“WELCOME, my friend, it’s been too long since you’ve dined with us!” Seregil exclaimed the following evening as Runcer ushered Duke Malthus into the salon. The theater was still closed in mourning for Kylith, and it was too soon to go out carousing.

“Not that long, certainly?” Malthus replied with a sad smile. “Terrible thing, Kylith. She’ll certainly be missed. Good evening, Alec.”

Alec shook hands. “Good to see you. I hope you’ll forgive me, but I must leave after supper for another appointment.”

“Not at all, dear boy! Attending to Princess Elani again?”

“No, Seregil forgot that I’d promised to visit Myrhichia tonight.”

Malthus raised an eyebrow at that.

“They’re friends,” Seregil said with a chuckle as he led the way to the dining room. “I understand you had an unfortunate bit of excitement at your house the other night.”

“You could call it that. Some servant left a candle burning in the library and set the room on fire.”

“Oh, dear! I hope the damage wasn’t too serious.”

“Fortunately it was confined to the library,” Malthus said with a sigh. “Gutted that room, though, and took all my books and papers with it. My wife has gone to our summer estate until the mess is dealt with.”

“How inconvenient for you,” Seregil commiserated, secretly relieved that he hadn’t done more damage than that. At least the fire had covered the theft.

He and Alec kept the conversation genial over the roast quail and white pear and cheese tart. As they adjourned to the library upstairs for Zengati brandy, Alec excused himself. “Good night, Malthus.”

“It’s been good talking with you.”

“I won’t be late, Seregil.”

“See that you’re not,” Seregil said teasingly.

When Alec was gone, Seregil closed the library door and locked it. “Malthus, I arranged for him to be gone. I have something very serious to speak of, and I don’t want him involved. I pray you’ll hear me out.”

The man raised a surprised eyebrow. “You being serious, Seregil? I’m not sure I’ve ever witnessed that.”

“Perhaps not, but I’m serious now.” Seregil filled a cup for each of them from the crystal brandy decanter and sat down with him by the window. He paused and sipped his drink. “You know how gossip floats around the city.”

“Yes, and how you take it in.”

“Yes, well—This isn’t easy, my friend, but I’ve heard whisperings that a group of nobles may have ideas about putting Princess Klia on the throne, and— Well, your name came up.”

“That’s preposterous!” Malthus exclaimed indignantly, but he wasn’t as skillful a liar as Seregil. “Where did you hear this?”

“I can’t say, but I think by your expression that I’m not wide of the mark.”