Keish- April 18, 2005

April 18, 2005
Dear Arri,
It would appear we have rattled Martin Cobbles a bit.
Caden was called to another meeting last night.  They aren’t usually so close together, which made Caden nervous, but he went with a story prepared about my plans to attempt to divine Grestean troop movement.
(Not that I actually have such plans.  Unless I used a calling spell the information would be nearly useless by the time it got to the knights and soldiers at the border.)
It didn’t matter, though, because Cobbles brushed off Caden’s attempt to explain this and instead focused on my supposed divination about Grestean spies.
“So H’ma probably is real then,” Jace said thoughtfully.  “Otherwise there would be no reason to be so interested.”
Caden nodded.  “I think so, but you’re not going to like what Cobbles wants me to do.”
Jace raised an eyebrow at Caden, who bit his lip, stared at the carpet and took a full minute to finally speak again.
“They want to talk to Keish.  He thinks this information needs to be had more quickly than I can charm it out of her.”
“And I suppose they’ll just apply to Brooksby for an appointment and ask me nicely,” I said, my voice low but thick with sarcasm.
Slowly, haltingly, he described what Cobbles had outlined.
Jace was dangerously quiet throughout.
To be short-- the Gresteans want to abduct and interrogate me quietly, using the threat of scandal to keep me quiet.
I couldn’t help but laugh a little.  “And without a magician among them how do they expect to stop me from blasting them before they can even get a question out?” I asked incredulously.
Caden reddened a little.  “They might be under the impression that you can’t perform magic without a mirror,” he responded, rubbing the back of his neck self-consciously.
I smiled.  “They might be under that impression?”
His color deepened.  “I may have told them something to that effect.  They think you carry a small mirror with you,” he mumbled.
“Well, that proves they’re not magic workers.  Anyone with a little knowledge wouldn’t have believed you.  You took a gamble telling them something like that, but it works to our advantage.”
Jace still hadn’t even moved.  Caden kept glancing at him nervously.
Finally, softly but firmly, Jace said, “No.”  He looked at me.  “No.”
“Jace, I think we have to consider it,” I replied just as softly.
He shook his head.  “No.  It’s too dangerous.  How can you say that?”
“There’s a danger to Caden if we don’t at least consider all of the options,” I said.
Caden seemed to shrink away from us, his nervousness palpable.
Jace didn’t even glance his way.  “It’s too dangerous,” he repeated.
I sighed.  “It is a risk.  But it’s my risk to take if I think it needs to be done.  Right now Cobbles isn’t insisting on questioning me himself and they don’t have a magician.  They’ll take my reticule with a small mirror and they’ll think I’m helpless.  I’ll be anything but.”
“Cobbles sent a request for a magician last week,” Caden said, nearly whispering.
I gave Jace a moment to think about that before saying, “I think we need to do this.”
Jace stood so abruptly that his chair went flying.  “No.  This is where I draw the line, Keish.”
I gave him a small smile.  “You’re going to choose now to play the stern husband?”
He stormed from the room without another word.
Caden stood slowly.  “Should I…?”
I shook my head.  “No.  Let him be.”
We were silent a moment, then Caden murmured some apology and slipped out.
As the door shut behind him, I felt the tears on my face.

That was just after lunch.  It’s late now, but Jace still hasn’t returned.
I’ve seen Jace upset, but never with me.  We’ve never really fought before.
But I also know he wouldn’t be so upset if he didn’t know I’m right about this.
April 19th
It must have been two am before I heard Jace come in from his dressing room.
I hadn’t been able to sleep, so I turned to him as he slipped into bed.  “It will be more dangerous to wait,” I said simply.
He sighed heavily.  “I know,” was his only reply before he wrapped his arms around me and I finally found sleep.

This morning neither of us had early classes so we took breakfast in my study along with Caden and Papa and we had ourselves a little council.
Jace is still very unhappy with the situation and Papa wasn’t thrilled either, but we all agreed that if we do this now we’ll have more control.
If Caden goes back to Cobbles and says he can’t lure me away for them to get their hands on me, they’ll find another way.  And if they wait until their magician arrives, I could be completely outmatched.
I don’t like being outmatched.
“I’ll follow you.  To keep an eye on things,” Jace said at one point.
Papa shook his head.  “I appreciate the sentiment, Jace, but it won’t do.  If you’re spotted things may become even more dangerous.  A scrying spell would be better.”
Jace blew out his breath in frustration.  “The one thing I can’t do.”
“I’ll have it all set up and Ryland can monitor everything, start to finish..”
“And the king wants to set up a signal so that the palace guards can rush to the rescue,” Papa added.  “Sir Kinley has enough magic for something to be arranged.  He’ll be leading.”
I nodded and made a note to coordinate with him as well.  “I’ll need a few days to work with Ryland on the scrying spell.”
“They expect it to take me a week or so to set this up anyway,” Caden put in.
I shook my head ruefully.  “These men have a very interesting opinion of me.”
Jace grunted.  Rather un-Jace-like.  Caden was instantly on guard again.  I think he’s convinced that Jace blames this whole mess on him.
“Everyone has an interesting opinion of you, my dear,” Papa said fondly.  “Just as they did of your mother.”
I smiled.
“We must protect Caden in all this as well,” Papa said.  “If you do magic without a mirror…”
“Then either he lied to them or I don’t trust him enough to be useful to them,” I finished.  “Yes I’d considered that.  I think it would be better to glamour one, though.  Then I don’t have to worry about actually concealing one.”

At one point, Caden and Papa left the room to retrieve books that would be useful.
“I need to do this,” I said softly to Jace, who was still looking pained.
He sighed.  “I know.”  He gave me a crooked grin.  “It’s part of why I love you.”

In the end we agreed on the 26th, which means I have a week to work with Ryland, go over everything with Sir Kinley, and divine dates for all of the royal births.  Yes, all of them.  Despite hopes to the contrary, I’ve received requests from all five expecting mothers.

In the afternoon post we finally received a response from Brinden and Dameka-- Keaton is to stay with us for another year!  Cook made a special dessert to celebrate.
They’ve also asked Jace and me to spend a couple of weeks in Leilan while Keaton is home this summer.  I should like to see it, assuming all of this Grestean nonsense is ever resolved.

April 20th
Your letter came just as I was making my way down to breakfast.
I’m intrigued by the enclosed note for Jace, but he’s already off to an early self defense class and as I’m certain you will explain it I will wait and let him open it.
Master Ujifil’s explanation of the healing stone is very interesting.  Particularly his explanation of how it could be used as a weapon.  A soldier whose wounds were healed immediately in battle would be quite a foe indeed.
I had never really considered the shapes on a globe, but they do look a bit like a puzzle, don’t they?  Such questions are certain to make you Dr. Smith’s favorite.
I am glad Nuicui is no longer so dependent on the stone for her health.  Who knows what we’ll have to do with it by the end of all this.
As to her magic, I imagine Liop would be thrilled to spend time trading strengthening spells with a winged lion.  If I’m wrong, send her here-- Keaton would certainly be game.
Gordo is a good friend.  You should be able to tell him everything soon, I think.

