The voice inside was low, but recognizable. The ex-legionary. He’d felt relieved to find there were no guards in the corridor, but he realized now that meant Gladdis’s bodyguard was in her room with her.
“Your priority is to keep me safe. This plan must not be disturbed in any way.”
A middle-aged woman. Not a voice he knew. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. That had to be Gladdis.
He concentrated his whole being into his right ear against the door. There was a sound of pouring again, but neither seemed drunk.
“Branwen sends word,” said the bodyguard.
“The sorcerer-engineer? What does she say?”
“She needs more time to get the generator into the Circuit… to avoid her colleagues finding out.”
An exclamation of frustration followed.
“I’d thought this was the perfect time, with the changing of the legions in Lontaria,” said Gladdis. “How long do we have to wait?”
“She says two more days.”
“And there have been other delays… If we waste any more time, Legate Aurelia’s Twenty-Fifth may just take Kamori for themselves once the Capital is in ruins. Just the thought of that hag taking over my homeland…”
“But if the Senate wanted her to replace the prefect of Arland, would she not settle there in Kingsworth instead?”
“The Twenty-Fifth will be the only legion in Lontaria and the Senate will be in no position to keep the legions in check once the Capital is destroyed. Do you think she will settle for just Arland? We have to finish the job before the whole of the Twenty-Fifth enters Lontaria. Only then can His Majesty have the chance to rise, don’t you agree?”
“I do.”
“We can’t leave this up to Branwen. That sorcerer-engineer girl may be our surest way to the Circuit of Destiny, but I can indulge her anxieties no longer. I must allow that man to go ahead with his plan. We must force things in motion. Immediately.”
A silence. By “that man,” she must mean Safani. After a sound of the wine being poured, the ex-legionary broke the silence.
“And how is King Gwaharad?”
A name he had never heard before. The title of “king” was one he’d only read about.
“His Majesty is well.” Gladdis sounded morose.
“But still refusing to emerge from his underground palace?”
“We gave His Majesty enough money to do whatever he wanted.And he did go to the site himself, as we asked, but the actual deed was done by Prince Emere.”
“So His Majesty is still reluctant to take the next step in the liberation of Kamori.”
“Our great undertaking will surely spur His Majesty to action. If he decides to do so, and the Capital is in chaos by then, Kamori will have hope.”
“Does His Majesty know of our plans?”
“The king is too prudent. He would have objected if I told him. But I trust he will act once the world knows of our deed.”
Another silence. Cain wondered who Gwaharad was. Septima and the others might know, perhaps.
Gladdis said, “And there’s that woman, Loran.”
“The one they say is a princess of Arland?”
“So you’ve heard of her.”
The Arlander princess was named Loran, then. The same as his mother’s name.
