„How is Southern Army doing?"
„You can see the map. Maintaining the integrity of its lines. That's all you could expect against the odds." A messenger appeared. Mist leaned to eavesdrop on his report. The table chief began moving unit markers at the map's easternmost edge.
„What's all that?" Bragi asked.
„Eastern Army is under attack."
„Matayanga caught them with a surprise ally?"
„This has been going on a while."
„A whole separate war?"
„Yes. Not large, but... . Something awful is going on there."
Ragnarson glanced at the representation of the Matayangan front, rose. „I see. Come with me." He headed for the door to the stairs.
Mist gave him a hard look that faded to bland. After a moment, she followed. Varthlokkur's eyes tracked them, his face tight. Outside, safe from other ears, Mist asked, „What?"
„Would you guess I know you and Varthlokkur fairly well? Considering the years I've had to watch you? Would you guess I'm moderately able to estimate the thinking of Tervola in general?"
„I suppose. It's been your career."
„Then how long do you think you can put me off by skipping over, glossing over, subject changing, whenever Shinsan's far eastern situation comes up?"
„What are you?..."
„Point. You would not risk what you're about to hazard without a damned good idea of the local situation every where in the Dread Empire. Nor would your allies. I know you and I know Tervola that well. Either what's happening out there is of small consequence, and can be safely ignored while you're carrying out your coup, or it is of great consequence and you'll use it to keep your political enemies preoccupied. I know Tervola well enough to know they'll defend the empire before they'll abandon the frontier to play politics. I favor the latter view. Comments?"
Mist shrugged.
„I'm ignorant by your standards but not stupid, Mist. I can add up the odds and ends. Something big and nasty in the far east. Somebody called the Deliverer. You and Varthlokkur not willing to say anything about it even though you have to know what's happening. Varthlokkur not even willing to hear the name of Nepanthe's son, let alone make any effort to learn what became of him. Nepanthe becoming almost obsessed with the idea of finding him, and she with the witchy blood of her family. To me all that says Ethrian is alive, up to his ears in whatever's happening out there, Nepanthe senses it, Varthlokkur knows what it is and wants to shield her from it for whatever reason, and has twisted your arm somehow so you won't tell anyone what you know, either. For fear it will get back to Nepanthe. Knowing Varthlokkur, I'd guess he's decided whatever it is will break her heart and maybe cost him her. And he is obsessed with hanging onto her now that he's got her. Comments?"
„No."
„You expect me to jump into something blind, then. Without being in any position to compel me. Bad tactics, Mist. Bad tactics. I'm the kid that owns the ball. I can pick it up and go home. And leave you twisting in the breeze. You're almost completely committed already. But I'm not. It won't cost me to walk away."
Still Mist would not speak.
„I don't plan to run through the streets of Vorgreberg screaming out the secret. No matter, I guess. You're going to call my bluff. The old man always told me, the best way to bluff is not to be kidding. I wish you luck with your scheme. If it falls through, come back. I'll always need somebody tough to hold Maisak." He started to move around her, to the door to her situation room.
She eyed him, estimating, and concluded that he was not bluffing. „Wait."
He paused. After a few seconds, he asked, „Well?"
„He'll be furious. Maybe he'll back out on me himself. But all right. You're basically right. About the situation out east. It's very tight, very dangerous, and with the war with Matayanga having broken out, doubly so. I'm not as famil iar with it as I should be. Almost no one but the general commanding really knows what's going on, and he's too busy to gossip. But large armies employing the most grim necromantic sorceries having been attacking the empire viciously, ceaselessly, and mostly winning. They are led by someone who calls himself the Deliverer. What that is supposed to mean no one really knows. But it has been determined that the Deliverer was the son of Nepanthe and your friend Mocker."
„Was?"
„He underwent some dramatic changes between the time the agents of the Pracchia abducted him and when he reappeared in our easternmost territories with his armies. He is not the child Ethrian anymore. He may not even recall that child. He is an instrument of destruction. He is a thing that would make you look kindly upon the most despised of my people. He is a creature completely of shadow. And I believe Varthlokkur is right. If Nepanthe saw Ethrian as he is now it would, at the very least, shatter their marriage. She would blame him for not having salvaged her child from the darkness."
Bragi leaned against the door-frame, considering. Half a minute passed. „I think you underestimate Nepanthe. Both of you. But I could be wrong. Let's go back to work."
„Are you satisfied?"
„For the moment. I think later I'll want more details."
„You know as much as I do now."
„I doubt that." Ragnarson pushed inside. Varthlokkur's iron gaze tracked him from doorway to table. He ignored the wizard. Mist joined him in examining the Matayangan front. He asked, „Have you decided when to move yet?" He surveyed his people. They knew the truth of the situation now. Abaca looked ready to explode in indignation. „Mi chael. Can you get a message to Throyes fast?"
„If I have to."
„You might suggest that your friends there give Lord Hsung a hard time."
Michael laughed. „They need me to tell them that? Go teach your grandmother to suck eggs, boss. This is what they've been waiting for. By now the whole middle east is aflame."
„And Hsung probably expected it."
„He isn't a fool."
Bragi returned to his seat. „Michael says Hsung might be in for a bad time."
Mist's smile was a hard, sharp, brittle thing. It was the uncompromising smile of an empress. This wasn't the woman who had made punch the night before. „There were a few riots. They're under control, except in Throyes. Those will die out once the ringleaders have been crucified."
Ragnarson made a nasty face. „Crucified?"
„Lord Hsung can't afford to be gentle." After a moment's reflection, „We have to be concerned about him. He isn't political, but... ."
„Heard he's Kuo's brother-in-law."
„Not relevant. He's always stood with established author ity till the Council of Tervola acknowledged change. His allegiance goes with the vote. He'll be a bitter opponent. We may use your men against him, too."
„That's all you need?"
„We have the strength we need elsewhere."
„Why involve Dantice and Mundwiller?"
„We thought we'd have to hire mercenaries. Somebody had to collect them. Merchants use them all the time. Who'd be suspicious if the Delhagen syndics organized a big expedition now that the Gap is open?"
Ragnarson considered the map. Nothing obvious was happening. The tablemen occasionally added red sand.
„I'd better make arrangements for my people," he said. „I'll keep them at my place." He eased off his chair. He told Michael, „Keep an eye out. I don't want Hsung getting any more letters."
Trebilcock nodded. „I should help Haas. There isn't anything I can do in here."
„Right." Ragnarson collected Abaca, Liakopulos, and Sir Gjerdrum. „Take turns watching that map. See if you can spot something they don't."