Cascet of souls

CHAPTER 25. Inside Work

SEREGIL and Alec were to go riding with Elani the following morning, but it was sheeting down rain and word had come from the Palace that they would spend the day indoors instead.

“I’m beginning to feel like the court pet,” Alec laughed as they gathered their gaming stones and Seregil’s harp.

“Elani has certainly taken to us, and we’re finally getting inside. We’ve got to find out who is providing Reltheus with her letters. My money is still on that scribe of hers. He’s in charge of her correspondence, unless things have changed since my days there.”

“You’ve never said much about that,” Alec noted.

“Not much to say. I wasn’t well suited to court life,” Seregil replied. “And it wasn’t a particularly happy time.”

They were just about to leave when Runcer knocked at their chamber door.

“Is the carriage here?” asked Alec.

“No, my lord. Lord Thero is asking to speak with you.”

“Show him up to the library.”

Seregil caught the scent of smoke and magic on Thero’s clothing as the wizard strode past him into the library. He was dressed in trousers and coat, and looked decidedly troubled. “Did you finally manage to set your tower on fire?”

“Klia summoned me last night,” Thero replied. “I just got back.”

“Is she all right?” asked Alec.

“Yes, thankfully. So are Beka, Nyal, and Myrhini. They managed to catch our spy. It’s not Danos after all, but his aide, a young corporal named Caem, working for Commander Myr’s aide-de-camp, Major Salana.”

Seregil poured wine for them while the wizard told them what he’d learned the night before. “General Moraus’s truth knower questioned Commander Myr, Major Salana, and Danos, as well as several riders. Danos and Myr were found innocent of any knowledge of a conspiracy, or having any part of it. Salana refused to speak, and died under torture. Caem was hanged before the regiment at dawn. A full report was sent to the queen.”

“Damnation!” Alec set his empty cup down with an angry thump. “That certainly tips our hand to Phoria.”

“It can’t be helped,” Seregil replied. “But this does put a different light on the assassination attempt on Klia. Plenimaran uniforms aside, the poison they used on themselves-”

“Could have been Wyvern Blood, like what you found in Kyrin’s secret room,” said Alec. “You thought a bottle might be missing from the box.”

“If it had been on the knives they struck Klia with, she’d have died on the spot. Perhaps on themselves, however. Whatever the case, we have no way of knowing what was in that third bottle.”

Alec let out a frustrated growl. “Still, I think we should assume it was Kyrin. It could be why they were tracking her movements so closely. They weren’t just looking for something they could accuse her of treason for; they needed to know where she was so the assassins could find her!”

“Yet there’s the problem of time,” said Seregil. “It takes days, even weeks for those messages to get back and forth, unless they have a wizard working for them. It’s not like Kyrin could order an assassination from Rhiminee and have it carried out immediately. Or that he’d even know where she was at that moment.”

“Someone on the spy’s end might have just been waiting for the go-ahead,” Thero pointed out. “Could you have missed something in the coded messages you found?”

“I suppose so. Although with Caem’s capture the line of

communication is cut off, at least for now.” Seregil gave them a crooked grin. “I suspect Commander Danos will be a bit more careful with his correspondence from now on.

Klia’s left him in place?”

“Yes,” Thero replied. “After the general’s truth knower vouched for him, and after making him swear fealty to everything but the tent pole.”

“All the same, that rider and the major can’t possibly be the only ones in the regiment in on the plot, and now we’ve lost the only person who could have connected them with Kyrin and the others,” said Alec. “There’s probably a whole nest of snakes Salana knew about. For all the good that does us now.”

Thero shook his head in disgust. “That’s what comes of torture.”

“Did Klia speak to anyone about Kyrin’s cabal, or us?”

“No,” Thero replied. “When Salana refused to speak, Klia thought it better to leave you to work from this side.”

“Reltheus and Kyrin are sure to hear about the loss of their spy. What do we do about that?”

Seregil shrugged. “We’d better work quickly. Have you spoken with the prince yet, Thero?”

“No. I’m on my way there now, and I want you two to come with me and tell him what you’ve learned before things take a turn for the worse.”

“Yes, it’s time.” Seregil tucked his bakshi bag under his belt. “We’re going to see Elani anyway.”

“Oh, and remember,” warned Thero. “You two know nothing of the assassination attempt on Klia.”

