“Not as yet, but-” The duke paused. “I do have hopes.”
“You?” Alec asked ingenuously.
“By the Flame!” Reltheus burst out laughing and slapped Alec on the shoulder. “I think my wife would have a thing or two to say about that. My mistresses are enough to vex her.”
“The duke has several handsome sons, Alec,” Malthus told him. “Danos is twenty, now, isn’t he, Reltheus?”
“Twenty-three,” Selin told them, “and a captain in the Queen’s Horse Guard, under Princess Klia’s command. Seregil’s friend Micum has a daughter who’s a captain and squadron leader in the Guard, too.”
“She was the leader of the famous Urghazi Turma before her promotion, I believe,” said Reltheus. “I’ve heard ballads sung about them and their exploits. She has a brilliant reputation.”
“I’ve heard your son’s bravery well spoken of, too,” Seregil lied. “And he is of an age and station to be considered for a consort, don’t you think?”
Reltheus smiled. “I’m in hopes that he may catch the queen’s eye.”
“And the princess royal’s, as well, I suppose?” said Malthus dryly.
“They have hunted together,” the duke said, ignoring the barb. “Elani’s mother birthed a fine string of girls, and I have four daughters myself. Queen Phoria is said to be taking such matters into consideration. Skala can’t afford another uncertain succession.”
On one hand, it was tempting to mark down the duke as just another social climber, trying to position his heir to ascend the royal ladder by way of the royal bed. But there was something about the cold-blooded manner in which he spoke of the match that fueled Seregil’s suspicions. It wasn’t the tone of a would-be father-in-law. There was often truth to be found in wine that didn’t come out otherwise.
“But I’m not the only one with a connection to the royal family, am I, Seregil,” said Reltheus. “I believe you and Alec here know Princess Klia.”
“They’re good friends with her,” said Eirual.
“We have that honor,” Seregil replied, puffing up a bit. Something in the way Reltheus was looking at him now twigged his suspicions. As innocent as the question seemed, he sensed more than ordinary interest and thought again of the list Alec had found with their names on it. “I’ve known her since she was just a little thing, and Alec came to know her well while we were in Aurenen.”
“What do you think of her? I understand she’s a delightful woman, and a fearless warrior.”
Alec nodded. “She’s as brave as she is beautiful and intelligent.”
“Spoken like a true devotee,” Reltheus said with a smile. “I suppose that’s what makes her such a fine commander. And there are those who think she’d make a fine queen.”
“I suppose there are,” Seregil replied noncommittally.
“Well, you are lucky young men, to be counted as friends of one so near the throne.”
“So near, yet so far.” Seregil watched for a reaction.
“Indeed,” said Selin, shaking his head.
“Word around court is that the queen is cold toward her youngest sister,” Reltheus said. “Do you know anything of that, Seregil?”
“Klia doesn’t bear her sister any ill will that I know of. As I understand it, they had their differences over allying with Aurenen.” Once again, this was common knowledge. “The queen had already chosen Elani as her successor, though. That had nothing to do with her decision, as far as I know.”
“Why do you suppose Queen Phoria recalled her sister from Aurenen so suddenly?” wondered Reltheus.
Seregil laughed and waved a hand. “I’m sure I don’t know. We haven’t seen Klia since she came back, and we’re certainly not privy to the queen’s reasoning.”
“Oh, of course not,” the duke replied. “I was only curious as to your opinion.”
“Queen Phoria must need all the commanders in the field
she can get, given how many she’s lost since the war started,” Alec offered.
“What else could it be? Or do you think differently, Reltheus?” asked Seregil.
“As you say, Seregil, I’m not privy to the queen’s thoughts. But we grow too serious. Bilairy take politics!” He raised his wine cup. “To the queen!”
The rest joined the toast.
“And the princess royal,” Seregil added, and saw how Reltheus’s gaze flickered his way. Surprise, perhaps?
“Alec, young Selin here tells me that you’re a good man with a bow,” said the duke.
“He can shoot the eye out of a woodcock at a hundred paces in the dark,” Malthus told him.
“That’s a bit of an exaggeration,” Alec demurred.
Reltheus clapped him on the shoulder. “And modest, too. That’s a good trait in a young man. I must have the two of you out to my estate for the hunting. You do hunt, don’t you, Seregil?”
“Not well, though not for lack of Alec trying to teach me.”
“And sadly, he’s not just being modest,” Alec put in with a grin.
For the next hour Seregil and Alec took turns telling altered tales and outright lies for the amusement of their companions, and the duke called them both “friend” before the night was over and renewed his invitation to come with him to the duchess’s salon as he and the other visitors took their leave.
Seregil and Alec lingered behind in Eirual’s room.
Eirual yawned behind her hand. “Pardon me, it’s been a long day.”
“We’ll leave in a moment,” Seregil told her. “But first-”
She gave him a knowing smile. “You want to know more about Duke Reltheus?”
“He’s a new acquaintance, and he interests me.”
“Well, he likes my girl Hyli, and has had more mistresses than you have teeth. But you already heard the best bit of gossip tonight. Reltheus means to marry his son Danos off to Princess Elani.”
“Who are Reltheus’s friends?”
“Oh, Earl Stenmir, of course, and Count Tolin. Those are the ones I’ve seen him here with.”
“I understood he is friends with Marquis Kyrin, as well,” Seregil prompted.
“Perhaps, but from what I’ve heard of the marquis, he doesn’t frequent brothels, or gambling houses, either. Rather boring fellow, wouldn’t you say?”
“I would, indeed.”
“Why this sudden interest in Reltheus?” she asked.
“I like to know who I’m gambling against.” Seregil rose and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you, my friend.”
“It’s very late,” Eirual noted with a mischievous smile. “You could both sleep here tonight.” She patted the bed to either side. “There’s plenty of room.”
“But if we stayed, we might not get any sleep at all, and we have a busy day tomorrow,” Seregil teased back. “Another time.”
As he and Alec came down the sweeping staircase overlooking the salon, Seregil grinned as he caught sight of Atre, together with Count Tolin and a few other young lords, lounging with a cluster of courtesans. Atre appeared to be the center of attention, as always.
“My, my,” Seregil murmured. “He’s certainly making inroads with the nobility.”
“Not only them,” Alec muttered, and to Seregil’s surprise, he sounded piqued.
He glanced back and realized that the courtesan Atre appeared to be paying homage to was Myrhichia.
Just then the actor noticed them and waved. Seregil smiled and waved back. Alec didn’t.
Outside Alec avoided Seregil’s questioning look. Myrhichia could choose whomever she wanted; he wasn’t even sure why it bothered him so much, except perhaps because he knew Atre.
“Alec?”
“That was a good night’s work, wasn’t it?” Alec strode off
through the crowd of late-night revelers toward the ornate archway that marked the entrance to the Street of Lights.
“Yes,” said Seregil, catching up and linking his arm through Alec’s. “Kyrin interests me greatly. Why would a roisterer like Reltheus have such a reticent man for a friend?”
Alec shrugged. “Reltheus seemed to be sounding us out about Klia.”
“Yes, and clumsily, too. He certainly takes an interest in the royal family.”
“If he’s really so interested in Klia, I wonder if he sees her as a threat?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Seregil murmured. “Something has Reltheus’s attention, and Kyrin’s. My guess is that they think all of us on that list are potential members of a rival cabal. And just because we don’t know about it doesn’t mean there isn’t one.”