‘No,’ agreed Clariel. So that was the story. It was certainly better than telling him she’d been used to try to trap a Free Magic creature who was working with the Governor in a plot to overthrow the King. But it was also interesting that this tale of labourers attacking her was perfectly credible to Harven, despite his words. She knew that there was unrest among the day workers, who were not Guildmembers, but like so many other things about Belisaere she had not yet found out what that was all about.

‘Well, that’s by the by,’ said Harven quickly. ‘In future you will have three guards at all times. Roban will be off for a few weeks of course, but his compatriots, ah … the woman with the … and the fellow with the red hair …’

‘Heyren and Linel,’ supplied Clariel. Seeing her father unable to remember the names of people who might have to give up their lives for the family, she was ashamed that she had been thinking of the two guards as Scarface and Redbeard.

‘Yes, well, Governor Kilp is sending over someone else to join them, and increasing the house guard as well. So you make sure you don’t leave the house without them, young lady!’

‘I doubt I could, even if I wanted to,’ said Clariel. She was thinking that she would want to leave without them in the near future and this could be a problem. She would need to evade them to get out of the house, and then out of the city. Presuming Kargrin paid up, despite not capturing the creature … or perhaps he had captured it, she thought. She couldn’t remember anything after collapsing …

‘How is Belatiel?’ she asked.

‘Who?’ asked her father.

‘Uh, no one,’ replied Clariel. ‘I’m a bit confused. I don’t even remember getting the fish for the King. Um, that is … I presume I did get them?’

‘They were brought back with you,’ said Harven. ‘That’s another thing we can count as fortunate. It would have been so easy for those … those scum … to spill them from the bucket, and our visit has been confirmed for tomorrow. I meant to tell you, we will leave for the Palace an hour after you return from the Academy. Valannie will dress you properly. I mean, presuming you are feeling well enough for the Academy and a visit to the Palace …’

‘I am, Father,’ said Clariel quietly. Harven was smiling again, that pathetic smile. Even if she wasn’t well enough, Clariel thought her father would prop her up in a palanquin, do anything to make the visit happen. His daughter’s health was of so much lesser importance than getting Jaciel into the Palace to have a look at the Dropstone treasure.