Later
I had gotten just that far in your letter when a bleary-eyed Caden stumbled in for some breakfast.
I raised an eyebrow at him.  “Good morning.  Trouble sleeping?”
He shook his head and winced.  “Your father asked Tish up to the observatory last night, so I tagged along.  I thought they’d never tire, but I had insisted I would escort Tish home.  I only stumbled to bed a few hours ago.”
I laughed.  “Papa often doesn’t tire until the sun is up.  You’re lucky to have gotten that much sleep.”
He shuddered.  Then he spotted your letter.  “What does Arri have to say?”
I read your account of Sir Raporty’s report.
“They wanted to abduct Euan?”  Caden laughed loudly.  “Other than upsetting the queen, I’m not at all sure that would have accomplished anything.”
“Well they wanted to blame me.  Or Jace and me, at any rate.  If they weren’t trying to make it a Roushan plot that could have worked.  Heaven knows I’ve threatened to do worse.”
“But even at the worst of the Gazette rumors, no one would have believed that kind of cold-bloodedness from Jace.  The court may have been cool to him because he’s Elcaran, but he was still too well respected for any of that.”
I nodded.  While a few in Adya would have been suspicious, most would have scoffed at the idea.
If only because I wouldn’t need anyone controlling me to make me do something to Euan.
“If nothing else, this will give me something else to report back to Cobbles.  He wants to see me again tomorrow,” Caden said with a grimace.
My nod was absent as I was continuing to read your letter to myself.
Mendel having actually attracted the dragons is a frightening thought.  Hopefully he learns to be very very careful of such things in the future.  Heavens.
In light of Cobbles’ questions for me, I think we can assume that H’ma is real and simply a well-kept secret.  We’ve debated various other alternatives, but none make much sense.
I summarized the council bit by bit for Caden as I ate.
I am inclined to write a letter to Uncle W. demanding a copy of that cloaking spell.  Ten hours is very impressive.
Caden says that if Mendel really wants to train in fighting he should spend part of the summer here and “let Jace torture him”.
“I suppose it’s best that Arri isn’t going,” I said slowly.  “If only because she’d miss too much school.”
Caden nodded.  “And Imato would be furious.”
“That too.”  I kept reading.  “Oh, but Uncle Quin asked Nysa to go.”
“Only fair.  She hasn’t really gotten a quest yet,” Caden responded with a smile.
Instead of responding I dropped my fork, my hand jerking and spilling my tea.
“What’s wrong?” Caden asked in alarm.
“They want Jace,” I said softly, rereading the crown prince’s words.
Caden pried your letter out of my hands and read that part himself.  After a moment he sat back, looking stunned, though not nearly as stunned as I felt.  “I suppose that’s to be expected since Jace is in fact that skilled.”
I nodded mutely.  My hands were cold and I must have looked even paler than usual, because Caden gave me an appraising look and called for Malia.
“Take her upstairs and get her some chamomile,” he told her quietly.  “I’m going for Jace.”
“What’s wrong?” Malia asked, somewhat alarmed.
Caden shook his head.  “Just a surprise in Arri’s letter that’s not very welcome.  You and Ryland should stay close, though, in case anything else is needed.”
He left and Malia guided me upstairs, carrying your letter and the note for Jace.  When I was settled on my favorite chaise in the sitting room, she left to get a tea tray and I read the last of your letter.
I suppose I shouldn’t have been so shocked at the idea of Jace going.  Imato is his best friend, he certainly has every right to go.
Caden clearly hadn’t explained everything to Jace because he burst into the sitting room with concern etched on his face.
I gave him a small smile and handed him the note from your father.
Jace read it then looked back to me in disbelief.  “Captain Etautca wants… me?”
Caden laughed from the doorway.  “You’d better let him read Arri’s account, Keish.”
I handed Jace your letter.  As he read he sat slowly on the chaise with me.
“Prince Dedric specifically recommended me?” Jace shook his head, amazed.  “Second best since your uncle is surely an exaggeration.”
That got a snort from Caden.  “You’re ridiculously modest, you know that?”
Jace just rolled his eyes at him.  “I’d like to read the whole letter before we discuss this,” he told me gently.
I nodded, leaning back and closing my eyes while he read.
When he had finished I was feeling more settled about the whole thing.
He handed me your father’s invitation.  “I am being given a choice,” Jace said carefully.
I read through it and laughed a little.  “Imato would certainly have phrased that last bit differently.”
Jace smiled, but thinking about Imato made us both sober again quickly.
We sat in silence.  Caden drifted out, muttering something about having no place in such a decision.
Finally I forced out the words I knew I needed to say.  “You should go.”
Jace blew out his breath.  “If it were any other week…” he trailed off, then looked deeply into my eyes.  “I don’t want to leave you alone next week.”
“I know.  But I won’t be alone.  Imato is the one who’s alone.”
Jace closed his eyes and nodded.  “I should go.  Captain Etautca wouldn’t have asked if he didn’t think it was important.”
I giggled.
Jace looked at me in surprise.
“Sorry, it just sounds so funny to hear you talk about Uncle Quin so formally.”
He gave me a playful glare, than laughed lightly.  “I suppose I’ll have to ask what I should call him.”  Then he sighed.  “I don’t want to leave you at all.”
I leaned forward to put my head on his shoulder.  I didn’t want him to leave either.  We haven’t spent any real time apart since the wedding, and even before that he was living in the tower for months.
Jace echoed my thoughts.  “We haven’t been apart in over a year.”
I buried my face deeper into his shoulder.
Jace wrapped his arms around me and just held me.
“I need to do this,” he said finally.
“I know.”  I lifted my head and gave him the best smile I could manage.  “It’s part of why I love you.”
He laughed a little and then kissed me fiercely.
I was breathless when he broke away from me, striding quickly to the door of our bedroom and through to his dressing room.
I trailed behind him, hearing Ryland’s voice from the dressing room.
“Are you well, Mistress?” Malia asked, peeking out of my dressing room nervously.
I nodded.  “I’ll be fine.  Jace has been called away and it was a bit of a shock, that’s all.”
She nodded, looking relieved, and retreated again.
A moment later, Jace emerged from his dressing room holding a rather intricate scabbard.  He set it on the bed.  Ryland followed with a set of simple soldier’s armor.  It wasn’t fancy or heavy like Imato’s knightly suit, but the workmanship was obviously very fine and it matched the scabbard.
Curious, I slowly drew the sword out.  It was beautiful.
Jace saw the question in my eyes.  “A gift from Tulson and his brothers.  After I beat the fencing master at 16.”
My eyebrows went up.  I studied the sword more closely.  It wasn’t the weapon he took when we took our quest to the cave.  Obviously it had still been in Rousha then.  I couldn’t believe I’d never seen these things.
“What other secrets are hidden in that dressing room?” I queried, replacing the sword.
Jace laughed.  “No secrets, love.  All this just… embarrassed me, I guess.  I’ve never wanted to be a soldier.”
“You’re ridiculously good at it.”
He shrugged, uncomfortable.  “It will be useful now, if nothing else.”
Behind him, Ryland cleared his throat.  “Will you be requiring me to accompany you, sir?”
Jace shook his head fervently.  “No, Keish needs you here.  I’m counting on you to keep her safe through that scrying spell next week.”
Ryland nodded and retreated to attend to the rest of Jace’s packing.
Jace kissed my forehead.  “I need to find Kaplan and make arrangements for my classes.”
I nodded.  “I’ll go talk to Keaton.  He’s bound to hear something soon and I’d rather tell him what’s going on first.”
Jace considered.  “I’ll go with you and talk to him first.”
We found Keaton and Master Zart at their lessons.  Jace explained the situation, giving Keaton firm instructions that it would be his job not only to help keep me safe in Jace’s absence but to keep my spirits up.  Keaton accepted this all very solemnly, squeezing my hand before we left his study.
Jace went off to make his arrangements and I went down to the kitchen to ask Cook to have something ready for Jace to take with him.  I’m sure he’ll end up waiting until morning to leave, but it was better than doing nothing and I had no classes to teach because I’d given everyone a study day.
When Jace had everything settled to his satisfaction he found me in my study, trying to call Imato just to give myself something else to do.
“I’ve worked out the details for all of my classes, love, but Caden is off somewhere, so will you help me remember to tell him that Kaplan will be coming daily to continue our sessions for me.”
I smiled.  “He’ll be thrilled.”
Jace smirked.  “Yes, well, he needs the help.”
“I’ve been thinking,” I said quickly as he turned to leave the room, “I want you to take Argentum.”
Jace turned back to me slowly.
“Argyros is a wonderful mount, but Argentum is stronger.  He’ll bring you back safely.”
He considered me for a moment then put a hand on my cheek.  “If you’re certain.”
I nodded.
With that, Jace went to check Ryland’s progress and send word to Bryce to have Argentum saddled and ready at first light.
I sat down at my desk to write Gretel a rather stern letter.  I don’t care how unfair it seems, she cannot try to follow them.  I’m ordering her to stay in Rousha or come to Adya.  In case you find that you need to ward the house to keep track of her I’m including a couple of helpful spells.
Not much of a birthday for her, I know, and certainly this is ironic coming from me, but she had better stay put.  Imato would never forgive any of us if anything happened to her.  Or the baby.

It’s not too late yet, but Jace wants an early start tomorrow.
He asks that information on the route being taken and anything else he needs to know be sent to Sean in Odsreq since he’ll likely have to catch up to the main party.  He hopes to make Odsreq by midday the 22nd, but doesn’t want to push too hard too early on.
I’d best send Hermes off now if you are to receive this before your father wants to leave.
My love to everyone, of course.

Love Always,
Keish

PS: I shall, of course, write and tell you everything that happens next week.  Jace is not happy about my going through with it while he isn’t even here, but things have already been set in motion and he understands that.  He has made me promise to use a calling spell to let him know I’m safe when it’s all over.

Keish- April 13, 2005

April 13, 2005

Dear Arri,
We’ve had Brooksby arrange a schedule of when Caden is Here, and when he is merely here.  It seemed the only way to keep it all straight.
And naturally this means I have to make adjustments to the little glamours that have kept people from noticing his comings and goings.
He is to make his first report tonight.
“What do I tell them?” he whined.
I rolled my eyes.  It was at least the fifth time he’d asked.
“They can’t expect you to have learned much yet,” Jace put in sensibly.  “Some simple piece of information should be enough.”
“You can tell them I commune with water sprites at every quarter moon for all I care,” I responded, a little more sharply than I’d intended.
I find I am already tired of this situation, which does not bode well for the coming weeks.
“Now, Keisha,” Jace said soothingly, “you know he’ll have to take them reports that at least seem useful, or they’ll change tactics.”
I sighed.  Jace was right, of course.  I closed my eyes and tried to think of something innocuous that the Gresteans could see as helpful.
As often happens when trying to clear one’s mind, random thoughts crop up relentlessly and after a moment I found myself half-consciously trying another calling spell to reach Imato.
Of course it didn’t work, but it did give me an idea.
“Tell them I’m frustrated my spells won’t work to reach Imato.  Make them think I’m giving up.  Maybe we can lure someone into a false security and the magical protection around Imato will ease up enough for me to get through.”
Both Jace and Caden thought this a worthwhile idea, so we were agreed.

I think Master Byra, excuse me Sir Byra (King Menion has made him a full member of the King’s Council-- he tried to make him a lord so that his proper title would be Lord of Education, but Sir Byra insisted that an old palace tutor was certainly not a lord) anyway, I think he is starting to feel run ragged.  He’s brought in another teacher to take over his classes as he’s in administrative meetings all day.
When he pointed out yesterday that this is all my fault I replied that it couldn’t have happened to a nicer person.
Better him than me.
Cass has begun training Meg, our other student who lost her position some weeks ago for refusing to give up her classes.  She’s been doing whatever random tasks Marta has set for her, but she has just turned 17 and has become out first “graduate” having taken our skills test.  Cass has decided Meg is just the person to take over most of her own duties since she will not have time for everything if she is to teach full time next year.

Keaton continues to be fascinated by his chicks, though Thor lost interest when it became obvious that a) he was not allowed to chase them and b) they don’t do much of anything anyway.

Caden told Tish all about how you healed your father and she’s anxious to discuss it with you when everything with Imato is settled.  She doesn’t want you to be distracted by letters from her under the present circumstances but hopes to hear from you once things are resolved.

April 14th
I have your letter.
My first thought was that Mendel being taken seriously about dragons was very concerning.
Then I decided that thought was too hasty-- Liop and dragons was clearly the far more worrisome combination.
Does Uncle W. know that Liop has taken to carrying iridium about with him?  I hope he just had it with him for the quest-- the idea of his pockets being constantly lined with the stuff is somewhat terrifying.
Is it normal for Great Greens to be so near Rousha?  And a gomorph?  It seems strange to have encountered either so near the city.  I guess Mendel got his dragons, though.
Maybe now he’s learned to be careful what he wishes for.
Naturally you handled Nuicui with your usual talent and skill.  I’m often grateful that it is you that gets into these situations and not me.  I would never know what to say.

If Gretel, who survived all of Vanessa’s wedding plans and even wore that horrid dress with a perfectly sanguine attitude, doesn’t think her nerves can handle Vanessa’s current condition how does she think I feel?!  She came here to tea earlier to make her own divination request.  It took a lot to convince her that I could do my best to divine the date, and possibly find out if it is a boy or girl in the process, but all of the details she wanted were simply too much to ask of anyone.
I keep praying King Menion will find some nice estate for Euan somewhere… preferably far far far from Adya.
As to any divination regarding Gretel’s child, Imato can ask all he wants but I won’t do it unless the request is from the mother.  Besides, an angry Gretel is far more worrisome to me than an angry Imato.  Imato angry stopped scaring me years ago.

