The first meeting on Sayen mostly comprised of Caudin explaining Al’s theory, the original one about his his grandfather. “What we’re dealing with,” the king said to a stunned room, “is a man who will stop at nothing to achieve glory for his country. He didn’t hesitate to groom my mother for subterfuge, then discard her when she didn’t give him what he wanted. He didn’t hesitate to help have her slaughtered or his grandchildren, never mind the countless guards, subjects, family members, and servants who just got in the fray. He propped up a phony government that beggared the people. And then, since he got what he wanted, he stood by as they starved, grew ill, and died.”

“How sure of this are you?” Jemerie asked.

“If I had any doubts before about who helped the Kalronists and funded the Coup, they have been wiped out by this attempt on my life. And if you have doubts, I hope in a few days’ time our would-be assassin will arrive intact and can be more thoroughly questioned. I don’t feel that we will find anything new. My existence, in general and now as the King of Arvonne, is a threat to Sayen holding a port and having access to the sea. Though we haven’t made a single move to evict them or renegotiate terms, they have decided to preemptively assassinate me. I believe this will continue until the Mielsa River Valley is clear of the Sayenese or I am dead.”

“Then we must increase your security,” Breivarn said. “We will cancel risky events, decrease your appearances, stop any and all trips to-”

Caudin held up his hand. “Assassins can breach walls as well as shoot from crowds. If I cower in the palace, then my grandfather has effectively killed me anyway. I must be out among the people, showing them support, especially at this crucial time. As for security, whatever we can spare. We still have less than optimal numbers for garrison postings and training will be slow.”

He drummed his fingers on the table for a moment before lifting his eyes. “If nothing else stays in this room, this will, aye?”

“Aye,” they all said.

“I have the Bolt as my merit. Outside functions won’t be a problem for me, so long as anyone close to me is protected. I don’t want you to worry too much about long-range attempts.”

“Thank you, Your Radiance,” Rogesh said. The others murmured their thanks as well.

“We should break for dinner. We’ll reconvene afterwards and discuss what we were originally slated to before we had to add security to the situation.”

Everyone stood and Brevairn leaned over to speak to Al. “Still on for our meeting?” he asked.

Al gave his a sideways look. “Even after all that?”

“Especially after all that. Our beloved king will be harder to convince if he’s focused on Sayen. Did you get a chance to look at my proposal?”

“I fear I didn’t give it as much time as I wanted to.”

“Well, so long as you gave it some time. I can fill you in on the rest and answer any questions you have.”

Dinner was surprisingly enjoyable. There was a flash now and again that this man had not only voted against instating Caudin as King, but had encouraged his followers to vote the same way. They had almost cost Caudin Anladet, and therefore cost him the crown. But, Al had come to understand that Brevairn was a man that needed a project. He admitted that he had begged is father for an orchard, had designed a new crop rotation that increased yield, then gnashed his teeth when his father had patted him on the back and continued to do things the old way. He craved to dismantle, fix, improve, rebuild, and settle back and bathe in praise when things were done. Now that fiddling with the monarchy was out of reach, he had set his eyes on education. And he had let it slip that the wizardry school was only the first of many.

The following evening was a quartet dinner. Caudin made it a point to apologize to Al for the previous evening. “I’m glad you said something,” the wizard said, “because I was going to call you out on being an ass. However, I recalled one of my discussions with Telbarisk in which he remarked that it was better to wait for a pattern to emerge than to jump to conclusions based on one event.”

“As always, our grivven brother speaks wisdom.”

“You could still call him an ass, Al,” Anla said, sipping her wine with a smile.

“Once again, I do apologize. Changing subjects, how was dinner last night, Wizard?”

“About that…”

“Yes, do go on.”

Al dabbed his mouth and placed his napkin on the table. “I had a meeting with Brevairn, as I’m sure you know, Your Radiance. He has asked that I influence you to accept his proposal to start Arvonne’s first school of wizardry.”

“And do you feel inclined to? Influence me, that is?”

