground surrounding Roial's mansion quickly, then moved into the city of Kae. Iadon moved strictly through alleys. and Sarene realized for the first time that she might be putting herself in danger. Women didn't travel alone after dark—even in Kae, which was one of the safest cities in Opelon. She considered turning back a half-dozen times, once nearly dashing away in a panic as a drunk man moved in the darkness next to her. However, she kept going. She was only going to get one chance to find out what Iadon was up to, and her curiosity was stronger than her fear ... for the moment at least.
Ashe, sensing the danger, advised that she let him follow the king alone, but she pressed on with determination. The Seon, accustomed to Sarene's ways, gave no further argument. He flitted back and forth between her and the king. doing his best to keep watch over Sarene while at the same time following Iadon.
Eventually, the Seon slowed, returning to Sarene with an apprehensive bob. "He just entered the sewers, my lady."
"The sewers?" Sarene asked incredulously.
"Yes, my lady. And he is not alone—he met two cloaked men just after he left the party, and was joined by a half-dozen more at the mouth of the sewers."
"And you didn't follow them in?" she asked with disappointment. "We'll never be able to tail them."
"That is unfortunate, my lady."
Sarene ground her teeth in frustration. "They'll leave tracks in the muck," she decided, stalking forward. "You should be able to follow them."
Ashe hesitated. `'My lady, I must insist that you return to the duke's party."
"Not a chance, Ashe."
"I have the solemn duty of your protection, my lady," Ashe said. "I can't allow you to go climbing through refuse in the middle of the night—I was wrong to let you go this far. It is my responsibility to stop this before it goes any further."
"And how will you do that?" Sarene asked impatiently.
"I could call your father."
"Father lives in Teod, Ashe," Sarene pointed out. "What is he going to do?"
"I couId go get Lord Eondel or one of the others."
"And leave me to get lost in the sewers on my own?"
"You would never do something that foolish, my lady," Ashe declared. Then he paused, hovering uncertainly in the air. his Aon so dim it was translucent. "All right," he finally admitted. "You are indeed that foolish."
Sarene smiled. "Come on—the fresher those tracks are, the easier it will be for you to follow them."
The Seon sullenly led the way down the street, which soon ended in a dirty, fungus-lined arch. Sarene strode forward with determination, paying no heed to the damage the sludge would do to her dress.
The moonlight lasted only as far as the first turnoff. Sarene stood for a moment in the suffocating, dank blackness, realizing that even she would never have been foolish enough to enter the directionless maze without guidance. Fortunately, her bluff had convinced Ashe—though she wasn't sure whether or not to be offended by the level of arrogant idiocy of which he thought her capable.
Ashe increased his light slightly. The sewer was a hollow tube, a remnant of the days when Elantris's magic provided running water for every house in Kae. Now the sewers were used as a receptacle for trash and excrement. They were flushed out by a periodic diversion of the Aredel—something which obviously hadn't been done in a while, for the wet muck at the bottom of the corridor came up to her ankles. She didn't want to consider what that sludge must be composed of, but the pungent stink was an overpowering clue.
All of the tunnels looked the same to Sarene. One thing reassured her: the Seon sense of direction. It was impossible to get lost when accompanied by Ashe. The creatures always knew where they were, and could point the exact direction to any place they had ever been.
Ashe led the way, floating close to the muck's surface. "My lady, may I be allowed to know just how you knew the king would sneak away from Roial's party?"
"Surely you can figure it out, Ashe," she chided.
"Let me assure you, my lady, I have tried."
"Well, what day of the week is it?"
"MaeDal?" the Seon replied, leading her around a corner.
"Right. And what happens every week on MaeDal?"
Ashe didn't answer immediately. "Your father plays ShinDa with Lord Eoden?" he asked, his voice laced with uncharacteristic frustration. The night's activities—especially her belligerence—were wearing away even Ashe's formidable patience.
"No," Sarene said. "Every week on MaeDal at eleven o'clock I hear scrapings in the passage that runs through my wall—the one that leads to the king's rooms." The Seon made a slight "ah" of understanding.
"I heard noises in the passage some other nights as well," Sarene explained. "But MaeDal was the only consistent day."
"So you had Roial throw a parry tonight, expecting that the king would keep to his schedule," the Seon said.
"Right," Sarene said, trying not to slip in the muck. "And I had to make it a late party so that people would stay at least until midnight—the eclipse provided a convenient excuse. The king had to come to the party; his pride wouldn't let him stay away. However, his weekly appointment must be important, for he risked leaving early to attend it."
"My lady, I don't like this," Ashe said. "What good could the king be doing in the sewers at midnight?"
