Striding into the bedroom, Seregil threw off his disguise and pulled on a shirt and breeches.

“Maker’s Mercy,” Alec said as he did the same. “If Valerius had heard of any spread of the sickness outside the city, wouldn’t he have told us about it?”

“Yes. Something’s very strange here. First Myrhichia, now Illia. Does anything strike you about that?”

“The first time the sleeping …” Alec couldn’t bring himself to say the word. “Those are the only times it’s happened outside the poorer quarters.”

“Yes, but also to people associated with us.” Seregil squeezed Alec’s shoulder, then headed to the door. “Elsbet should be here with her mother. I’ll send Tomin for her.”

“I’ll wait downstairs for Micum.”

After assuring Tomin that the affliction was not contagious, Seregil ordered him to the Temple of Illior to fetch Elsbet, but not to tell her why. When he was reasonably sure the man would do that instead of disappearing, he slowly climbed the secret stair back to his rooms.

Micum sat at the dining table with Alec, head in his hands, looking shattered. Alec didn’t look much better. Three silver brandy cups had been filled, but neither of the others had touched theirs.

“She’s right, you know,” Micum groaned. “I should have sent word.”

Seregil sat down and took his friend’s hand. “We had no way of knowing, Micum.”

Micum pulled his hand free and downed a gulp of brandy. “One too many secrets, after all these years. Something finally followed me home.”

They sat in glum silence for a time, then Seregil raised his cup and took a sip. “Go back to Kari. Stay with her.”

“She doesn’t want me there.”

“Maybe not, but she needs you. Alec, take him down.”

Alec took Micum by the arm and drew him from the room. Seregil set his cup aside and went to the window overlooking the front yard. The full moon was rising. Nearly two precious days had passed since Illia had been stricken. Seregil sent up a silent plea to Illior for her life.

Alec returned and closed the door.

“How are they?” asked Seregil.

“Kari let Micum hold her, thank the Light. Do you think she meant it when she said she’d never forgive us?”

“I wouldn’t blame her.”

“We failed Myrhichia—” Alec paused and swallowed hard. “We can’t lose Illia!”

A painful shiver crept up the back of Seregil’s neck at the thought, and a sick feeling cramped in his belly. “We’re missing something critical again, Alec. I feel like I’ve been blind in one eye all this time. Something is right there, staring us in the face, and we’re not seeing it. There’s more to them than mere beggars, especially that tall one. There’s something about him …”

“You think you might know him?”