The Hidden City

attempt on his life by Chacole and Torellia.
    ‘They might have actually pulled it off if it hadn’t been for Elysoun,’ he concluded, looking fondly at his now-demure Valesian wife.
    Mirtai looked at Elysoun with one questioningly-raised eyebrow.
    ‘Why the change of costume?’ she asked bluntly.
    Elysoun shrugged. ‘I’m with child,’ she replied. ‘I guess my days of adventuring are over.’ She looked at Mirtai’s puzzled expression. ‘It’s a Valesian custom,’ she explained. ‘We’re allowed a certain amount of freedom until our first pregnancy. After that, we’re supposed to behave ourselves.’ She smiled. ‘I’d more or less exhausted the potentials of the imperial compound anyway,’ she added. ‘Now it’s time to settle down—and catch up on my sleep.’
    ‘Has anybody heard from Stragen and Caalador?’ Talen asked.
    ‘Viscount Stragen and Duke Caalador came back to Matherion a week ago,’ Sarabian replied.
    ‘New embellishments?’ Ehlana asked with some surprise.
    ‘Rewards for services rendered, Ehlana,’ Sarabian smiled. ‘It seemed appropriate. Duke Caalador’s accepted a position in the Ministry of the Interior, so he’s gone back to Lebas to settle up his affairs there.’
    ‘And Stragen?’
    ‘He’s on his way to Astel, your Majesty,’ Baroness Melidere replied with a bleak smile. ‘He said that he wants to have a few words with Elron.’
    ‘Did Elron manage to get out of Natayos alive?’ Kalten sounded surprised. ‘Ekrasios said that the Shining Ones had obliterated the place.’
    ‘The word Caalador picked up was that Elron hid out somewhere while the Shining Ones were dissolving Scarpa and Cyzada. Then, after they were gone, he crept out of the ruins and bolted for home. Stragen’s going to look him up.’ The Baroness looked at Khalad. ‘Krager got out as well,’ she told him. ‘Caalador found out that he was bound for Zenga in eastern Cammoria. There’s something you should know about Krager, though.’
    ‘Oh?’
    ‘Do you remember how King Wargun died?’
    ‘His liver finally gave out on him, didn’t it?’
    She nodded. ‘The same thing’s happening to Krager. Caalador talked with a man named Order in the town of Delo. Krager was completely out of his head when they put him on the ship bound for Zenga.’
    ‘He’s still alive, though, isn’t he?’ Khalad asked bleakly.
    ‘If you can call it that,’ she sighed. ‘Let it go, Khalad. He wouldn’t even feel it if you ran your sword through him. He wouldn’t know who you were or why you were killing him.’
    ‘Thank you, Baroness,’ Khalad said, ‘but I think that when we get back to Eosia, Berit and I’ll run on down to Zenga just to make sure. Krager’s gotten away from us just a few too many times to take any chances. I want to see him in the ground.’
    ‘Can I come too?’ Talen asked eagerly.
    ‘No,’ Khalad replied.
    ‘What do you mean, no?’
    ‘It’s time for you to start your novitiate.
    ‘That can wait.’
    ‘No, it can’t. You’re already a half a year late. If you don’t start training now, you’ll never become proficient.’
    Vanion looked approvingly at Sparhawk’s squire. ‘Don’t forget what we talked about earlier, Sparhawk,’ he said. ‘And pass my recommendation on to Dolmant.’
    ‘What’s this?’ Khalad asked.
    ‘I’ll tell you about it later,’ Sparhawk replied.
    ‘Oh, by the way, Ehlana,’ Sarabian said, ‘as long as the subject’s come up anyway, would you be put out with me if I bestowed a title on your little song-bird here?’ He smiled fondly at Alcan. ‘I certainly hope not, dear heart, because I’m going to do it anyway—for outstanding service to the Empire, if nothing else.’
    ‘What a splendid idea, Sarabian!’ Ehlana exclaimed.
    ‘I can’t really take much credit for the notion of the titles, I’m afraid,’ he admitted a bit ruefully. ‘Actually, they were your daughter’s idea. Her Royal Highness is a very strong-minded little girl.’
    Sparhawk glanced briefly at his daughter and then at Flute They wore identical expressions of smug self-satisfaction. Divine Aphrael clearly would not let anything stand in the way of her match-making. Sparhawk smiled briefly and then cleared his throat. ‘Ah—your Majesty,’ he said to the Emperor, ‘It’s growing rather late, and we’re all tired. I’d suggest that we continue this tomorrow.’
    ‘Of course, Prince Sparhawk,’ Sarabian agreed, rising to his