“Yes, actually, for two reasons. The first is it’s a solid idea. The expense won’t be tremendous, the projections of how this will affect our future are astounding, and it’s a great sign to show the people of Arvonne that there is a future that any man or woman can achieve. The second is that Brevairn needs this and he will hound you until he gets it or something like it.”

“The second isn’t really a great reason.”

“It isn’t for a typical person. You bartered his support for yours. You let him choose his industry and he took Education. Now, he’s putting his attentions on this school in a way that’s going to make much more money for Arvonne than it will lose. If you say ‘no’ to him, he will hound you until you say ‘yes’. And if you refuse him this without condition, he will find another school to make that might not be as promising.”

“What do you suggest?” Caudin asked, biting the garlic buttered beans.

“Fight with him a little. He’s prepared for a few rounds, so he’ll counter any riposte you make. Go back and forth a few times, get a little mad, then give it to him under some condition. You’ll buy yourself a half to a full decade of peace.”

Caudin smiled. “Wizard, this is very astute of you. You’ve learned to read people in a short amount of time. I’ll take your advice and see where it goes.”

The short council met all that week, an hour or two in the afternoon. It was difficult to get them all there together, with Brevairn’s project, everyone’s family, and other engagements (some literal, as in Triniste’s recent betrothal to Duluv’s granddaughter, recently returned to the country).

Most of the relations between the two countries would hang on what happened at the Noh Amairian Conclave that would happen in two-and-a-half year’s time. Until that point, they would continue to allow Sayen to hold the Mielsa, likely without any money for it. During the Conclave, Caudin would do his best to drum up support to his cause, which hinged greatly on the upcoming visit with Mayasena, Empress of Kinto.

The promise of non-aggression seemed to have worked for there were no more attempts throughout the summer. During a lull as the seasons changed, Caudin spared a few hours to sit with his newer physicker.

“You’ve really done a marvel with this place,” he said as he stepped inside. He remembered the long room that bridged over the gardens as a dusty storage closet with fantastic hiding places. He and Petrin had played solely in that room. Now, everything was shining clean, the wardrobes and stacked furniture that had once blocked the windows on either side pushed away to let in all the early autumn light as possible. On closer inspection he noted that many cabinets and shelves were mismatched or recently crafted from different woods, but hidden with artwork that seemed vaguely familiar. “Did Telbarisk help you with that?” he asked, tapping on a curling, green vine that bordered a curio filled with labeled powders.

Alistad curtseyed. “He did, Your Radiance. We had many lessons on healing while he painted.”

“I’m glad he’s found a friend here. I worry that he’s bored or lonely. So, I haven’t had my annual exam yet. Is right now a good time?”

“Even if it wasn’t, you’re the King and I would have made time, Sire.”

He smiled and took off his bowler and coat. She ushered him to a small area with screens that gave some privacy from anyone in the gardens below. “How have your studies been going?”

“Wonderfully, Sire,” she said, bringing a satchel of instruments over. “There was quite a library of books on local flora and I’ve made a few short trips to collect some samples.”

“And have you made contact with the local church?”

Her smile tightened. “I have, Sire. There is a language barrier, but I’m working on learning it quickly.” She said a few sentences in halting Arvonnese.

“Good. If you want, I can find a translator in the meantime.”

She nodded and looked down for a moment.

“They haven’t been kind, have they?”

“I believe there is some confusion as to why someone from Arvonne wasn’t picked for this position, Sire.”

“It would have been smart of me to have written them a letter explaining your appearance. Or invited the highest clergyman to the palace. I apologize, Alistad, and I’ll have it taken care of.”

“I am honored that you would consider it a matter to attend to, Sire.”

She began her examination, asking questions about his health and his habits. She looked over his wounds, paying close attention to his back. “Out of curiosity, how does it look?” he asked.

“There is significant scarring,” she said. “It looks much better than it would have if Al and I hadn’t attended to you. I cannot give you anything to fix it, Sire. I wish I could.”

“I was just wondering.”

