“Unfortunately, I also think he was innocent.”

Senera sat down again. “You think it was Darzin D’Mon who plotted to kill you? I understand the Hon has forbidden him to come back here.”

“No, not him either. I’m sure Darzin is as terrible as they come, but I don’t think we should make the same mistake that the duke and his courtiers are making—they’re assuming a man must have been involved. I think this crime was women only. After all, if Veixizhau meant to sacrifice me to Suless, the men had nothing to gain by helping her.”

She studied me. “That’s plausible. But may I ask why it matters now? It’s over.”

“Is it? This wasn’t Veixizhau’s plan. Someone else was manipulating her. Think how it could’ve gone: with forty-eight chieftains receiving the heads of their daughters in boxes—accompanied by a note saying they’d been executed for being worshippers of Suless. How well do you think that would have really gone over?”

She exhaled. “I see your point. If I were one of the chieftains—” Senera scoffed. “Kaen’s having a hard enough time keeping his dominion united as it is.”

“Exactly. That would have been tossing oil into a fire. Now I think I know who’s behind this, but I don’t want to go to Duke Kaen without proof.”

“Ah, so here’s the favor. You want me to use the Name of All Things.”

“Yes. I want you to use the Name of All Things.”

“I make it a point not to use the stone for every damn random question someone asks me. I would never sleep.”

“This isn’t any damn random question, though. All I want to know is if Wyrga was the one who taught Veixizhau how to worship Suless.”

Senera paused, mid-sip. “Wyrga? But why…” She trailed off. “Huh.”

“Wyrga’s more than she seems. She knows things she shouldn’t. And I’m not sure why Kaen seems to trust her as much as he does, but I don’t think he’s being wise.”

“What motive would she have? She has no protector if he loses power.”

“What motive does she need? This is a woman who tried to feed me foal meat, just because she knew the idea would sicken me. I think she loves to stir up trouble for its own sake.” I rolled my eyes. “Honestly, she trains the damn snow hyenas the palace uses for patrols. Weren’t those animals sacred to Suless?”

Senera pursed her lips. “That’s true. And your question is answered with yes or no. I prefer those.”

“So will you?”

“And what do I get for helping you?”

At least that wasn’t a no. “Well, for one thing, you get the satisfaction of helping women who are treated as little better than slaves.”