"That is exactly what I intend to find out," Sarene said, brushing away a spiderweb. One thought drove her through muck and darkness—a possibility she was barely willing to acknowledge. Perhaps Prince Raoden lived. Maybe Iadon hadn't confined him to the dungeons. but in the sewers. Sarene might not be a widow after all.
A noise came from ahead. "Turn down your light, Ashe," she said. "I think I hear voices."
He did so, becoming nearly invisible. There was an intersection just ahead, and torchlight flickered from the rightmost tunnel. Sarene approached the corner slowly, intending to peek around it. Unfortunately, she hadn't noticed that the floor declined slightly just before the intersection, and her feet slipped. She waved desperate arms, barely stabilizing herself as she slid a few feet down the incline and came to a halt at the bottom.
The motion placed her directly in the middle of the intersection. Sarene looked up slowly.
King Iadon stared back, looking as stunned as she felt.
"Merciful Domi," Sarene whispered. The king stood facing her behind an altar, a red-streaked knife raised in his hand. He was completely nak*d except for the blood smearing his chest. The remains of an eviscerated young woman lay tied to the altar, her torso sliced open from neck to crotch.
The knife dropped from Iadon's hand, hitting the muck below with a muffled plop. Only then did Sarene notice the dozen black-robed forms standing behind him, Duladen runes sewn into their clothing. Each one carried a long dagger. Several approached her with quick steps.
Sarene wavered between her body's urge to retch and her mind's insistence that she scream.
The scream came out on top.
She stumbled backward. slipping and splashing down into the slime. The figures rushed for her, their cowled eyes intent. Sarene kicked and struggled in the slime, still screaming as she tried to regain her feet. She almost missed the sounds of footsteps from her right.
Then Eondel was there.
The aged general's sword flashed in the dim light, cleanly slicing off an arm that was reaching for Sarene's ankle. Other figures moved through the corridor as well, men in the livery of Eondel's legion. There was also a man in a red robe, Dilaf, the Derethi priest. He didn't join the fighting, but stood to the side with a fascinated look on his face.
Dumbfounded. Sarene tried to stand again, but only ended up slipping in the sewage once more. A hand grabbed her arm, helping her up. Roial's wrinkled face smiled in relief as he pulled Sarene to her feet.
"Maybe next time you'll tell me what you are planning, Princess." he suggested.
¤ ¤ ¤
"YOU told him," Sarene realized, shooting Ashe an accusatory look.
"Of course I told him, my lady," the Seon responded, pulsing slightly to punctuate the remark. She sat in Roial's study with Ashe and Lukel. Sarene wore a robe that the duke had borrowed from one of his maids. It was too short, of course, but it was better than a sewage-covered velvet dress.
"When?" Sarene demanded, leaning back in Roial's deep plush couch and wrapping herself in a blanket. The duke had ordered a bath drawn for her, and her hair was still wet, chilled in the night air.
"He called Opa as soon as you left my drive," Roial explained, walking into the room, carrying three steaming cups. He handed one to her and another to Lukel before taking a seat.
"That soon?" Sarene asked with surprise.
"I knew you would never turn back, no matter what I said." Ashe said.
"You know me too well," she muttered, taking a sip of her drink. It was Fjordell garha—which was good: she couldn't afford to fall asleep just yet.
"I will admit to that failing without argument, my lady," Ashe said.
"Then why did you try and stop me before leading me into the sewer?" she asked.
"I was stalling, my lady," Ashe explained. "The duke insisted on coming himself, and his group moved slowly."
"I might be slow, but I was not going to miss whatever you had planned, Sarene," Roial said. 'They say age brings wisdom, but it only gave me a torturous case of curiosity."
"Eondel's soldiers?" Sarene asked.
"Were already at the party," Lukel said. He had insisted on knowing what had happened as soon as he saw Sarene sneaking into Roial's house, covered in slime. "I saw some of them mingling with the guests."
"I invited Eondel's officers," Roial explained. "Or, at least, the half-dozen of them that were in town."
"All right," Sarene said. "So after I ran off, Ashe called your Seon and told you I was pursuing the king."
" The foolish girl is going off to get herself killed' were his exact words, I believe," Roial said with a chuckle.
"Ashe!"
"I apologize, my lady." the Seon said, pulsing in embarrassment. "I was rather out of sorts."
"Anyway." Sarene continued, "Ashe called Roial and he gathered Eondel and his men from the parry. You all followed me to the sewers, where you had your Seon guide you."
"Until Eondel heard you screaming," Roial finished. "You are a very lucky lady to have that man's loyalty, Sarene."
"I know," Sarene said. "That's the second time this week his sword has proved useful. Next time I see Iadon, remind me to kick him for convincing the nobility that military training is beneath them."