Caden agrees with your father that his task is not as useful as he had hoped.  “I wish I could find out about H’ma for Sir Quin,” he lamented the evening.
“And so you shall,” Jace said confidently, an amused glint in his eyes.
“It’s not as though I can just ask,” Caden responded, frowning.  “I suppose I can do some research to see if the man was ever caught.  Macario keeps track of those kinds of things.  But if he hasn’t, what good can I do?”
I rolled my eyes.  “Nothing simpler.  You tell them I divined the name and see what you can learn from their reactions and what they’re willing to tell you.  Honestly, what good is pretending to spy on me if we can’t use my divination to learn whatever we wish?”  I frowned.  “Are we certain H’ma is a man, though?  Arri doesn’t specify.”
Caden shrugged.  “Aren’t spies usually?”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
Jace laughed.  “Maybe we only think that because the women don’t get caught.”

“Was White a Narl, do you think?” Jace asked as we pondered your father’s theory.
I shrugged.  “It’s possible, though it seems equally possible that others have used the same spell.  There are certainly enough horrid people in the world who aren’t Narls.”
“That’s true.  I wish we could ask him, but the last report didn’t indicate that he’d been found.”
“Perhaps Caden will have something new when he returns from interrogating Macario about Grestean spies.”

I am sorry if my attempt to feed memories into your father made him lose some others.  I didn’t think of that.  Now, though, I can give him whatever he wants.  Birthdays, weddings.  Perhaps a few memories that will help him understand the current family dynamics.  After all, some of those are bound to amuse him.  We should let him read our letters too, if he wants.

April 15th
Today proved very interesting, Arri, and I wish I could send this letter as soon as I have recorded the events of the day, but as Caden is off to meet his Grestean friends and won’t return until extremely late, it seems silly to send this off without hearing how they react to the name H’ma.
So I shall be brutal-- I will write what happened today and go straight to bed.
After my classes and dinner, I decided to attempt to call Imato again.  I didn’t have much hope of success, but I figure I may as well keep making the attempt every couple of days.
Interestingly, while I could not reach Imato I did feel an odd sort of tugging, pulling at my spell.
When I focused on that, I suddenly saw Queran Aoweir.
“Sir Queran?!” I said in surprise.
“Lady Keish, thank goodness.  I’ve been trying to find a way to call you all day, but my talent is in hearing calls, not casting them.  I finally managed a spell to listen for you to call Imato and hoped fervently you would try to do so.”
“An ingenious solution,” I responded, “and one with interesting uses, I imagine.”
“Yes, Imato and I played with the idea of intercepting calling spells, but the important thing now is to relay what I must before we lose this connection.  I have great faith in your ability to sustain it, but less in my own.”
“Very well then.  What has happened?”
“We found White.  He was in a small cave near here, restrained and rather worse for wear when we got to him, I’m afraid, but food and a little rest brought him around.  This morning I was able to speak with him at length.
“It appears that he was lured out near the camp by a note, supposedly from Imato, asking to meet him.  Imato, I believe had had a similar note, supposedly from White.
“When White arrived, however, he was held immobile by a spell, and layers of magic were stripped from his mind.  At least, that’s how he describes it.  He claims it was similar to what your friend Darius did in trying to help him but that these Gresteans seemed to know exactly what they were looking for and how to find it.”
“And so he remembers his past now, is that what you’re telling me?”
“In part only.  He knows he’s Yugliv.  Some of what he says I would like you to test for yourself.  Can you use a scrying spell to see him here with me?  And can you feel and find magic using such a spell?” Queran asked.
I nodded absently, momentarily forgetting that he could not see me.  “Yes, I should be able to do that.  Give me just a moment to make the adjustments.”
I called Jace into my study as I rearranged my mirror slightly.  When I was satisfied I told Queran that I was casting the scrying spell.
“White is right here with me,” he responded.
I cast my spell and was startled by what I saw.  “But White has no magic!” I exclaimed.
White apparently could not hear me (which made perfect sense) because he didn’t react.
Queran answered.  “Apparently the same spell that took his memory and left him wandering alone also wrapped up his magic and kept it entirely hidden.  He says it isn’t much magic though.”
I was studying White.  “No, it isn’t.  And it’s very specific.”
Queran nodded.  “One of the older soldiers here knows a bit about Yuglicov.  He says they don’t have innate magic the way you or I do, but rather magic is endowed from objects bit by bit at various stages of training.  Part of that magic will always depend on the object, but some becomes an integral part of the person.”
“And the nature of the magic follows the nature of the training.”
“Exactly.  All White remembers is that before Greste attacked Yuglicov he was in his early stages of apprenticeship-- to be a healer.”
“T’ay,” I breathed.
Queran nodded again.  “White does not remember precisely, but it seems likely.  It would explain what the Gresteans want with him.  Apparently they were supposed to take him also, but he says his master gave them quite a bit more trouble than they were expecting, even though they managed to distract him and block his magic before he could cast a ward.”
This last was said somewhat smugly.  I think Queran is rather proud that his son-in-law gave them a fight.
“But why leave White?  Or why not return for him?”
“When Imato didn’t return within the hour, I had patrols out searching.  I think we prevented them from coming back for White.  He says it wasn’t a large enough party to grab them both with Imato struggling so much.”
I pondered this a moment.  “And he’s telling the truth?”  I felt inclined to believe White’s story, but knew I had to be sure, if only for Gretel’s sake.
Queran was silent for several seconds before responding.  “I feel he is.  One aspect of aural magic is often an ability to sort out a lie.  It’s been very helpful in my profession on many occasions.  I feel no lie in White.  I’d like more qualified magicians to see what they make of his magic and such, of course, but for now I’m ready to believe him.  He wishes to remain in the camp until Imato can be rescued.  I’m assigning a man to keep an eye on him, but I’ve granted that request.”
“Thank you for this,” I told Queran.  “It puts my mind at ease on that score, if nothing else.”
He smiled briefly.  “I’ll write to Gretel, of course, but you can get the information to them so much more quickly.  I hope you’ll do so.”
I promised to send a letter off to you as soon as I could and we let the spell fade.
Jace is glad to hear that White is not likely a villain or traitor after all.  I hope Gretel will feel at ease now too.
“Do you suppose the Gresteans took White along with T’ay?” Jace asked.
“I don’t know.  It’s certainly possible.  If they used a similar spell to that of the Narls it would all make sense.  When they lost T’ay they would no longer have found him useful.  Either they turned him loose or were lax about keeping him under their control and Darius ended up finding him.”
“We may never know the whole story.”
I shrugged.  “Perhaps not.  Though Arri has made several breakthroughs in that area of healing-- perhaps she’ll be the one to restore White as well.”
Jace smiled broadly.  “We should tell her to put aside the idea of clearing people’s lungs as a job and set her to fixing fading memories instead.”
What an interesting thought.

There, now that I’ve related the whole of it and of course there’s no sign of Caden, I’m going to bed as I’d promised.  I shall bully an account out of Caden first thing in the morning and then send this off directly thereafter.

April 16th
The reactions to Caden’s report, I think, are very interesting, and I’m glad I waited to send this letter because I’m anxious to hear everyone’s opinion.
When Caden introduced the name H’ma, he was greeted with laughter.
Of the six other people in the room, five found it hilarious that my divination was chasing “a ghost”.
When Caden asked whatever they could mean he was told that H’ma wasn’t a real spy, but rather a story that had kept Elcaran authorities busy for months, taking their attention away from the “real spies” at work.
In short, they explained, H’ma does not exist and never has.
At this point in Caden’s retelling I was ready to scream.
Jace was paying more attention.  “And what did the other person have to say?” he asked shrewdly.
Caden grinned.  “Nothing at all.  Cobbles just watched me carefully as though trying to judge whether or not I was believing what everyone else was saying.  He certainly didn’t laugh, but rather seemed thoughtful that the name had come to my attention.”
“So he didn’t confirm that H’ma is a ghost?” Jace asked.
Caden shook his head.  “Telling, isn’t it?”
After some discussion, Jace and I are in agreement with Caden that the reaction of Martin Cobbles is the most telling.  He’s the highest ranking Grestean here, after all, so if there were more to the story he would know before the others.  Caden hopes to gain his trust as time goes on and learn more.
As I said, though, we’re anxious to see what you all think, and so I will close and send this off with all speed.

Love Always,
Keish

PS Any other names or details your father remembers would be appreciated-- after all, I must keep “divining” things for Caden to report on.

Go to NEXT Letter

Keish- April 2, 2005

April 2, 2005
Dear Arri,

This week has felt like a bit of a whirlwind, Arri.
Keaton managed to get his brooder all set up in what must have been record time and dragged Master Zart (and Dylan) off Wednesday to get his chicks-- assuring me that none of them would be roosters.  I appreciate that-- Blaze waking me up at dawn is quite enough without accompanying crowing.
The chicks are nothing more than multi-colored balls of fluff for now, but Keaton seems confident that all four will be excellent laying hens.  Eventually.
King Menion re-instituted the Gazette, with the stipulation that Lord Schieving step down.
So not only is the Gazette being printed again, but Caden is now in charge, at least for the time being.
Heaven help us all.
Last night, after Caden had everything set for today’s grand edition, we had a bonfire burning all of the old paper.  Caden laid in a completely new supply of paper, and convinced me to lay a light charm on all of it protecting the identities of the writers.  I didn’t want to, particularly, but it seemed better to do the enchantment myself and be completely certain what it was.
Today’s Gazette is a special royal announcement-- ALL FIVE young royal couples are expecting.  The number of royal grandchildren will double by the end of the year.
When Caden told Jace and me yesterday, I couldn’t quite stifle a groan.  Thus far I’ve managed to completely avoid one of my mother’s main “duties” at court-- divining royal births-- but given how far my magic has progressed in just the last two years… I didn’t see how I could possibly escape it with FIVE impending births.
Jace gave my hand a sympathetic squeeze.  “Maybe they won’t ask,” he said optimistically.  “And two of them don’t even live at court.”
“Funny you should mention that,” Caden said, handing me an envelope.
I took it quizzically.  “Now you’re interfering with my post?”
He laughed.  “Only when a letter for you is in a package for me.”
Since Caden doesn’t want anyone to know where he’s staying, he’s receiving all of his post at his club.
The letter was from Raquel, which I’d guessed already since it came through Caden.  There was a request for the divination and a glossy lock of dark hair.
I sighed, but since I’d already decided that I quite like the Duchess of Orullian I didn’t really mean it.  “Well, she already has an idea when the baby will be born, but she likes the idea of having me narrow it down.”
Jace cocked his head to one side.  “The moon is waning.  Are you going to wait until full on the 24th?”
I thought about it a moment.  I could perform the divination at any time, of course, but full moon provides the best clarity.  “I think so.”
Caden nodded.  “Maybe everyone will make a request by then and you can do them all in one night,” he said brightly.
I stuck my tongue out at him.

