Atre’s body was shriveling and going leathery and brown, as Brader’s had, but more slowly. That handsome face gradually transformed to a horrid mask as the flesh darkened and shrank on the bones, eyes wizening like raisins. When it was over, his exposed white teeth and auburn hair were the only recognizable remnants of the man who’d been the toast of Rhíminee.

Seregil handed Micum his handkerchief. “You’re covered in blood.”

“So are you. How’s the shoulder?”

“It hurts,” Seregil admitted. And it was worse now that the excitement was over.

Micum helped Seregil out of his bloodstained tunic while Alec tore strips from his own shirt for bandages. When they had made the best job they could of binding the wound, Alec looked back at the corpses. “What do we do with them?”

“Leave them,” said Seregil. “We’ll lock the place up again, until Thero can figure out what to do with all those bottles downstairs.”

Alec gave him a worried look. “If he’s still alive.”

“If he’s not, what do we do?” asked Micum. “Atre was no use, but Thero did get Mika’s soul restored, even if it was only by chance.”

Neither Seregil nor Alec had an answer for that.

After taking the bone necklace, several phials, and labeled bits of jewelry to show as proof to Korathan, they hid the door to Atre’s workroom behind piled crates again, to keep the rest of Atre’s cache safe until Thero—or some other wizard—could decide what to do with it. The bodies they left for Korathan to deal with. Locking the theater securely behind them, they began the long walk back for their horses.

“What in Bilairy’s name took you two so long?” asked Seregil.

“We nearly got arrested,” Alec told him. “The neighbors thought we were attacking Brader and called in the bluecoats. Brader ran, and I got away a moment later.”

“How did you not get arrested?” Seregil asked Micum.

“Told them Brader had gotten my daughter in trouble, and that I and her brother Alec were after him for it. That, and a little gold, worked a charm.”

“I got here first and got the front door open and managed to get up in the box for a shot while you were all distracted.” Alec shook his head. “You three up onstage like that? It looked like a scene from one of Atre’s plays.”

Seregil sighed. “I hate to admit it, but I am going to miss those.”

Chapter 45 - Life, Death, and Magic

THE city woke to the sound of gongs and herald’s cries: “The queen is dead. Long live Queen Elani!” and “Princess Klia has led Skala to victory in the north!”

Seregil and the others strode among knots and crowds, stunned as any of the citizens.

“This must be what Klia sent that message to Thero for,” said Alec.