Elen recognized Intendant Berel from the journey she’d made with the Orledder intendant. She was a mousey cousin, wearing the wreath badge of Karis Manor, striped with the colors of her junior lineage to set her apart from people like the Orledder intendant, who had been born into Karis’s ruling lineage and thus need not wear any stripes on his badge.

Berel rushed forward, attended by a pair of glamorously painted and garbed concubines. Dropping to her knees, she struck her forehead repeatedly with the palms of her hands.

“Your Exalted Highness, the fault is mine. Pray do not excuse me for the lapse. I should have greeted you properly. I deserve punishment.”

The haunt sighed, looking put out. “Yes, yes, of course you should have known, if only I could have gotten word to you of my imminent arrival. Yet here we are.”

“You are too gracious.”

“I am, that,” he murmured, and cursed to the High Heavens if he did not slide his gaze to light upon Elen watching him. “Haven’t I always said so?”

“Everything shall be as you desire, Your Highness. My Residency is at your disposal. Tea and cakes are being prepared even as I speak. What is your command?”

“Immediately send sentinels to collect a group of smugglers. Captain Simo will explain where we left them.” He tugged at his fly-whisk braids, by now frayed and out of sorts, and scratched at the nape of his neck. “I desire a bath, and a skilled individual to wash and rebraid my hair. Clean clothes. Our gear cleaned and mended. My people tended. Warden Jirvy needs the attention of your Heart Temple healer. A decent meal. Then we will discuss transportation to South Flat Vigil.”

Berel was beginning to recover her poise, although she remained humbly on her knees. “All shall be as you wish, Your Highness.”

She beckoned over her sentinel captain, who went aside with Simo to discuss the smugglers. That begun, she went on.

“You may retire to our imperial suite, where you shall be bathed and feasted in whatever manner you desire. My younger sister is particularly skilled with … hair. Your wardens will be welcome in the Warden Hall. By her badge, your worthy interlocutor is also a theurgist. Our Heart Hostel is modest but well appointed. And…” Her gaze faltered on the gagast.

The haunt said, “Fulmo is my personal menial. He will attend me at all times.”

“Of course. Of course.” She bobbed several times, then straightened to give Elen a piercing look. “Oh, yes, I recall this deputy courier. She’s from Orledder, is she not? The intendant’s pet, that’s what they called her.”

Xilsi broke in abruptly. “She’s not a dog. She’s a person.”

Berel stiffened, looking ready to do battle with what appeared to her to be an ordinary warden.