A/N: I much appreciated the comments on Ghalio! He's evil, but I like him. Okay, now we're returning to the palace, where everyone's having such a great time around the King. Don't you love all this back-and-forth?

Forging Connections

"Do you want to know what it was like before the war?"

Jyss opened her mouth to say no, but her mother looked up from her knitting and shot her a warning glance. "Yes, father," she said obediently. It was a quiet evening at the inn, and the chores were all done. Their only customer had retired to his rooms, and the small family was spending the evening in front of a roaring fire.

The innkeeper pulled his daughter onto the chair beside him. "You were only five when the war started with the barbarians. Before they came a woman, a child even, could walk down the street and be safe. And the merchant ships brought strange and delicious foods to our markets. Like corn. That used to be your favourite. Do you remember corn?"

The girl sat silently as her father rhapsodised about the time before the barbarian invasion.

"One day the royal line will be restored," her father was saying. He gazed into the fire with misty eyes as if envisioning the future. "And then the Kingdom will return to its former glory."

As soon as Jyss stepped into the Junior Officer's Parlour, Corporals Pheran and Sabel jumped up from their game of Merrills. "Finally!" Pheran exclaimed. Sabel moved to close the door behind Jyss and placed a rolled blanket along the bottom to muffle sound.

Jyss watched the others nervously. "What are you doing?"

"We want to talk to you," Sabel explained as she started to close the curtains on all of the windows.

"Me?" Jyss looked between the two Corporals in bewilderment. "I'm just here to get a mirror. The King –"

"The King can wait for his mirror," said Pheran. He was balancing on a chair to carefully plug one of the air shafts with a throw pillow. Once the room was completely soundproof and the curtains were drawn, the two Corporals sat down and motioned for Jyss to join them. She did, nervously.

"Welcome back to the world of the living," said Sabel with a grin. "We haven't seen you for weeks, Jyss. We're so impressed that the King hasn't tried to kill you yet. Remember Eamon?" She turned to Pheran. "Lasted less than a month. Luckily he had the King's protection spell."

"If you have something to say, could you please say it?" said Jyss anxiously. "If the King does not get his mirror, I have no idea what he will do to me. He already attacked the maid this morning for bringing him the wrong colour towels."

Pheran laughed softly. "Calm down, Jyss. From what Lieutenant Sonchia tells me, you don't have anything to worry about. The King seems to like you – comparatively. But yes, we will say what we have to say. Let's keep our voices down."

Sabel leaned forward, and the candles on the table illuminated her scarred face. "We all know that the King is... unbalanced. Don't worry," she added at Jyss' expression. "We're not speaking treason here. You won't be arrested. The thing is, we also know that there is trouble at court."

"Trouble?"

"The King hardly presides over court anymore," Pheran elaborated. "But Sabel and I, and others, have manned guard there. We... hear things."

"Lots of things." Sabel rubbed her forehead and glanced quickly at the door. They were speaking quietly, but this was still not a conversation to be had openly within the palace walls. "The nobles are not very happy with King Rothain, especially since the Abhorsen-in-Waiting was arrested." She shook her head in disbelief; the whole court had been stunned by the action. "Anyway, one in particular, Lord Ivor, has become very popular."

"Lord Ivor," Jyss repeated. "Wasn't he –?"

"The father of the Queen," Sabel confirmed. "He is also an old friend of our erstwhile Captain."

"Betrys?"

"The very same."

"Lord Ivor has many sympathizers due to his daughter's fate," Pheran remarked. "Lately he has become very outspoken. He doesn't question the King's ability to rule, but he expresses concern over the King's health, saying that his advisors are corrupt and are influencing him in making the wrong decisions. Of course that's an utter lie, but the courtiers will believe anything he says."

Sabel leaned forward. "Everyone is afraid that there could be an uprising, with Ivor and Betrys at the head. Belisaere is still weak as she rebuilds, and now Betrys is leading a rebellion which is becoming more popular by the day. And soon the Abhorsen-in-Waiting herself will be on trial."

"Okay, I agree with you," said Jyss, looking from face to face. "But what does all of this have to do with me?"

The Corporals exchanged glances. Pheran spoke first. "Well, you are the King's aide. And you haven't incurred his wrath... yet." Sabel winced, obviously recalling the fates of the other unlucky Corporals assigned to be the King's aides. "Also, he actually talks to you."

"So?" asked Jyss, becoming defensive.

"So, ever since you stopped that assassin you've forged a connection with him," Sabel argued. "It's dangerous to be in your shoes right now, Jyss. You are new here, and you do not know what people are capable of. A lot of important individuals are against the King, both within the palace and without, and you have his ear. We just want you to be aware of the situation, in case somebody tries to influence you."

Jyss nearly laughed at what they were suggesting, but deep down she knew that the other Corporals were telling the truth. Unimportant as she was, some people might try to take advantage of her. "All right," she said finally. "I'll be careful."

"Take care of yourself," warned Sabel.

Jyss nodded. As she stood and straightened her uniform, Pheran remarked, "By the way, there's a mirror on the mantelpiece."

