And if they could do that, what else could they do? That’s what they were thinking, all of them in the room. “When the fast-rider came from Nessantico, I didn’t want to believe this,” Jan told him. “I thought perhaps-”
“I told you that your matarh wouldn’t dare use such an outrageous lie,” Brie interrupted.
“Yes, you did,” Jan answered, though he didn’t bother to hide the irritation in his voice. “Though I’m certain that the fact that it’s true won’t stop her from trying to take whatever advantage she can from the situation. So what is it that my matarh wants, Ambassador, that she’d send you so quickly back to Brezno?”
“She asks for the help of Firenzcia and the Coalition,” Sergei said simply.
“Asks for or demands?” Jan interrupted. Sergei spread his shriveled, delicate hands wide.
“Does it matter, Hirzg Jan? The Garde Civile of the Holdings couldn’t stand alone against the Tehuantin fifteen years ago and defeat them. They still cannot.”
From the edge of his vision, Jan saw Starkkapitan ca’Damont allow himself a momentary smile at that. “So now she wants our army to enter Holdings territory. How terribly amusing and ironic.”
“We have no obligation to help them,” Archigos Karrol said. The elderly man’s voice quavered, and he cleared his throat noisily afterward, phlegm rattling in his lungs. “The Tehuantin wish to attack the Holdings? Well, let them. They won’t come here, or if they do, we’ll deal with them at that time, when their supply lines have stretched too far and their forces are weak.”
“No obligation to help?” Sergei responded. “Only the obligation that Cenzi gives us in the Toustour, and also by the rules of the Divolonte. ‘It is the duty of the Faithful to help those of the Faith who are in desperate need.’ I believe that’s an accurate quote-or has the Archigos decided to abandon those of the Faith who happen to live in the Holdings?”
“If your Kraljica hadn’t decided to interfere in issues of faith and coddle and legitimize the Numetodo, then perhaps Cenzi wouldn’t have sent this trial to her.”
“Now you sound like Nico Morel, Archigos. I must say I find that- to use the words of your good Starkkapitan-terribly amusing and ironic.”
Jan slapped his hands on the table. “Ambassador, Archigos, enough!” His hands tingled with the force of the impact. Archigos Karrol’s mouth slammed shut with an audible grating of teeth; Sergei simply leaned back in his chair, his hand wrapped around the knob of his cane. “What does my matarh offer, Ambassador? Because she must be offering something in return.”
The man’s nervous ticks were at least predictable-he rubbed at the side of his metal nose as if it itched. “She is willing to give you what you’ve asked for,” Sergei said, and Jan felt a sudden pressure in his chest. “She will name you A’Kralj,” Sergei finished.
Jan felt Brie’s hand on his arm. “Where is the knife blade hidden under those silken words?” she asked Sergei.
The Ambassador did smile at that, briefly. Then he leaned forward in his chair. “In return for the title, the Kraljica requests that Firenzcia dissolve the Coalition and immediately return to the Holdings. The other Coalition countries would be invited to rejoin the Holdings. If they refuse…” Sergei leaned back again. “Then the Kraljica, after this crisis is over, might be inclined to have them returned forcibly, with the aid of Firenzcia and the A’Kralj’s-and Hirzg’s-army.”
The pressure in his chest released once more, and Jan felt himself laugh, a sound that was almost a cough. Archigos Karrol chuckled broadly. Both Rance and Starkkapitan ca’Damont shook their heads. Brie’s hand left his arm, leaving behind a chill. “So the old bitch still gets what she wants,” Jan said.
“It is a compromise,” Sergei responded. “You both get a portion of what you wanted. And you, Hirzg Jan, get the final prize: you’ll eventually be Kraljiki of a united Holdings.”
“While she gets to play Kraljica for the rest of her life.” He scoffed again. “And if she lives for decades yet, I get to play Justi to her Marguerite, waiting patiently for her to die so I can receive my inheritance.”
Sergei’s mouth twitched; Jan couldn’t decide if it was amusement or if he simply expected that objection. “I believe that I can persuade her to put a time limit on her reign, Hirzg. After all, Allesandra will be sixty in 570; she might be persuaded to resign her title in favor of the A’Kralj at that point-which is only seven years from now.”
“Which would be adequate time for, ahh, some unfortunate accident to befall our Hirzg,” Rance broke in. His smile showed no teeth, his lips pressed together as he inclined his head toward Sergei. “Such things seem to have a habit of occurring to those involved with the Kraljica, after all,” he added.
“Yet somehow I’ve managed to live,” Sergei answered, spreading his hands wide. “Kraljica Allesandra has her faults, I’ll admit, but let’s not fall prey to conspiracy rumors and attribute every misfortune to her influence. With the Archigos’ forgiveness, she’s hardly the Moitidi that some would make her out to be.”
Jan had only half-listened to the exchange. “Is she still bedding the pretender Erik ca’Vikej?”
Sergei sighed. “Yes,” he answered simply.
“I suppose she wants him on the throne of West Magyaria, and perhaps even married to her. Another ally to keep her on the throne.”
Sergei said nothing. Finally, Jan sighed. It’s this or war. It’s this or allowing the Westlanders to ravage the Holdings once again-and make it worthless to you. He glanced at Brie; she nodded to him. “She would do what you said?” Jan asked Sergei. “She would abdicate the Sun Throne on her sixtieth birthday?”
“That isn’t the offer she made, but I believe I can convince her of the wisdom of that choice,” Sergei answered. “Whatever you might think of your matarh, Hirzg, or her choices in lovers, she truly does want what is best for the Holdings. She knows that means the Holdings needs to be one again.”
“Hirzg,” Rance interrupted, “forgive me, but I still don’t like this. There is no reason that Firenzcia needs to bow to Nessantico. If anything, it should be the other way around, with you dictating the terms…” Rance stopped as they heard a knock on the servants’ door to the chamber. “Ah, that will be the additional refreshments. A moment…”
Rance rose from his chair, bowed to Jan, and went to the door. Rhianna was among the servants who entered, Jan noticed immediately, with a cart laden with glasses, a tray of pastries, and bottles of wine. She seemed to notice Jan at the same time, dropping her gaze as she pushed the cart toward the end of the table.
Brie noticed her as well. Jan felt Brie watching him as he regarded Rhianna, and heard the quick intake of breath through her nose. The conversation around the table turned to the ashfall, to Sergei’s journey here-safe subjects-as the servants placed the glasses and dishes in front of each of them, opened the bottles and poured, and put the pastries within easy reach. Jan pretended to listen and take part in the talk, glancing deliberately and often at Brie as he did so, turning carefully away from Rhianna when she came quietly to his side to place his glass and then hurry away. He saw Brie glance at the girl, saw the narrowing of her eyes and the flare of her nostrils as she watched Rhianna even while she smiled at Jan. He forced himself not to look away even though he wanted that. There was something about the girl that made him want to talk to her, to listen to her voice and stare into her face, and, hopefully, to know her much better…
But if he wanted that, he had to be patient. He had to be careful.
Patience.
He laughed, suddenly, startling Brie and the others. Brie touched her face quizzically, as if wondering whether the kohl around her eyes had decided to smear. “Is something wrong, my love?”
“No, no,” he said. Rhianna, with the other servants, were already exiting the room, ushered out by Rance, who closed the door after them and returned to the table. “Starkkapitan, I want you to muster three divisions of the army-one at the Loi-Clario Pass, and two near Ville Colhelm; Archigos, you will coordinate with the Starkkapitan to make certain that he has sufficient war-teni for full-scale operations. Rance, we will be leaving Brezno for Stag Fall in two days, and we will wait there for further news.”