Kushiel's Dart

outcome. Do not count on her to make another. And if you take the Due d'Aiglemort to be our greatest foe, I fear it will be our undoing. Waldemar Selig is no fool either."
    "We cannot ignore a province in revolt," Percy de Somerville protested.
    "And we cannot know for sure that Camlach is in rebellion," Barquiel L'Envers said pragmatically. "That, then, is our first order of business. Establishing the truth of this confabulation."
    "Without, of course," de Toluard reminded him, "tipping our hand."
    "Of course." L'Envers inclined his head, only slightly sardonic.
    Caspar Trevalion scratched his chin. "Where," he asked Percy de Somerville, "are Prince Baudoin's Glory-Seekers now? D'Aiglemort petitioned the King for them."
    "You ought to know," the one-time Royal Commander said sourly. "In Trevalion, under Ghislain's command, making trouble. I wonder Marc suffered their insubordinacy."
    "My cousin was always a patient man." Caspar grinned. "He survived marriage to Lyonette, didn't he? This is my thought. Send d'Aiglemort the Glory-Seekers, let him think the Queen is softer than her grandfather was. Baudoin's Guard bear no love for Isidore d'Aiglemort, who brought down their Prince and disgraced their name. Let them dissemble, let them ride the length of Camlach and see where loyalties lie."
    "And what is to guarantee their loyalty?" Roxanne de Mereliot inquired. "It was House Courcel that had Baudoin de Trevalion executed."
    "Ah," Caspar said softly. "Yes. Ganelon de la Courcel. But it is Ysandre de la Courcel who could recall Due Marc de Trevalion and his daughter Bernadette from exile."
    "And strip my son Ghislain of his estates?" Percy de Somerville asked dangerously. Caspar Trevalion looked evenly at him.
    "I have heard great things of your son, my lord de Somerville. But he is a scion of Anael, and they will never love him in Azzalle, whose sin is pride; never, unless he were to become one of them. To wed, let us say, a Trevalion."
    "Bernadette."
    "Even so."
    Ysandre followed the exchange with acute attention, her face grave. "Azzalle holds the flatlands, and we cannot risk dissention there," she said calmly. "My lord de Fourcay, your cousin has committed a crime against the throne, in withholding knowledge of Lyonette's plan. If he were given a chance at redemption, would he take it?"
    "Your majesty." Caspar Trevalion, the Comte de Fourcay, bowed to her. "He is a D'Angeline in exile. Yes, he would take it. And this I swear to you, upon my name, that he would be twice fierce in his loyalty, for being given a chance to prove it. Never while you live will House Trev-alion give you cause to regret this clemency."
    She was young; she bit her lip, then nodded. "Let it be so, then. You know where he resides?" She glanced at Caspar, who inclined his head. "We will communicate with him, then. But let the offer be made to Bau-doin's Guard first, and let them understand that upon their loyalty-and their discretion-rests the redemption of their House. Will you undertake this, my lord?"
    "I will," Caspar said firmly.
    "Good." Ysandre looked stronger for the resolution. "Now, I have spoken with Prince Benedicte of these matters, insofar as I dared. You should know he and my uncle the Due have made peace between them." She glanced at Barquiel L'Envers, who nodded curtly, no mockery in his expression. It was well done, I thought, impressed that she had brought them to concord. Oh, they had underestimated her direly, those D'Angelines who had called for Baudoin to replace her; there was steel indeed in Ysandre de la Courcel! "La Serenissima cannot aid us with men," she continued. "They are too near the Skaldic border, at too great a risk themselves. But they can aid us with intelligence, and that Benedicte has sworn to do." She gazed round at the others. "We require knowledge, my lords and ladies. Knowledge of Aragonia's support, and the other Caerdicci city-states. Knowledge of the movements of the Skaldi. Knowledge of the loyalties within our own realm. Knowledge of the extent of the forces we can marshal, and the degree of their readiness. This knowledge we require, and we require that it be obtained in secrecy. What are you prepared to do?"
    I will not detail the conversation that followed, for it was lengthy and complicated. In the end it was resolved that each of them would take various measures toward these ends, moving with the utmost of discretion. The Cassiline Brotherhood would serve as the conduit for this