"Of course," Lyam said dismissively. "They weren't expecting you two to come along, and they certainly were not expecting an outsider to befriend Kai. I Jehan is behind this, he would use whatever powers of persuasion he had to divert your attention from Kai."
Something else was nagging Naitachal. "What about these so-called 'keepers'? Is this usual? Alaire never mentioned bodyguards when they went out last night."
Lyam shook his head. "When I say 'keeper' I'm only quoting Sir Jehan. More likely they were spies, looking for more stories to bring back to the King about Kai.
They probably stayed well out of sight, hoping to observe without being observed"
"And if Kai discovered their presence, would this prompt Kai to eliminate them?" It was a valid ques- tion, or so Naitachal thought. "Could this be why they found only one dead man? Could Kai have wounded one and killed the other?" That would be better news for Alaire -- and it would point to someone other Alaire as the unlicensed mage.
Captain Lyam stood, towering above Naitachal, and began pacing back and forth, past the window. For such a large man, he made very little noise. In his uni- form, he was an even more imposing figure than he had been at their first meeting, though Naitachal felt more protected than threatened. "He would do no such thing," the Captain said, after apparently giving it some thought first.
"I meant no insult"
Lyam waved the half-apology aside. "None was taken. I appreciate your candor. You have been straightforward with me from the beginning, and I thank you for that. And I admit, on the surface, and especially to someone whose opinion has been colored by minions like Sir Jehan, that is precisely what it does look like. The King is convinced a revolt is at the gates."
Naitachal remembered that supper was being served, and stood. "In view of these new circum- stances, I think it would be wise of me to attend supper. My absence would be missed, may even be seen as suspicious."
Though how I'm to even pretend to eat, with my stomach in anxious knot He started for the door.
"Before you leave, I would like to mention one thing," Lyam said. "I believe that this was a trap, per- haps a trap gone wrong, and I think you will eventually be implicated in this mess, if you aren't already. Please be careful. And remember: you were never here."
Naitachal bowed, and left the Captain to his own anxieties.
The Dark Elf arrived at the dining hall in time for supper, amid a sea of curious stares, some openly hos- tile. So. My reputation precedes me. At least, the reputation someone wants me to have. Pikhalas saw him from across the room and scurried over to inter- cept him.
"There you are," the timid, frail man said, clutching a small felt hat in both hands, nervously twisting it into an unrecognizable lump of fabric. "We've been look- ing all over for you. You weren't in your room, and we were beginning to wonder."
"Oh, about what? Is something wrong?" Naitachal inquired innocently.
"A situation has developed," Pikhalas said, reluc- tantly. "The King is having a private supper tonight, and he extends his warmest invitation to join him."
"By all means," Naitachal said cheerfully, stretching his mouth in a smile. "Lead the way."
Adjoining the great dining hall was a smaller, inti- mate dining room with a long marble table in the center. King Archenomen sat at the head, wit Jehan sitting on his right. A score of others sat to either side, with one empty place still at the King's left Pik- halas showed Naitachal to this seat Posted at either end of the room was a burly guard.
As Naitachal approached the table, a hush fell over the gathering of nobles, and all eyes fixed on him as he bowed deeply to the King, nodded politely to the rest, then seated himself at the table.
"Good evening, Your Majesty," he said, as urbanely as possible. Was I supposed to bow when I entered as well as just before I sat? Oh well, too late now. "I understand there is a problem of some kind tonight I trust this will not interfere with the enjoyment of the meal and the conversation." What am I supposed to know? Nothing. Nothing at all.
The meal had already begun, and once Naitachal seated himself, everyone resumed eating. Sir Jehan cast surreptitious looks in his direction as he gnawed on a piece of cooked bird. Its huge skeletal carcass made a grim centerpiece, which fit Naitachal's mood, though not the mood of cheer he was attempting to pr As a servant poured him wine, the King said, after a long pause, "Where is your secretary tonight?"
Naitachal didn't even blink. "I understand he is out with the Prince again," he said. "He left me a note to that effect -- and truly, I did not expect to see him here, the snow is falling so thickly. I fully expected him to urge the Prince to take some private rooms in a good inn until the weather clears -- "
He blinked, as if suddenly realizing that the King and Sir Jehan were gazing at him as if his words held important secrets. "Good heavens -- your most effi- cient liaison informed me something has come up.
This 'situation' wouldn't involve the Prince and my secretary, would it?"
"It would," Sir Jehan said suddenly. His look was venomous. "Our agents found the Prince's bodyguard, dead, this evening. The Prince is missing. And so, pre- sumably, is Alaire."