"It is done," she said. "We have all we need."
Jarid simply nodded, never letting his gaze lose contact as she crossed the room.
"Have you seen Edvin?" she asked.
Jarid shook his head.
"Edvin?" she called, and then to herself: "Where is that man?" She walked briskly to the doors at the end of the chamber and threw them open. "Edvin?" She gave a sigh of exasperation as she rejoined Jarid, pausing only to straighten a cushion on the way past one of the chairs.
They didn't have long to wait. Within moments, Edvin stepped into the room and stood to one side waiting. He glanced at Jarid, but his expression betrayed nothing.
"Lady?" he said.
"Where is Yosset?"
"There is something you should know about your husband," said Edvin. Jarid sat forward.
"Well, what is it?" said Karin, sitting as she did so.
Edvin hesitated. "I don't know what it is, but something in him has changed."
"Explain." She cast a glance at Jarid as Edvin continued.
"When I gave him the news, he simply smiled, as if the news actually pleased him. I informed him about the treachery of Guildmaster Ka Vail and he laughed. He accused me of being a fool." He paused to clear his throat. "I went on to tell him how Master Ka Vail here had acted with honor to defend the Guilds and he said I was an idiot. He said..." He paused again. "He said that Master Ka Vail was the traitor and he'd get his reward accordingly. That the Prophet would see to it. And then he threw me out."
Karin narrowed her eyes. "Did he just? Go and find him, Edvin. I want to see him now. Here."
Edvin nodded and looking slightly uncomfortable, withdrew.
As soon as Edvin had left, Karin stood and beckoned to Jarid.
"This is not good," she said. "And now I have to deal with the coward." She urged him closer. He stepped near to her and she looked directly into his eyes.
"You know, Jarid," she said quietly. "There are cowards and there are men." She lifted one hand and traced her fingers gently down his cheek. "I know which I would rather have." She paused to let the meaning sink in. "And very soon now, I will have no further need of Yosset Clier, my brave and wonderful husband. If anything were to happen to him..."
Jarid held her gaze, barely moving, just the slightest tremble as the ends of her fingers met the edge of his lips and she withdrew her hand. Quickly she turned away.
"You should go," she said. "Before anything...before Yosset gets here. For the moment, I need to deal with him myself. We need to inform Ky Menin to speed up his preparations. If Yosset is wavering, then we have to make sure of things as quickly as we can. I will have to take charge of preparing the men myself."
She turned quickly, pausing meaningfully before taking a step forward and moving in close to him. "Hurry, Jarid," she said in a low voice. "Go. Find Karryl and warn him. I will see you soon." She leaned in closer and gently brushed his cheek with her lips.
Jarid's eyes widened just a fraction, he swallowed and then nodded. Quickly he turned on his heel and just as quickly was out the door and gone. She looked after him, watching the door leading to the outside for a few moments, thoughtfully, and then moved to sit and wait for her husband. She didn't have long to wait. It only seemed like seconds after Jarid had left, that Yosset appeared through the door at the other end of the room.
"So, Karin," he said. "Welcome home my loving wife. I hear there's been a little trouble over at Ky Menin's."
"Sit down, Yosset. You're enough of a fat halfwit without working at being one."
Clier nodded sweetly and smiled, doing just as he was bidden, folding his hands in front of him as he sat, the smile still firmly in place. "So, what can I do for you?"
"We have been betrayed, Yosset. Betrayed by that old fool Aron Ka Vail."
Clier continued to smile sweetly. "So I hear, my love."
"And there are rumors of trouble elsewhere. I think we're in for trouble. We need to prepare."
"I have heard that much as well," he said. "Did you have a nice time with the Ka Vail boy?"
