The Capital by A H Lee

Author:A H Lee
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Pavonine Books
Published: 2020-03-23T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19. Behind a Tapestry

Sairis felt a vague sense of irritation, mostly with himself. He wasn’t used to being responsible for another person. He’d known the cloaking charm could cover both of them, but he hadn’t considered how closely they would need to stand. He hadn’t considered...the effects.

And then there was Roland’s attitude. I have brought a knight to do a spy’s job.

Roland had seemed impressed by Sairis’s trick with the lamp. Sairis wasn’t sure that Roland understood why he’d been so careful. If the guard suspected an intruder, the charm would not offer real protection. It only worked when a ruse was executed flawlessly, attracting no suspicion.

To Roland, Sairis supposed this expedition must feel like a bit of a lark, sneaking around his childhood home. To Sairis, it was nothing of the kind. He was not at all sure that Roland’s word would keep a spying magician from being thrown in the dungeon if they were caught. He wasn’t even sure it would stop anyone from executing Sairis on the spot. You underestimate antipathy towards necromancers, prince.

Or maybe not. Maybe you understand perfectly. Sairis had thought, just for an instant, that Roland was about to call for the guard when Sairis brought out the bone charm. Somehow I am supposed to manage your fears and distrust while infiltrating the royal palace.

All the while pressed up against...

Sairis forced himself to focus on one thing at a time. A well-hidden trap door had taken them into the tunnels under the palace. Roland’s knowledge of the grounds was at least genuinely helpful. Alone, Sairis would have spent a lot more time squinting at Daphne’s cryptic map. She’d drawn it with no labels to avoid giving away state secrets, should it fall into unfriendly hands. Roland took a few wrong turns, but he corrected himself quickly with muttered comments, such as, “That must be the back of the west wing scullery pantry,” or, “We used to play hide and seek behind that mirror. I didn’t realize it connected to the rest of the tunnels” or “Why would anyone put an exit in the lavender room?” Sairis just followed him, producing light when necessary and dousing it when Roland thought it might be seen.

Daphne had wanted them to start by contacting Lord Maniford, affectionately known to his niece and nephew as “Uncle Mani.” Roland had agreed that Maniford seemed the safest of all their kin. Even if Roland and Daphne were dead, he would still have been third in line from the throne. He’d never had reason to dream of kingship, and he’d never been ambitious. His hobbies were women, wine, hunting, and art, in that order.

“He seems like a fop, but he’s actually a good administrator,” Roland said to Sairis as they moved through an ink-black corridor. “He doesn’t give advice very often, but when he does, it’s usually worth listening to.”

Sairis, who had no high opinion of any of the elder Malconwys, said, “And when his advice is to parley with Hastafel?”

Roland was silent.

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