He was certain that there was unease there as well. Did they fear a charge of miscegenation? It has been a long time since one had been brought against a Terrarch but the law was still on the statutes. Sardec thought about Rena and suppressed a shudder. He had as much to fear from such an allegation as Asea, quite possibly more.

“He was asking about us?” Rik inquired. His accent still held traces of the guttersnipe he had once been. It would take a long time for Asea to polish that out of him. Were they really lovers, as everyone suspected? It was the easiest explanation of why they had spent so much time together but Sardec suspected something else, that she was teaching the half-breed sorcery, which might cost him his life if the Inquisition found out. They were not at all keen on humans learning magic. It was a known fact that those who did practise the Art fell all too easily to the Shadow.

“About you very specifically. I think he has come here to look into Queen Kathea’s death, and I would not be surprised if he bears a Royal Warrant.”

“He would be a fool if he came with anything less,” said Asea. “And that is one thing Joran is not.”

“You know him?”

“He and I have had dealings in the past. He is a Terrarch of some subtlety. By nature he sees plots everywhere. The Inquisition is a natural home for his sort.”

“These days, Milady, he may be right. Queen Kathea is dead after all. Our situation here in Kharadrea grows daily more precarious. With my own eyes I have witnessed Terrarchs of the ancient nobility working the darkest of sorcery.”

“I fear, Lieutenant, that you will witness much more of that before the end of this affair.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ancient evils stir in the East. Lord Malkior and Jaderac were not the only dark sorcerers to come out of those lands. The plague winds that have blown all winter are no accident. I have seen sorcery like this before, on Al’Terra, used by the followers of the Princes of Shadow.”

“You think someone has rediscovered that ancient magic?”

“Or someone has been taught it.”

“By the Shadow? Terrarchs? Here?”

Asea nodded.

“And what motive would they have?”

“Why have people always served the Princes of Shadow? Power, revenge, ambition. I saw a whole world fall once. Only ten thousand of us escaped.”

“And you think some agents of the Shadow came with us.”

“I am certain of it.”

“If you are right something must be done.”

“I have already written to Queen Arielle informing her of this. I believe we should march East.”

“That would be suicide,” said Sardec. “We do not have the manpower for an invasion of the Dark Empire now. It would take months to assemble such an army and we would have to strip our Western borders.”

Another one struck Sardec. “Do you think the High Inquisitor’s presence has anything to do with this?”

“Doubtless we will find out in due course.”

Sardec looked at Rik once again. His face was pale and his lips moved silently as if he were trying to form words in a language not meant for human tongues. Was he sick or going mad? Sardec had heard that this happened often to human sorcerers. He had been this way since they escaped from Harven. One thing seemed certain — it would be best if Asea kept him away from the Inquisitor.

“Are you all right?” Sardec asked.