I also met with Master Byra this week-- so far we’ve handed the other Adya schools over to the administrators who are going to work with the boys’ schools they’re attached to in order to standardize a curriculum for graduation.
The palace school is going to have slightly different requirements, due to our need for greater flexibility, and also offer an option to take a reading and skills test to receive a diploma without attending all of the classes.
As of next year, we will also officially be a school for ALL palace servants, boys as well as girls.
This goes hand in hand with King Menion’s new announcement.  Rather than announcing Euan’s Prince Regency, the king announced a series of new educational laws.  Boys’ education is now mandatory until age 14, like in Elcaro, and girls’ education is required up to age 10.  All boys’ schools throughout Arella are now scrambling to accommodate female students as well, and the royal treasury is covering all costs for mandatory education.
I’m thrilled, Arri.  We’ve done so much so quickly!
We’re also altering the courses offered here slightly-- Caden has agreed to teach writing (provided everything he’s doing for the king is settled, of course) and Cass will be taking over some of the more basic classes-- reading and handwriting.  This leaves me with a higher reading course and a literature course and hopefully a little more time for magic, since Ryland and Malia have requested more formal magic instruction.
Jace is going to focus on Elcaran history, while continuing to teach defense with Kaplan, who has agreed to take on the bulk of physical fitness requirements.  Jace has enjoyed teaching astronomy, but it’s not really practical at this level.

And then there’s Keaton.
He’s doing well.  Very well.  His magic is progressing… I have no worries about any further flaring.
But I’m not ready to just say he’s done and send him home.
Jace and I have been talking about it a lot lately.  We both feel that Keaton needs another year here with us.  Another year to develop his magic.  Another year to develop his confidence.
I think he just assumes he’ll be returning after the summer.  After all, his hens won’t begin laying until they are around 5 months old.
I have a letter from his parents requesting an update and Jace and I plan to respond tomorrow, requesting another year.  I hope they agree.  Certainly living at the palace is a wonderful thing for his future.
It might be time for the Leilanis to stop ignoring the Adyan court.

April 3rd
Tish ate lunch with us today.  She and Caden attempted to take reflections of cells through the microscope yesterday, along with some other experiments.  She was going to write to you of their results, but asked me to convey her apologies instead, as they learned nothing conclusive of which to write.
“I do not believe it is possible with my equipment,” she said, “but that does not make it impossible.”
“We just need better lenses,” Caden put in.
“And to spend less time making reflections of chickens?” Jace asked with a smile.
Keaton blushed.
Jace laughed.  “I’m teasing, Kea.  The reflections are marvelous.  And your idea of using a spell to keep the chicks still worked perfectly.”
“Yeah, that could catch on,” Caden said with a grin.  “Don’t you think children’s portraits could use that kind of creative thinking, Jace?”
“Just what every parent wants-- a spell forcing their child to sit.” I said it sarcastically, but Tish laughed.
“You might be surprised,” she declared.
I thought about Liop and how much trouble in manages in such short periods of time.  “No, actually I don’t think I would,” I replied.
“Now you’ve given her ideas,” Jace teased.
“Nothing new, I’ve just never thought of using such spells on children,” I shot back.
Caden grimaced, remembering the time I’d used such a spell on him.
His expression made Tish laugh and soon they were off to the drawing room for a writing lesson, with Keaton in tow.

Jace and I sat down to write to Keaton’s parents, but after I had crumpled several sheets of paper into balls (which littered the floor) I gave up and left it to Jace.  He’s better at that sort of thing anyway.

Caden was finally contacted by his “Grestean friends”.  He’s attending another meeting tonight.

April 4th
Caden has met six people at the meetings so far.  The three from the first meeting were joined last night by a valet (to Sir Ceto), a palace footman, and, the apparent leader in Adya-- the stable master for the Aoweirs.  I’m sure that will be hard for Gretel to hear.  We’ve sent a letter to Imato and Queran already, though of course it will take a few days to get to them.  And there’s nothing they can do anyway.
Caden feels confident that he’s met everyone in Adya now.  Last night was mostly introductions, but he’s to meet with the leader, Ma’ile (Martin Cobbles, as the Aoweirs know him), again tonight.  He thinks he’ll be given an assignment.
Hopefully nothing terrible-- or the king will have to intervene before he wanted to.
At the moment, we’re just relieved none of them is a magician.

April 5th
Something feels odd today, Arri.
Perhaps it’s just worry about Caden…. He stayed at his club last night and the only word we’ve had is that he is fine.
Jace is concerned, both about what they may have asked Caden to do and about him missing a sparring session.
I don’t think that’s the source of this strange feeling, though.

April 6th
After spending a second night at his club, Caden paid us a formal call this afternoon.
To say that Jace and I were both astonished is possibly an understatement.
Once the three of us were firmly ensconced in our library, Jace demanded an explanation.
It took Caden no fewer than three false starts before he actually got talking.
By the time he was finished, it was me who was speechless.  I stared at Caden, utterly dumbfounded.  Caden was staring steadfastly at the floor, his ears decidedly pink.
And Jace, my dear mostly-reserved Jace, was laughing.  Heartily.
The gist of the situation is this: Caden has been given the assignment of befriending us to gather information.  The irony was certainly not lost on any of us.
More specifically, however, Caden is to befriend me and use whatever charm is required to learn all he needs to learn.
When I finally regained my ability to form coherent thoughts I demanded, “Am I to understand that you are to seduce me if no other means of gathering information presents itself?”
This made Caden’s pink ears turn red and only made Jace laugh harder.
Finally, Jace put a hand on Caden’s shoulder.  “I wish you all the luck in the world,” he said.  He had stopped laughing, mostly, but still couldn’t keep a straight face.  I think half the laughter was relief that Caden’s assignment is so harmless.
Really, I don’t think we could be more lucky.  They could have asked Caden to do something far worse.
Caden finally chuckled a little.  I’m not sure he completely trusted Jace’s reaction, because when Jace suggested they get some sparring in Caden looked slightly panicked.
I rolled my eyes.  “Jace isn’t going to hold it against you,” I told him.  “You should be more worried about having missed a session.”
Caden still looked skeptical.
Jace clapped him on the back.  “Come now, Caden.  Even if I thought you were serious, it’s Keisha you would want to be afraid of,” he said with a smile.  “I’ll just go change.  Meet me in the drawing room.”
Somehow, Caden did not seem relieved by this bit of information, but he headed out to change anyway.

April 8th
I feel strange again today.  It’s as though something is pulling at me, but I can’t see it…  can’t tell what it is.
It’s driving me completely to distraction which I do NOT need right now.
Caden has another meeting tonight.  I thought I’d enjoy all of this subterfuge, but it’s grating on my nerves.

April 9th
I’ve sent yet another letter to Imato (by pigeon again, though I haven’t gotten a response to my last one yet).  I don’t know what to make of what Caden learned last night, but Imato should at least know.
Caden has learned the identity of Mic’o.  Oh, Arri, it’s White, Imato’s valet.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jace look so stunned.  We just stared at each other, eyes wide.
“But… I was the one who engaged him for Imato,” Jace said in a hoarse whisper.
Caden looked confused so I gave him an extremely condensed version of the search for valets.
“Where did you find him?” he asked Jace when I was finished.
I looked at Jace expectantly.  I had never heard the full story behind his hiring of White.  Too much was going on and eventually we all got used to White and forgot to wonder about it.
Jace rubbed one hand across his face.  “After a few days it was pretty clear to me that Imato was never going to be able to choose because none of the valets we’d interviewed were quite right for him, so I had Ryland do some checking.  He found three candidates and I interviewed them.  White had a glowing character from his previous employer, plus a letter of reference that he said he had shown at every interview for more than a decade.  I was the first to ever show interest in it.”
“Well who wrote it?” I prompted when Jace paused.
“Darius.”
I was now even more confused than Caden.  “But White’s not… there’s no sense of magic about him.”
Jace nodded.  “I know.  He’s not like most of the people Darius finds, but Darius found him under similar circumstances.  Not a fairy, but wandering and confused.”
“Did your friend know he was Grestean?” Caden asked softly.
Jace shook his head.  “Darius though he was Yugliv, though White didn’t know so it was just guesswork.  It took Darius more than a year to work with White.  When White was ready, Darius gave him two letters-- one to a friend who could help him find a position and a more general one that White was to keep until he found an employer who showed interest.”
Jace left the room quickly, returning a few minutes later with a worn piece of paper.  He handed it to me.  “I offered it to Imato when I told him how I’d hired White, but he said I should keep it since we are the ones who have actually met Darius.”
I felt the magic before actually touching the paper.  The words on the page were simple enough, nothing special.  “It was the magic Darius expected to attract attention,” I said.
Jace nodded.  “Imato said there was some sort of magic in it.  It caught my attention because of Darius’ name, of course.  I imagine Darius thought that eventually White may find an employer who recognized the magic and could help him recover something of his past.”
I looked at Jace quizzically.  “And should we have, when he was still here?”
Jace shrugged.  “Imato and I asked him” (by which, of course, Jace meant he asked White in Imato’s presence) “but White is content with his life.”
We were silent a moment as we considered the possible ramifications.
“So what does all this mean?” Caden asked softly.
Jace sighed.  “I don’t know.”
We wrote to Imato, as I said.  And of course Caden made a report to King Menion.
What could they want with White?  Darius found him some 13 or 14 years ago-- what could he possibly have to do with what’s happening now?

