“Nothing so far. Perhaps word got back to them somehow that we aren’t so easy to kill. Or it was only Laneus sending them. With two failed attempts, I suspect that if the others come after us again, it won’t be by way of an assassin. Given what we’ve seen of the methods on both sides, it’s more likely to be some form of blackmail.”

Valerius snorted at that. “What could they do to you that way? It’s not like either of you has a pristine character.”

“I expect it would be something along the lines of another incriminating letter, like the one found with Laneus’s body.”

“At least Korathan knows the circumstances of that one,” said Thero.

Seregil frowned. “If too many more of those sorts of things come to light, he might just start to doubt all of us. Now, as for Micum, will you send one of your little messengers out to Watermead? Just tell him we have a job we need help with.”

Thero summoned a tiny spark of blue light into being and said softly, “Micum, we need you in Rhíminee. Watcher business.” With that, he flicked his finger and the little light flew across the room and disappeared through the wall by the door.

“What will you do now?” Thero asked.

“We’re close, I think. All we need to do is get our hands on something that will hold an impression for you to read and we’ll have them.”

Just then a frantic knocking came at the door, and what sounded like a scuffle.

“Let me in, Thero!” a woman’s ragged voice cried out over the softer sound of a man’s trying to reassure her. The lock rattled and the door banged wide, framing Thero’s servant Wethis supporting a rain-soaked woman. She wore no cloak over her mud-spattered gown, and her black hair was plastered to her face and shoulders. It wasn’t until she cried out and rushed to throw herself sobbing into Seregil’s arms that Alec realized it was Eirual. Seregil caught her and they swayed together a moment before sinking to the floor in each other’s arms.

“Oh, no. No!” Alec gasped. Eirual was too hysterical to speak, but there was no doubt in anyone’s mind what had happened.

“The lady arrived on horseback, insisting that she see you and Lord Valerius at once, my lord,” Wethis explained.

“Fetch blankets and hot wine,” Thero told him. “Then find a nightdress and make up one of the guest beds.”

Thero cast a fire in the workroom fireplace. They wrapped Eirual in blankets and Seregil held her in his arms before it. He coaxed a little of the wine into her, as well, and Valerius pressed his hand to her brow and murmured a healing. The hysterical weeping slowly subsided into sobs and then to tearful sighs.