By the time drinks and food arrived, so, too, had a large group of apparent travelers. Farilane counted twelve in total: eight men, four women. Three of the women she guessed to be wives, one a daughter. They took the only available table able to accommodate so many, which happened to be directly across from Farilane and her companions. The travelers were a loud, excited group that brought the boy in the green tunic running.

“What are the odds of you being recognized in this city?” Kile whispered.

“Almost nonexistent. I’ve been here but a few times and only briefly. I don’t like Merredydd. Reminds me too much of my family.”

Farilane and Kile had the lamb and wine, which she found to be wonderful, but then again, she was starved, and everything tasted great when one was famished. Sheldon had the ham and mentioned it was not the best, but he cleaned his plate down to the juice.

“So, what’s our next step?” Kile asked. “Where do we begin our search for this antique?”

Farilane wiped her mouth with a green napkin. “I tracked her to the Old Fortress. That’s where they all originally lived. After the Great War and while Percepliquis was being built, almost everyone stayed here in Merredydd, which was nothing more than a citadel at the time. Nyphron remained on-site to oversee the construction of the new capital, but Persephone and her son lived here. The empress’s presence created a sphere of influence that drew others. Sephryn is the daughter of Moya, a close friend of Persephone, after whom Sephryn was named. They say Sephryn and Nolyn fell in love here as children—that they were destined to marry—possibly betrothed at birth.”

The large group at the other table had ordered the ale and were on their second round, getting loud enough that Farilane was forced to raise her voice so that Kile, seated next to her, could hear. “Our best bet will be to search out her childhood home. It’s possible the estate has remained in her family’s possession since her father was full-blood Instarya.”

Loud clapping came from the neighboring table.

“Someone is having a good time,” Farilane said, giving up trying to hold a conversation and sitting back to let her meal digest.

“ . . . yes, the father of the gods! Do you know another Erebus?” one of the men at the other table was saying as he slammed his cup down hard on the table, causing its contents to spill onto the woman next to him. Due to her calm acceptance, Farilane confirmed her earlier assessment that she was his wife. The princess added to that profile the note that the husband had a drinking problem that the wife had suffered for quite some time. “He’s down in West Echo—or was about a year or so ago.”