"I have to stay, Father, regardless of the situation."
"What loyalty do you owe them, Sarene?" Eventeo pled. "A husband you never knew? A people who are not your own?"
"I am the daughter of their king."
"You are the daughter of a king here as well. What is the difference? Here the people know and respect you."
"They know me, Father, but respect. Sarene sat back, beginning to feel sick. The old feelings were returning-the feelings that had made her willing to
leave her homeland in the first place, abandoning all she knew in favor of a foreign land.
"I don't understand, 'Ene." Her father's voice was pained.
Sarene sighed, closing her eyes. "Oh, Father, you could never see it. To you I was a delight-your beautiful, intelligent daughter. No one would dare tell you what they really thought of me."
"What are you talking about?" he demanded. now speaking with the voice of a king.
"Father.' Sarene said, "I am twenty-five years old, and I am blunt, conniving, and ofttimes offensive. You must have noticed that no man ever sought my hand."
Her father didn't respond for a moment. "I thought about it." he finally admitted.
"I was the king's spinster daughter, a shrew no one wanted to touch,' Sarene said. trying-and failing-to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "Men laughed at me behind my back. No one would dare approach me with romantic intentions, for it was well known that whoever did would be mocked by his peers."
"I just thought you were independent-that you didn't consider any of them worthy of your time."
Sarene laughed wryly. "You love me, Father-no parent wants to admit that his daughter is unattractive. The truth of the matter is, no man wants an intelligent wife."
"That isn't true." her father objected immediately. "Your mother is brilliant."
"You are an exception, Father, which is why you can't see it. A strong woman is not an asset in this world-not even in Teod, which I always claim is so much more advanced than the continent. It really isn't all that different, Father. They say they give their women more freedom, but there's still the impression that the freedom was theirs to 'give' in the first place.
"In Teod I an unmarried daughter. Here in Arelon, I am a widowed wife. That is an enormous distinetion. As much as I love Teod, I would have to live with the constant knowledge that no one wants me. Here, at least, I can try to convince myself that someone was willing to have me-even if it was for political reasons."
"We can find you someone else."
"I don't think so, Father," Sarene said with a shake of her head, sitting back in her chair. "Now that Teorn has children, no husband of mine would end up on the throne-which is the only reason anyone in Teod would consider marrying me. No one under Derethi control will consider marriage with a Teo. That only leaves Arelon, where my betrothal contract forbids me from marrying again. No, there is no one for me now, Father. The best I can do is make use of my situation here. At least I can command a measure of respect in Arelon without having to worry about how my actions will affect my future marriageability."
"I see," her father said. She could hear the displeasure in his voice.
"Father, do I need to remind you not to worry about me? ' she asked. "We have much larger problems to deal with."
can't help worrying about you, Leky Stick. You're my only daughter."
Sarene shook her head, determined to change the topic before she started crying. Suddenly very ashamed for destroying his idyllic vision of her. Sarene searched for anything she could say that would divert the conversation. "Uncle Kiin is here in Kae."
That did it. She heard an intake of breath from the other side of the Seon bond. "Do not mention his name to me, 'Ene."
"But-"
"No.'
Sarene sighed. -All right, then, tell me about Fjorden instead. What do you think Wyrn is planning?"
"This time I really have no idea," Eventeo said, allowing himself to be diverted. "It must be something massive. Borders are closing to Teoish merchants north and south, and our ambassadors are beginning to disappear. I am very close to calling them home."
"And your spies?"
"Are vanishing almost as quickly," her father said. "I haven't been able to get anyone into the Velding in over a month, and Domi only knows what Wyrn and the gyorns are scheming in there. Sending spies to Fjorden these days is almost the same as sending them to die."
"But you do it anyway," Sarene said quietly, understanding the source of the pain in her father's voice.
"I have to. What we find could end up saving thousands, though that doesn't make it any easier. I just wish I could get someone into Dakhor."
