“I have questions. You will answer them. Here is the first.

“You served your Great God in the Open Hand. Why are you not there now?”

She meant, How did you escape General Klamath’s men, or Elgart’s remaining spies? How did they miss you?

Father Knout fluttered his hands. “Majesty,” he exclaimed. “I do not understand your ire.” His expression emphasized his innocence. “I am an obedient servant of my Church. The Archpriest Makh sent me to Amika. He charged me to warn our fellow priests that he feared King Bifalt. He anticipated murder or worse. I could hardly credit his concern. You sneer at common knowledge, but it is known everywhere that King Bifalt is not a bloody ruler. Still, I did as I was told. I left the Open Hand and Belleger, intending to reach the Church of the Great God in Maloresse.”

He might have said more. Deliberately callous, Queen Estie interrupted him. “You say too much, priest, and tell me too little.” If the Archpriest was afraid, why had he asked so often to meet with King Bifalt? “You are not in Maloresse now.”

As if he were looking for reassurance, Father Knout glanced up at the sun. Dulled by the clouds, its light cast a golden corona around it. When he faced the Queen again, he seemed chastened.

“Accept my regret, Majesty. It is as your monk said. I lost my way. The Great God’s love enables us to be aware of each other. We are linked by his glory. When I lost my way—” He paused to swallow a pang. “You cannot imagine the hurt of that severance. But my faith did not waver. I did not go to Maloresse because I knew that my fellow servants were lost as well. They did not need the Archpriest’s warning. They would know what to do. While I waited for the Great God Rile to show my path to me again, I chose to wander in your realm.”

Abruptly, a subtle change came over Knout’s companions. They did not turn their heads, not even to glance at the priest. They betrayed no interest in Queen Estie or her escort. They may not have understood what was being said. Nevertheless they now seemed to be paying attention.

Estie tightened her grip on herself. “I am not persuaded. Do you think I cannot imagine your hurt?” She was King Bifalt’s lonely wife, untouched and unloved. “Perhaps not. But I can imagine what you might gain by misleading me.

“You were watching my road. You wanted to know who passed. Do you call that wandering? I call it scouting.”

He must have seen Set Ungabwey’s caravan. The library’s enemy would know how to benefit from such tidings.

“No, Majesty.” The priest began to sound frightened. “Do you think I am a spy? I am as lost as I say. I came here by chance. For safety, I took shelter in the woods, waiting for the Great God to reach out to me. When your men came, I did not resist. I have never harmed anyone. The Great God Rile desires peace. He does not countenance harm.”