Elantris - Brandon Sanderson [224]
“I’m sorry,” Sarene said. “That was a little blunt, wasn’t it?”
“Iadon is dead?” Spirit asked in a quiet voice.
Sarene nodded. “It turns out he was involved with the Jeskeri Mysteries. When that got out, he hanged himself rather than face the shame.” She didn’t expand on her role in the events; there was no need to complicate them further.
“Jeskeri?” Spirit repeated, then his face turned dark and he gritted his teeth. “I always though of him as a fool, but … How far did his … involvement go?”
“He was sacrificing his cooks and maids,” Sarene said, feeling sick. There was a reason she had avoided explaining these things.
Spirit apparently noticed her pallor. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right,” Sarene said. However, she knew no matter what else happened, no matter where she went in her life, the shadowed vision of Iadon’s sacrifice would always lurk in her mind.
“Telrii is king then?” Spirit asked.
“Soon,” Sarene said. “He might have been crowned already.”
Spirit shook his head. “What about Duke Roial? He’s both richer and more respected. He should have taken the throne.”
“He’s not richer anymore,” Sarene said. “Fjorden has supplemented Telrii’s income. He’s a Derethi sympathizer, which, I’m afraid, has increased his social standing.”
Spirit’s brow furled. “Being a Derethi sympathizer makes one popular? I’ve missed a lot, haven’t I?”
“How long have you been in here?”
“A year,” Spirit answered offhandedly. That matched what some of the other New Elantrians had told her. No one knew for certain how long Spirit had been in the city, but they all guessed at least a year. He had seized control of the rival gangs in recent weeks, but that wasn’t the sort of thing a person accomplished without a great deal of planning and work.
“I guess that answers how Telrii got the Guard to back him,” Spirit mumbled. “They’ve always been far too eager to support whoever seemed most popular at the moment.”
Sarene nodded. “They relocated to the duke’s mansion shortly before I was thrown in here.”
“All right,” Spirit said. “You’re going to have to start at the beginning—I need as much information as you can give me.”
So, she explained. She began with the fall of the Duladen Republic and Fjorden’s increasing threat. She told him of her engagement to Prince Raoden, and of the Derethi incursions into Arelon. As she spoke, she realized that Spirit understood the political climate of Arelon more soundly than she would have thought possible. He quickly grasped the implications of Iadon’s posthumous declaration. He knew a lot about Fjorden, though he didn’t have a working knowledge of how dangerous its priests could be; he was more worried about Wyrn-controlled soldiers.
Most impressive was his understanding of the various lords and nobles of Arelon. Sarene didn’t need to explain their personalities and temperaments; Spirit already knew them. In fact, he seemed to understand them better than Sarene herself. When she questioned him on the matter, he simply explained that in Arelon it was vital to know of each noble with a rank of baron or higher. Many times a lesser nobleman’s only means of advancement was to make deals and take contracts with the more powerful aristocrats, for they controlled the markets.
Only one thing beyond the king’s death shocked him.
“You were going to marry Roial?” he asked incredulously.
Sarene smiled. “I can’t believe it either—the plan developed rather quickly.”
“Roial?” Spirit asked again. “The old rascal! He must have thoroughly enjoyed suggesting that idea.”
“I found the duke to be an unquestionable gentleman,” Sarene said.
Spirit eyed her with a look that said “And I thought you were a better judge of character.”
“Besides,” she continued, “he didn’t suggest it. Shuden did.”
“Shuden?” Spirit said. Then, after a moment