“He knew the assassin was an Izmali. Only Magnus knew that for certain, because he had been to Kesh. The only way Olasko could know is if he had hired the man’s clan to send him.’’
Pasko’s expression changed. Then he said, “I’ll find him.’’
As he started to step past Tal, he felt the young swordsman’s restraining hand on his arm. “One other thing,” Tal said.
“What?”
“That woman with Olasko.’’
“Yes, what about her?’’
“It’s Alysandra.”
CHOICES
Magnus paced.
“I sent word to my father about Alysandra. I’m awaiting a reply.’’
“You didn’t know she was with the Duke?” asked Talon.
“No,” said Magnus. “I’m not privy to every detail of every plan my father has in place. All I know is she left the island less than a year after you did.’’
“Nobody told me.’’
Caleb sat quietly in the corner of Tal’s apartment. “Seemed no reason to, Tal. You’d been given a harsh lesson, but we assumed you’d got over it; besides, many of those who were with you on the island come and go on different missions for Father.’’
“So do I assume she’s working for . . .” He was about to say “the Conclave,” but had been cautioned against referring to it anywhere he might be overheard, and the business with the Duke of Olasko was making him especially cautious. Instead, he said, “. . . for us?’’
“If she wasn’t,” said Magnus, “you’d already be dead. Kaspar doesn’t know specifics about us, but he knows there is someone out there working against his interests and the interests of those he’s allied himself with. If he had a hint you were part of that opposition . . .” He shrugged, leaving the sentence unfinished.
Tal said, “I could have said something to her without thinking.”
“If you were that untutored,” said Caleb, “you would never have been permitted to come this far, Tal.” He stood up and walked over to his brother. “Who’s supervising the girl?’’
“Mother.”
Caleb shook his head and gave a rueful smile. “Then anything is possible, and that’s why no one told any of us Alysandra was here in the east.” He said to Tal, “Mother is the least likely to share information. It has a lot to do with her past, but whatever the cause, this isn’t the first time she’s taken it upon herself to conduct business without even bothering to tell Father.’’
Magnus rolled his eyes. “The fights . . .” Then he said, “Caleb is right. I’ll speak with Mother tonight and see if she’ll let me know what Alysandra is doing with the Duke.’’
There came a knock at the door downstairs. Pasko indicated that he would see to it, and the others fell quiet. “Probably an invitation,” Pasko said as he walked out of the room and down the stairs.
“Celebrity brings many new friends.” Tal’s tone was dry, and he made a face. “I’ve had a dozen invitations to supper in the last four hours.’’
Pasko returned and handed Tal a note. It bore a seal he had not seen before, and Pasko said, “From the Lady Rowena of Taslin.’’
Tal broke the seal and read the note. “She says that she will depart with the Duke in two days’ time and may not have the opportunity to see me, so she sends word. Olasko moves against the High Reaches before the end of summer.’’
“He’s cutting off the eastern approaches to his army when he invades Farinda,” said Caleb.
“Which means next spring he’ll be invading the land of the Orodon,” said Tal. He looked at the message again, then said to the brothers, “At least this appears to mean Alysandra is still working for your mother.’’
Caleb said, “Apparently.”
“What do you want to do next, Tal?” Magnus asked.
“I thought you’d tell me.’’
Magnus leaned on his staff. “We can’t supervise every step of every day for those we put out in the world to work for us. You’ve been placed here in Roldem to create a name for yourself, to gain access to places of power and influence. We have many such in the Kingdom and almost as many down in Kesh, but we are just now placing our agents in the Eastern Kingdoms.
“But when we decide an agent is ready, we let him start deciding how best to serve our cause.’’
“I’d know better how to serve if I understood the cause, Magnus.’’
Magnus raised his hands and his lips moved, and for a moment, Tal thought the room went slightly darker. “No one can see us inside this spell for a minute or two.” He moved to the table and sat down. “Tal, we are agents for good. I know you’ve heard that before, and much of what we’ve visited on you seems to give the lie to that, but it is true. There is a lot I still cannot tell you, but now that you have come to this place in our service, here is what you must know.