"The monastery?"
"Yes." Eventeo said. "We know what the other monasteries do-Rathbore trains assassins, Fjeldor spies, and most of the others simple warriors. Dakhor, however, worries me. I've heard some horrible stories about that monastery-and I can't fathom why anyone, even the Derethi, would do such things."
"Does it look like Fjorden's massing for war?"
"I can't tell-it doesn't appear so, but who knows. Wyrn could send a multi-nation army in our direction at almost a moment's notice. One small consolation is I don't think he knows we understand that fact. Unfortunately, the knowledge does put me in a difficult position."
"What do you mean?"
Her father's voice was hesitant. "If Wyrn declares holy war on us, then it will mean the end of Teod. We can't stand against the united might of the Eastern countries. 'Ene. I will not sit back and watch my people be slaughtered."
"You would consider surrendering?" Sarene asked with outrage.
"A king's duty is to protect his people. When faced with the choice of conversion or letting my people be destroyed. I think I would have to choose conversion." "You would be as spineless as the Jindoeese," Sarene said.
"The Jindoeese are a wise people. Sarene," her father said, his voice growing firm. "They did what they needed to survive."
"But that would mean giving up!"
"It would mean doing what we have to do," her father said. "I won't do anything yet. As long as there are two nations left. we have hope. However, if Arelon falls, I will be forced to surrender. We cannot fight the entire world, 'Ene, no more than one grain of sand can fight an entire ocean."
"But…" Sarene's voice trailed off. She could see her father's predicament. Fighting Fjorden on the battlefield would be an exercise in complete futility. Convert or die-both options were sickening, but conversion was obviously the more logical choice. However, a quiet voice inside her argued that it was worth dying, if death would prove that truth was more powerful than physical strength.
She had to make sure her father was never given that choice. If she could stop Hrathen. then she might be able to stop Wyrn. For a time, at least.
"I'm definitely staying, Father," she declared.
"I know, 'Ene. It will be dangerous."
"I understand. However, if Arelon does fall, then I would probably rather be dead than watch what happens in Teod."
"Be careful, and keep an eye on that gyorn. Oh, by the way-if you find out why Wyrn is sinking Iadon's ships, tell me."
"What?" Sarene asked with shock.
"You didn't know?"
"Know what?" Sarene demanded.
"King Iadon has lost nearly his entire merchant fleet. The official reports claim that the sinkings are the work of pirates, some remnant of Dreok Crushthroat's navy. However. my sources link the sinkings with Fjorden."
"So that's what it was!" Sarene said.
"What?"
"Four days ago I was at a party." Sarene explained. "A servant delivered a message to the king, and whatever it was unsettled the king a great deal."
"That would be about the right time frame." her father said. "I found out two days ago myself."
"Why would Wyrn sink innocent merchant vessels?" Sarene wondered. "Unless. Idos Domi! If the king loses his income, then he would be in danger of losing his throne!"
"Is all that nonsense about rank being tied to money true?"
"Insanely true," Sarene said. "Iadon takes away a family's title if they can't maintain their income. If lie lost his own source of wealth, it would destroy the
foundation of his rule. Hrathen could replace him with someone else-a man more willing w accept Shu-Dereth-without even bothering to start a revolution."
"It sounds feasible. Iadon asked for such a situation by concocting such an unstable basis for rule."
"It's probably Telrii," Sarene said. "That's why he spent so much money on that ball-the duke wants to show that he is financially sound. I would be very surprised if there wasn't a mountain of Fjordell gold behind his expenditures."
"What are you going to do?"
"Stop him," Sarene said. "Even though it hurts. I really don't like Iadon, Father."
"Unfortunately, it looks like Hrathen has chosen our allies for us."
Sarene nodded. "He has placed me with Elantris and Iadon-not a very enviable position."
"We all do the best with what Domi has given us."
"You sound like a priest."
"I have found reason to become very religious lately."
