Not that Beka had any desire for children. Not yet. She loved Nyal with all her heart, but she lived to serve Klia. Nyal understood that, and had solved the problem by volunteering to become a scout when they returned to Skala. She’d married the handsome ’faie at her parents’ home at Watermead, then had gone back to soldiering with him in the spring, much to her mother’s disappointment. Her father had understood better. She and Micum shared the same restless spirit. He had Seregil and Alec, and the Watchers; she had the cavalry.

He leaned down and kissed her, not caring if the sentries were watching. “Good hunting, beloved.”

“And to you, my love.”

Beka could feel his gaze on her as she walked away to gather her riders, but resisted the urge to look back.

Chapter 4 - Alec Gets a Bit of Exercise

DUKE Reltheus—a tall, striking man with silver-streaked hair and dark eyes—kept them fairly busy. Their first night on watch, Seregil scaled the back wall, but the house was too well guarded front and back.

“Looks like we’re going to have to get in by the front door,” he muttered.

“Hopefully our friend Selin can help us with that,” said Alec.

The duke’s house had only one main entrance, easily watched, and he came and went during the day at civilized hours over the next week—several times to the Palace, they noted with interest. He was often out in the evenings, as well—without his wife, Palmani, who was still in the days of her birthing confinement—visiting friends and attending Archduchess Alaya’s salon. Not quite the doting husband and father, he spent several evenings in the Street of Lights gambling houses, with a visit to the brothels here and there. From what they observed, his tastes ran solidly to women, including a fair-haired girl at their friend Eirual’s house.

Dressed as beggars or workmen, Seregil and Alec took shifts shadowing him. It was too risky to ingratiate themselves with any of the servants here in the city where they were known, so they had to content themselves with watching from a distance and awaiting their chance.

Silvermoon Street was the grandest avenue in the city, home to both the royal Palace and the villas of the most prominent nobles. Alec happened to be on duty in his one-armed beggar’s garb when he saw a carriage leave and caught sight of the duke’s face at the open window. Instead of heading for the Street of Lights, however, the carriage went west.

It was an easy matter to follow. It had been another muggy day, and many nobles were out taking the air in carriages, on horseback, or on foot. The heavy traffic made for slow going.