April 10th
I know why Imato has not answered my letter.
Caden came tearing into our sitting room earlier with the report of Imato’s capture and the ransom demands.  I felt ill and Jace looked like he did too.
“But… how?” Jace asked.
Caden shook his head.  “No one knows anything.”
I was biting my lip in concentration when Jace put his hand on mine.  “Keisha…”
I shook my head sharply to quiet him.  The odd tugging sensation was back and this time Imato’s wards on Jace and I both flickered.
“Imato!” I gasped.  I all but ran for my study, wanting my mirror.
I could hear Caden asking Jace what was going on as they followed me, but I blocked out their conversation and focused on Imato.
“Keish, thank the heavens!” Imato’s voice was muffled and I couldn’t see him well.  “I’ve been trying to use a calling spell to reach you on and off for days.”
There was some kind of shield or ward interfering-- I couldn’t make the connection open properly.
“Imato, what happened?”
His response was almost garbled.  “Misunderstanding… caught off guard… White’s not….”
“Imato!” I yelled aloud, using all my will to restore the calling spell.
“I’m fine for now,” I heard as the spell cleared a little.  “But I’m in Aitero and I think they lied about that.”
“The ransom note said the capital.”
Imato nodded.  I could barely see him.
“I’m losing you!” I cried, fear making my voice tremble slightly.
“Tell Arri not to come.  No one should come.  I’ll find…”
And I lost him.
I tried for hours to call him.  I used every calling spell I knew and a few I’d never tried.  I tried using the wards he left on Jace and I.
I tried everything, Arri, but I can’t reach him.
Caden has offered to get a pigeon to send you this letter immediately, but I want to see your letter first.  If the ransom note was seen in Rousha the 9th then I’m sure I’ll have a letter from you soon.

April 11th
After Hermes took my last letter, I found a feather on my desk and gave it to Keaton.
After spending most of the morning pacing (having sent Cass to cover my classes) I went to borrow it from Keaton and did some divining.
Seeing Hermes and Clotho together and nearing Adya made me both calmer and more impatient.
Finally your letter was in my hands.
I’ve read it several times through now and as no one is home with whom to share it I think I must be mercilessly disciplined in answering everything in order.

Certainly we could all do with fewer distractions, but not going to Marobury has certainly proven to be the wisest course of action.
It is nice to have the garden.  Or it will be nice once it’s completed.  I would think Malia could enter a fairy ring.  I’m sure she would love to see your mother’s garden, as would I.
Caden’s ball was certainly interesting.  I don’t think a ball has ever been so talked of after the fact.  Caden refusing to talk about it has only added to the drama.  (You’ll notice that I’ve said not one word of Euan’s birthday ball.  It was last week and so entirely unworthy of comment that it seems everyone forgot all about it the moment they left the ballroom.)
As Liop hears all about raising chicks over the next several weeks I rather expect his requests will be renewed and get increasingly creative, even if he already has animals enough.  Though perhaps other circumstances will prove distraction enough.
Lord Macario does seem to be Caden’s most likeable immediate relation, though I don’t suppose his other brothers are too terrible.  It seems that nothing he has uncovered for the king so far is anything you don’t already know, though.
I am of the firm opinion that Dr. Kondamuri deserves a personal visit from Queen Elspeth.
Though letting Brynn have at him may provide more entertainment.
Perhaps I’ll just have a word with him myself the next time I’m in Rousha.  Or several.
Possibly of the magical and unpleasant variety.
Of course it’s entirely unfair, the man is clearly a fool.
At least Mendel is a master of distraction-- riding is a perfect diversion.
Gretel’s latest letter includes a full page bemoaning her inability to retrieve anything from the floor.  I’m too afraid to ask how she laces her boots.
Her study of magical theory has been fairly thorough, it seems, based on her response to your partial spells and her letters lately.  I’m glad she has become so interested-- she’s certain to provide excellent advice.
It is probably good though also terrible that you were with Captain Stoddart when the ransom note came.
You have already read how we learned of the matter-- and what Imato himself said.  Of course I won’t tell you not to go-- I don’t know what he was thinking-- but at least you know he says he’s in Aitero.

I would demand a copy of your amazing spell, but somehow I doubt I would understand more than half of it… and I’m certain I couldn’t use it.  Still, you will have to show me next time I see you.
I wish I could make the calling spell work, if only to tell Imato about Moonstone.

Brios are known for making history with magic.  Imato performed a Bellington ward.  Now you have done what no one could-- and done it in a way many would have thought impossible.  But of course, you are a Brio.
I hope you’ve made a detailed account in the Chronicle.
I’m sure if you haven’t you will.
I am so glad you have your father back.  I’m excited to see him when we can.

So the mystery of Ta’y has been resolved.  I’m glad.
I’m baffled, however, at how a healing stone could be used as a weapon.

Gretel must be taking her archery very seriously of late.  It’s not a hobby I ever joined her in.  I felt that if I were going to learn it was certainly not going to be on a little lady’s hobby bow.  I wanted a real bow.
But even Gretel, though good at it, never took it seriously in Adya.

I’m not sure what to make of the information about White, but since I’ve already written about that it seems silly to cover the same ground.  I agree with your father, though-- we should not jump to conclusions.
I don’t think we need to worry about Emily.  She lived here for months, sharing a room with Malia.  If something were amiss, surely we’d have seen it?

While I would never tell anyone not to go on a quest, you do all realize what Imato’s reaction will be if Gretel shows up in Greste?  He’s going to be angry enough about any of the rest of you going.
I’m glad Mendel and Liop aren’t being left behind, though.  It’s high time they were included-- from the beginning and intentionally.

Later
Finally, Jace returned from his classes and I was able to have him read your letter.  (Papa and Caden will have to hear about it at dinner, for I’ve still seen hide nor hair.)
Jace shouted and spun me around when I told him you’d healed your father, then sat to read the entire letter.
When he finished he looked slightly puzzled.  “You spoke with Sir Quin in dreams.  He knew about Gretel, about the wedding.  Why…?”
I shook my head.  “I don’t know how much of that he’ll ever remember.  I had hoped…”
I trailed off.  Not even Jace knew what I had attempted.
“Keisha?” Jace asked.
“I haven’t even mentioned it to Arri,” I said, my voice barely audible.  “I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up.”
Jace pulled his chair closer so that our knees touched and put his hands on my shoulders.  Anyone with less than Jace’s seemingly inexhaustible reserves of patience would have shaken me until my teeth rattled.  “Tell me,” he said simply.
And so I did, and now I tell you, Arri.
Since Imato’s wedding, I’ve been using magic to enter your father’s dreams the way he has entered mine.  Well, not the same way, exactly.  They haven’t been conversations.
Basically, once every week or two, I use magic to open a connection and feed your father my memories.  Imato’s wedding.  Liop being taken by the fairies and your rescuing him.  My own wedding.  The spell in the cave, that I performed what feels like forever ago.  The spell we all performed in Rousha.  Your birthday.  Liop’s visit.
Little things, big things.
I knew you would find a way to heal him soon, and I wanted to try to give him back some of what he has missed.
I guess it didn’t work, though I suppose those memories could surface as he grows stronger.
I don’t really know.  It was an experiment.
I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.  I should have.
Jace was quiet when I finished my explanation.  He looked at me thoughtfully.  “Even if it didn’t work, you could still do that.”
I furrowed my brow.  “What do you mean?”
Jace seemed excited as he thought more about the possibilities.  “You could sit down with him and open that connection-- show him all those things.”
As I saw what he was saying I felt my face light up.
I could, Arri.  I could give him not only my own memories, but if we were all together I could give him yours.  Liop’s.  Gretel’s.  Imato’s, once we get him back.
Not too many.  Not enough to overwhelm.  But I could do it.

I’m about to go down to dinner, where I’m sure there will be much celebration, as there should be.
I hope you have already told King Trunsle, because I doubt I’ll be able to keep Caden from informing King Menion.
I want to send this now, though.  Wherever you are in your search for Nuicui, I hope Hermes and Clotho find you swiftly.

Love Always,

Keish

Go to NEXT Letter

Keish- March 19, 2005

March 19, 2005
Dear Arri,
Malia and I spent the morning outside, planning my new garden.
My garden, of course, is still at the base of the old tower, and while that is very close, it’s also very small and somewhat inconvenient.  Besides, a new councilor and his wife are moving into the old tower next week.
And the poor garden never recovered from the incident with the fairy queen last summer.
So we’ve turned our attention to the spot of ground on the west of the new tower.
A couple of palace groundskeepers listened attentively as Malia laid out where Aron’s new pond would be and explained the raised beds she wanted for some of the plants, the notes she took in Castlegard last year finally bearing fruit (no pun intended).
They seemed impressed and got right to work.
Malia and I spent the rest of the time sketching out beds and paths and deciding which plants would do best where.
Well, mostly Malia decided.  She has been doing a lot of research about such things.  And I’m still recovering from that party of Caden’s Thursday night.  It’s a wonder I was any help at all.
More likely I wasn’t and Malia was just humoring me.

Caden showed up as we were finishing lunch.
“Now, you know you’re always welcome here,” I said, “but shouldn’t you be overseeing the final details of your ball?  Terrorizing servants?  Something?”
He sighed.  “Mother sent me away.  Apparently I was interfering with her ability to terrorize the servants.”
Jace laughed.  “Well you’d hate to spoil her fun.”
Caden rolled his eyes at that.  “Something like that.  Actually, I thought I’d come see how Keaton was faring without his partner in crime.”
I sighed.  “He’s moping a bit.  And being very studious.  I don’t think Master Zart quite knows what to make of it.  I think he’s in his study.”
“I’ll find him.  Maybe I can help him finish that proposal about chickens.  That should cheer him up, right?”
“I suppose, though I’m not sure what the thought of chickens does for my mood,” I muttered as Caden left.
Jace just laughed.

I’m writing in my dressing room, very carefully.  Malia and I have an agreement-- I can continue to write so long as my head does not move.
She’s having her way with my unruly hair (made more unruly by a brisk gallop on Argentum this afternoon) and pinning it into some sort of ridiculously intricate knot.
“Your dress calls for something extravagant, Mistress,” she says, reading over my shoulder.  “Lord Caden will be entirely put out if you don’t make a very grand impression.”
I did the only thing I could to in response to such a statement-- I stuck my tongue out at her.
“I don’t think Lord Jace will object either,” she added with a mischievous grin.
I suppose I have to concede that point.
Now that she’s pinning my hat into place, though, I shall have to set this aside.  It will likely be far too late to return to it tonight, but I promise you a full account of the ball tomorrow.

March 20th
I exited my dressing room just as Jace was coming out of his.  As always, seeing him in his full court attire made my breath catch.
He stopped in his tracks.  Apparently Malia was right about my hair.
I turned slowly for his inspection.  “Will it do, do you think?” I asked lightly.
In just two steps, Jace took both my hands in his, kissing the palm of each before holding them against his chest.  “You’re beautiful,” he whispered.
I leaned against him for a moment, content.
After a few minutes, Jace leaned towards my vanity, reaching for my mirror necklace while keeping both of my hands in one of his.
“It needs just one more thing, my lady,” he whispered, moving behind me to fasten the necklace.  He kissed my neck after settling the necklace.  “Perfect.”
And then it was time to go.

