once hoped for, she would make the best of it.
It was finally happening. After all the waiting, after two near misses, she was actually going to get married. With that thought, both terrifying and vindicating, she raised her veil.
The screaming started immediately.
Confused, mortified, and shocked, Sarene reached to pull off her veil, thinking perhaps that there was something wrong with it. When it came off, her hair went with it. Sarene stared down at the long tresses with stupefaction. Her hands began to shake. She looked up. Roial was stunned, Seinalan outraged, and even Omin clutched his Korathi pendant with shock.
Sarene turned frantically, her eyes finding one of the broad mirrors on either side of the throne room. The face that stared back was not her own. It was a repulsive thing covered with black spots, defects that stood out even more markedIy against her white dress. Only a few fugitive strands of hair still clung to her diseased scalp.
Inexplicable and mysterious, the Shaod had come upon her.
CHAPTER 39
Hrathen watched several Korathi priests lead the stunned princess from
the quiet room. 'Such are the judgments of Holy Jaddeth,' he announced.
The duke. Roial, sat on the edge of the throne dais, head held between his hands. The young Jindo baron looked as if he wanted to follow the priests and demand Sarene's release. and the martial Count Eondel was weeping openly. Hrathen was surprised to realize that he took no joy from their sorrow. Princess Sarene's fall was necessary, but her friends were of no concern-or, at least, they shouldn't be. Why was he bothered that no one had shed tears at his own fall before the Shaod?
Hrathen had begun to think that the poison would take effect too late, that the surprise marriage between Sarene and Roial would go forward unchallenged. Of course, Sarene's fall would probably have been just as disastrous after the marriage-unless Roial had intended to take the throne this very evening. It was an uncomfortable possibility. One, fortunately. Hrathen would never have the opportunity to see fulfilled.
Roial wouldn't crown himself now. Not only did he lack the legal right, but his fortune was still less than chat of Telrii. Hrathen had checked the wedding contract-this time a death was not the same as a marriage.
Hrathen pushed his way through the stunned crowd toward the exit. He had to work quickly: Sarene's potion would wear off in five days. Duke Telrii met Hrathen's eyes as he passed, nodding with a respectful smile. The man had received Hrathen's message, and had not acted against the wedding. Now his faith would be rewarded.
The conquest of Arelon was almost complete.
CHAPTER 40
'There should be a way to get up there,' Raoden said, shading his eyes as he looked at the Elantris city wall. During the last few hours the sun had
emerged, burning away the morning mists. It hadn't, however, brought much warmth with it.
Galladon frowned. 'I don't see how, stile. Those walls are rather high.'
'You forget, my friend,' Raoden said. 'the walls weren't made to keep people in, or even really to keep enemies out. The old Elantrians built stairs and viewing platforms on the outside of the wall-there should be others in here.'
Galladon grunted. Ever since the Guards had mysteriously disappeared from the walls, Raoden had wanted to find a way up. The walls belonged to Elantris, not the outside world. From them, perhaps they could find out what was happening in Kae.
The Guard's inattentiveness bothered him. The disappearance was fortunate, in a way; it lessened the possibility that someone would notice New Elantris. However, Raoden could only think of a couple of reasons why the soldiers would leave
their post on the walls, and the most likely one was also the most worrisome. Could the East finally have invaded?
Raoden knew that an invasion was all too possible. Wyrn was too opportunistic to let a gem like post-Reod Arelon go unmolested forever. Fjorden would attack eventually. And. if Arelon fell before Wyrn's holy war, then Elantris would be destroyed. The Derethi priests would see to that.
Raoden didn't voice his fears to the other Elantrians, but he did act on them. If he could place men on the walls, then he would have prior warning of an army's approach. Perhaps with advance notice, Raoden would have time to hide his people. One of the three empty, ruined towns outside of Elantris was probably their best hope. He would lead them there, if he had the chance.
Assuming he was in any condition to help. The Dor had come against him twice in the last four days. Fortunately, while the pain was growing stronger. so was his resolve. Now. at least. he understood.
'There,' Galladon said, pointing to an outcropping.
Raoden nodded. There was a chance the stone column held a stairwell. 'Let's
They were far from New Elantris, which was positioned in the center of the city to hide it from prying wall-top eyes. Here, in old Elantris, the slime still covered all. Raoden smiled: The dirt and grime was becoming repulsive to him again. For a while he had almost forgotten how disgusting it was.
They didn't get very far. Soon after Galladon pointed out the stairwell, a messenger from New Elantris appeared from a side street behind them. The man approached on quick feet, waving toward Raoden.
'My lord Spirit,' the man said.
'Yes, Tenrao?' Raoden asked, turning.
'A newcomer has been thrown into the city, my lord.'
Raoden nodded. He preferred to greet each newcomer personally. 'Shall we go?' he asked Galladon.
'The walls will wait,' the Dula agreed.
The newcomer turned out to be a she. The woman sat with her back to the gate, her knees pulled up against her chest, her head buried in her sacrificial robes.
'She's a feisty one, my lord.' said Dashe, who had been serving as watcher when the newcomer arrived. 'She screamed at the gate for a full ten minutes after they tossed her in. Then she threw her offering basket against the wall and sank down like she is now.'
Raoden nodded. Most newcomers were too stunned to do much besides wander. This one had strength.
Raoden gestured for the others to remain behind; he didn't want to make her nervous by bringing a crowd. He strolled forward until he was directly in front of her, then squatted down to regard her at eye level.
'Hello, there,' he said affably. 'I'm willing to guess you've had an awful day.'
The woman looked up. When he saw her face, Raoden nearly lost his balance in surprise. Her skin was splotched and her hair was missing. but she had the same thin face and round, mischievous eyes. Princess Sarene. His wife.
'You don't know the half of it, Spirit.' she said. a small, ironic smile coming to her lips.
'I'll bet I understand more than you think I do,' Raoden said. 'I'm here to make things a little less dreary.'
'What?' Sarene asked, her voice suddenly turning bitter. 'Are you going to steal the offering the priests gave me?'
'Well, I will if you really want me to.' Raoden said. 'Though I don't think we need it. Someone was kind enough to deliver us several large batches of food a few weeks back.'
Sarene regarded him with hostile eyes. She hadn't forgotten his betrayal. 'Come with me,' he urged, holding out his hand.
don't trust you anymore. Spirit.'
'Did you ever?'
