She set the spyglass back to her eye and tracked south along the road. Three well-sprung carriages were coming up fast, overtaking the plodding caravan. Each had a driver with an armed warden beside them. The rear carriage, with crates and boxes lashed to the top and back, was pulled by four sleek bronze aurochs. These creatures, constructed by theurgists, were infused with a magic that allowed them to run for an entire day. The middle carriage also carried luggage on its roof, lashed tightly. It was pulled by four golden horses whose bodies gleamed under the sun as if they had been polished this morning. The carriage in front bore no luggage on its roof, only a single chest tied onto the back riding board between a pair of menials holding on to a rail. Like the other carriages, its blue exterior was painted with the stylized “eye” of the Imperial Order of Wardens. This carriage was pulled by four obsidian panthers, as big as the horses, loping at speed in eerie synchrony.

Elen stared, stuck on this vision out of sheer astonishment.

“Can’t I see? Please?” Kem jostled her impatiently, and her view swung away from the road.

Made speechless by the sight of panthers, she handed him the spyglass.

From the lookout it was easy to see how the carriages had gained on the slower-moving caravan. The caravan’s wagons began lurching to one side, making haste to give room for the party racing up from behind. Kem peered through the scope, shoulders tight as he tried to get his focus.

“What are those … big cats?” he said, scope still stuck to his right eye.

“Imperial panthers. I believe.”

He lowered the scope to frown at her. “Joef says only the emperor and princes born in the Flower Court hold the right to travel in carriages pulled by imperial panthers.”

“So I’ve heard. I thought it was just a story. But that means…” She trailed off, then shook herself. “Here, give me that back. We’d better get down to the Residence.”

They started walking down the ridge along a switchback trail, Elen setting a brisk pace.

“Means what?” Kem asked.

“Means Orledder Halt is being visited by the prince-warden. The intendant never said anything to me or the other deputies about such an important state visit. Which might mean he doesn’t know they’re coming. We’d better hurry.”

They tramped down the ridge in silence. For a while, the curve of a hill blocked the view, and then they reached the lowland plain. They hurried through woodland, crossed streams, skirted several outlying gardens, where poorer folk took their chances at growing crops on land not taxed by the intendant. Kem rubbed his stomach.

“You all right?” Elen asked, wondering if the tea she’d drugged him with last night might have upset his stomach, but she couldn’t say that directly.