Caden was certainly setting the tone for the whole season with his formal extravaganza.  Which was, of course, his intention.
His ball was held in the palace grand ballroom, with the chief palace butler formally announcing each guest as they arrived.
Jace and I stood at the top of the stairs and waited.  As the butler began announcing us, heads turned below us and we were greeted with a torrent of whispering that ran the full length and breadth of the grand room.
Jace took my hand with a grin and we plunged in.

We danced and chatted-- most people are still fairly cool to us, but they’re polite at least and several were even friendly.  We caught glimpses of Caden here and there, mingling, dancing and generally being a splendid and cheerful host.
At one point  he caught my eye and sent me a pained look over Stacia’s head.  Caden is smaller than Jace-- he’s shorter and where Jace is lean and wiry, Caden is mostly just thin-- but Stacia looked like a tiny doll as they danced.
Her dress was painfully overdone.  I think it possibly weighed as much as she does.  I sent Malia to Annette this morning for a sketch of it, which I’m including, but the sketch was only the starting point.  Stacia’s train was longer and there were far more flowers.
We spun and Jace caught sight of Caden and Stacia.  He made a face.  “That girl has no concept of understated elegance.”
I couldn’t disagree, though I’m sure my bold dress was also drawing plenty of comments.
The song ended and Jace and I drifted over to one of the many refreshment tables.  Jace moved closer to get me a glass of punch while I watched couples line up for the next dance, which was a country dance.
“Well I hope you’re happy,” Lady Aoweir said abruptly.
“I beg your pardon?” I replied, startled to find her standing before me.
“Bad enough that my only daughter allied herself with an Elcaran but now to have my first grandchild born in Rousha?  And I suppose that… family of yours will probably have a heavy share in raising it!”  She shook her head in disgust.  “Fairies and mad scientists… it’s terrible just thinking about it.”
“You know, Lady Aoweir, I do find something terrible about the situation,” I interrupted after a few more moments of such disparaging comments.  “I think it’s terrible that Gretel’s child will never know a grandmother’s love.”
With that I walked away, leaving her sputtering angrily.
“Wow,” Jace said softly when we were out of earshot.
I sighed.  “I know.  I’ll have to write a note of apology.  To Gretel, I mean.”
I was distracted by the butler announcing Tish.
Clearly I was not the only one that was going to cause a stir.
Tish’s bodice was similar to mine, which made sense-- I heard her telling Taty and Nysa that it’s a more common style in Iconei-- and the ruffled collar was stunning against her short hair.  Her skirt was slightly short by Arellan standards and doubtless would be the source of much commentary throughout the night.
I thought she looked amazing in the simple Arellan gown she wore Thursday (which I learned later Gretel had given her).  This was above and beyond.
Caden appeared almost immediately and led her out for the next waltz.
A little while later, I saw Caden approach us out of the corner of my eye.  “Have I made enough of a stir?” I asked as we turned toward him.
He laughed.  “You’ve got all of the younger women clamoring jealously for a similar dress and most of the older women shocked.  Though I suspect several of them are also jealous.  Between that and giving Lady Aoweir an incredible set down, I’d say you’ve nearly been labeled a menace to society.”
Jace chuckled at that.
I pouted.  “Only nearly?  And I was trying so hard.”
“Well,” Caden responded, holding out his hand, “I rather imagine that if you grant me the boon of a dance my mother would be willing to upgrade your status.”
Jace grinned and gave me a gentle push.  “You can’t pass up an opportunity like that,” he said with a grin.  “I’ll be right here.”
I let Caden lead me onto the dance floor as a stately waltz began.
“Lady Aoweir deserved it,” I explained.
“Oh I’m certain she did.”
We danced in silence for several beats before I asked Caden, “Shall I act hostile, or is this the beginning of a reconciliation?”
He grinned.  “Oh I think we can manage civility at the very least.  Besides, I think we’ve reached the end of the usefulness of this charade.  There’s certainly plenty of gossip about you tonight, but it’s not the sort that I wouldn’t hear as your friend.”
“I imagine there will be plenty of gossip about Tish also,” I said.
He quirked an eyebrow.  “There would have been anyway.  This is the first major social event she’s attended.”
“You must be flattered.”
Caden just smiled.
We executed an artful turn and I couldn’t believe what I saw.
Stacia Pastile was dancing with Jace.
Caden followed my gaze and gave a low whistle.  Stacia turned just then and glared daggers in our direction.
“Was that murderous look for you or for me, do you think?”
Caden shrugged a little.  “She’s dancing with your husband.”
“Yes, and as far as she’s concerned I may as well be dancing with hers.”
He winced at that, looking back toward Jace and Stacia.  I thought she’d looked tiny dancing with Caden.  Jace dwarfed her.  He didn’t quite dwarf that monstrous dress though.
“Whoever does end up marrying her is going to have his hands full,” Caden said finally.  “I can’t imagine it was Jace’s idea that they dance.”
I snorted.
“Jealous?” he asked teasingly.
“Sympathetic,” I corrected.  “Though from the way Euan is looking at me I may soon be empathetic,” I muttered, spotting Euan across the dance floor.
“Want me to head him off?”
“You’re always welcome to try.  Where’s Vanessa?”
“Didn’t come.  She wasn’t feeling quite the thing today, apparently.  Euan‘s here alone.”
I grimaced.  “That’s like letting an obnoxious animal off it’s leash and setting it on an unsuspecting public.”
Caden’s laugh was loud enough to turn heads.
I gave a wry smile.  “Well, any hope of acting hostile is certainly past.”
“I couldn’t help it,” Caden said, breathless from laughing.
The dance ended and Caden delivered me back to Jace, who’d managed to extricate himself from Stacia.
The clock struck 10 and Caden’s face lit up.   “Time for fireworks!” he declared, moving away from us.
Uncle W.’s fireworks worked their usual magic, of course, both literally and figuratively.  The rest of the court will be hard-pressed to match the display Caden had arranged, though I’m sure several people will try.  Uncle W. will be swamped.
When everyone finally made their way back inside and the music started again, Jace and I drifted from group to group, keeping an eye out for Caden, especially as it got closer and closer to midnight.
He finally found us as the clock was striking half past 11.
“Well, what do you think?”
Jace smiled.  “You’ve set a high standard.  It should make for an interesting season.”
Caden’s mother came up to him while we were talking.  “Caden, dear, what are you doing?” she asked brightly.  Neither her tone nor her smile could hide the distress in her eyes-- due, I’m sure, to finding Caden talking to such undesirables as us.
Caden is a much better actor.  He was all innocence as he replied, “It’s a ball, Mother.  I’m being polite to my guests.”
Her gaze flicked to us before settling back on her youngest son.  “Yes, well.  It’s nearing midnight, are you ready to make you announcement?”
Caden barely stifled a sigh.  “There’s not going to be an announcement tonight.”
Lady Viteri’s eyes widened slightly.  “Oh?  Well if you aren’t prepared to make your own announcement I can certainly do it for you.”
Caden’s smile was tight.  “You aren’t listening, Mother.  There is not going to be an announcement made at all.  Not by me, not by you.”
His mother touched his arm.  “Now, Caden, our agreement was…”
He cut her off.  “We didn’t have an agreement, Mother.  You gave me an ultimatum, but I am not going play along.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously.  “Caden Viteri if you cross me…” she let the threat hang in the air.
“You’ll cut off my allowance?” Caden asked with a wry grin that didn‘t reach his eyes.  “This morning my new solicitor took care of the paperwork required for the money settled on me and this evening my new valet packed my belongings and had them moved to my new residence.  So by all means, Mother, do whatever you feel is necessary.”
And with that, Caden strode purposefully out of his own ball.
It was all I could do not to applaud.
Lady Viteri glared at Jace and me, trying to find a way to blame us, I‘m sure, then turned on her heel and stalked away.
“Should we follow him?” Jace asked quietly.
I shook my head.  “Too suspicious.  Besides, I want to see what Lady Viteri does.  Everyone is expecting an announcement.”
Jace nodded.
Unfortunately that was when Euan found me.  Having left, Caden couldn’t head him off.
“Keish,” he said, holding out a hand as if it were a command rather than an invitation.
I looked at Jace, who seemed to be trying not to laugh as Euan ignored him.
I scowled slightly at him and let Euan lead me onto the floor.
I’d forgotten what an entirely unimaginative dancer Euan is.  I caught sight of Jace dancing with Tish-- they were certainly enjoying themselves more than I was.
Thankfully it was a short waltz.  I gave Euan the barest of all curtseys and found Jace and Tish on my own rather than letting him escort me.  Petulant, maybe, but one short dance was quite enough of his company for one evening.  I won’t bore you with a description of his inane conversation.
As midnight came and went, whispering swept through the ballroom.
Finally, nearing one o’clock, Caden’s oldest brother thanked everyone for coming-- very graciously ending the affair without addressing the subject everyone was talking about.  Caden’s parents were no where in evidence.  Neither were Stacia Pastile and her brother.
Jace and I started back for the tower quickly, ducking outside through the back courtyard to avoid the crowds.
“How long do you think it took people to realize Caden had actually left?” I asked.
Jace laughed a little.  “I don’t know.  Do you suppose his mother realized why he insisted on the fireworks being early?”
I snorted.  “I don’t have much faith in Lady Viteri’s powers of observation.”
As we reached the rear entrance, someone stepped out of the shadows.
“Lurking in the shadows is a bit dramatic, even for you, don‘t you think?” Jace asked Caden good-naturedly as he followed us up the steps.
“I didn’t know what to tell Brooksby.  What I told my mother was a bit of a bluff, I’m afraid.  Alexander brought all of my things here to one of your box rooms.  I don’t suppose that offer of my always being welcome extends to the use of one of your extra rooms for a few nights?” Caden asked.
Brooksby greeted us before either of us could answer.  “My Lord, My Lady.  I do hope your evening was enjoyable.”
“Interesting may be the more appropriate appellation,” Jace told him.
“Very good sir,” Brooksby replied.  “Lord Caden, your room is ready-- I believe you will find Alexander waiting there for you.”
Caden gaped at Brooksby’s back as the man walked away.
Jace laughed.  “You didn’t think this outcome had occurred to us?”
We started up the stairs.  When we reached the landing I pointed.  “Jace’s old room, right next to his study.  We left orders for it to be readied and for Alexander to put your things there rather than the box room.  You can also have Imato’s half of the study.  You’re welcome here as long as you please.”

