“The actor, Atre,” Seregil admitted reluctantly. “From what he heard, Malthus was the voice of reason.” He paused. “Again, if you bring this all to light now, it will look like Klia is in the middle of it.”

“But I assure you, she isn’t!” Thero quickly put in. “I’ve had it from her lips, and I have no reason to doubt her.”

That earned another raised eyebrow from the prince. “Perhaps you’re not the most objective judge, when it comes to Klia?”

“Your Highness, I—”

Korathan waved that aside. “I must tell you, I don’t like any of this, or your keeping it from me for so long. From now on you’ll all keep me apprised.”

“Of course, Highness,” said Thero, bowing with the others.

Korathan turned to Seregil. “I understand you two are playing with my niece again today.”

“We have that honor.”

“That’s good. You can keep an eye on Reltheus and the others for me. I’ll make certain the queen understands your sudden interest in Elani.”

“Thank you.” It seemed they’d improved their standing with Korathan since that day at the archery lists.

“Well, go on, then. It’s not polite to keep the princess royal waiting.”

“Of course.”

In the corridor Alec let out a pent-up breath. “That went fairly well. Didn’t it?”

“Considering the alternatives, yes,” said Thero, looking equally relieved. “Good luck and good hunting.” With that he went off the way they’d come.

Seregil straightened Alec’s coat collar and brushed a wisp of hair behind his ear. “There, all presentable to ‘play’ with the princess.”

Another page led them down the long succession of corridors that took them through the public areas to the royal living quarters. Seregil could have found his way on his own, though it had been a long time since he’d lived here. The queen’s suite was the largest, with its own garden. The other royals lived in the same wing, the highest ranking closest to the queen. Seregil’s old room had been far away at the other end.

Elani occupied the spacious suite next to the queen’s quarters, rooms that had once belonged to Phoria. Her mother’s were next to hers on the other side, and Korathan’s suite lay just across the hallway, although the prince also had his own villa in the Noble Quarter and spent the majority of his free time there.

Seregil was familiar with Korathan’s rooms, but not Elani’s, as he hadn’t spent much time with Phoria in her youth.