They rode together in a hired carriage through the pouring rain. At the Palace, a page led them not to the main audience chamber, but to one of the many rooms set aside for private business. Leaving the three of them in the corridor, the page knocked and went in to announce them with instructions from Thero to tell the prince that they had news of the utmost importance.

They were admitted, and found Korathan in his robe and chain of state and black velvet hat, talking with bluff, bearded

General Sarien. That wasn’t good, seeing as how the protector general was one of the people Atre had reported as conspiring with Duke Laneus.

Knowing this, Thero bowed to both men, then to Korathan. “We bring you a matter of the utmost delicacy, Highness.”

“The general and I were just finishing,” Korathan replied. Sarien understood the tacit dismissal and took his leave. Leaning on the edge of the table, Korathan looked the three of them over, taking in their disparate apparel. “What’s all this about?”

“I visited Klia last night,” Thero replied.

“Ah, so you were behind all the uproar.” He held up a sheaf of parchments. “You’re a bit late. I’ve had reports from the queen and General Moraus already this morning. Wretched business. No one mentioned you, though.”

“Klia and I agreed it would be better that way. I helped her question the courier, who gave up Salana’s name.”

“Who died without giving up any others.”

“Yes, Highness. Things would be a great deal easier if she had. But that’s why we’re here now. Seregil and Alec have uncovered evidence of a cabal working against Klia here in Rhiminee. Klia employed spies on her side and we on ours.”

“And you didn’t think I should be informed of this?”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’ve been trying to give them the greatest latitude in searching out the roots of this plot. Arresting the conspirators we know about now may let others escape.”

“I see.” Korathan gave them a wry look. “As I recall, Phoria disbanded the Watchers.”

“Indeed, she did, Highness,” said Thero. “But as an Oreska wizard, I have a duty to the Crown. I felt it was imperative to look after the safety of the royal family in any way I could.”

“The same for us,” said Seregil, giving Korathan a wink. “And since we’ve rendered good service to your family before, I didn’t think you’d mind us sticking our noses in again.”

“So, you’re just acting as loyal subjects? I suppose Phoria can’t dismiss you for that. What information do you have?”

“We’ve sort of stumbled across information that we think points to two cabals-” Seregil began.

“Two? I thought this was about Klia.”

“That one is led, we think, by Marquis Kyrin, who supports Elani for the throne.”

“Aside from plotting against my youngest sister, not a bad thing.”

“But we don’t know what that support means, or how far they’ll go. Alec overheard something that might have been a threat against the queen herself.”

“Bilairy’s Balls! I’ll have word sent to her at once to strengthen her bodyguard. Who else do you think is involved with him?”

“Tolin, Stenmir, and-” Seregil hesitated, knowing Korathan was not going to be pleased. “And Duke Reltheus.”

“Reltheus? Is that why he’s thrown his son in Elani’s way every chance he gets?”

“No, I think he just desperately wants his line joined to the royal house,” Seregil replied. “And I believe he feels genuine affection for your niece. Kyrin has found a way to use that. He’s blackmailing Reltheus; it seems the duke was already passing out royal favors.”

“That makes him no less a traitor to the royal family, if he’s conspiring against Klia! How far has this gone?”

“All that we’ve learned makes me wonder if that attempt on Klia’s life was actually made by assassins disguised as Plenimaran soldiers,” replied Thero.

“Attempt on Klia’s life!” Seregil exclaimed. “Why weren’t we told of this?”

“Perhaps I should have-” Korathan looked sharply at Alec. “But you two already knew, didn’t you?”

Alec colored hotly. “Well, that is…”

“Only recently, Highness,” Thero told him. “And only because they uncovered evidence of their own as to the perpetrators. Seregil, tell the prince what you heard on the island.”

“Reltheus, Tolin, and Stenmir went off into the woods on their own and I followed to see what they were up to. I overheard Stenmir ask Reltheus if he’d had any more news from ‘the north,’ which I assumed were the messages from Danos.

Then Reltheus said that if someone he referred to only as ‘she’ had been killed, they’d have heard by now.”

“And you assume that this ‘she’ was Klia.”

“Yes.”

“And still you kept this knowledge to yourselves?”

