“Your Highness, it will be dark in three hours. Spore was discovered this morning within fifty paces of the path you’ll take.”

“You claim your deputy courier is competent to lead us, and knows the route well, including signs of Spore.”

“I do so claim.”

The prince flicked a hand as if with his whip. “Wardens train to handle Spore that erupts in combs, the worst of infestations. Orledder Intendancy has no such underground cave systems, does it?”

“It does not, Your Highness.”

“Exactly. Your competent deputy courier cannot have as much experience at Spore eradication as young Ipis, who is on her first expedition outside the capital but already an experienced and versatile Spore-killer. My wardens and I can easily handle upland Spore. I don’t have time to rest. We go at once.”

The intendant had gauged the prince’s response perfectly as one who would overrule the intendant’s reasonable objections in favor of his own angry impatience. The old man looked at Elen, one eyebrow raised. She answered with the sentinel hand sign of agreement.

“Of course, Your Highness,” said the intendant with a bow. “It shall be as you require.”

The theurgist frowned at this byplay. For an official to ask the opinion of a deputy courier in the face of a prince’s command was unheard of, but the old woman said nothing. The prince hadn’t caught the exchange or, more likely, the actions and words of a deputy courier were beneath his notice.

Hoping that was so, Elen edged over next to Cariol. In a whisper, she said, “I beg a favor. Quickly find Joef. Ask him to go to my cottage and fetch the full pack in the chest beside Kem’s bed.”

The intendant had also heard and waved at Cariol to go. The valet went one direction as the intendant and Elen accompanied the prince in another. Gevulin had a ground-eating stride the intendant could not keep up with.

“May the High Heavens watch over you all,” said the intendant as he fell behind, wheezing.

Elen tipped a hand to her head in respect. He nodded in reply, and she hurried outside to catch up. From the portico she could see the entry to the guest wing. The Duenn captain and Gloves stood in the open doorway. They fulminated with such blistering anger that, when they saw her, she felt their hatred as if it were a blast of stinging ash flung into her face. This isn’t over, their expressions seemed to say.

Suddenly anxious, Elen looked for Kem. The boy had clambered up to sit atop the second carriage with Ipis. The young warden said something to Kem with a smile, and he grinned in his merry way, looking more excited than she’d seen him in all the months since his mother’s death.