Sarene thought for a moment before replying, tapping her cheek as she considered his words. "A wise choice, Father. If Domi were ever going to help us, it would be now. The end of Teod means the end of Shu-Korath."
"For a time, perhaps," her father said. "Truth can never be defeated, Sarene. Even if people do forget about it occasionally."
Sarene was in bed, the lights down. Ashe hovered on the far side of the room, his light dimmed so much that he was barely an outline of Aon Ashe against the wall.
The conversation with her father had ended an hour ago, but its implications would likely plague her mind for months. She had never considered surrender an option, but now it looked almost inevitable. The prospect worried her. She knew that it was unlikely that Wyrn would let her father continue to rule. even if he did convert. She also knew that Eventeo would willingly give his life if it would spare his people.
She also thought about her own life, and her mixed memories of Teod. The kingdom contained the things she loved most-her father, brother, and mother. The forests around the port city of Teoin, the capital, were another very fond memory. She remembered the way the snow settled on the landscape. One morning she had awoken to find everything outside coated in a beautiful film of ice: the trees had looked like jewels sparkling in the winter daylight.
Yet, Teod also reminded her of pain and loneliness. It represented her exclusion from society and her humiliation before men. She had established early in life that she had a quick wit and an even quicker tongue. Both things had set her apart
from the other women-not that some of them weren't intelligent: they just had the wisdom to hide it until they were married.
Not all men wanted a stupid wife-but there also weren't a lot of men who felt comfortable around a woman they assumed was their intellectual superior. By the time Sarene had realized what she was doing to herself, she had found that the few men who might have accepted her were already married. Desperate, she had ferreted out the masculine opinion of her in court, and had been mortified to learn just how much they mocked her. After that, it had only grown worse-and she had only grown oIder. In a land where nearly every woman was at least engaged by the age of eighteen, she was an old maid by twenty-five. A very tall, gangly. argumentative old maid.
Her self-recrimination was interrupted by a noise. It didn't come from the hallway or window, however, but from inside her room. She sat up with a start. breath catching in her throat as she prepared to jump away. Only then did she realize it wasn't actually coming from her room, but from the wall beside her room. She frowned in confusion. There weren't any rooms on the other side; she was at the very edge of the palace. She had a window looking out over the city.
The noise was not repeated. and, determined to get some sleep despite her anxieties, Sarene told herself it had simply been the building settling.
CHAPTER 18
Dilaf walked in the door, looking a bit distracted. Then he saw the Elantrian sitting in the chair in front of Hrathen's desk. The shock nearly killed him. Hrathen smiled, watching as Dilaf's breath audibly caught in his throat, his eyes grew wide as shields, and his face turned a shade not unlike the color of Hrathen's armor. "Hruggath Jar Dilaf yelped in surprise, the Fjordell curse rising quickly to his lips.
Hrathen raised his eyebrows at the expletive-not so much because it offended him, but because he was surprised that it should come so easily to
Dilaf. The arteth had submerged himself in Fjorden's culture deeply indeed.
"Say hello to Diren, Arteth," Hrathen said, gesturing to the black-and-grayfaced Elantrian. "And kindly refrain from using Lord Jaddeth's name as a curse. That is one Fjordell habit I would rather you hadn't assumed."
"An Elantrian!"
"Yes," Hrathen said. "Very good, Arteth. And no, you may not set fire to him."
Hrathen leaned back slightly in his seat. smiling as Dilaf glared at the EIantrian. Hrathen had summoned Dilaf to the room knowing full well the kind of reaction he would get, and he felt a little petty at the move. That, however, didn't stop him from enjoying the moment.
Finally. Dilaf shot Hrathen a hateful look-though he quickly masked it with one of barely controlled submissiveness. "What is he doing here, my hroden?"
"I thought it would be good to know the face of our enemy, Arteth," Hrathen said, rising and walking over to the frightened Elantrian. The two priests were, of course, conversing in Fjordell. There was confusion in the Elantrian's eyes, along with a feral sort of fear.
