Before she could ponder any more on the incongruity, Ashe floated in through a window. In the excitement of the dinner. Sarene had almost forgotten that she'd sent him to follow the Gyorn Hrathen.
The ball of light stopped hesitantly in the air near the window. "My lady, am I interrupting?"
"No, Ashe, come in and meet my family."
"You have a Seon!" Daorn exclaimed with amazement. For once his sister seemed too stunned to speak.
"This is Ashe," Sarene explained. "He's been serving my house for over two centuries, and he's the wisest Seon I've ever known."
"My lady. you exaggerate," Ashe said modestly, yet at the same time she noticed he was glowing a bit brighter.
Seon…" Kaise said with quiet wonder, her dinner forgotten. "They've always been rare." Kiin said, 'now more than ever."
"Where did you get him?" Kaise asked.
"From my mother." Sarene said. "She Passed Ashe to me when I was born." The Passing of a Seon-it was one of the finest gifts a person could receive. Someday, Sarene would have to Pass Ashe, selecting a new ward for him to watch over and care for. She had planned it to be one of her children, or perhaps grandchildren. The possibility of either ever existing, however, was looking increasingly unlikely…
"A Seon." Kaise said with wonder. She turned to Sarene, eyes alight with excitement. "Can I play with him after supper?"
"Play with me?" Ashe asked uncertainly.
"Can I please, Cousin Sarene?" Kaise begged.
"I don't know," Sarene said with a smile. "I seem to recall a few comments about my height."
The little girl's look of disappointed chagrin was a source of great amusement to all. It was at that moment, among their laughter. that Sarene began to feel her tension ease for the first time since leaving her homeland a week before.
CHAPTER 6
There is no hope for the king. I'm afraid." Hrathen folded his arms across his breastplate thoughtfully as he looked back at the throne room. "Your Grace?" Dilaf asked. "King Iadon," Hrathen explained. "I had hoped to save him-though I never really expected the nobility to follow me without a fight. They're too entrenched in their ways. Perhaps if we had gotten to them right after the Reod. Of course, we weren't sure that whatever disease had taken the Elantrians wouldn't affect us as well."
"Jaddeth struck down the Elantrians," Dilaf said fervently.
"Yes," Hrathen said, nor bothering to look down at the shorter man. "But oft-times Jaddeth uses natural processes to bring about His will. A plague will kill Fjordell as well as Arelene."
"Jaddeth would protect his chosen."
"Of course," Hrathen said distractedly, shooting one more dissatisfied glance down the hallway toward the throne room. He had made the offer out of duty, knowing that the easiest way to save Arelon would be to convert its ruler, but he hadn't expected Iadon to respond favorably. If only the king knew how much suffering he could forestall with a simple profession of faith.
It was too late now; Iadon had formally rejected Jaddeth. He would have to become an example. However, Hrathen would have to be careful. Memories of the Duladen revolution were still stark in Hrathen's mind-the death, blood, and chaos. Such a cataclysm had to be avoided. Hrathen was a stern man, and a determined one, but he was no lover of carnage.
Of course. with only three months' time, he might not have a choice. If he was going to succeed, he might have to incite a revolt. More death and more chaos-horrible things to throw upon a nation that had still hadn't recovered from its last violent revolution. However, Jaddeth's empire would not sit still and wait because a few ignorant nobles refused to accept the truth.
"I suppose I expected too much of them," Hrathen mumbled. "They are, after all, only Arelenes."
Dilaf made no response to the comment.
"I noticed someone odd in the throne room, Arteth," Hrathen said as they
turned and walked out of the palace, passing both sculpture and servant without so mueh as a glance. "Perhaps you can help me identify her. She was Aonic, but she was taller than most Arelenes, and her hair was much lighter than the average Arelish brown. She looked out of place."
"What was she wearing, Your Holiness?" Dilaf asked.
'Black. All black with a yellow sash."
"The new princess, Your Grace," Dilaf hissed, his voice suddenly hateful. "New princess?"
"She arrived yesterday, the same as yourself. She was to be married to Iadon's son Raoden."
Hrathen nodded. He hadn't attended the prince's funeral, but he had heard of the event. He hadn't known, however, of the impending marriage. The betrothal must have occurred recently. "She's still here," he asked. "even though the prince died?"
Dilaf nodded. "Unfortunately for her. the royal engagement contract made her his wife the moment he died."
"Ah," Hrathen said. "Where is she from?"
"Teod, Your Grace." Dilaf said.
Hrathen nodded, understanding the hatred in Dilaf 's voice. Arelon, despite the blasphemous city of Elantris, at least showed some possibility for redemption. Teod, however, was the homeland of Shu-Korath-a degenerate sect of ShuKeseg, the parent religion of Shu-Dereth. The day Teod fell beneath Fjorden's glory would be a joyous day indeed.
"A Teoish princess could be a problem," Hrathen mused.
"Nothing can hinder Jaddeth's empire."
"If nothing could hinder it, Arteth, then it would already encompass the entire planet. Jaddeth takes pleasure in allowing His servants to serve Him, and grants us glory in bending the foolish before our will. And of all the fools in the world. Teoish fools are the most dangerous."
"How could one woman be a danger to you. Your Holiness?"
"Well, for one thing, her marriage means that Teod and Arelon have a formal blood bond. If we aren't careful. we'll have to fight them both at once. A man is more likely to think himself a hero when he has an ally to support him."
"I understand. Your Grace."
Hrathen nodded, sweeping out into the sunlight. "Pay attention, Arteth, and I will teach you a very important lesson-one that few people know, and even fewer can properly use."
"What lesson is that?" Dilaf asked, following close behind.
Hrathen smiled slightly. "I will show you the way to destroy a nation-the means by which the man of Jaddeth can topple kingdoms and seize control of the people's souls."
am… eager to learn, Your Grace."
"Good," Hrathen said, looking across Kae at the enormous wall of Elantris. It rose above the city like a mountain. "Take me up there. I wish to view the fallen lords of Arelon."
When Hrathen had first arrived at the Outer City of Kae, he had noted how indefensible it was. Now, standing atop the wall of Elantris, Hrathen could see that he had actually underestimated how pathetic Kae's fortifications were. Beautiful. terraced steps ran up the outside of Elantris's wall, providing outside access to the top. They were firm. stone constructions; it would be impossible to destroy them in an emergency. If Kae's inhabitants retreated into Elam-is, they would be trapped, not protected.
There were no archers. The Elantris City Guard members carried large, unwieldy spears that looked like they were far too heavy to be thrown. They held themselves with a proud air, wearing unarmored yellow-and-brown uniforms, and they obviously considered themselves far above the regular city militia. From what Hrathen had heard, however, the Guard wasn't even really necessary to keep the Elantrians in. The creatures rarely tried to escape. and the city wall was far too large for the Guard to patrol extensively. The force was more of a public-relations operation than a true military; the people of Kae felt much more comfortable living beside Elantris when they knew a troop of soldiers watched the city. However, Hrathen suspected that in a war, the Guard members would be hard-pressed to defend themselves, let alone protect Kae's population.