'The slime explanation makes sense, my prince,' Karata said. -I've always known that there was something unnatural about that grime. I've stood outside in the rain, watching waves of water pound against a stone wall without cleaning it a speck.'
'The slime is oily.' Raoden said, 'and repels water. Have you heard Kahar talk about how difficult it is to scrub away?'
Karata nodded, leafing through the tome. 'These books contain much information.'
'They do,' Raoden said. 'Though the scholars who wrote them could be frustratingly obscure. It takes a great deal of studying to find answers to specific questions.'
'Such as?' Karata asked.
Raoden frowned. 'Well, for one thing, I haven't found a single book that mentions how to make Seons.'
'None at all?' Karata asked with surprise.
Raoden shook his head. 'I always assumed that Seons were created by AonDor, but if so, the books don't explain how. A lot of them talk about the Passing of famous Seons from one person to another, but that's about it.'
'Passing?' Karata asked with a frown.
'Giving the Seon to another person,' Raoden said. 'If you have one, you can give it to someone eIse-or you can tell it who it's supposed to go and serve if you should die.'
'So, a regular person could have a Seon?' she asked. 'I thought it was only noblemen.'
Raoden shook his head. 'It's all up to the previous owner.'
'Though a nobleman's not likely to Pass his Seon to some random peasant,' Galladon said. 'Seons, like wealth, tend to say in the family. Kolo?'
Karata frowned. 'So… what happens if the owner dies, and hasn't told the Seon who to move on to?'
Raoden paused, then shrugged, looking to Galladon.
'Don't look at me, sule,' Galladon said. 'I never had a Seon.'
'1 don't know,' Raoden admitted. 'I guess it would just choose its next master on its own.'
'And if it didn't want to?' Karata asked.
'I don't think it would have a choice.' Raoden said. 'There's… something about Seons and their masters. They're bonded, somehow. Seons go mad when their masters are taken by the Shaod. for instance. I think they were created to serve-it's part of their magic.'
Karata nodded.
'My lord Spirit!' called an approaching voice.
Raoden raised an eyebrow. closing the tome.
'My lord,' Dashe said as he rushed through the door. The tall Elantrian looked more confused than worried.
'What is it, Dashe?' Raoden asked.
'It's the gyorn, my lord,' Dashe said with an excited look. 'He's been healed.'
CHAPTER 35
A month and a half and you've already dethroned the king. Never let it be said that you don't work quickly. 'Ene.' Her father's words were jovial, though his glowing face betrayed concern. He knew, as she did, that chaos in the wake of an uprooted government could be dangerous for both peasant and noble.
'Well, it isn't as if I intended it,' Sarene protested. 'Merciful Domi, I tried to save the fool. He shouldn't have gotten mixed up in the Mysteries.'
Her father chuckled. 'I should never have sent you over there. You were bad enough when we let you visit our enemies.'
'You didn't 'send' me here, Father,' Sarene said. 'This was my idea.'
'I'm glad to know that my opinion counts for so much in my daughter's eyes.' Eventeo said.
Sarene felt herself soften. 'I'm sorry. Father.' she said with a sigh. 'I've been on edge ever since… you don't know how horrible it was.'
'Oh, I do-unfortunately. How in Domi's name could a monstrosity like the Mysteries come from a religion as innocent as Jesker?'
'The same way Shu-Dereth and Shu-Korath could both come from the teachings of one little Jindoeese man,' Sarene replied with a shake of her head. Eventeo sighed. 'So, Iadon is dead?'
'You've heard?' Sarene asked with surprise.
'I sent a few new spies into Arelon recently. 'Ene,' her father said. 'I'm not going to leave my daughter alone in a country on the edge of destruction without at least keeping an eye on her.'
'Who?' Sarene asked curiously.
'You don't need to know.' her father said.
'They must have a Seon,' Sarene mused. 'Otherwise you wouldn't know about Iadon-he only hanged himself last night.'
'I'm not going to tell you, 'Ene,' Eventeo said with an amused tone. 'If you knew who it was. you would inevitably decide to appropriate him for your own purposes.'
'Fine.' Sarene said. 'But when this is all over, you'd better tell me who it was.'
'You don't know him.-
'Fine.' Sarene repeated, feigning indifference.
Her father laughed. -So, tell me about Iadon. How in Domi's name did he get a rope?-
'Lord Eondel must have arranged it,' Sarene guessed. resting her elbows on her desk. 'The count thinks like a warrior, and this was a very efficient solution. We don't have to force an abdication, and suicide restored some dignity to the monarchy.'
'Bloodthirsty this afternoon, are we 'Ene?'
Sarene shivered. 'You didn't see it, Father. The king didn't just murder that girl, he… enjoyed doing it.'
'Ah.' Eventeo said. 'My sources say Duke Telrii will probably take the throne.'
'Not if we can help it,' Sarene said. 'Telrii is even worse than Iadon. Even if he weren't a Derethi sympathizer, he'd make a terrible king.'
' 'Ene, a civil war will help no one.'
'It won't come to that, Father,' Sarene promised. 'You don't understand how unmilitaristically minded these people are. They lived for centuries under Elantrian protection-they think the presence of a few overweight guards on the city wall is enough to dissuade invaders. Their only real troops belong to Lord Eondel's legion, which he's ordered to gather at Kae. We might just be able to get Roial crowned before anyone's the wiser.'
'You've united behind him, then?'
'He's the only one rich enough to challenge Telrii,' Sarene explained. 'I didn't have enough time to stamp out Iadon's foolish monetary-title system. That is what the people are accustomed to, and so we're going to have to use it. for now.'
A knock at the door was followed by a maid with a lunch tray. Sarene had returned to live in the palace after spending only one night in Roial's manor, despite her allies' concerns. The palace was a symbol, and she hoped it would lend her authority. The maid put the tray on the table and departed.
'Was that lunch?' Her father seemed to have a sixth sense regarding food. 'Yes,' Sarene said, cutting herself a piece of cornbread.
'Is it good?'
Sarene smiled. 'You shouldn't ask, Father. You'll only upset yourself.' Eventeo sighed. 'I know. Your mother has a new fascination-Hraggish weed soup.
'Is it good?' Sarene asked. Her mother was the daughter of a Teoish diplomat, and had spent most of her growing years in Jindo. As a result, she had picked up some very odd dietary preferences-ones she forced upon the entire palace and its staff.
'It's horrible.'
'Pity,' Sarene said. 'Now, where did I put that butter?'
