Elantris

outside. 'Therefore, you might as well just tell

Sarene held up the book, showing him the spine, which read Seor's Encyclopedia of Political Myths. Though Raoden had shown Sarene the library in an effort to sate her interest in AonDor, she'd postponed that study as soon as she had realized that there was an entire shelf of books on politicaI theory. Part of the reason for her shift in interest probably had to do with her annoyance at AonDor. She couldn't draw Aons in the air: she couldn't even get the lines to start appearing behind her fingers. Raoden had been perplexed at first, but Galladon had explained that such a thing wasn't uncommon. Even before the Reod, it had taken some Elantrians years to learn AonDor: if one began even the first line with an improper slant, nothing would appear. Raoden's own immediate success was nothing short of extraordinary.

Sarene. however. didn't see it that way. She was the type who grew annoyed when it took her longer to learn than someone else. She claimed she was drawing the Aons perfectly-and, in truth, Raoden couldn't see any flaws in her form. The characters just refused to appear-and no amount of princessly indignation could convince them to behave.

So Sarene had turned her interest to political works-though Raoden guessed she would have ended up there anyway. She was interested in AonDor. but she was fascinated by politics. Whenever Raoden came to the library to practice Aons or study. Sarene picked out a volume by some ancient historian or diplomatic genius and began to read in the corner.

'.. it's amazing. I have never read anything that so soundly debunks Fjorden's rhetoric and manipulation.'

Raoden shook his head, realizing he had simply been staring at her. enjoying her features rather than paying attention to her words. She was saying something about the book-about how it exposed Fjordell political lies.

'Every government lies occasionally. Sarene.' he said as she paused.

'True.' she said, flipping through the book. 'But not with such magnitude-for the last three hundred years. ever since Fjorden adopted the Derethi religion, the Wyrns have been blatantly altering their country's own histories and literature to make it seem as if the empire has always been a manifestation of divine purpose. Look at this.' She held up the book again. this time showing him a page of verse.

'What is that?'

'Wyrn the King-the entire three-thousand-line poem.'

'I've read it,' Raoden said. Wyrn was said to be the oldest recorded piece of literature-older. even. than the Do-Kando, the holy book that Shu-Keseg, and eventually Shu-Dereth and Shu-Korath, had come from.

'You may have read a version of Wyrn the King,' Sarene said, shaking her head. 'But not this one. Modern versions of the poem make references to Jaddeth in an almost Derethi way. The version in this book shows that the priests rewrote the literature from the original to make it sound as if Wyrn were Derethi-even

though he lived long before Shu-Dereth was founded. Back then Jaddeth-or, at least. the god of the same name that Shu-Dereth adopted-was a relatively unimportant god who cared for the rocks under the earth.

'Now that Fjorden is religious, they can't have it sounding Iike their greatest historical king was a pagan, so the priests went through and rewrote all of the poems. I don't know where this man Seor got an original version of Wyrn, but if it got out, it would provide a major source of embarrassment to Fjorden.' Her eyes sparkled mischievously.

Raoden sighed, walking over and crouching down next to Sarene's desk. putting her face at eye level. Any other time, he would have liked nothing more than to sit and listen to her talk. Unfortunately, he had more pressing things on his mind.

'All right,' she said, her eyes thinning as she put down the book. 'What is it? Am I really that boring?'

'Not at all,' Raoden said. 'This is just the wrong time. You see… Galladon and I just climbed to the top of the city wall.'

Her face grew perplexed. 'And?'

'We found the Elantris City Guard surrounding Duke Telrii's mansion,' Rao-den said. 'We were kind of hoping you could tell us why. I know you're hesitant to talk about the outside, but I'm worried. I need to know what is happening.'

Sarene sat with one arm leaning on the desktop, hand raised and tapping her cheek with her index finger as she often did when she was thinking. 'All right,' she finally said with a sigh. 'I guess I haven't been fair. I didn't want to concern you with outside events.'

'Some of the other Elantrians may seem uninterested, Sarene,' Raoden said, 'but that's just because they know we can't change what is going on in Kae. I'd prefer to know about things on the outside. however-even if you are a bit hesitant to talk about them.'

Sarene nodded. 'It's all right-I can talk about it now. I guess the important part began when I dethroned King Iadon-which. of course, is why he hanged himself.'

Raoden sat down with a thump. his eyes wide.

CHAPTER 44

'Even as she spoke. Sarene worried about what Spirit had said. Without her, the others had no legitimate claim on the throne. Even Roial was stumped: they could only watch helplessly as Telrii solidified control over the nobility. She expected to receive news of Telrii's coronation by the end of the day.

It took her a few moments to realize the look of stunned shock her comment had caused Spirit. He had fallen back into one of the room's chairs, his eyes wide. She chastened herself for lack of tact; this was, after all, Spirit's king she was talking about. So much had happened in court the last few weeks that she had grown desensitized.

'I'm sorry,' Sarene said. 'That was a little blunt, wasn't it?'

'Iadon is dead?' Spirit asked in a quiet voice.

Sarene nodded. 'It turns out he was involved with the Jeskeri Mysteries. When that got out, he hanged himself rather than face the shame.' She didn't expand on her role in the events: there was no need to complicate them further.

'Jeskeri?' Spirit repeated. then his face turned dark and he gritted his teeth. 'I always though of him as a fool, but… How far did his… involvement go?'

'He was sacrificing his cooks and maids.' Sarene said, feeling sick. There was a reason she had avoided explaining these things.

Spirit apparently noticed her pallor. 'I'm sorry.'

'It's all right,' Sarene said. However, she knew no matter what else happened. no matter where she went in her life, the shadowed vision of Iadon's sacrifice would always lurk in her mind.

'Telrii is king then?' Spirit asked.

'Soon.' Sarene said. 'He might have been crowned already.'

Spirit shook his head. 'What about Duke Roial? He's both richer and more respected. He should have taken the throne.'

'He's not richer anymore,' Sarene said. 'Fjorden has supplemented Telrii's income. He's a Derethi sympathizer, which, I'm afraid, has increased his social standing.'

Spirit's brow furled. 'Being a Derethi sympathizer makes one popular? I've missed a lot, haven't I?'

'How long have you been in here?'

`A year,' Spirit answered offhandedly. That matched what some of the other New Elantrians had told her. No one knew for certain how long Spirit had been in the city, but they all guessed at least a year. He had seized control of the rival gangs in recent weeks, but that wasn't the sort of thing a person accomplished without a great deal of planning and work.

'I guess that answers how Telrii got the Guard to back him,' Spirit mumbled. -They've always been far too eager to support whoever seemed most popular at the moment.'

Sarene nodded. 'They relocated to the duke's mansion shortly before I was thrown in here.'

'All right,' Spirit said. 'You're going to have to start at the beginning-I need as much information as you can give me.'