Thero was rather drunk and dancing with Elsbet Cavish when he suddenly felt a faint crawling sensation on the back of his neck again; it could have been a spider but he sensed a whiff of magic to it. Looking around the crowded room, he couldn’t find the source. It was gone as quickly as it came.

“Is something wrong, Thero?” asked Elsbet.

“No, I felt something odd, just now.”

“Magic?”

“Perhaps.”

“Well, maybe someone is wearing a strong charm.” She gave him a twinkling smile. “Or maybe it’s the wine.”

“You’re probably right.” But he spent some time wandering among the crowd afterward, without success.

Kari took the exhausted younger children upstairs around midnight, but the party lasted most of the night. Lord Seregil kept an excellent cellar and the wine, ale, and Zengati brandy flowed very freely. The younger guests—and some of the more feckless older ones—overindulged, as was to be expected. Dawn was breaking when the last of the ambulatory ones were seen off, and the ones left snoring in a stupor on benches and under tables had been made comfortable with pillows and blankets.

Seregil yawned and clapped Alec and Micum on the shoulder as he looked around the salon with satisfaction. “I always say it’s not a successful party unless someone pukes in the garden.”

Alec gave him a wry look. “Then it was a rousing success. We should have set out buckets.”

“I don’t envy your servants who have to clean up,” said Micum as he followed them upstairs, weaving a little. He paused as they reached the landing. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Did you hear any talk of Princess Klia tonight?”

“No,” Seregil replied.

“Malthus and Duchess Nerian were talking about the truce she made with Aurënen,” said Alec. “And she was on Kyrin’s list.”

“List?” asked Micum.

“I’ll explain when we’re sober,” Seregil told him.

“Count Selin asked after Klia, knowing that Beka serves under her,” Micum told them. “I didn’t think much of it. Then I caught her name again when I was out for a stroll in the garden to clear my head. I passed Lord Areus and Lady Yrin whom I thought were doing the same.”

“Their names were on that list, too,” said Alec.

“They had their heads together and I caught Klia’s name and something about the succession,” Micum went on. “When they saw me, they started chatting with me about horses.”

“Interesting,” said Seregil, and yawned again. “Not the sort of thing most people chance talking about in public, though. The succession. Not horses.”

“They were well into their cups.”

“Too bad you didn’t hear more of it.”

“I managed to work Beka into the conversation. They didn’t know that she serves under Klia. Anyway, that didn’t go anywhere. I thought it was all a bit odd.”