That young hothead gives me a greater run than he thinks when we spar."
Alaire disagreed. What he had seen earlier that day did little to convince him this was true. He's belittling his own skill, perhaps so we will underestimate him.
Shrewd, but not necessarily suspicious. This doesn't mean he's an enemy; it means only he is not willing to divulge everything yet.
Naitachal gazed off into the distance, over Lyam's shoulder. "If Kai isn't after the throne, then who is?"
Lyam frowned. "I'm not certain that's what's afoot. I am not privy to all the information this palace con- tains."
Naitachal's tone was heavy with irony. "But surely, being the Captain of the Guard..."
... and Spymaster... Alaire added to himself.
"That does not guarantee my complete knowledge of royal affairs," Lyam replied firmly. "This may have been true at one time, but I suspect that I got this position because I was an outsider. That may sound odd to a foreigner, but the true power doesn't lie with anyone in a martial appointment."
Naitachal looked faintly surprised. "Where then, does it lie?"
It was Lyam's turn to snort. "With the magicians, of course. The palace has a monopoly on the powers of the mages, you see. Powerful wizards, who can level the walls of this palace in mere moments with their raised energies."
Naitachal chuckled. "Please. What I saw in the Hall didn't impress me."
Lyam simply smiled. "Who said they were i Hall? Only the amateurs operate there. When you first met the King, and his bodyguards -- and wi -- came charging out to defend him against an unex- pected elf, where did they come from?"
Naitachal considered this. "Of course. From behind the King's throne. They reside in the palace."
Lyam got to his feet, calling a halt to the discussion.
"We've spoken long enough here." He turn Alaire. "I would be grateful if your pupil would con- tinue to keep company with the young Prince. If I cannot keep him from folly, I would like to know there was someone at his back that I can trust"
He started toward the entrance, then paused and turned back for a moment. "Oh, and another thing.
Avoid magic. I'm not certain diplomatic immunity would protect you. And also, if you wish to confer later tonight, my room is one floor above yours, and I think two doors to the north. It's the corner suite, whic King has been gracious enough to provide for me. But be discreet. It would start tongues wagging if anyone saw you paying me a visit Good day, Master Bard."
Master Bard? Alaire thought, stunned. Is there any- thing Lyam doesn't know about us?
He and his Master watched the large man leave; he noticed this time that the Captain's head barely cleared the doorway as he passed beneath it Naitachal stared after him thoughtfully.
"He is, or was, the King's Spymaster," Naitachal said, after a long moment. "Was, I think. He keeps his network of spies still, but it is a small one now and he is no longer in the King's confidence."
Alaire wanted to ask how precisely he knew this, but experience had shown the Dark Elf would not waste his breath, and precious time, explaining. If any- thing, Naitachal would berate him for not figuring it out for himself.
And in a moment, he had figured it out. "He's friends with the Prince, but he doesn't know wh King mistrusts his own son, and he hasn't been able to do anything about that mistrust. That means he isn't close to the King anymore."
Naitachal nodded. "Exactly. In fact, supportin Prince may have been the reason he fell from grace.
But he doesn't know who's behind the troubles between the Prince and his father, or his land and ours. I'm certain of it."
Alaire sighed, and stood up. "What do we do now?"