I only knew one real Avarean, and he was on our side, so I didn’t really have an answer for that – but fortunately, Valiana did. ‘It makes little difference, your Majesty,’ she said. ‘Victorious nations set terms of surrender based on how dangerous they deem the conquered.’
Trin gave a smirk. ‘Ah. So you were listening to Mother’s lectures after all.’
A flash of annoyance passed across Filian’s features, but he let it go and turned back to me. ‘What price will you ask of me, Falcio?’
‘Price?’ Trin asked before I could ask the same question.
The King nodded. ‘Well, I assume Falcio expects his sacrifice – and that of what will likely be a great many others – to come at some cost to me. No doubt it’ll be some curtailing of royal prerogative . . . So, go on then: what would you have me do?’
Being new to the business of war, it hadn’t occurred to me to ask for anything, especially as I was almost certainly going to be dead within a couple of weeks anyway. But I did like the idea of limiting Filian’s – and by extension, Trin’s – power over the country. ‘A charter,’ I said quickly.
‘A what?’ Filian asked.
I considered my next words carefully. The problem with Morn’s plans for a better country was that he wanted to replace one tyranny with another, making us a judiciary rather than a monarchy. What Tristia needed was something else entirely.
‘Your Majesty, if there’s any kind of country left once this is done, if the Avareans leave you with anything to govern, then you’ll sign a charter giving the citizenry of Tristia a voice in your rule.’
‘How exactly would I do that?’ Filian asked. He sounded oddly unsurprised by my demand.
No fucking idea, I thought, but as usual, Valiana understood what I was trying to say better than I did myself. ‘A council,’ she said suddenly, then explained, ‘The monarchy has always relied on a Ducal Council for advice – your Majesty could establish a Citizens’ Council, with members drawn from every walk of life, to ensure you hear the needs of those you rule.’ She gestured to Trin and added, ‘Your Majesty would no doubt also want a representative of the nobility on this new Citizens’ Council.’
Trin looked aghast: she had just gone from being Filian’s sole advisor to having to sit around a table with farmers and stone-masons. ‘You cannot do this,’ she said firmly to Filian. ‘You would be overturning a thousand years of—’
‘I accept your terms,’ Filian said.
For a moment I was surprised at his acquiescence, then I wondered, was this exactly what he’d wanted when he’d asked what payment I expected in return for running his war? Had he known even before I did that the one thing I’d ask for would be a limit on the influence of the nobility?
What game are you playing, your Majesty?
‘I believe we’re done for now,’ the King said.
Trin, recovering her composure, turned her gaze to Valiana and me. ‘You may take your leave of us now. The King and I—’
‘I would speak to the First Cantor a moment,’ Filian interrupted. ‘Alone.’
Valiana looked surprised, Trin incensed – and I was enjoying myself for the first time in ages. ‘You know,’ I said to Filian once we were alone, ‘it’s entirely possible that Trin wants to kill you more than me right now.’
‘Tarindelle would never hurt me,’ he said. ‘Although I know it’s hard for you to believe, I do know something of love.’ He turned and pulled down a black wooden case from one of the bookshelves and set it on the table in front of me. The box was about eighteen inches long and four inches high. ‘This is for you, Falcio.’
‘A gift, your Majesty? I—’
‘It’s not from me.’ He placed his hands on the box for a moment, gingerly, as if it were hot to the touch. ‘I found it among my sister’s things. I believe she meant to give it to you on the day of her coronation.’
I took the box from him and flipped up the twin brass clasps. The lid opened smoothly to reveal a beautifully made leather bracer filled with throwing knives, although this one had seven where my old one had only six. On top was a note written in Aline’s light and elegant hand:
So you’ll never be without – and because a Queen is far too busy and important to be handing you knives every time you get yourself into yet another silly old fight.
I held the bracer in my hands for a long while, letting my fingers travel over the carefully stitched leather; all the while, my eyes never left the note.
‘I’m sorry,’ Filian said.
I was about to ask him why he was apologising when I felt the tears dripping down my cheeks.
‘I wish I’d known her better,’ he said. ‘Perhaps tonight you and I could talk a while, Falcio. I would like to know more about my sister.’
I carefully replaced the bracer of knives and laid the note on top, then I closed the box and tucked it under my arm.
‘It’s kind of you to offer, your Majesty, but if Aline were here right now, she would tell me it was past time I got on with saving your damned country now.’
*
I recovered my composure as best I could as I exited the room – Brasti turns it into a public event any time he catches me crying. Fortunately, he was too busy peppering me with questions to notice my appearance. ‘How did it go?’ he asked. ‘Valiana here won’t tell us anything and I must know why Trin stormed out looking as if she’d just eaten her own poisoned fruit.’
‘Oh, you know,’ I began, ‘the usual things. So, first of all, I’ve agreed to be declared a traitor.’
He shrugged as if that was nothing new. ‘Well, you’ve always been prone to a little light treason now and again.’ He grinned. ‘Hey, does this mean I’m no longer the Greatcoat with the worst criminal past?’
Kest was watching me. ‘If I surmise correctly, we’re to be named as accomplices.’
I nodded.
‘Figures,’ Brasti said. ‘Well, doesn’t matter much if we’re all going to be dead in a couple of weeks – you can’t hang a corpse for treason. Oh no, wait, I forgot – people are doing that now, aren’t they?’
‘It’s not all bad news,’ I said. ‘Valiana might have just convinced the King to make Tristia into a constitutional monarchy.’
‘Clever girl,’ Brasti said, winking at her approvingly. ‘Now, can someone explain to me what a constitutional monarchy is?’
‘We’ll figure it out if there’s still a country in the next two weeks,’ I replied. ‘For now, we’d best get the Generals in a room and tell them how this is going to work.’
‘Ah, about the Generals . . .’ Valiana said, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
‘What about the Generals?’
Brasti grinned. Evidently he already knew. ‘Remember when Antrim told you to keep your cool?’ he asked.
‘Ye-esss . . .’ I replied warily.
‘You’ll be needing to hang onto that thought during your next meeting.’
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
The General