Seregil shrugged. “Well, if—Sakor forbid—our queen should fall in battle as her mother did before her, then don’t you think Elani is, well—” He paused as if unsure of his audience. “What I mean to say is, the war seems to be far from over and she’s untried in battle. Perhaps if Phoria had taken her into the field, as Idrilain did with her, it would be a different matter, but to put the weight of Skala’s future on such slim shoulders …” He looked around as if he’d said too much and nibbled the olive. Laneus was doing a fine job of watching his face without being obvious about it. “Not that I’m speaking against the succession!”

“You’re right to be careful, my lord,” Laneus warned.

“Especially as your friendship with Princess Klia is so well known.”

Seregil pretended to be momentarily baffled. “But what—” He gave Laneus a wide-eyed look of surprise. “What are you saying, Laneus? That I—? Illior’s Light, no! You know I never involve myself in politics. My friendship with either of the princesses is strictly on a personal level. I’m immensely fond of both of them.”

“But if it came to a choice between the two?”

Seregil made a sign against bad luck. “Pray the Four it never comes to such a pass, my lords! It’s unthinkable.”

“Really? You wouldn’t back either?” asked Malthus.

“If it came to that, then it would be civil war, and I’m sure I’d take to my heels in that event,” Seregil said with a delicate shudder, adding quickly, “But I would fear for both their lives.”

“I can’t decide if you’re a sly fellow, or just a coward,” Laneus remarked.

“I’ve been called worse in my time,” Seregil replied, a little surprised at the abrupt turn of the conversation.

Malthus intervened. “Come now, Laneus, there’s no need to be rude. What he means, Seregil, is that it seems odd that you, who have been friends with Klia for nearly her entire life, are suddenly so close to Elani and Reltheus.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“You don’t know, then?” Laneus asked with a tinge of sarcasm.

“Know what?” Seregil persisted in his obtuseness, wondering how far he could draw the man out.

“That Reltheus and his cronies mean to assassinate Klia, and perhaps even Phoria. We believe there’s already been one attempt on the princess’s life, though news of it has been suppressed.”

Seregil affected shocked astonishment. “How do you know about it, then?”

“I have my channels.”

“By the Light, why? And why Phoria?”