Thero hastened to Seregil’s defense. “As far as we knew from the evidence Seregil and Alec found up until then, they were simply keeping an eye on her to see if she was making any move toward claiming the throne. We had no idea a plot was afoot to kill her.”

“What other evidence do you have, beyond an overheard conversation with no names?”

Seregil showed him the copies of some of the coded messages and purloined letters they’d found so far. “From these, it appeared that they were keeping a close eye on Klia, and also trying to gauge how deep Elani’s interest in Danos runs. And I found a number of other interesting items in a secret room in Marquis Kyrin’s house, including more letters and some phials of poison. And he’s hoarding Aurenfaie gold kars with Golinil clan’s mark on them, and some gems.”

“Those are all capital offenses!”

“Yes, but I think that pales beside his real motives, don’t you? Arrest him for that and you tip your hand to the other conspirators. They’ll scatter like fleas off a dead dog.”

“Charming image.”

“You take my meaning, though. Please, Korathan, let us pursue this.”

Korathan sighed. “And what’s this other cabal?”

“We’re less sure of this one,” Thero replied, “but Duke Laneus seems to be conspiring to support Klia in some fashion.”

“And how does he propose to do that, without her consent?”

“He may just be trying to protect her from Kyrin’s group.”

“And assassinate the queen.”

“Possibly. We’re not sure of that, yet.”

“And who is with him?”

“It’s not entirely clear, but we’re fairly sure of Marquise

Lalia, Duchess Nerian.” Seregil hesitated again. “The protector general-”

“The man I was just speaking with? Bilairy’s Balls, man, he’s charged with protecting Elani! If he persuaded his regiment to turn on her-on me? The whole city would be plunged into chaos. Phoria would be forced to lay siege to her own capital.”

“Very likely,” said Seregil. “Once again, though, if you arrest him for that, or even relieve him of command without a plausible excuse, the others will know the game is up. I’d suggest sending the general on a tour of the coastal cities to assess their defenses against a sea attack. With his correspondence closely monitored, of course. That should get him out of the way long enough for us to complete our work.”

Korathan rested his head in one hand for a moment. “Yes, that can be arranged easily enough. Are there any others in league with that faction?”

“Marquise Lalia.”

“Mistress of the Royal Wardrobe.”

“And Duke Malthus,” said Seregil. “But I’m not certain Malthus is supporting their plans, at least not any talk of assassinating Phoria. He was overheard objecting.”

“By whom?”

“One of my spies.”

“And this spy is?”

“The actor, Atre,” Seregil admitted reluctantly. “From what he heard, Malthus was the voice of reason.” He paused. “Again, if you bring this all to light now, it will look like Klia is in the middle of it.”

“But I assure you, she isn’t!” Thero quickly put in. “I’ve had it from her lips, and I have no reason to doubt her.”

That earned another raised eyebrow from the prince. “Perhaps you’re not the most objective judge, when it comes to Klia?”

“Your Highness, I-”

Korathan waved that aside. “I must tell you, I don’t like any of this, or your keeping it from me for so long. From now on you’ll all keep me apprised.”

“Of course, Highness,” said Thero, bowing with the others.

Korathan turned to Seregil. “I understand you two are playing with my niece again today.”

“We have that honor.”

“That’s good. You can keep an eye on Reltheus and the others for me. I’ll make certain the queen understands your sudden interest in Elani.”

“Thank you.” It seemed they’d improved their standing with Korathan since that day at the archery lists.

“Well, go on, then. It’s not polite to keep the princess royal waiting.”

“Of course.”

In the corridor Alec let out a pent-up breath. “That went fairly well. Didn’t it?”

“Considering the alternatives, yes,” said Thero, looking equally relieved. “Good luck and good hunting.” With that he went off the way they’d come.

Seregil straightened Alec’s coat collar and brushed a wisp of hair behind his ear. “There, all presentable to ‘play’ with the princess.”

Another page led them down the long succession of corridors that took them through the public areas to the royal living quarters. Seregil could have found his way on his own, though it had been a long time since he’d lived here. The queen’s suite was the largest, with its own garden. The other royals lived in the same wing, the highest ranking closest to the queen. Seregil’s old room had been far away at the other end.

Elani occupied the spacious suite next to the queen’s quarters, rooms that had once belonged to Phoria. Her mother’s were next to hers on the other side, and Korathan’s suite lay just across the hallway, although the prince also had his own villa in the Noble Quarter and spent the majority of his free time there.

