“I suppose I’m just not very good with numbers,” Cora said.
“Given the size of the company, if VRT goes down hard, the whole market in Vordanai derivatives is going down with it,” Raesinia said. “Once it gets out where our loans came from, there’ll be runs on the banks. And then the banks that lent to those banks, and so on.”
“Including the Yellow Shield Bank,” Cora said. “They’re one of our largest creditors. And I believe you’re the majority owner, aren’t you, Master Goodman?”
“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” Goodman said. “If a breath of this hits the market—”
“Then everything collapses like a house of cards. That was more or less the point.” Raesinia picked up the tumbler again. “Are you sure I can’t offer you that drink?”
This time Goodman took it. He dragged one of the chairs away from the table, sank into it, and downed half the liquor in a single swallow. He coughed, then slammed the glass down, amber slopping over the rim. A muscle jumped in his cheek.
“You stupid little girls,” he snarled. “Playing with things you can’t possibly understand.”
“I would say we understand them considerably better than you.”
“You’ll face justice for this. Queen or not. The people will demand it.” His lips tightened. “You’ll never see Vordan again.”
“It’s possible,” Raesinia admitted. “That will mean war, of course. Which, as I understand it, is the one thing Georg is desperate to avoid. Are you ready to explain to him what’s happened?”
“On the other hand,” Cora said, as though she were just thinking of it, “Georg might welcome the prospect of a general collapse. He could repudiate the Crown’s debt fairly easily under the circumstances, couldn’t he? Bad news for anyone who’d lent him money, of course.”
Goodman had gone very pale, and he flinched visibly at this last shot. When he reached for the sticky tumbler again, Raesinia knew they’d won.
“What do you want?” he whispered.
“Tell the king that my marriage to the second prince is off. In addition to the squadron already dispatched, he’s to follow through on his promise to send an army to help defeat Janus, which we agree is in everyone’s best interest.”
“I think,” Goodman said, “that I might—”
“I’m not finished,” Raesinia snapped. “You’ll also agree to Cora’s plan for repayment of Vordan’s debts, which she assures me is the most generous we can afford.”
“Ah.” Goodman swallowed. “Anything else?”
“Ihannes Pulwer-?Monsangton is to be replaced as ambassador to Vordan by Second Prince Matthew. He gets to name his own escort from among the Life Guards.”
Goodman looked briefly puzzled, then shook his head. “And what do I get in exchange for all of this?”
“Once we’re back in Vordan, Cora will wind down VRT. Slowly, so as not to cause a panic. I suggest you take steps to suppress the market in Vordanai debt speculation, so when the details are announced it doesn’t rock the boat too much.”
“Of course,” Cora added, “if you change your mind, then we can simply go public with VRT and flip the table.”
“His Majesty won’t like it,” Goodman said.
“My understanding is that you have considerable influence with the king,” Raesinia said. “I suggest you use it.”
Goodman glared at her for a moment, then gulped the rest of the liquor from the tumbler and bowed his head.
*
“Another messenger,” Barely called.
“Tell him we’re not interested,” Raesinia said. She was watching as Matthew’s servants packed up her things, which had gotten a bit disorganized when they’d been hurriedly moved from her old quarters. I don’t remember bringing so many dresses. I suppose I wasn’t paying much attention when we packed.
“He’s got fancy gold braid all over him,” Barely said. “Says he’s the chief herald, or something like that.”
“Chief herald?” Raesinia said. “What does he want?”
“Says you’ve got to come and see the king.”
“Tell him I don’t think I do.”
Raesinia’s heart beat a little faster as the voices outside the door grew louder. She was aware she was playing a dangerous game here—?push Georg too far and he might lash out, consequences be damned. But she wanted him to be clear on how much their positions had changed, and she couldn’t help but take a little personal satisfaction. I don’t like being dictated to.
Eventually the chief herald left, and the packing continued. Matthew was already down at the docks, arranging their passage. Raesinia didn’t intend to waste another hour, now that she’d gotten what she needed. The sooner we can be back in Vordan City, the better. God only knew what the Deputies-?General had been up to in her absence.
“Your Highness?” Barely said.
Raesinia rolled her eyes. “If it’s another messenger, tell him—”
“It’s the king,” Barely said. “Do you want me to tell him to go away?”
Well. There was such a thing as pushing too far. Though I’d love to see the look on his face if Barely told him to get lost. “Let him in, I suppose.”
The door opened. The two maidservants bowed low as Georg came into the room, muddy red jewel gleaming on the breast of his suit.
“Your Highness,” he said.
“Your Majesty.” Raesinia turned to the servants. “Would you give us a few minutes, please?”
They bowed even lower and hurried out, relief written all over their faces. Raesinia turned back to Georg, who stood staring at her for a moment, hands clasped behind his back.
“It’s not done, you know, for the king to visit a guest,” he said. “I don’t know what you did to the chief herald, but the man is practically apoplectic. He’s always had a somewhat fragile disposition.”
“I didn’t think we had anything left to discuss,” Raesinia said. “At our last meeting, you made it clear I could deal with you, or deal with the Honest Fellows. As Master Goodman has proven accommodating...” She spread her hands.
“Oh, yes. He told me all about it.”
“All about it?” Raesinia couldn’t suppress a slight grin.
“He required some prompting, I must admit.” The king started to pace the length of the foyer. “I could, of course, simply have you all arrested.”
“I went over that with Goodman,” Raesinia said, keeping her voice nonchalant. “It’s possible. But it would mean war.”
“Only if you are the Queen of Vordan. If I were to come to an accommodation with Vhalnich...”
“I’m sure he’d be happy to entertain the offer. Much as the wolf is happy to listen to the sheep profess their loyalty.” She shrugged. “Also, it’s possible that the secrets of VRT might find their way to the market if anything were to happen to me. Just a... hunch.”
Georg snorted. Reaching the wall, he turned back to Raesinia, eyes narrow. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“I do my best.”
The king sighed, rolling his shoulders, first one and then the other. Raesinia watched him warily.