She took several steps back, finding a patch of sun for warmth, and relaxed into a loose stance that she could hold for some time. Kem studiously did not look at her, standing with rigid correctness, expression stony. Ipis glanced at him with a curious frown, then shrugged, yawned, and crossed her arms, looking bored. She was a big-boned, brawny young woman who walked and talked with the assurance of one who is Manor-born. It was fortunate she seemed to like Kem. In all honesty, Elen was happy enough to keep her own relationship with Kem a secret for now, lest the others scorn him. It was good they’d left Orledder Halt so quickly, before the wardens could hear any gossip about how Lord Duenn had just found his missing child. She didn’t want the wardens to question whether the youth deserved to be allowed to Declare for them. Once made, a Declaration could not be revoked, but a person’s life could still be made miserable.

Simo appeared at the door, startling Elen because Ipis hadn’t gone into the suite to alert him. He spotted her and walked over.

“His Exalted Highness told me that you need to speak to me.”

She bit down on a smile. The haunt clearly had exceptional hearing. She’d have to remember that.

“Captain, I wanted to inform you we are within an hour’s steep hike of a place known as Cloudberry Ridge. It overlooks the ruins of Olludia Halt and the main avalanche that blocks the road. If you or His Exalted Highness wish to see the barrier from a different angle, that would be the place to do it.”

“Would such a trek not be more appropriate for the imperial engineers?”

“Indeed, it would. In the past two years I have escorted three separate groups of engineers up there to observe and measure the damage. I thought His Highness might be interested.”

“Why would you think that?” Simo glanced toward the door, then back at her with narrowed eyes.

“Captain, I am merely a provincial deputy courier, but I have ears. It seems curious to me that the intendant received no message of the prince’s imminent arrival. It also seems curious that His Exalted Highness had no knowledge of the barrier that has been blocking the road for almost two years. That’s a long time for an exalted highness, especially one with such an impressive list of accomplishments, not to know.”

“He was elevated to all-seeing eye only recently,” said Simo, sounding defensive. “Before that he had been traveling extensively around the empire and would have had no reason to be kept up to date on that sort of news.”

“I pray forgiveness for asking, but did you not know about the avalanche, Captain?”