Diani grinned. “Lord Brugaosa, you should know better than to go looking for wisdom in Curtell.”
All of them laughed, easing the tension in the chamber somewhat. But Olesya quickly grew serious once more.
“Am I to understand then, Lord Brugaosa, that you now favor joining forces with the Eibitharians?”
“To be honest, Your Highness, I’m not certain how I feel about it. I don’t wish to make an enemy of the emperor.” He nodded toward Diani and the duchess of Macharzo. “But I fear that our young friends here may be right. And if the conspiracy wants this war, we might be well served to put a stop to it as swiftly as possible.”
“Throwing our army into the fray will only prolong the conflict,” Alao said, glowering at Edamo. “If we want it to end quickly we should stay out of it and let them fight.”
The queen raised an eyebrow. “I’d like to ask my master of arms about that. I’m not sure what effect our forces would have on this war. But it seems to me a fair question.” She turned to one of guards standing near the door. “Have your commander summoned immediately.” Then, as if as an afterthought, she added, “And the duke of Curlinte also.”
Diani looked up quickly before dropping her gaze to the table, her cheeks coloring. Her father had accompanied her to the royal city when first she came, because at the time she was still recovering from the injuries she suffered during the assassination attempt at the Curlinte coast. Since arriving at Olesya’s castle they had fought frequently over the best response to the Qirsi threat and the complicity or innocence of Kreazur jal Sylbe, Curlinte’s former first minister. Kreazur died in the streets of Yserne, apparently the victim of assassins he had tried to hire on behalf of the conspiracy, though both Diani and her father now had doubts about this. Diani did not doubt that Sertio had some knowledge of the Braedon army or that he would be able to add much to this discussion; he was master of arms in Curlinte. But she and her father remained at odds, and she feared that his presence here would only serve to remind the other nobles that she was the least experienced of the queen’s duchesses.
If Olesya noticed her discomfort, she gave no indication of it, immediately turning her attention back to Edamo. “I believe I speak for all of us, Lord Brugaosa, when I say that I’m. . surprised by your change of heart.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
They all waited, as if expecting an explanation. When it became clear that none was forthcoming, the queen smiled and nodded. “Very well, Lord Brugaosa.”
Before she could say more, there was a knock at the door, and at her reply, the master of arms and Diani’s father entered the chamber. Both men were soaked and muddied, their color high, their breathing heavy. Ohan Delrasto, the master of arms, had a welt under one of his dark eyes, and Sertio had several on his arms and one vivid red mark at the base of his neck. Both of them were grinning like boys caught in some mischief, though Diani thought that Ohan had to be nearly her father’s age.
“Forgive our appearance, Your Highness,” said the master of arms, bowing to the queen. “We came as soon as we received your summons.”
“Apparently. I take it you were in the ward?”
“Yes, Your Highness. We were. .” He stopped, licking his lips.
“We were practicing foul weather combat, Your Highness,” Sertio said. “Not all wars are fought in sunshine on firm ground.”
“Indeed. And your soldiers are still out there, Master Delrasto?”
“They were never out there, Your Highness,” Ohan said, grinning again. “Just the two of us.”
Sertio added, “We were working on techniques that we intend to teach to our armies, Your Highness.”
Even Diani had to laugh. She couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed for her father, but she was glad to see him enjoying himself. Since her mother’s death, Sertio had foundered in his grief, until Diani wondered if he’d ever know happiness again. No doubt this day’s mirth would prove fleeting, but the mere fact that he could engage in such swordplay gave her hope. Perhaps the wound on his heart had finally begun to heal itself.
“I would invite you to sit,” the queen said, regarding their stained clothing. “But under the circumstances I think it best that you remain standing.”
“Of course, Your Highness. How may we serve you?”
The queen picked up the missive from Kearney and read it aloud. By the time she finished, both Sertio and the master of arms had grown deadly serious.
“These are dark tidings, Your Highness,” Ohan said, rubbing a hand over his angular face.
“Can Eibithar defend herself?”
He stared at the floor, and after several moments he began to nod slowly. “I should think so. If Aneira was as strong now as she was a year ago, I might say different. The emperor has chosen a weakened ally.”
“Does it surprise you that they should attack now?” Edamo asked. “Wouldn’t you have expected them to wait?”
“You mean until Aneira could rebuild its northern armies?”
“Precisely.”
“Yes, I suppose it does.”
“Some of the duchesses have recommended that I grant Kearney’s request,” the queen said. “They want me to send Sanbiri warriors to fight alongside the men of Eibithar.”
Sertio eyed Diani for a moment, as if he knew that she was one of the nobles to whom Olesya referred.
“Are you asking my opinion on the matter, Your Highness?” the master of arms asked.
“Yes, I am.”
Ohan took a long breath. “If we send soldiers by sea, we’ll need to send most of the fleet. And even then, I don’t like our chances against Braedon’s ships. Which means we’d have to send them overland, and in order to get them to northern Eibithar in time to do any good, we’d have to send them on horseback.”
“We have enough mounts to send a considerable force.”
“That’s true, Your Highness, but a mounted army is harder to provision. And of course, we’d have to ride through Caerisse or Wethyrn to get there. Their leaders may not look kindly on having our army cross their borders.”
The queen waved a hand impatiently. “I’m not concerned about that right now. I’ll be with the army, and I trust I can convince a Wethy noble that I’m not interested in conquering his dukedom. What I really want to know is what effect our army is likely to have on the course and duration of this war.”
“We’d be prolonging the war, wouldn’t we?” Alao broke in.
The master of arms glanced at Sertio, who shrugged.
“I can’t be certain, Your Highness. I think with our help the Eibitharians can repel the invasion, but as to how long such a conflict will last, I have no idea. Without our help, Kearney’s army might fall quickly, in which case we would be prolonging it. On the other hand, Eibithar might prevail even without our help, which would mean that our soldiers could bring the fighting to a swifter end.”
Olesya looked at Sertio. “What do you think, Lord Curlinte?”
“I have little to add to what Master Delrasto has already said.”
“Then you also feel that it would have been wiser for the emperor to delay,” the duke of Brugaosa asked.
Sertio stared at Edamo, the muscles in his jaw tightening. Even with Kreazur’s death and the conspiracy’s obvious involvement in the attempts on Diani’s life, Sertio still blamed House Brugaosa for Cyro’s murder. He and Edamo had not spoken in years, and Diani knew that her father still thirsted for the man’s blood.
“Yes, Lord Brugaosa,” Sertio said, his voice edged with steel, “I guess I do. Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious with everything else that’s happened? I believe the Qirsi may be behind this war, just as they were behind the attack on your daughter.”
Sertio narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth to reply.
“I’d like to know what the rest of you think,” Olesya said, before the duke could speak. “Clearly Lord Norinde opposes any involvement on our part. I believe that Lord Brugaosa now favors sending our soldiers north, as do Lady Curlinte and Lady Listaal.” She paused, eyeing the three of them. When they all nodded their agreement, she continued, “What about the rest of you?”