“I suspect I know what you want to talk about,” Dorsay said. “But I’m very much afraid I’m going to have to disappoint you.”
“I’m not going to beat around the bush,” Raesinia said. “You and I managed to keep Vordan and Borel from each other’s throats. Surely it’s in your interests to help us now. If Janus takes over, it will mean war with you sooner or later.”
“No one doubts that,” Dorsay said. “And you know you have my personal sympathies. But it’s more complicated than that.” He sighed. “We received a packet from our government this morning.”
“That’s quick work.” The speed of the Borelgai packet ships was proverbial, but even so. “Are you certain they had all the information?”
“Enough for preliminary instructions. All work on the treaty is to be suspended, for now.”
Damn. She’d expected that, but she’d been hoping the Borels wouldn’t act quite so soon. “So we’re just going to be left hanging?”
“I imagine they expect you to communicate your needs to the ambassador, so that whatever assistance is required can be a part of the negotiations when they resume.”
“You think you have us over a barrel, so you’re going to wring out more concessions, in other words.”
“Not me, Your Highness.” Dorsay looked genuinely unhappy. “My position here has been brought to an end. I will be returning to Viadre on the first available ship.”
“What happened to Georg and his desire for peace?”
“We may not have a Deputies-?General, but neither is Georg an absolute despot.” Dorsay sighed. “I can only assume there has been a realignment at home. I’ll know more once I arrive.” The duke kicked at a tuft of browning grass. “Assuming I’m permitted to remain at court. They may pack me off to the country again, which I have to say would suit me well enough. I’m too old for this nonsense.”
“It’s going to take too long,” Raesinia muttered, half to herself. Time to talk to the Borelgai ambassador, time for the message to go to Viadre by ship and back again, however many times it took to come to an agreement. “By the time any help even sets out from Borel, it could be too late.”
“I know. I have tried to impress upon Georg that military affairs rarely wait on a politician’s timetable.”
“There must be something we can do to speed things up.”
Dorsay shrugged. “Not unless you can convince Georg he needs a Vordanai vacation, and I sincerely doubt that you can. He hasn’t left the palace grounds in years, the lazy wretch.”
She thought, briefly, of the flik-?flik lines, the signaling technique that Janus had brought back from Khandar. Their operation required extensive training, however, and all the operators Vordan possessed were going along with the army, to lay out a line keeping General Kurot in contact with the capital. We should have more of them. And permanent stations, and— And they would, someday. But here and now there wasn’t time, even if she was willing to reveal military secrets to the Borels.
Or maybe there’s something in the Thousand Names. Feor, the Khandarai priestess, had students studying the ancient archives. But from what Raesinia knew of magic, coming up with something so eminently practical so quickly was unlikely.
“That’s it,” Raesinia said.
“What, getting Georg to go on vacation?”
“The other way around,” Raesinia said. “Duke Dorsay, I think it is about time I saw Viadre.”
*
“I’m telling you, Your Highness,” Dorsay said, as they neared the Borelgai ambassadorial suite, “this is a bad idea.”
“I agree,” said Eric, on the other side. “The Deputies will have a fit.”
“You have no idea what the court in Viadre is like,” Dorsay went on. “I’d take any battlefield you care to name over that nest of vipers, and I’ve seen my share of both.”
“They’ll say you don’t have the authority,” Eric said. “What’s the good of going there yourself if the Deputies won’t approve the deal you work out?”
Raesinia stopped in her tracks, forcing the two of them to come to a hurried halt. She’d changed out of her riding leathers and into a full formal dress, whose layers of velvet and silk added considerably to her bulk. They rustled as she turned on the two men.
“First of all,” she said, “the court doesn’t scare me. Politics around here haven’t been exactly safe, you may have noticed.” And I was at the center of the revolution, she added mentally. “Nest of vipers” doesn’t begin to describe it. “Second of all, the Deputies have already given their approval to the treaty in outline. All that’s under discussion is the details.”
“They won’t see it that way,” Eric said. “Military assistance was not what they had in mind!”
“Then they’re welcome to explain that to Janus,” Raesinia said, “or argue with me after we’ve won.”
“But who’s even going to conduct the negotiations?” Eric said. “You?” At Raesinia’s arched eyebrow, he stuttered, “N-n-not that you’re not a fine negotiator, but do you know enough about the subjects? I know I can’t follow half of what goes on when they get into trade agreements and shipping rights.”
Raesinia glanced at her two bodyguards. Barely was trying hard to keep a straight face at Eric’s discomfiture, but Joanna was definitely grinning. She felt like grinning back.
“As it happens,” she said haughtily, “the Minister of the Treasury has agreed to lend me one of his experts.” Or he will, once we ask him. “Between us we should be able to handle the major issues.”
“Your Highness, please.” Dorsay lowered his voice. “You may be putting yourself in danger.”
“I’m sure His Majesty would never lower himself to harming a guest,” Raesinia said. And danger or not, this is what I can do to help. Marcus was out there because she’d asked him to go, begged him over his best instincts. If there’s anything I can do to protect him, I have to try. She grinned. Besides, what’s the worst they can do, cut my head off? They’d be very surprised at the results.
She started walking again, reaching the door to the ambassadorial suite before her escorts had a chance to say another word. The Borelgai Life Guards opened the door and stepped out of the way, coming to attention. Ihannes Pulwer-?Monsangton waited by the big table, wearing his diplomat’s grin.
“Your Highness,” he said. “It’s an honor.”
“Thank you for receiving me on such short notice,” Raesinia said, sweeping in. That was one thing to be said for formal dresses, she had to admit—?they made for dramatic sweeps. “You got my note?”
“I did indeed.” Ihannes’ smile widened.
“And?”
“While my instructions from His Majesty do not specifically address this eventuality, I am sure that I’m not going outside the bounds of my authority to say that he would welcome your visit as a sign of the increased cordiality between our two nations.” Ihannes cocked his head. “And, of course, it would be more convenient for any negotiations that might arise.”
“Then His Majesty will receive me?”
“In due time.”