I had said the words, and they hadn’t killed me, but it would take a while before I felt like myself again. I took the kennel route from Wierolf’s chamber, to delay the moment I’d have to face people. Afternoon had faded to evening, and Tiboran’s moon was high and bright in a deepening sky. I looked up at it gravely, then sketched a formal, actor’s bow. “Thank you,” I said aloud. He had guided my per for mance all these years, after all. I had to have faith that the timing he’d chosen for the end of my masquerade was the right one. The next few days were peaceful ones at Bryn Shaer, even amid the birthday prep ara tions. Lady Lyll’s late-night meetings with the conspirators continued; Meri and I “attended” another one together, and they seemed to be piecing together their final arguments for the king’s representative. I knew Lyll nursed some concern for Lord Antoch’s party, now a day or so overdue, but for me, with Daul gone, it almost really was like a holiday.