Seregil was familiar with Korathan’s rooms, but not Elani’s, as he hadn’t spent much time with Phoria in her youth.

Footmen bowed to them and opened the polished double doors to admit them into a large, already crowded drawing room. The walls were decorated with murals of countryside

scenes, and the sumptuous furnishings were done up in gold brocade. Bookcases lined the back of the room from floor to ceiling, framing an ornately gilded door. The bookcases were filled with leather-bound volumes on history, warfare, statecraft, and other topics suitable for a future ruler; the warm smell of them mingled with the scent of the wax tapers and the perfumes of the various courtiers in attendance, forming an almost incense-like aroma that was very pleasant and cozy on such a stormy day. A large marble hearth took up the center of the right-hand wall. No fire burned there, as the day was warm in spite of the rain. The tall windows overlooking a smaller garden stood open to the damp breeze.

The usual courtiers and servants were there, including Reltheus, who clearly still occupied a place of honor among the assembly, and the unsociable Marquis Kyrin, Seregil noted with interest. Neither of them appeared to be worried about anything.

“Here you are!” Archduchess Alaya greeted them, kissing both of them lightly on each cheek. Then, lowering her voice, she confided, “You two have become quite the favorites, my dears, at least with the princess. Her mother is less enthusiastic. You’ll do well to stay out of her way.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Seregil murmured with a smile.

“Elani needs some friends outside of the court. Lord Alec, you’ve been a breath of fresh air for her.”

Alec bowed, coloring a little at the unexpected praise.

“And I’m so sorry about your friend, Lady Kylith.”

“Thank you, dear lady. The pain lingers on, but she’s vibrant in memory,” Seregil replied with genuine feeling.

Alaya flitted on, teasing Earl Stenmir about something. Seregil looked around at the crowd, then brushed Alec’s hand with his own and inclined his head in the direction of Elani across the room. She was laughing with General Sarien.

“Interesting that such a busy fellow has time for court pleasantries,” Seregil murmured. The thought that the general might well be planning harm to the girl he was now charming was chilling. “Though it’s hardly surprising that he

has access to her, both for his rank and position. He’s an archduke.”

Apart from General Sarien, everyone was gorgeously attired and bejeweled today. Elani was resplendent in a crimson gown and ruby-studded neckband and girdle; her hair was dressed with jeweled pins. Catching sight of them, she came over to greet them with warm delight.

“Thank you so much for attending,” she said, extending her hand to them in turn.

“The pleasure of your company is always a ray of sunshine, Highness,” Seregil said, gesturing at the rain-lashed windows overlooking the queen’s garden. “And what better day for sunshine?”

Elani laughed. “I hope you’ll allow me to try my bakshi skills against yours again. I have been practicing.”

“I’m at your disposal. Alec is a good hand at the gaming table, as well.”

“Then I’ll test your mettle at the stones, too, Lord Alec.”

Just then her mother called out for the princess and Elani let out a small sigh, muttering, “Oh, what now?”

Seregil smothered a grin; for a moment she was just an ordinary young girl, chafing at her mother’s demands.

“If you’ll excuse me?” she said. “And don’t forget, I want a game with both of you!”

Seregil and Alec bowed and she went to join her mother. As Seregil watched, Aralain introduced her daughter to a Lord Orin-the handsome son of Marquis Roleus-whom Seregil had gambled against a few times when the young lord was out carousing with his friends. He was also a member of Sarien’s regiment, and wore his uniform and commander’s gorget with style.

“Danos may have more serious competition than you, Alec.” Seregil chuckled softly, watching Elani blushing under the young man’s attentions. “I wonder if this signals a chilling of affection for Danos?”

“Do you think Elani knows about what happened?” murmured Alec.

“I think Korathan would have mentioned it if she did. No, soldiers at the front die on a regular basis, even officers; perhaps

dear Mama is simply hedging her bets, anxious to get Elani married off and producing heirs. If you get a chance today, sound her out on her feelings for Danos. I’ll do the same. But be discreet.”

Alec snorted softly at that.

Reltheus came over with Kyrin. “Kyrin, these are the friends I was telling you about. My lords, may I present Marquis Kyrin, a dear friend of mine.”

“My lord,” Seregil replied with a sweeping bow.