Walking down the corridor with a silver-backed mirror tucked under her arm, Jyss reflected on what the other Corporals had told her. A part of her was still wondering why on earth people would think that she could influence the King. He had spoken to her a few times, but today that had only amounted to "Bring me a mirror."

However, Jyss had to admit that there were moments when Rothain seemed almost normal around her, especially after she had killed that assassin. These were few and far between, but every now and then Jyss had seen a quietness come over the King, usually when they were left alone. He actually seemed to be aware of where he was, and when he spoke during those periods he was fairly rational. Perhaps this was what Sabel and Pheran had been talking about. Perhaps she did have some influence over him.

Jyss nodded at the guards posted outside the King's room and let herself in. As she closed the door discretely behind her she heard raised voices coming from the sitting-room. The young woman cracked open the door and froze when she realized what was happening: The King was sitting in a gilt chair by an enormous crackling fire. And the Chancellor, standing just outside of the diamond of protection, was yelling at the King. Jyss wasn't sure if she was even supposed to be there, so she hovered uncertainly with one hand on the door and the other cradling the mirror to her chest.

"Just look at yourself!" Chancellor Oraz was shouting. "You never see anybody. You refuse to meet with the Abhorsen. You refuse to hold petty court." He paused to take a few wheezing breaths. "Your father would never do what you are doing," he said, shaking with fury. Jyss had never seen him so angry. "King Edrian would be ashamed of you. What is it that you think you are doing, Majesty? Why must you always be surrounded by a diamond of protection, even here in the most private recesses of the palace?"

Jyss held her breath as she watched, waiting for the King's response.

Rothain raised his head. "You question my actions?"

"Yes," the Chancellor said with more bravery than Jyss would have had in his position. "I am doing this because I care about you, Majesty. I fear that you are losing the support of the people. And with the Abhorsen-in-Waiting's trial drawing near, you must –"

"Must?" the King roared, standing up. His pale hands clutched the arms of the chair and his entire body was trembling. "You overstep your place! I order you from my sight!"

After a long pause, the Chancellor bent his aged body into a bow. He turned and walked towards the door, giving Jyss a tight, reassuring smile as he passed. When he was gone, Jyss clutched the mirror closer to her body and took a few cautious steps into the room. The yellow firelight flickered over embroidered tapestries and gilt-framed portraits, giving the figures the illusion of movement. Although she had been in the King's personal chambers many times before, Jyss still found the effect sinister.

By the time Jyss reached the fireplace Rothain had sunk back into his seat, his face in one hand. He gave no indication of having noticed her, and after a minute or so she cleared her throat. "Majesty?"

The King glanced up at her, and in his eyes she saw a light of recognition. "Jyss." He knew her – a good sign.

"I brought you this." The young Corporal held out the mirror. Every other mirror in Rothain's chambers had been smashed.

Rothain nodded. "Give it to me."

Jyss shuffled her feet nervously. "Yes, Majesty. Ah – I will need to take down the diamond of protection."

The King granted permission with a wave of his hand, and Jyss sank into the golden light of the Charter. With a precisely-cast mark she dissolved the diamond. The King held out his pale and wasted hand for the mirror, and as she passed it to him Jyss reflected that she was one of the select few who had been let through the King's magical defences. Even the Abhorsen, who had been such a favourite of King Edrian's, could not make that boast.

Jyss watched as Rothain handled the mirror. "You are not like them."

She blinked; that comment had come from nowhere. The young Corporal was still uneasy – she always was when around Rothain – but she could not help noticing that he seemed different. Or maybe he was more himself. In any case, he appeared saner and more aware. He was certainly calmer than minutes ago when he had ordered the Chancellor from the throne room.

"How do I look?"

Another unexpected remark. Rothain was staring into the mirror. Even in the orange light of the fire Jyss could see that his face was white as curdled milk. The shadows under his eyes were deeper than ever, and a particularly large purple vein stood out on his left temple. He looked ghastly. "You look fine."

The King reached up with a shaking hand and rubbed his chin. "I need a shave." He absent-mindedly passed Jyss the mirror and looked around the room as if expecting to see something there. But they were alone. "Where is everyone?"

Jyss consciously forced herself to remain calm. "The Chancellor was here. You ordered him away." The King was acting very strangely, but he did not seem crazy. True, he was not projecting the image of a confident and powerful ruler, but this mild distraction was more reassuring than his usual insensibility.

"I ordered...?" He seemed genuinely puzzled. His pale eyes fixed upon one of the portraits in the room. "My father," he said, gesturing with a pale hand. "It is a rather good likeness of him. I wish he were here now."

Jyss was surprised by his candour. "I am certain he would be proud of you," she managed to say, trying not to remember the Chancellor's recent words on the subject.

The King gave a bitter laugh. "I do not think so. I've failed in my duty to beget –"

He broke off with a groan and bent forward in his chair, clutching his head in obvious pain. Jyss sprang forward and hovered over him uncertainly, wondering what she should do. "Majesty?" she asked, hopping from one foot to the other, reaching out but not daring to touch him. "What –"

"LEAVE!"

Jyss stumbled back. The mirror slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor, splintering into a thousand pieces. A diamond of protection suddenly flared into life around the King's chair, barely missing her foot. Jyss gave the King a last agonized look before turning to flee the room.