By the time Malia unpinned my hair and got me out of my dress, it was 2 and I didn’t sleep nearly as long as I’d have liked this morning, so now that I’ve faithfully recorded all relevant details, I think I’ll take a nap.

March 21st
Is the first day of a new term as exhilarating and yet simultaneously exhausting for you as it is for me, Arri?  Things are fresh and new and exciting, and yet there are mountains to climb.  Just thinking about the upcoming work makes me tired.
Not to mention the piles of finals I have to grade.
But at the same time there’s an energy the first week that I can never seem to recapture later in the term.
To top it all off, Keaton finished his proposal about the chickens and presented it to us this evening.
I must say, he was very thorough.
He measured an area to the side of the new garden, determined how many chickens he could keep in such a space (four), and found someone to help him draw up plans for a simple chicken coop.
He even ferreted out a spell to keep the chicks warm in their brooder and another to get rid of any unpleasant smells coming from the coop.
He would like to raise Araucanas, which have odd-looking tufts on the sides of their faces and lay eggs in all different colors.  He finds them entertaining.  Apparently the males grow to be about five pounds while the females are four.  The have what are called “pea combs” and, as I said, lay tinted eggs.  The chicks come in all colors, as do the adults.  They are a unique breed, but easy enough to obtain.
Keaton has also found someone to help him build both brooder and coop and insists upon buying materials out of his allowance.
What could we do but agree?
As a thrilled Keaton ran off to find Caden and tell him the news, Jace sighed.  “At least they don’t fly,” he muttered.
I gave him a questioning look.
He grimaced.  “When I was seven I decided I wanted a closer look as Mother’s birds.  I opened the cage and they rushed out at me, chasing me around the room and pecking at my head when they got me into a corner.  The maid had to rescue me,” he explained.
I bit my lip to keep from laughing.  It certainly explained why he kept his distance from his mother’s birds when we were in Rousha.

March 23rd
Somehow I thought having Caden in residence would make our routines different, but he spent so much time here before, and he’s refusing to let anyone know where he’s staying, so little has changed.
I sat in on his lesson exchange with Tish today.  He’s very good.  I may have to offer him a position.  We could use someone who can teach writing better than I.
His social calendar hasn’t changed, though I’m no longer telling him whom to take to what event.  I think he’s determined to be seen and be seen alone.
And since his uncle is still expecting him to gather information, attending every event is necessary.
Since Caden has always enjoyed society more than Jace or I, this suits him fine.

March 24th
Apparently “running away from home”, as Caden puts it, has had unintended benefits.  Or effects at any rate.
Last night he attended a card party hosted by Sir Tor Epte, a minor knight.  Jace and I know him, but not well.  I imagine Gretel or Imato may know him better.  Jace and I did not receive an invitation, but we’d have turned it down anyway.
As the footman handed Caden his coat at the end of the evening, he surreptitiously slipped Caden a note as well.
“I don’t think…” Caden began, but broke off as he saw the symbol on the folded paper.  He looked at the footman, who nodded sharply and turned away before Caden could say anything else.
Swiftly returning to the tower (through the servants’ corridors as always), Caden came looking for Jace and me.  He found us in our sitting room.
“I hope you’re decent,” he said as he tapped on the door and let himself in.
“You could always wait to be asked in,” Jace replied dryly.
“He’s saving that for a special occasion,” I retorted.
“Actually, I just thought this merited the intrusion,” Caden said, holding the note out to Jace.
Jace took it with a low whistle.  “Where on earth…”
Caden explained how he’d received it.
“But isn’t that…” I began.
“A Sunem name glyph,” Caden finished heavily.
Jace had grabbed a book off a side table and was studying something.  “It’s a rough approximation of your name,” he said quietly after a few moments.
We sat in stunned silence for several minutes.  I didn’t like the implications.
“What does the note say?” I finally asked quietly.
“It gives the details of a meeting.  An invitation, I suppose.  Saturday evening.  Late.”
“This could be what the king has been waiting for,” Jace said.  “Are you going to attend?”
Caden gave us a small smile.  “How can I refuse?”
I enchanted Caden’s note to the king and this morning he received a reply instructing him to attend and report the next morning, but to be cautious.  Not that Caden needed to be told that.

March 25th
“Lord Viteri requests an audience with you, My Lady,” Brooksby intoned from the doorway.
I looked up from the finals spread across the library table.  “And since when does Caden do anything so formally?” I asked with a laugh.
“I’m sorry, My Lady, I should have been more precise.  It is, in fact, Lord Macario Viteri who wishes to speak with you.”
“I see,” I said slowly.  “Well, show him up then.”
Caden’s oldest brother, with the same sandy hair and gray eyes, gives one an immediate idea of what Caden himself will look like in nine or ten years.  His grin belied his deep, precise bow and proved that they share charm as well as looks.  “Lady Pren, thank you for agreeing to see me.  I’m sure you understand why I’ve come.”
“No, I’m afraid your visit is rather a surprise,” I said, indicating a chair.
He remained standing and grew more serious.  “An interesting thing happened today,” he began after a moment.  “A piece of correspondence, a report, was delivered to the Crown Prince by mistake.  Neither he nor I could make any sense of it and naturally His Highness and I took it to the king straight away.  His Majesty thanked us and read the missive without the slightest difficulty, saying only that it was from a private source and enchanted so that only he himself could read it,”  Macario gave me a piercing look.
I didn’t even blink.  “That certainly seems like a reasonable way to deliver sensitive information.”
He nodded slightly.  “Indeed.  It’s strange, though.  I’ve never known the King’s Couriers to make that kind of mistake.  The crown prince demanded an explanation, insisting that the king could no longer continue protecting this source, that protecting the source’s identity should never have extended to keeping such information from the kingdom’s heir to begin with.  Prince Alec was very forceful and with a small laugh King Menion agreed.  I turned to leave but my uncle insisted that I stay and hear what he had to say.”  He paused, studying me.  “His Majesty then told us a very interesting story about asking a young noblewoman to gather gossip and information-- effectively to spy on the upper classes of Adya.”
He stopped again, waiting for a response.  “What an interesting task,” I replied finally.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.  “She declined, however, telling him that he needed someone who is not only always invited, but always expected; intelligent enough to gather the information but not taken so seriously that he’d ever be suspected.  Someone who’s reputation is entirely unexceptional.  And then she gave King Menion a name.”
I returned his stare calmly.  “And did His Majesty follow her recommendation?”
Macario let out an exasperated sigh.  “Enough games, my lady, you know full well he did.  And when His Majesty said that my brother, of all people, was the closely guarded source… everything made sense.  His Majesty’s reaction to that rather scandalous display in the courtyard, for example.  After watching the entire scene from a window His Majesty seemed amused.  Now I know why.”  He fell silent, eyes down, lost in his own thoughts.
“Why is it you’re here, Lord Viteri?” I asked softly after several moments.
He smiled, looking up at me again.  “I’m sorry, I was just thinking you remind me of someone.”  he shook his head slightly.  “I am here, my lady, because I know that you can give my brother a message.  He is still seen at all of the major social events, I know, but he won’t speak with any of us.  I hoped you would tell him that I’d like to speak with him.”
“Who do I remind you of?” I asked rather than responding to his request.
He pressed his lips together.  Then, taking a deep breath, he replied, “You remind me of my sister Cambria, my lady.”
“How very interesting.”  I looked past him.  “Don’t you think so, Caden?”
Macario spun around to see Jace and Caden standing in the doorway.  They’d been there long enough to hear most of Macario’s story and Caden looked frozen in his tracks.
“Caden!” Macario exclaimed.  He pulled up short before reaching towards his youngest brother.  “I had hoped the Prens would relay a message.  I’d like to speak with you.”
For a moment Caden just stared.  Then he bowed slightly.  “I’m afraid I have an appointment.  If you all will excuse me.”
Macario seemed to deflate as Caden turned and left.  “I’ve upset him,” he said quietly.
Jace put a hand on his shoulder.  “He does have an appointment.”
Macario tried to smile.  “Thank you for your time, my lady,” he said with a bow.
“I’ll see you out,” I told him.
We walked down a flight of stairs in silence.  I paused.  “I’ve just realized I needed to check something,” I said with an apologetic smile.
“I’ll see myself out, Lady Pren.  Please don’t trouble yourself.”
“Nonsense.  It will only take a moment,” I said quickly, putting a hand on his arm.  “You don’t mind waiting only a moment.”
Of course good manners forced him to agree.
I smiled and walked toward Jace’s study, using a nudge of magic to ensure that the drawing room door was slightly open as I passed it.  When I reached the end of the corridor I turned and counted to ten very slowly before silently walking back.
When I rejoined Macario it was obvious he’d seen right through my little subterfuge, but he stood outside the drawing room listening in fascination.  “Caden’s teaching.”
I smiled.  “He’s very good at it.”
Macario’s expression was thoughtful as we turned and finished making out way downstairs.  At the door he turned to me suddenly.  “I want to thank you and your husband, Lady Pren.  For seeing in Caden what the rest of us seem to have missed entirely.”
“Most days it’s our pleasure,” I replied.
He looked startled, then laughed aloud.  “I can see why he likes you, Lady Pren.”
“Please, it’s Keish,” I told him.  “Come to lunch tomorrow.  Jace and I will talk to Caden.”
“Very well, and you’ll have to call me Macario,” he said with a gallant bow.  “Thank you again.”
“Did you show him?” Jace asked casually when I returned to the library.  (Proving once again that he knows me too well.)
I just smiled and we both went back to our work.
Caden, however, did not smile when he learned that Macario would be joining us for lunch.  “Keish, how dare you?  He probably went straight to Mother and Father after he left as it is.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You can’t hide from your family forever, Caden,” Jace pointed out.  “What harm will it do to see what Macario has to say?”
“I don’t think your uncle would have told him anything if he didn’t think you could trust Macario,” I said in exasperation.  “Besides, I remind him of Cambria too.”
Caden sighed.  “Fine.  One lunch.  But then I get to decide if I have anything else to do with him,” he declared, his eyes daring me to contradict him.
I simply rolled my eyes again rather than dignifying that with a response.

