his opinion of the impact of the war on Khorvaire at large; the Aundairian was tight-lipped and grim. Kavrin d’Vadalis discussed the Valenar cavalry capabilities with the Karrnathi ambassador on his right. Senen and Midian both became sought-after partners in the discussion as they related stories and histories of past conflicts between dar and elves, sometimes glaring at each other and arguing when what they told clashed. Dannel, Laren, Vounn, and Pater quietly spoke of Tariic’s new power and what he might do with it. In the two days since his coronation, he had divided his time between public appearances and the assembly of warlords, stirring pride in the Darguuls and whipping up sentiments against the Valenar-and all elves by extension.
A game was in play around the table, with each ambassador and envoy offering up a little bit of what they knew in return for new knowledge form the others. Here and there, hints revealed plans. Vadalis hoped to convince Tariic to purchase their strong and tough magebred mounts for his army. Breland would increase patrols along their side of the Seawall Mountains in case Darguul warlords were stirred up too much, while Karrnath, having more direct experience with the Valenar, wondered if the distracted elves might pull away from their northern territories. Zilargo had hopes that the war would be brief and Tariic would settle into the role of peaceful, predictable ruler. Everyone talked about House Lyrandar and Sindra d’Lyrandar’s conspicuous absence from Rhukaan Draal.
“We gather with our own,” Vounn had told Ashi as they’d prepared for the dinner. “We know what we’re doing, we know what we trade. We each bring a thread and from them weave a tapestry none of us could have woven alone. Everyone leaves on even footing.”
And Vounn, Ashi saw quickly, was one of the most able players of the game. She spoke only a little, but listened with intensity, and Ashi felt sure that if a tapestry was being woven tonight, Vounn sat at the loom and threw the shuttle.
Senen, surprisingly, was another able player. She might not have been familiar with the table manners of the Five Nations, but she was surely a veteran of intrigues among the Dhakaani clans. Her ears flicked rapidly back and forth, as if she was listening to several conversations at once. Ashi realized that with a lhesh now on the throne, the Kech Volaar and Darguun might draw closer to an alliance again. Ekhaas had confided in her that Senen suspected that she was involved in something. Ashi wondered if the ambassador could have suspicions of Tariic as well.
Plates were cleared and glasses emptied. A lull fell into the conversation, as if the diplomats had sated their need for information along with their hunger. Ashi saw Dannel give a glance and a nod to Stitch. The warforged stepped out of the room. Dannel smiled at those seated around the table. “Let us adjourn to the library. We have sweet wine and cheese to finish.”
She rose and her guests rose with her, Vounn, however, caught Pater’s hand and held him back as the others left the room. Ashi, waiting for the signal, stayed as well. “Pater,” said Vounn, “I need a favor.”
The eyebrows on Pater’s round face rose slightly. “There are worse things than having House Deneith in your debt.” His voice was pleasant but his gaze was suspicious. “What do you need?”
“I think Baron Breven will recall Ashi to Sentinel Tower in Karrlakton soon. I’ve put him off before, but I don’t think I can delay again. Ashi will have to leave Darguun.”
The lie was simple and completely believable because it was mostly true. When Pater glanced at her, Ashi didn’t need to feign her frustration.
Vounn continued her appeal smoothly. “Unfortunately, with conditions as they are in the country, the route could be dangerous. We’ve had no word from Dagii’s army or from Zarrthec. It’s possible raiders could be scouting the trade road.”
“I haven’t heard anything from our caravans,” Pater grunted.
“Yet you don’t rule out an attack on your supply wagon,” Vounn reminded him. “If I move a force of mercenaries guarding one person up the trade road, I expect the Valenar might find that too tempting a target to resist.” She gestured to Ashi. “Can you take her? I mean, are you capable of taking her should the need arise?”
Pater screwed up his face and cast an eye over Ashi. She felt as if she was being sized up as cargo-which, strictly speaking, she was. House Orien bore the Mark of Passage. Pater’s dragonmark, though not the most powerful of Orien’s marks, allowed him to step instantly across vast distances. Vounn had told her it was an ability that the viceroy seldom used and then only to carry urgent letters and parcels, but that it was theoretically possible for him to transport a passenger on his long-distance jaunts.
She found herself holding her stomach in, as if that would make her look like a lighter load.
Pater just grunted again. “Aye. I won’t do it for free, though. Standard Orien fee.”
“Of course,” said Vounn. “I regard it as a favor that you’re willing to do it at all.” She clasped his hands and smiled. “Thank you.”
Pater’s face didn’t relax. “One step follows another, Vounn. You wouldn’t ask me like this if it was a simple transport.”
“And you wouldn’t agree if it was just a simple transport. I know you, Pater.” Her smile took on an edge. “Not all dangers wait along the road. No one will suspect your involvement. I intend to organize a mercenary escort and send Ashi out of Rhukaan Draal with them-you meet her outside the city, on the other side of the bridge over the Ghaal River, and take her from there. Attention will remain on the escort, which will disband a reasonable distance from the city with no sign of Ashi-or you. Will you do it?”
Pater glanced from her to Ashi. “Aye,” he said. “I will. Give me a day’s notice when you need me.”
“Thank you, Viceroy Pater,” Ashi said. She stepped forward and bowed slightly. “I appreciate this.”
They were the only words she’d been allowed to say-Vounn had told her specifically to keep her mouth shut while she spoke. Pater’s assistance had been far from guaranteed and even Ashi had seen it. The words of thanks were the polish on the sword, though. Pater puffed up like a rooster strutting before hens. “You’re welcome, Lady Ashi,” he said.
Vounn shifted her grasp from his hand to his arm and gave him another open smile. “Wonderful. Now, let’s catch up to Dannel and the others before the wine and cheese are gone.”
They strolled out of the dining room. Ashi followed in their wake along the short passage that connected library and dining room.
She didn’t even see Midian until he grabbed her wrist and tugged her back into the shadow of a large decorative urn.
“You’re leaving?” he demanded.
“You heard that?”
“I hear a lot more than people think I do.” His eyes glittered. “I know about Tenquis.”
He’d learned the name. “How-?”
He scowled. “Finding an artificer was my idea. You don’t think I could ask the same questions as Ekhaas? Now it’s your turn. You’re leaving?”
Ashi looked around. The urn concealed Midian completely, but what hid a gnome didn’t hide her. “Not here,” she said. “Somewhere private.”
Servants had entered the dining room to clear away the dinner plates. Midian, still holding tight to Ashi’s hand, led her the other way along the passage, away from the library and up a flight of stairs. A door opened onto an airy gallery with ornate filigree screen panels forming a long wall open to the night. They were up high, well above the street. The gallery was unlit and dim to her eyes, though Midian moved with confidence.
“Don’t touch the screens,” he warned her. “They’re Cannith gearwork, trapped to keep out thieves.”
“How did you know this was here?”
“I had a look around before dinner.” He let go of her hand and turned to face her. “Let’s try this again. You’re leaving?”
“Not if I can help it,” Ashi told him stubbornly. She described her attempt to reach Geth after Tariic’s coronation-and her subsequent conversation with Vounn. When she had finished, Midian let out a hiss of frustration.
“I wondered why you hadn’t left your chambers for the last two days. Your guard Aruget told me you were ill whenever I came around.”
“What did you make of what happened at the coronation?”
“I couldn’t see anything. A fat lump of a bugbear pushed in front of me. Not that I was all that eager to be seen once Makka strolled onto the dais.” Ashi could make out Midian’s face-he was chewing nervously on a thumbnail. “Sage’s quill. Tariic may know about the false rod.” He glanced at her, his blue eyes flashing in the
