polarizing.”
“Yes, although so far, Menelcar has managed to stay out of it. And all of this is because of manipulation of the Trade Council.”
Geradon shook his head. “It’s truly frightening. I might have expected something like this between Tradelenor and Lorredre, but here? What about the monarchs? The Trade Council cannot pass any new regulations or tariffs without their approval, can they?”
“You are right, the monarchs in both kingdoms must approve the actions of their Councils. But the nobility hold so little power that the nobles would consider it a dire threat if the monarch interfered. And I believe the monarchs are aware of that. In any event, the manipulation is occurring on such a subtle level that I doubt they have any quarrels with how their Councils are proceeding.”
“What of the Confederacy? Is there any talk of involving the Great Council?”
“Not yet. The Great Council will stay out of it if at all possible. Dynolva and Watchaven have been stable for so long, I believe they think this is nothing more than a minor trade squabble. Thanks to Locguard, these frontier kingdoms have a reputation for a lot of shield thumping.”
“Unfortunately,” Rylan continued, “that has never been true of these two kingdoms, but I doubt that any on the Great Council, particularly the southern kings, realize that they are any different from Locguard. And of course, the Great Council will not meet until the Day of Aluntas. Who can say what will happen between now and then?”
“How can we stop it?” Geradon asked.
“The question is not how can we stop it, but how can we prove it? There is the problem. How is Richard doing?”
“He joined the Northmarch about a week ago and has taken up quarters with Morticai’s squad members. He’s trying to stay as close as possible. The problem is that Morticai does not bunk with the rest of his squad.”
“What? Why not?”
“I never really found out why, but Morticai sleeps in the attic.”
Rylan laughed. “Why not? Former street urchin, former thief, former loner … you were right, it looks like this is going to be interesting. I just wish it weren’t so serious.”
With that, Rylan blew out their candle. The noise from without instantly flooded back.
Chapter Seven
Prince Luthekar waited impatiently for evening service to end. At last, the door opened and the High Priest entered. “This had best be important,” the prince said. He didn’t bother to hide his irritation.
The High Priest stopped, midway to the chair before his desk, and tilted his masked head. “Do you think I would bother you with something trivial?”
“I have much to tend to, and coming here is awkward. I presume something urgent has developed since our last meeting.”
“Yes.” The High Priest sat down in the chair before his desk—Luthekar already sat in the chair behind it.
“Something I thought you would want to know about Lord Aldwin. He has passed some information down the chains in hopes of learning more about his thief.”
“He withheld information?”
“Well, let us say, he has not been as honest as he should have been. He apparently recovered a dagger and some rope that the thief left behind. Rather than share that bit of information with us he went to a local witch named Madam Luvena. He learned from her that the thief is a member of Watchaven’s Northmarch, and that the man is a corryn orphan.”
“The Northmarch? Indeed, this is troublesome news. This witch needs to be visited again.”
“That has already been seen to.”
The High Priest rose and opened the door that led to the temple. A lovely, dark-eyed woman came into the room. She smoothly slid into the chair before the desk and smiled seductively at Luthekar.
“Cwena?” Luthekar asked, smiling.
“What do you think, my Lord? Is this form not pleasant?” She flipped the long hair behind the chair.
“Yes, it is—quite different from your usual shape. Does the witch still
“Yes, although so far, Menelcar has managed to stay out of it. And all of this is because of manipulation of the Trade Council.”
Geradon shook his head. “It’s truly frightening. I might have expected something like this between Tradelenor and Lorredre, but here? What about the monarchs? The Trade Council cannot pass any new regulations or tariffs without their approval, can they?”
“You are right, the monarchs in both kingdoms must approve the actions of their Councils. But the nobility hold so little power that the nobles would consider it a dire threat if the monarch interfered. And I believe the monarchs are aware of that. In any event, the manipulation is occurring on such a subtle level that I doubt they have any quarrels with how their Councils are proceeding.”
“What of the Confederacy? Is there any talk of involving the Great Council?”
“Not yet. The Great Council will stay out of it if at all possible. Dynolva and Watchaven have been stable for so long, I believe they think this is nothing more than a minor trade squabble. Thanks to Locguard, these frontier kingdoms have a reputation for a lot of shield thumping.”
“Unfortunately,” Rylan continued, “that has never been true of these two kingdoms, but I doubt that any on the Great Council, particularly the southern kings, realize that they are any different from Locguard. And of course, the Great Council will not meet until the Day of Aluntas. Who can say what will happen between now and then?”
“How can we stop it?” Geradon asked.
“The question is not how can we stop it, but how can we prove it? There is the problem. How is Richard doing?”
“He joined the Northmarch about a week ago and has taken up quarters with Morticai’s squad members. He’s trying to stay as close as possible. The problem is that Morticai does not bunk with the rest of his squad.”
“What? Why not?”
“I never really found out why, but Morticai sleeps in the attic.”
Rylan laughed. “Why not? Former street urchin, former thief, former loner … you were right, it looks like this is going to be interesting. I just wish it weren’t so serious.”
With that, Rylan blew out their candle. The noise from without instantly flooded back.
Chapter Seven
Prince Luthekar waited impatiently for evening service to end. At last, the door opened and the High Priest entered. “This had best be important,” the prince said. He didn’t bother to hide his irritation.
The High Priest stopped, midway to the chair before his desk, and tilted his masked head. “Do you think I would bother you with something trivial?”
“I have much to tend to, and coming here is awkward. I presume something urgent has developed since our last meeting.”
“Yes.” The High Priest sat down in the chair before his desk—Luthekar already sat in the chair behind it.
“Something I thought you would want to know about Lord Aldwin. He has passed some information down the chains in hopes of learning more about his thief.”
“He withheld information?”
“Well, let us say, he has not been as honest as he should have been. He apparently recovered a dagger and some rope that the thief left behind. Rather than share that bit of information with us he went to a local witch named Madam Luvena. He learned from her that the thief is a member of Watchaven’s Northmarch, and that the man is a corryn orphan.”
“The Northmarch? Indeed, this is troublesome news. This witch needs to be visited again.”
“That has already been seen to.”
The High Priest rose and opened the door that led to the temple. A lovely, dark-eyed woman came into the room. She smoothly slid into the chair before the desk and smiled seductively at Luthekar.
“Cwena?” Luthekar asked, smiling.
“What do you think, my Lord? Is this form not pleasant?” She flipped the long hair behind the chair.
“Yes, it is—quite different from your usual shape. Does the witch still
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