She asked a few more questions and asked him to dress again. While she was finishing her notes, she said, “Was there another reason for your visit, Sire?”

He took a few moments, then gave a nervous chuckle. “Well, yes. I was wondering if you’ve ever heard of chilam-de tea.”

“I don’t believe so, Sire. Is it know by another name? Or could you tell me its properties?”

“When ingested, after a few weeks it prevents a man from impregnating a woman. This was used in my training. I know it was reversible for the Merakians who took it, but I’m wondering if it is for humans. I stopped taking it nine months ago and we still haven’t conceived. I’d like to know if there was another issue or if there is more to be done about it.”

She paused as she gathered her things, taking a moment to school her expression. “Well, I will most certainly look into it, Sire. Sometimes there are other factors that are easily remedied. Assuming that marital habits are normal, a day or two of relaxation could work wonders.”

“That is a great suggestion. Our last vacation was back in May and lasted roughly two hours.”

“Sire, perhaps a change in location, so that there cannot be distractions?”

He smiled as he thought of all the places he’d been meaning to take Anladet. “Thank you, Alistad. Whether it helps or not, I think it’s a great thought.”

That evening he suggested it over dinner with his wife. “I feel that I’ve been having a craving to visit a place,” he said.

“The museum again?”

“No, something a little grander. I’d like to take a few days to visit Biashka.”

“The perfume place?”

He laughed. “Yes, the perfume place. It’s a relaxing hot springs region. I thought we could use a break.”

“I think we could,” she said with a smile.

They went to bed late that night, as they usually did, blowing the lamps in the room out well after dark, exhausted from late meetings and correspondences that took a long time to pen. Caudin shifted in his sleep at the chill from the open window, his mind not connecting the issue with that fact.

It took him far too long to notice someone was staring at him mere inches from his face. His eyes slowly drew open heavily and he startled. In a flash the knife under his pillow was in his hand and against the throat of the man looking over him.

“It is you!” the man said cheerfully in Merakian, as if he wasn’t a cough away from pouring his life’s blood all over the royal bedchamber. “I thought it was, but they said you were dead and I didn’t think you would be the King of all people.”

Anla had awoken by then and crouched behind Caudin. “Who is it?” she asked.

“It’s Isken.” Caudin relaxed his hold and returned his knife to his pillow. “What are you doing here? How did you get in and past the guards?”

Isken relaxed, sitting cross-legged on the bed while Caudin lit a candle. “Raulin, I’ve been in and out of this palace for weeks now. I had no difficulty slipping past your guards.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” he said, wiping his face. “Well, I’m glad to see you made it to Arvonne and can speak the language. I don’t see your mask, so I’m assuming you’re not here to kill me.”

“No, goodness no!” he said, grinning. “I came because I’m free and to hopefully get…what is that called? ‘An audience with His Radiance’ I think the people call it.”

“Well, you have one. What did you want?”

“I wanted to know if it was you. I saw you at your…coronation? Yes, coronation. And I thought, ‘Hey, the King looks an awful lot like my friend Raulin’. But, that was a crazy thought that wouldn’t leave me. You looked so much like him. So, I thought that if I could sneak into the palace and see if I could find you alone to ask you. You’re very busy. The only time I could catch you was when you were sleeping, and I didn’t want to wake the king to ask if he was my friend Raulin, just in case he wasn’t. I wouldn’t have wanted a kami-no-siali-temetro.”

“No one likes a kami-no-siali-temetro,” Caudin admitted. “So, what made you change your mind tonight?”

“The man I killed.”

Caudin jumped out of bed, toppling Isken. “Killed? Who did you kill, Isken? One of my guards?”

“No!” he said, scrambling to stand.

Then Caudin saw him, a man hunched on his side on the floor, a dark pool of liquid beneath him. He ran over and turned the corpse, sightless eyes starting past partially opened lids, thick lashes making it almost hard to tell whether his was of dark or light eye color. His throat had been slit from side-to-side, but not cleanly.