Hrathen squatted down beside the man, studying his demon. "Are they all bald, Dilaf?" he asked with interest.
"Not at first." the arteth answered sullenly. "They usually have a full head when the Korathi dogs prepare them for the city. Their skin is paler as well."
Hrathen reached our, feeling the man's cheek. The skin was tough and leathery. The Elantrian watched him with frightened eyes. "These black spots-these are what distinguish an Elantrian?"
"It is the first sign, my hroden," Dilaf said, subdued. Either he was getting used to the Elantrian, or he had simply gotten over his initial burst of hatred and had moved on to a more patient, smoldering form of disgust. "It usually happens overnight. When the accursed one wakes up, he or she will have dark blotches all over their body. The rest of their skin turns grayish brown, like this one. over time."
"Like the skin of an embalmed corpse," Hrathen noted. He had visited the university in Svorden on occasion, and knew of the bodies they kept there for study.
"Very similar," Dilaf agreed quietly. "The skin isn't the only sign, my hroden. Their insides are rotten as well."
"How can you tell?"
"Their hearts do not beat," Dilaf said. "And their minds do not work. There are stories from the early days ten years ago, before they were all locked away in that city. Within a few months they turn comatose, barely able to move, except to bemoan their pain."
"Pain?"
"The pain of their soul being burned by Lord Jaddeth's fire," Dilaf explained. "It builds within them until it consumes their consciousness. It is their punishment."
Hrathen nodded, turning away from the Elantrian.
"You shouldn't have touched him, my hroden," Dilaf said.
"I thought you said that Lord Jaddeth would protect his faithful," Hrathen said. "What need have I to fear?"
"You invited evil into the chapel, my hroden."
Hrathen snorted. "There is nothing sacred about this building, Dilaf, as you know. No holy ground can be dedicated in a country that hasn't allied itself with Shu-Dereth."
"Of course." Dilaf said. His eyes were growing eager for some reason.
The look in Dilaf 's eyes made Hrathen uncomfortable. Perhaps it would be best to minimize the time the arteth spent in the same room as the Elantrian.
"I summoned you because I'm goi
ng to need you to make the preparations for the evening sermon," Hrathen said. "I can't do them myself-I want to spend a bit of time interrogating this Elantrian..
"As you command. my hroden," Dilaf said, still eyeing the Elantrian. "You are dismissed. Arteth," Hrathen said firmly.
Dilaf growled quietly, then scuttled from the room, off to do Hrathen's bidding.
Hrathen turned back to the Elantrian. The creature didn't seem "mindless." as Dilaf had put it. The Guard captain who'd brought the Elantrian had even mentioned the creature's name; that implied that it could speak.
"Can you understand me, Elantrian?" Hrathen asked in Aonic.
Diren paused, then nodded his head.
"Interesting." Hrathen said musingly.
"What do you want with me?" the Elantrian asked.
"Just to ask you some questions," Hrathen said, stepping back to his desk and sitting down. He continued to study the creature with curiosity. Never in all of his varied travels had he seen a disease such as this.
"Do you… have any food?" the Elantrian asked. There was a slight edge of wildness to his eyes as he mentioned the word "food."
"If you answer my questions, I promise to send you back to Elantris with a full basket of bread and cheese."
This got the creature's attention. He nodded vigorously.
So hungry, Hrathen thought with curiosity. And, what was it that Dilaf said? No heartbeat? Perhaps the disease does something to the metabolism-makes the heart beat so quickly that it's hard to detect, increases the appetite somehow?
"What were you before you were thrown into the city, Diren?" Hrathen asked. "A peasant, my lord. I worked the fields of Aor Plantation."
"And, how long have you been an Elantrian?"
"I was thrown in during the fall," Diren said. "Seven months? Eight? I lose track…"
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