:Least said, soonest mended,: the Companion said philosophically. :I am keeping my thoughts to myself until Caryo is ready to talk to the rest of us. But I think that where Selenay is concerned, our voices must be raised in a song with but a single refrain—:

:Which is, “All we want is your happiness,” I think,: he replied. :It’s true enough.: At least the feeling behind that phrase would be absolutely genuine. All any of them did want was Selenay’s happiness. They just wanted it without the Prince’s presence involved.

:Meanwhile, I don’t think you should give up chasing Norris,: Kantor continued. :Now I think that young Devlin was probably his contact in the Court to pass him information about Selenay herself. So I don’t think you should take your eyes off Devlin either.:

He smiled grimly up at the ceiling. :Ah, now, nor do I. In the first place, Norris might not have been tutoring the Prince. In the second place, if that was indeed what was toward, we may someday need the evidence. Because what I overheard makes me think that once there’s a wedding, the Prince will slip. Selenay might excuse him a time or two, but she won’t put up with it forever. And then we can prove to her how she was manipulated.: Then, because he was honest, he had to add, :If she was. He might really be in love with her; he might be everything he seems. But my gut says he isn’t.:

He felt Kantor’s satisfaction. :You’re better at this business than you were.:

He sighed. :I could wish that there was no reason to be. The Weaponsmaster is all I ever cared to be.:

:We play the game we’re put into, Chosen,: said Kantor, which seemed to be about the only possible answer.

* * *

After that, however, it seemed as if a whirlwind had suddenly engulfed them, and the whirlwind’s name was Selenay.

Alberich never had a chance to voice any opinion at all, because it was never asked of him. Selenay simply seemed to assume that because she was enchanted by the Prince, everyone else was, too. She had never before had anything that she wanted, really and truly wanted so much as Prince Karath—except, perhaps, for her father to be alive again. But the latter was impossible and the Prince was entirely within her reach. She was lonely, she was in love, and at the moment, there was no more potent combination. She could not imagine living without him, and she was taking steps so that she wouldn’t have to.