“Did I kill someone I wasn’t supposed to?”

“I don’t recognize him. How did you figure he was an assassin?”

“He was doing that creepy walk with his knife out.”

“’Creepy walk’? Do mean that strange tip-toe that they do in plays?” When Isken nodded, Caudin said, “Are you serious? They sent an amateur to kill me? And he would have likely done it, too. I’m slipping something fierce.

“All right. Isken, go stand next to Anla. I’ll try to keep them off you, but know that you’re safe. Guards!” he shouted. He grabbed a robe and put it on in the moments it took before the two men stationed outside his room entered.

“Your Radiance?” one asked.

He gestured at the floor. “There was an attempt on our life tonight. Wake the Captain.” As an afterthought, he said, “And the emrys.”

“Yes, Sire!” he said and left.

The other man scanned the room and stopped when he saw Isken. “Sire! There’s another-!”

“No, Gentru, he’s the reason why I’m not dead right now.” He gestured Isken over to a sitting area and slumped in one of the armchairs, Anla sitting between the two of them.

“So, how are things going with you?” he asked, switching to Merakian. “I assume you’re through with Arvarikor as well?”

“As far as I could tell. I was supposed to be going to Hiben, but I haven’t reported there. For good measure, I wrote a letter from a fake policeman and paid a local kid to turn my mask in to the office in Kitstuar. I hope that is enough.”

“Hopefully it is. You said that Arvarikor said I was dead?”

“Yes! Word came back around November that you had been keelhauled by the captain of some ship for sleeping with some married woman. Oh, Curvorn was not happy.”

“Stavro must have been pleased.”

“He died a few months before that, last August or September.”

“Hmm. Sorry I wasn’t there for that. But, I’m free then?”

“Yes! How did you get out?”

“Loophole that Al discovered. He…” Caudin looked towards the door as he heard commotion from the hallway. “He is right on time. Let the emrys in!” he shouted to the guards.

“Your Radiance!” Al said, shoving past the guards. “I heard there was an att- hi, Isken!”

“Hi, Al! I’m glad to see you’re here.”

Al turned to Caudin. “It wasn’t him, was it?”

“He actually stopped the assassin.”

“What are we going to do about it?” Al was speaking about Sayen, but Caudin thought he meant Isken.

“Well, with his acceptance, I’d like to hire him as a personal bodyguard. You don’t have any obligations or objections, do you?”

“No, Raulin!” he said, laughing. “I’ve been taking odd jobs as a dockworker, when I need to. That 1,600 bretue reward for my mask in Kitstuar has stretched quite a way here.”

“Yes, we’re still working on that. And it’s Caudin now. I’ll have Al catch you up to speed on etiquette and whatnot.”

Isken leaned in. “Between you and me, what do you have to do to be a king? I’m not going to challenge you or anything; I don’t want to be one.”

“You need to be born to it, Isken.”

“Yeah, so how did you get it.”

“I was born a prince.”

“Am I confused in the translation? Why would they send their prince to become a trirec?”

“That is a very long story. For now, I think I’m going to take my wife to her bedroom and sleep for a few more hours. Wizard? Did you find anything on the body?”

“Do you mean like a notebook?” he asked, holding up a notebook. He tossed it to Caudin, who caught it and read a few lines in the candlelight.

“It’s in Sayenese,” he said, putting it down. “Isken, what’s your take on the Network?”

“I’ve heard that since they took the Mielsa, they’ve had greater access to countries to the south of the Mielik Sea. They’ve been recruiting quite a few, putting half-trained spies down in the Empire and Br’vani.”

“This is the second attempt on my life and the quality of the assassins has been…well, less than trirec level. Not knowing the local language, keeping a notebook out of code, missing your target. I can’t judge too harshly; this one almost got me, but I am worried.”

“Why is that, Your Radiance?” Al asked.

“Because it means they can keep throwing warm bodies at me. Eventually, one of them is going to use their meager training correctly and they will get lucky.” He sighed. “I think it’s only a matter of time before I’m killed.”