Kahrlohn began to suspect mischiefótrained to be on guard for treachery, he could think of no other reason for her change. He barged into rooms where she quietly worked on her stitching, and worse, restricted her time for riding. Finding her faultless only enraged him further. ìI begin to fear for my life,î she confessed to Dintohn once when she managed to slip away. ìHis eyes are measuring my capacity for evil. Before he left me alone. Now if I move to the door, heís there asking where Iím going, never satisfied with the answer.î
ìYes, but what can I do?î Dintohn asked.
She sighed. ìStay nearby, will you? Just watch how he watches me.î
One day her horse fell after a jump, breaking a leg. Seegahnah was uninjured, except in spiritósheíd grown to love the outland creature, clumsy as he was. Only Feergah would understand and empathize. She decided to send a message to her friend and called a scribe to her chamber in the fortress.
ìTake my dictation,î she instructed, and began with warmest greetings to her good friend before describing the injury to her pony.
As she spoke Kahrlohn came to the door of her chamber. He had heard her speaking and thought he would finally catch her plotting against him. He missed the first part of Seegahnahís letter entirely. This is what he heard:
ìI may find it necessary to kill him. I will have to do it myselfóI trust no one else to the task. You know I donít want to, especially because I may never get another, but I see no choice but to destroy him.î
The scribe stopped writing. He looked beyond Seegahnah to the roomís entrance and made a gurgling noise in his throat. At the same time, the princess heard a scrape that made her think of Cook sharpening a knife on a whetstone. Her people didnít keep their swords in scabbards, so the sound of Kahrlohnís being drawn from its sheath didnít impress her with its significance. It was only when she looked behind her, wondering why Cook might be sharpening a knife in her doorway, that she screamed. The scribe left his seat and pressed himself against the far wall.
Kahrlohn was trembling, but his words came out quiet, oddly calm. ìKill me now, if you think itís so necessary. You wonít get another chance.î
For a moment Seegahnah thought he had gone mad, then she saw the letter on the table and awful comprehension dawned. ìI-I wasnít talking about you,î she tried to say, but her husband had already caught her wrists in one of his hands, his sword ready to cut through her.
Then he was a collapsed heap on the floor. Dintohn removed the dagger from his back, wiping it clean on the princeís tunic. ìI did not mean to kill him,î he said, touching the body apologetically. ìI only wanted to prevent injury to you. I was coming to see you anyway, and then I heard a scream.î He looked over at where the scribe had been. Now there was only bare wall in that corner. ìI should have prevented him from fleeing. Too many people will want him to lie about what heís seen.î
Seegahnah crumpled, but Dintohn pulled her to her feet. ìYou canít afford to drop your guard, Highness,î he said firmly. ìFrom now on, everything you want must be fought for.î
Dintohn was tried for murder and condemned. Seegahnah did what she could to counter the scribeís story, which alleged she and the councilor were caught in flagrante delicto by the prince. (No one noticed how this version of events did not adequately account for the scribeís presence in Seegahnahís chambers.) This allegation could not be proved, so Seegahnah suffered no punishment but a tarnished reputation. The councilor, however, had both the adultery story and Kahrlohnís blood on his hands. He was hanged, and when he was, a cold wind blew through Seegahnahís heart. Everything seemed ice to her now.
Yet she was still naÔve. She sent for Feergah and began asking her earnest questions about how to find a new husband, one who could protect her and her son Karlbad, the heir-apparent.
ìPerhaps you have other tasks for your girl,î Feergah said, indicating the chambermaid in the room. Seegahnahís heart skipped a beat. She hadnít even noticed she was there! She dismissed the girl quickly. When they were alone, Feergah sat with the princess on her couch and patted her hand.
ìIím afraid you canít think of marriage yet,î she said. ìIt would be unseemly to go husband-seeking. Just listen for what gets said about you when the chambermaid reports our conversation.î
ìBut how can I?î Seegahnah asked. ìWho will say to my face what is said about me on the street?î
ìDonít worryóI can find out for you.î
The princess looked troubled. Feergah said, ìI know my manner is blunt, but have I ever offered bad advice? Trust me.î
Seegahnah sighed. ìI donít have any choice, do I? All the other friends Iíve ever had are gone.î
The death of Kahrlohn had won Seegahnah many enemies, not out of any loyalty felt for the prince, but because now the heir-apparent was a baby with a Wanderer-mother and no father. Still, the princess was so popular no one dared disparage her openly. Instead, indulging the publicís taste for prurient details, her enemies managed to spread the rumor sheíd become a whore. Because of the chambermaid, it was now a known fact sheíd been eager to marry again; it was said her inability to do so, coupled with the spell of lust-madness sheíd suffered earlier, turned her down a wicked path.
Seegahnah heard all the rumors from her friend. ìThey say Iím a harlot?î she asked Feergah rhetorically. ìThen Iíll play the harlot.î