“You don’t have to dance around it,” Raesinia said with a sigh. “I know he made some bad decisions.”
“It wasn’t really his fault,” Cora said. “Orlanko put Rackhil Grieg in the Ministry of Finance, and everyone knows he was a Borelgai puppet. A lot of the loans the Crown took on his watch were on very unfavorable terms, deliberately, to improve profits for the Borels. The Deputies could never accept them, treaty or no treaty.”
“Wonderful.” Raesinia shook her head. “Let’s hope this is just Goodman’s opening offer. He has to be willing to negotiate—?we may need his help, but he certainly won’t get his money if Janus takes over.”
“I’ll talk to him,” Cora said. “We need to narrow down exactly which loans he’s talking about, and—”
There was a knock at the door. A heavily accented voice, one of the Life Guards outside, called, “A visitor, Your Highness. The second prince.”
Raesinia and Cora raised their eyebrows simultaneously.
“Did he say anything about coming to meet you?” Cora said.
“Not that I recall.” She pushed herself out of the chair. “I suppose it would be rude to leave him waiting in the hall.”
She opened the door, half expecting to find the prince at the head of a whole procession. Instead he was alone except for the ever-?present Life Guards, hands thrust in his pockets, ruining the line of his dark gray suit. His expression made it look as if he’d just eaten something foul.
Have I offended him already? Raesinia put on a blank expression. “Prince Matthew. What a pleasant surprise.”
“Your Highness,” Matthew said. “I wanted—?that is, I would be honored...” He trailed off with a scowl, took a deep breath, and started over. “If you’re not too tired, I would be pleased to invite you to dinner.”
“Dinner?” The sky visible from the suite’s windows was a uniform gray, and Raesinia realized she had no idea what time it was. “Tonight?”
“Or another time. I am... eager to get to know you.”
He doesn’t look it. The second prince had all the excitement of a man walking to his own execution. So what’s going on? The little she’d learned from Dorsay hadn’t included anything about where the princes fell in relation to the king and the Honest Fellows. Better to play it safe until we know more.
“It will have to be another time,” she said with an ostentatious yawn. “It really has been a trying day. I hope you won’t be offended.”
“Of course not,” Matthew said. He seemed pleasantly surprised. “I’ll call again, Your Highness. Enjoy your evening.”
“Thank you,” Raesinia said. She watched, mystified, as he turned away, trailing his personal guard.
“What was that about?” Cora said, peeking over the back of her armchair.
“I have no idea,” Raesinia said as she pulled the door shut. But I think I’d better find out.
8
Marcus
There was a scratch at the tent flap. Marcus set down his pen with some relief and looked up. “Yes?”
“You wanted to see me, sir?” Cyte said.
“Please. Come in.”
After nearly a week on the march, Marcus was settling in to his new routine. In truth, it was a relief to have a smaller force to worry about than the entire Grand Army, and General Kurot and his staff had been doing a competent job thus far. The Army of the Republic had proceeded by easy stages away from the river and up toward the Illifen passes without more than the usual number of entanglements, traffic jams, and stuck wagons.
Marcus had been trying hard to get to know his colonels and learn some of the peculiarities of their units. Every command had its eccentricities—?the intercompany handball games that were a regular feature of the Second’s camp life were a new wrinkle, for example—?and, for the most part, they were harmless. But not always. He frowned as Cyte slipped inside.
“Something wrong, sir?”
“Maybe.” He cleared his throat and steeled himself. “I have become aware of an... improper relationship between Colonel Giforte and Colonel Erdine.”
“Improper, sir?”
“A sexual relationship.”
“Ah.”
“I realize it’s a serious charge, but I’m quite certain.” Marcus felt himself flushing a little. Hell of a thing to have to talk to a girl about. “When I was at Colonel Erdine’s tent, I encountered Colonel Giforte in a state of undress.” He’d damn near walked in on the two of them in the act, by the look of things.
“I see, sir.” A faint smile played at the corner of Cyte’s lips.
“Were you aware of this?” Marcus said.
“More or less, sir. I think it’s... common knowledge.”
“I thought that might be the case,” Marcus said. “I have the highest respect for both of them as officers. Ordinarily a stern reprimand would be appropriate, but I wondered if General Ihernglass had a special procedure for this kind of... affair. Given the First Regiment’s unique situation, I mean.”
“Of a sort, sir. He was generally willing to turn a blind eye. Provided, of course, the liaison did not involve soldiers in the same chain of command.” She was definitely smiling now. “I think it’s safe to say that Abby and Erdine are... not unique, sir.”
“I should have expected as much.” Marcus sighed. “It’s not going to be good for discipline in the long run.”
“From what General Ihernglass told me about the Colonials, it wasn’t uncommon for the officers to keep women,” Cyte pointed out.
Marcus had to admit there were several establishments in Ashe-?Katarion that he’d frequented. He grimaced. “That wasn’t... regulation. And, of course, with only men in the regiment, we didn’t have to deal with any relationships between soldiers.”
“That’s...” Cyte paused, and apparently decided not to comment. “In any event, sir, so far it hasn’t caused problems in the Second. Do you plan to change General Ihernglass’ policy?”
“I suppose not.” He shifted uncomfortably. “I assume Colonel Giforte and her soldiers have... that is, they won’t...”
“They have appropriate protection, sir,” Cyte said. “And Colonel Giforte is very firm if there’s even a hint of coercion or commerce involved.”
“That’s good. We can’t have the regiment turning into a brothel.”
“The Girls’ Own takes care of its soldiers, sir.”
“Good, good.” Marcus let out a long breath, feeling like he’d surmounted a difficult obstacle.
“Was that all?” Cyte said with a broad grin.
“I’ve had this note from General Kurot,” Marcus said, tapping his pile of papers. “There have been several attempts at defection intercepted by the sentries, and it’s possible others were more successful. Marching against Janus...” He shrugged. “What’s your sense of the Second? Are we likely to have problems in that respect?”
“I doubt it, sir. Speaking frankly, it was always more Winter’s division than Janus’.” She looked a little uncomfortable. “I have to admit, sir, that there’s been a little talk about you. Not that the soldiers doubt your loyalty, but...”
“I understand.” Marcus was getting used to those suspicions, unfortunately. “Is this talk anything I should worry about?”