“It does sound a bit far-fetched.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you were from here,” said Loena. “Even the Plenimarans stayed out of the ruins.”

“If it’s so dangerous, why was Governor Toneus so determined to rebuild there?” asked Alec.

“He didn’t believe the stories, you see,” Hasen replied. “He made a great deal of progress before his death, too. The Hierophant’s palace is safe and beautiful again, and the precinct of the oracular site. He preserved all that he could of the original architecture and monuments, clearing away the decrepit houses and building new villas. I went up there a few times with him. There are some impressive things there, and a marvelous view.”

“The Hierophants built their monuments and palaces to last the ages,” said Zella.

“What about the person who claimed to have seen a spirit?” asked Alec.

“Poor Corporal Karis,” Zella replied. “He’s downstairs in the cells.”

“Cells?” Klia asked.

“It was the only way, Highness. At first I gave him a room, but he tried to leave Deep Harbor twice before we finally locked him up.”

“I shall speak with him in the morning.”

“As you wish, Highness. I thought tonight you’d like to go over the late governor’s papers. He had the whole area mapped. I’ve laid the pertinent documents out in the library. It’s just down the corridor from your room, together with the artifacts I mentioned.”

“Yes,” said Klia. “But what about the reports of people going missing since Toneus’s death?”

“Rumors!” scoffed Hasen.

“I wish that were so,” said Zella, “but I’m afraid those are true. Upward of a score of people have vanished around Menosi—workmen, soldiers, shepherds, and travelers—though it’s not known for certain what happened to them. You see, that’s why the workmen fled, and the soldiers are only there because they’re ordered to be. It’s thought that some of them simply ran away out of fear and are hiding in the hills somewhere. That’s all I know, but you can speak with the officers in charge when we get there.”

“If you will kindly excuse us, Highness, it’s time we were getting home,” said Hasen, clearly uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. “And I must say, this has always been a haunted island. I’ve seen a few strange things in my day, I admit, but nothing that ever hurt a living person. This business with Toneus is horrible, and I have no explanation for it, but don’t limit yourself to thinking spirits did it.”

Klia smiled. “Thank you, Mayor. I’ll keep an open mind.”

The antechamber of the library had been turned into a sort of museum. The room was lined with shelves on which a diverse collection of oddments was on display. There were corroded buckles that might have once adorned a harness, the rusted remains of knives and swords, clay buttons, bits of painted pottery, small statues, and pieces of carved stone. Beautifully worked bits of gold jewelry lay in velvet-lined boxes. Earrings shaped like stylized leaves lay next to a circular brooch made in the shape of a snake biting its own tail. Other brooches and pendants were more stylized designs, including many spirals.