March 26th
Lunch was… interesting.
Macario was prompt and charming; Caden was sullen and moody.
“Where did you tell Miranda you were going?” Caden asked his brother.
“I told her the truth-- that I was meeting you for lunch.”
“And she was just thrilled,” Caden replied flippantly.
“She was happy and relieved.  She and Racquel are still close and while our charming cousin may not break any confidences, her praise can be lavish.”
Caden’s only reply was a grunt.
I rolled my eyes.  “Brooksby,” I called into the hallway (we were in the salon), “would you find Keaton and tell him Caden wants him to meet his older brother please?”
Caden glared at me, but Keaton appeared almost immediately and he dutifully made the introductions.
“Keaton, keep Lord Macario company a moment, won’t you?  Tell him about your chicken coop.”
I all but dragged Caden out of the room, Jace prodding him along from behind.  I’m a terrible hostess, I know, leaving a child to entertain a guest while I had words with our recalcitrant friend, but Macario is a father.  I was certain he would know how to listen to a child.
“You could at least be civil,” Jace said sternly as soon as we were in the neighboring morning room.  “He seems genuinely concerned about you.”
“And you know as well as we do that King Menion contrived that whole situation.  He’d already received your note and responded to it, so how could it be inadvertently delivered to the crown prince?  The king wanted Macario to know,” I added.
Caden all but growled.
“You agreed to this lunch,” I reminded him, “so I’m only going to say this once: be nice.”
He looked like he had all manner of unpleasant things he wanted to say, but Jace was standing close and giving him a very stern look, so he wisely refrained.
We returned to the salon, where Macario seemed enchanted by Keaton’s chatter.  Listening to Keaton helped Caden relax and by the time we went in to lunch he was almost cheerful.  Well, no longer sullen, at least.
Talk drifted and swirled.  Papa had joined us, but Keaton was off with Master Zart to have lunch with Tish.  I think Caden wished he had gone with them, but at least he wasn’t growling.
Finally, the conversation turned to Caden’s ball, and his confrontation with his mother.
Macario sighed.  “You’re too young to recognize the pattern,” he said gently.  “It wasn’t just about Stacia Pastile.  Mother’s been this way with all of us.  Alec married, so I needed to marry also.  Drytan married, so Gage was next.  Dalton managed to get around it-- he married Xandra a few months before Gowlan married Romella.  Mother thinks it makes us not only more suitable companions but better able to serve as confidential secretaries.  She doesn’t bother Terence-- since she’d already decided on you for Euan she ran out of prince regents.”
Caden looked incredulous.  “This is about Euan becoming prince regent?  Mother’s as delusional as he is.”
Macario shrugged.  “She likes to be prepared.”
“Uncle is not going to make Euan prince regent.”
“Well, I know that.  And you know that.  And Aunt Jocasta is torn between being upset at the slight to Euan and thrilled that he won’t leave Adya.”
I grimaced.
Macario saw and chuckled.  “Yes, I know.  But he’s always been her favorite.”
“Something I’ve never fully understood,” I replied under my breath.
Not quietly enough, though.  “She almost lost him,” was Papa’s quiet response.
I gave him a blank look.
“He was born exactly when your mother said he would be, but there were complications she hadn’t seen.”
Macario nodded.  “I was old enough I remember.  It was three days before the doctors were certain the queen would live and then another ten before they were sure about Euan.”
“I don’t think the queen ever quite forgave Ellean.”
I bristled.  The two most important rules of divination, Brynn always says, are that you can’t choose what you see and that sometimes you can’t see everything.  “She didn’t know,” I said defensively.
“The king understood that,” Macario said gently, “but I don’t think the queen found not knowing any more forgivable.”
“That probably goes a long way toward explaining why she’s never cared for me,” I muttered.
Macario laughed.  “Actually I think it’s mostly that you terrify her.”
Caden grinned.  “Keish terrifies a lot of people.  They should form a society.”
“Or a therapy group,” I shot back.
Jace just laughed and squeezed my hand.
Macario grew serious as the meal wound down.  “Where are you staying, Caden?  I spent most of Monday trying to find out.  Miranda’s been worried; she wants you to come stay with us.”
Caden shook his head.  “No, I won’t put you in that position with Mother,” he replied.  “I’m staying here.”
Macario nodded.  “I wondered, after yesterday.”
“How…” Caden began tentatively, “how is Mother taking it?”
Marcario chuckled.  “She’s furious.  Father’s amused, for what it’s worth.  Stacia left in a huff, though it was difficult to tell who was more irritated, her or Eli.  Dalton is entirely put out with you, also.  Or at least he will be by the time they get to Streatfeld.  He’d thought that leaving so soon after the ball would spare them from traveling with Eli and Annaleis.  Not to mention Stacia.”
Clearly Caden wasn’t the only one who didn’t love his brother-in-law.
By the time Macario took his leave, Caden was relaxed and pleasant.
Macario stopped at the door, turning back.  “Be careful tonight,” he said simply, the only reference he’d made to the meeting Caden was to attend or any work Caden was doing for the king.
Caden nodded sharply and Macario left.

March 27th
We waited in the library for Caden for hours upon hours last night.  At least that was how it felt.
He went first to a dinner party-- the meeting was to start at 10.
By midnight, Jace was looking worried.  I was trying to distract myself with the latest sensational novel that everyone is pretending they haven’t read, but when Jace started pacing I lost all concentration.
The clock struck one and Jace stopped pacing.  He stared at the fire.  “Should we do something?”
I stared out the window.  “I don’t know.  Maybe he’s just being careful-- he wouldn’t want to be followed here.”
“If he’s not here by two I’m going to King Menion,” Jace said finally in a determined voice.
I just nodded.
It was quarter to two when Caden came in and dropped heavily into a chair.
“How bad is it?” Jace asked quietly.
Caden’s laugh was a short mirthless bark.  “I don’t know.  They’re careful.  I only met with three people tonight and they didn’t tell me much.”
He stared at nothing for several moments before Jace prompted him to tell us the rest.
“Sir Epte’s footman was there.  And a minor palace butler.  They’re both Grestean apparently.  But it was Sir Jer DeLion whom I was really there to talk to.”
I gasped a little.  “But he’s Arellan.”  I only know him slightly-- he’s another minor knight.  He just transferred out of Sir Aoweir’s division so is still in Adya.  I’m sure Gretel knows him.
Caden nodded somberly.  “I think that was their point.  I wouldn’t be the only Arellan involved.”
Jace’s face was grim.  “What did they say?”
“That something needed to be done to shake up the government.  That we are too reliant on our good relations with Elcaro.  That maybe the king shouldn’t be the king.”
“Treason,” Jace said simply.
Caden nodded.  “Simple, unvarnished treason.  And what a coup for them-- to have the queen’s nephew on their side.”
I grimaced.
“What’s next?” Jace asked, ever pragmatic.
“I’ll be contacted.  At my club.  I’m supposed to be thinking it over.  I walked aimlessly for a while to see if I was being followed.  I was.  So I went to my club and told the butler I’d be in the library and didn’t want to be disturbed.  That will always buy you an hour or two.  I slipped out a back entrance and went to report to the king.”
“I thought you were to see him in the morning,” Jace said.
“I received a discreet note at dinner.  No matter the time I would find him in his study.”
“And how did he react?”
“He’s angry, of course, but my being pulled in like this is the best thing we could have hoped for.  I’m to play along until I know more.  He doesn’t want to step in prematurely and catch only a few while sending the rest deeper into hiding.”
Jace furrowed his brow.  “That puts you in a rather precarious position.”
Caden gave him a wry grin.  “I’ll take those further sparring lessons you offered now.”
Jace didn’t smile in return, just nodded.  “We’ll use the mats in the drawing room.  Daily.”  His tone indicated there would be no argument.
Caden sighed and nodded.  He looked ready to collapse.  Between the strain and the hour I think we all did.
It doesn’t seem any less bleak in the light of day, Arri.

March 28th
I have your letter.  I’m sorry your classes aren’t what you’d hoped.  It will get better, though.  Right?
If Imato is calling Gretel in his sleep then either his calling spells are stronger than I thought or it is because they are so close.  Which makes sense.  After all, I can call Jace, which magical theory says is highly improbable.  If I hadn’t interrupted Imato’s call to Jace, Jace never would have heard it.
I am also surprised that the talisman survived.  I’m glad Imato was able to retrieve it.  He should keep it-- it would be fitting for him to wear it.
Gordo is right to be proud of the drawings he and Mendel made of the Pren house-- they are certainly impressive.  Jace says Mendel clearly has a real talent for it.  Malia has already made pages of notes and is writing to Taty.
Caden says no one owes him anything for keeping Liop entertained.  His motives were entirely selfish-- he had at least as much fun as the boys.
We should make it an annual event.  Perhaps next year your break will be longer so that you can come too.
I’m glad you are back to work with Master Grant.  Tish and Caden are planning to spend Saturday trying to take reflections of cells and searching for other ideas for you.
Jace wonders, since freezing water conventionally will also freeze the bacteria, if you can prevent that from happening.  Can you keep the bacteria from freezing while Master Grant freezes the water around it with ice?
Sagiteri Curtiz sounds interesting.  I’m sorry it caught you so off guard, but I doubt it was as dreadful as you thought.  I’m sure she thinks you were wonderful, if only a little shy.
I am very glad you do not have Dr. Kondamuri.
Jace is amused but unsurprised that Mendel is talking about the honor roll as though it were a joust.
Caden says you’re already breaking ground just by being there and to be getting such high marks without having been to an academy should put you on your own honor roll every single term.  I agree.
I hadn’t thought about asking the Chronicle either.  What a perfect idea.
I think you must be correct about Sen’a being your father.
Caden is hoping to perhaps learn what Mic’o is as he continues his clandestine meetings.
The spell that you saw for Ta’y raises very interesting questions.  Gretel’s right-- the Gresteans could be searching for something completely worthless.
Then again, it could mean that that spell is what should be used if and when the object is found.
I think you were right to tell Captain Stoddart no.  You have enough to do without a trip to Marobury.  There are others who can lead an inquiry.  Brynn would be willing, I’m sure, if he wants someone with a Brio connection.
I still can’t divine anything about you healing your father, but I can tell you that there’s nothing in Marobury that will explicitly help you do it.

This letter has gotten far longer than I intended, so I’ll have to close.  Good luck with your new term.  Tish says she will write you after she and Caden experiment Saturday.

Love Always,

Keish

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