“Ah, the infamous Lord Seregil,” Kyrin said, looking him up and down with questionable approval. “And this must be young Lord Alec.”

Alec bowed. “Pleased to meet you, my lord.”

“Reltheus tells me you two have become fixtures here at court.”

“I’d hardly say that, though Princess Elani has honored us with a few invitations,” Seregil replied.

“Archery, isn’t it?”

“Alec’s forte, not mine,” Seregil said. “Have you known Her Highness long?”

“Since she was born,” Kyrin replied, sounding mildly offended that Seregil did not know that.

“It was Kyrin who suggested the hunt at my estate last winter,” Reltheus told them.

“Where Princess Elani met the handsome young Danos, I believe,” Seregil replied with a knowing grin. “At least that’s what I hear among the gossips.”

“Yes, indeed.” Reltheus clapped Kyrin on the shoulder.

Which of you gave the word to kill Klia? wondered Seregil. It was interesting to see the two men together like this; the friendship between them appeared genuine, rather than coerced through blackmail. Reltheus might be a better dissembler than Seregil had assumed. That, or he didn’t know that Kyrin had the letter. Perhaps it was being held in reserve, in case the duke needed a little extra encouragement at some point?

“It must be difficult for her, with him off at war,” said Alec, glancing Elani’s way; she was still talking with Commander Orin.

“Oh, yes.” Reltheus noticed the pair, and the hint of a frown threatened. “Yes, indeed. Excuse me, gentlemen.”

He and Kyrin drifted away to Elani’s side of the room and soon captured the conversation.

“Determined, aren’t they?” noted Alec.

“I wonder if Elani is as taken with Danos as they’d like?” Seregil replied softly, taking in the look of annoyance Orin was giving the duke. “And even though Danos was proven innocent by a truth knower, having his aide turn out to be a spy right under his nose may tarnish his luster at court.”

As the rain continued, everyone was called upon for a song or story to pass the time, then gaming tables were brought in and most of them settled down to play. Seregil found himself paired with the supercilious count who’d insulted him during the island picnic trip. Everyone played for wagers, and Seregil soon made quite a bit of money. Tolin paid up in a huff and left the table, making way for a pretty lady-in-waiting who was far friendlier, and a bit flirtatious.

Meanwhile, Alec and Elani had retreated to a corner and were playing some card game on a small table, heads together and chatting.

“You’re far too good at this to be a proper courtier!” Elani teased as Alec claimed another trick and discarded his last card.

“Will I be banished?” he asked, smiling.

“No, not if you’ll play another round with me.”

“Oh, dear. I suppose I must, then. Same again?”

She nodded and he dealt the cards. As they each gathered and sorted their hand, Alec said, “That Orin is a handsome fellow, in his uniform and all.”

“Shame on you, Lord Alec, looking at other men!”

“One can at least look, don’t you think? You seemed quite charmed by him.”

She rolled her eyes at that, reminding him very much of Illia Cavish. “Mama is charmed. I’m polite.”

“Then Captain Danos has little to worry about?”

She blushed prettily as she went back to sorting her cards. “I suppose it’s common knowledge that I-like him?”

“I’m afraid so.” Alec chuckled, glad that she seemed at ease talking about it with him. “You met hunting, or so I heard.”

“On dear Duke Reltheus’s estate near Tyborn Mountain. We out-rode the hounds and speared a boar together.” She lifted her chin proudly as she exclaimed softly, “He doesn’t treat me like a child. And he’s a wonderful archer, nearly as good as you are. And he’s a poet and an artist! He sends me poems, and the most amusing letters with funny little drawings in the margins.”

“He sounds like quite the suitor.”

She blushed again. “Yes, he is.”

“I certainly look forward to meeting him when he returns to the city. Only a few more months to wait, eh?”

“You make it sound like tomorrow. Have you ever had to wait for Lord Seregil?”

“A few times, yes-” In cages and cells, sometimes. “Though not as long as you have for Danos. But you must think him worth the wait, if you haven’t encouraged any other suitors. There must be others.”

“Oh, yes. Mostly Mama’s choices, and some I’ve met at balls and salons.” She looked up with a secret smile. “But none I like so much as Danos.”

Knowing what he did, the girlish confidence almost broke Alec’s heart.

