“All three were written in the same hand, so one spy,” Seregil replied. “And they were all written on grubby scraps of parchment with rough surfaces and torn edges. Cheap scrap. What does that suggest to you?”

“That’s what the military uses. Even Klia.”

Seregil nodded. “So there may be a spy in the regiment. And I think I know who it might be.”

“Who?”

“Reltheus’s son Danos also serves under Klia.”

“He serves in Klia’s squadron?”

“You didn’t know?”

“He didn’t at the time of the hunt last winter. Perhaps Elani had something to do with it, since she was so taken with him.”

“More likely the father.”

“But it makes sense. The father would trust his own son above anyone else. I do wish he’d been a bit more forthright in his communications, though this is quite a help all the same. But why spy on her at all?”

“Perhaps it’s not only Klia they’re worried about. Perhaps there’s a rival cabal who favor Klia for the throne. I hate to say it, but the letter from Malthus, and the fact that Reltheus has it, suggest that he may be part of one.”

Thero frowned down at the messages. “Two warring cabals. That doesn’t bode well.”

“Not with the unrest already brewing in the city. I can’t help thinking of that list Alec found, the one with us and a number of our acquaintances, including Malthus, on it. I think it’s safe to say that Reltheus’s cabal has taken an interest in us, though I have no idea why. But we’re going to need a lot more than we have here to prove anything one way or the other.”

Thero turned back to the messages regarding Klia. “Even by the royal courier service, it takes at least a week by land to get a message back to Rhíminee, and nearly that long by sea,” he mused. “These messages could be old news by the time they get here. And by the time any kind of answer was sent, things could have changed completely.”

“I’m afraid this is as far as I can take you for now,” Seregil told him, “unless we find more of these.”

“This is frustrating. Without names, interpretation is impossible. And he has letters from Elani, as well. What is he doing with those? They don’t contain anything particularly sensitive. Do you think it’s connected with the cabals?”

“If Malthus had them, then I’d be more inclined to think so, but with it being Reltheus? He’s very anxious for Danos to marry Elani. Could be he’s looking for signs of favor, or mention of rival suitors.”

“I’d like to know who in Elani’s household is doing the copying.”

“I’m working on that.”