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She found herself holding her stomach in, as if that would make her look like a lighter load.

Pater just grunted again. “Aye. I won’t do it for free, though. Standard Orien fee.”

“Of course,” said Vounn. “I regard it as a favor that you’re willing to do it at all.” She clasped his hands and smiled. “Thank you.”

Pater’s face didn’t relax. “One step follows another, Vounn. You wouldn’t ask me like this if it was a simple transport.”

“And you wouldn’t agree if it was just a simple transport. I know you, Pater.” Her smile took on an edge. “Not all dangers wait along the road. No one will suspect your involvement. I intend to organize a mercenary escort and send Ashi out of Rhukaan Draal with them—you meet her outside the city, on the other side of the bridge over the Ghaal River, and take her from there. Attention will remain on the escort, which will disband a reasonable distance from the city with no sign of Ashi—or you. Will you do it?”

Pater glanced from her to Ashi. “Aye,” he said. “I will. Give me a day’s notice when you need me.”

“Thank you, Viceroy Pater,” Ashi said. She stepped forward and bowed slightly. “I appreciate this.”

They were the only words she’d been allowed to say—Vounn had told her specifically to keep her mouth shut while she spoke. Pater’s assistance had been far from guaranteed and even Ashi had seen it. The words of thanks were the polish on the sword, though. Pater puffed up like a rooster strutting before hens. “You’re welcome, Lady Ashi,” he said.

Vounn shifted her grasp from his hand to his arm and gave him another open smile. “Wonderful. Now, let’s catch up to Dannel and the others before the wine and cheese are gone.”

They strolled out of the dining room. Ashi followed in their wake along the short passage that connected library and dining room.

She didn’t even see Midian until he grabbed her wrist and tugged her back into the shadow of a large decorative urn.

“You’re leaving?” he demanded.

“You heard that?”

“I hear a lot more than people think I do.” His eyes glittered. “I know about Tenquis.”

He’d learned the name. “How—?”

He scowled. “Finding an artificer was my idea. You don’t think I could ask the same questions as Ekhaas? Now it’s your turn. You’re leaving?”

Ashi looked around. The urn concealed Midian completely, but what hid a gnome didn’t hide her. “Not here,” she said. “Somewhere private.”

Servants had entered the dining room to clear away the dinner plates. Midian, still holding tight to Ashi’s hand, led her the other way along the passage, away from the library and up a flight of stairs. A door opened onto an airy gallery with ornate filigree screen panels forming a long wall open to the night. They were up high, well above the street. The gallery was unlit and dim to her eyes, though Midian moved with confidence.

“Don’t touch the screens,” he warned her. “They’re Cannith gearwork, trapped to keep out thieves.”

“How did you know this was here?”

“I had a look around before dinner.” He let go of her hand and turned to face her. “Let’s try this again. You’re leaving?”

“Not if I can help it,” Ashi told him stubbornly. She described her attempt to reach Geth after Tariic’s coronation—and her subsequent conversation with Vounn. When she had finished, Midian let out a hiss of frustration.

“I wondered why you hadn’t left your chambers for the last two days. Your guard Aruget told me you were ill whenever I came around.”

“What did you make of what happened at the coronation?”

“I couldn’t see anything. A fat lump of a bugbear pushed in front of me. Not that I was all that eager to be seen once Makka strolled onto the dais.” Ashi could make out Midian’s face—he was chewing nervously on a thumbnail. “Sage’s quill. Tariic may know about the false rod.” He glanced at her, his blue eyes flashing in the moonlight. “So if you leave, what happens to me, Ekhaas, and Dagii?”

Ashi shook her head. “I’m not leaving yet. Vounn just wanted to make arrangements. She spoke with Tariic yesterday on business for Deneith, and she says that he doesn’t act like he suspects anything. Or at