In Which Numair is a Carthaki Spy
"There had better be a good explanation for this."
Numair takes one look at the document lying on the kitchen table and sighs. "Sweet—" He stops. "This isn't what it looks like."
"It looks like secret correspondence to the Carthaki spymaster." Daine's blue-eyed stare is flat. A dozen animals watch intently from various perches around the room; the jury to her judge.
"Well, yes," says Numair.
"Yes?"
"But it's nothing that they aren't already getting through other channels."
"How long," Daine whispers.
"They recruited me when I was a student. Oh, don't look at me like that, Daine!" says Numair. "Half the students at university were on the payroll of Imperial Intelligence. How do you think we low-class commoners paid our fees? It was standard practice."
"What have you told them?" says Daine numbly. "Council secrets? Were you helping them during the Immortals' War? What will the King do to you when he finds out? Goddess!"
"Jonathan knows."
Daine looks at him, speechless.
"He makes suggestions about what I pass along, and I give him whatever news I get from my Carthaki superiors."
"You're a double agent!" Daine says. She's even less thrilled, if such a thing is possible.
The songbirds warble uneasily, the cats hiss at Numair, and an orphaned Great Horned lizard makes a truly evil noise like a death gurgle in a suit of armour.
"Yes, of course! I'm not a traitor," Numair says, offended. He rubs a frustrated hand over his eyes. "Jonathan made me swear not to tell anyone, even you. He said that it was better for everyone if left a secret. I'm truly sorry that you found out this way, Magelet. That letter was supposed to be hidden."
Daine lets him know how inadequate his apology is with the kind of stare that heralds zombie dinosaurs.
"Kitten found it." She picks up Sarralyn from her cradle, hushing her gently when she starts to fuss.
"I'm going to Onua's," Daine says accusingly. "Try not to sell any state secrets while I'm gone."
A small menagerie of angry creatures follows her out the door.