After a few games Seregil excused himself and went to one of the diamond-paned terrace doors, pretending to look out over the rain-soaked garden as he studied the crowd behind him reflected in the glass. Across the room Alec had been pressed to sing, accompanied by one of the ladies.

The handsome commander was talking with Elani again, but the watchful Reltheus was nowhere to be seen. The door at the back of the room stood slightly ajar. It was an easy matter to wander over to the bookshelves and have a peek.

A paneled corridor lay beyond, and then the princess’s private rooms behind another ornate door. Several other doors let onto the corridor-the rooms of the princess’s ladies and workrooms of various functionaries, no doubt.

Seregil heard men talking in low voices, one of them recognizable as Reltheus. He waited until no one was looking and slipped through the door into the corridor.

The voices were coming from a half-open doorway on the left. Seregil crept silently closer, until he could peer through the crack between the door and frame.

As he’d guessed, Reltheus was speaking with a middle-aged scribe, recognizable in his silver-trimmed green robe. As Seregil watched, the man handed Reltheus a packet, which the duke tucked away into the front of his coat. Money changed hands.

Caught you! thought Seregil, amazed as the brazenness of it. Their business seemed to be concluded and Seregil quickly retreated to the salon. By the time Reltheus appeared, Seregil was halfway across the room, thumbing through a book on the life of Queen Idrilain the First. He watched Reltheus from the corner of his eye as the duke went to Elani and began some animated conversation. No one seemed to have taken any notice of Seregil’s brief absence, or Reltheus’s. Perhaps it was not unusual for guests to move freely about here. Seregil wandered slowly back to the door, which was still ajar, and glanced in. There was no sign of the other man.

It was too risky to go exploring the back rooms, not knowing what servants there might be lurking about, including the scribe. You couldn’t always get away with saying you were looking for the toilet-especially here.

So he made small talk with the other guests and kept a surreptitious eye on Reltheus, but the duke’s conduct was above suspicion.

Seregil and Alec were taking their leave late that afternoon when Reltheus caught Seregil by the sleeve. Seregil’s heart skipped a beat, wondering if he’d been seen spying after all. Instead Reltheus said, “What would you and Alec say to a bit of gambling at the Three Dragons?”

“I haven’t been there in years.” Seregil gave him a self-deprecating smile. “That establishment is a bit above our station.”

“You’ll be my guests, of course.”

“Then we’d be delighted.”

“Excellent. General Sarien is coming along as well. Will you join me in my carriage?”

“You’re most kind.”

“Very good! If you’ll wait a moment, I will make my farewells to the ladies.”

“You’re looking pleased with yourself,” Alec noted as they waited for Reltheus and the general in the corridor.

“Tell you later,” Seregil replied, nodding slightly in the direction of the watchful footmen. “By the way, I hope you didn’t mind me accepting Reltheus’s invitation on your behalf.”

“Of course not. You know the Three Dragons?”

“I’ve been there a few times. You’ll need plenty of money if you want to gamble. That’s not why I accepted, though.” He lowered his voice. “With any luck, I can finagle us another invitation back to his house afterward.” He wanted a look at the letter Reltheus had gotten from the scribe.

Alec leveled an accusing finger at him and whispered, “I’m not getting drunk again!”

Seregil grinned, making no promises. “And did you and Elani have an interesting conversation?”

“We did. She more or less admitted that her heart is set on Danos. According to her, he’s not only handsome, but a poet and an excellent archer. And he makes her laugh.”

“Good marriages have been made on less. What about the attentive young officer today?”

“Apparently her mother thinks highly of him, and keeps throwing him and others in the princess’s way. It didn’t sound like anything more than that.” Alec shook his head. “It’s going to ruin Danos’s chances, isn’t it, if his father’s arrested?”

“I expect so.”

Alec cast a sad look back in the direction of Elani’s chambers. “If she really does love him, that will break her heart.”

“It’s duty first for royalty, Alec. So long as she makes a respectable marriage and produces a girl baby or two, she can take a second consort when she likes, or lovers. Even Danos.”

“It’s not the same, though, is it?”

“No, tali, it’s not,” Seregil said, taking his hand. Alec hadn’t been much older than Elani was now when he’d fallen in love with Seregil, and Seregil with him. If they’d been separated by circumstance? He shook off the dark thought. “But we didn’t make this mess; Reltheus did.”