“If you’re right, then Reltheus is taking a terrible risk. If word of this ever got out, he’d be ruined at court, if not worse!” Thero paused, drawn to the coded messages again. “Why would anyone think that Klia would betray her sister and niece in the first place?”

“Because someone other than Klia is thinking of doing it? Reltheus clearly knows something we don’t.”

“Klia simply wouldn’t involve herself in something like that!”

Seregil clapped Thero on the shoulder. “I don’t believe it, either. But there could be a faction building that plans to put her on the throne, even without her knowledge of what they are planning.”

Thero ran a hand back through his black curls. “You must get me more than this. There’s nothing that proves that Danos is the one, other than supposition.”

“Don’t you think it’s time we communicated directly with Klia? I’m guessing you can do that.”

Thero nodded. “I will, after you and I are done.”

“I see.”

“Don’t give me that look.”

“What look?”

Thero scowled. “Like you know something.”

Seregil held up his hands, grinning. “I don’t know a thing, and I’m not asking. I’ll leave you to it.”

When Seregil was gone, the wizard went to his bedchamber, shut the door, and retrieved the marble box containing Klia’s handkerchief from the wardrobe. Opening it, he held it to his nose for a moment, imagining that the scent of her perfume still lingered there. Her fingers had brushed his when she gave it to him, one of a hundred such innocent touches that heated his body—

Stop it! he told himself sternly. A princess and a wizard? It was impossible, but that didn’t cool his passion, just made him ache to the center of his being. Seeing her wounded so recently had only made it worse.

Pressing the precious handkerchief between his palms, he spoke the spell softly and waited for the vision to take shape. His unruly heart was racing again at the thought of actually seeing her.

The vision came almost instantly. Klia was lying on a cot again, grimacing as a healer bandaged a wound on her leg. Her breeches were off, leaving her in just her linen, and he felt a rush of heat through his body at the sight of those smooth, slender legs.

He waited while Myrhini covered her with a blanket. The tall, dark-haired woman’s face was solemn as she looked down at the princess and asked, “How is it?”

Klia flexed her leg under the blanket and gave her friend a wincing grin. “I’ll be able to ride tomorrow.”

“You heard what the healer said.”

Klia snorted as she folded her arms behind her head. “I’ll be fine.”

Choosing his moment, Thero opened a small window spell a few feet from the two women and whispered, “Your Highness.”