Something is wrong in Iftel.
Leareth has very little idea what is wrong in Iftel. He dislikes this state of affairs, but it's been hard to work around the sheer, inconvenient fact that he approximately cannot get spies in or out of the insular, literally-divine-protected kingdom.
The first hint of something wrong is when the trade caravans stop leaving from the Ifteli border. Some merchants in Haven, and in various cities of Rethwellan and Hardorn, are quite annoyed about it. At that point it's a minor curiosity, but it is odd, and Leareth passes along some secure messages.
Then all the caravans originating from Iftel - and the mercenaries guarding them - are recalled. They disappear behind the wall and don't re-emerge.
And, most recently, the Valdemaran Council discussed whether to answer a request for aid. Food and supplies, mostly; Iftel is apparently claiming some kind of disaster. They're asking for volunteer Healers. They don't want Heralds but they never let Heralds in.
Something is wrong. Leareth doesn't know what, but at this point he's starting to be genuinely alarmed.
He takes the risk of redeploying spies closer to the Ifteli border. There's still some traffic crossing it. Not many people leaving, but not none. He has Thoughtsensers. Most Healers shield but he can maybe learn something.