'I might be slow, but I was not going to miss whatever you had planned, Sarene,' Roial said. 'They say age brings wisdom, but it only gave me a torturous case of curiosity.'
'Eondel's soldiers?' Sarene asked.
'Were already at the party,' Lukel said. He had insisted on knowing what had happened as soon as he saw Sarene sneaking into Roial's house, covered in slime. 'I saw some of them mingling with the guests.'
'I invited Eondel's officers,' Roial explained. 'Or, at least, the half-dozen of them that were in town.'
'All right,' Sarene said. 'So after I ran off, Ashe called your Seon and told you I was pursuing the king.'
' The foolish girl is going off to get herself killed' were his exact words, I believe,' Roial said with a chuckle.
'Ashe!'
'I apologize, my lady.' the Seon said, pulsing in embarrassment. 'I was rather out of sorts.'
'Anyway.' Sarene continued, 'Ashe called Roial and he gathered Eondel and his men from the parry. You all followed me to the sewers, where you had your Seon guide you.'
'Until Eondel heard you screaming,' Roial finished. 'You are a very lucky lady to have that man's loyalty, Sarene.'
'I know,' Sarene said. 'That's the second time this week his sword has proved useful. Next time I see Iadon, remind me to kick him for convincing the nobility that military training is beneath them.'
Roial chuckled. 'You might have to stand in line to do that kicking, Princess. I doubt the city's priests-Derethi or Korathi-will let the king ger away with taking part in the Jeskeri Mysteries.'
'And sacrificing that poor woman,' Ashe said quietly.
The tone of the conversation grew subdued as they remembered just what they were discussing. Sarene shuddered at the image of the blood-covered altar and its occupant. Ashe's right, she thought somberly. This is no time for joking.
'That's what it was, then?' Lukel asked.
Sarene nodded. 'The Mysteries sometimes involve sacrifices. Iadon must have wanted something very badly.'
'Our Derethi friend claimed to have some knowledge on the subject,' Roial said. 'He seemed to think the king was petitioning the Jesker spirits to destroy someone for him.'
'Me?' Sarene asked, growing cold despite her blanket.
Roial nodded. 'Arteth Dilaf said the instructions were written on the altar in that woman's blood.'
Sarene shivered. 'Well, at least now we know what happened to the maids and cooks who disappeared from the palace.'
Roial nodded. 'I'd guess he's been involved with the Mysteries for a long time-perhaps even since the Reod. He was obviously the leader of that particular band.'
'The others?' Sarene asked.
'Minor nobles,' Roial said. 'Iadon wouldn't have invoIved anyone who could challenge him.'
'Wait a moment.' Sarene said, her brows furled. 'Where did that Derethi priest come from, anyway?'
Roial looked down at his cup uncomfortably. 'That's my fault. He saw me gathering Eondel's men-I was kind of in a hurry-and followed us. We didn't have time to deal with him.'
Sarene sipped at her drink petulantly. The night's events definitely hadn't turned out as she had planned.
Suddenly Ahan waddled through the door. 'Rag Domi, Sarene!' he declared. 'First you oppose the king, then you rescue him, and now you dethrone him. Would you please make up your mind?'
Sarene pulled her knees up against her chest and dropped her head between them with a groan. 'There's no chance of keeping it under cover, then?'
'No,' Roial said. 'The Derethi priest saw to that-he's already announced it to half of the city.'
'Telrii will almost certainly seize power now,' Ahan said with a shake of his head.
'Where is Eondel?' Sarene asked, her voice muffled by the blankets. 'Locking the king in the jailhouse.' Ahan said.
'And Shuden?'
'Still seeing that the women got home safely, I assume.' Lukel said.
'All right,' Sarene said. raising her head and brushing her hair out of her eyes. 'We'll have to proceed without them. Gentlemen. I'm afraid I just destroyed our brief respite of peace. We have some heavy planning to do-and most of it is going to be in the way of damage control.'
CHAPTER 33
Something changed. Hrathen blinked, washing away the last remnants of his waking dream. He wasn't sure how much time had passed-it was dark now, hauntingly black save for a few lonely torches burning high above on Elantris's wall. There wasn't even any moonlight.
He fell into the stupor more and more often lately, his mind fuzzing as he knelt in the same penitent stance. Three days was a long time to spend in prayer.
He was thirsty. Hungry as well. He had expected that: he had fasted before. However, this time seemed different. His hunger seemed more urgent, as if his body were trying to warn him of something. Elantris had much do with his discomfort, he knew. There was a desperation about the town, a sense of anxiety in every vile, cracking stone.
Suddenly, light appeared in the sky. Hrathen looked up with awe. blinking tired eyes. The moon slowIy appeared from darkness. First a scythe-shaped sliver. it grew even as Hrathen watched. He hadn't realized that there would be a lunar eclipse this night-he had stopped paying attention to such things since he left Duladel. That nation's now extinct pagan religion had ascribed special importance to the heaven's movements, and the Mysteries often practiced their rituals on such nights.
Squatting in the courtyard of Elantris, Hrathen finally understood what had prodded the Jeskers to regard nature with religious wonder. There was something beautiful about the pale-faced goddess of the heavens. a mysticism to her eclipse. It was as if she really were disappearing for a time-traveling to another place, as opposed to just falling into the planet's shadow. as Svordish scientists now claimed. Hrathen could almost feel her magic.
Almost. He could understand how, perhaps, a primitive culture could worship the moon-but he could not take part in that worship. Yet he wondered-was this the awe he should feel for his God? Was his own belief flawed because he did not regard Jaddeth with the same mixture of curious fear and wonder with which the people of Jesker had regarded the moon?
He would never have such emotions: he was not capable of irrational veneration. He understood. Even if he envied men who could gush praises to a god without understanding his teachings, Hrathen eould not separate fact and religion.
Jaddeth bestowed attributes on men as He saw fit, and Hrathen had been given a logical intellect. He would never be content with simpleminded devotion.
It was not what Hrathen had been hoping for, but it was an answer, and he found comfort and strength within it. He was not a zealot: he would never be a man of extreme passion. In the end, he followed Derethi because it made sense. That would have to be enough.
Hrathen licked his drying lips. He didn't know how long it would be until he left Elantris: his exile could last days yet. He hadn't wanted to show signs of physical dependence, but he knew that he would need some nourishment. Reaching over, he retrieved his sacrificial basket. Caked with slime, the offerings were growing stale and moldy. Hrathen ate them anyway. resolve breaking as he finally made the decision to eat. He devoured it all- flaccid vegetables, moldy bread, meat, even some of the corn, the hard grains softened slightly by their extended bath in Elantris slime. At the end he downed the entire flask of wine with one prolonged gulp.
He tossed the basket aside. At least now he wouldn't have to worry about scavengers coming to steal his offerings, though he hadn't seen any more of them since the earlier attack. He was thankful to Jaddeth for the respite. He was becoming so weak and dehydrated that he might not have been able to fend off another
