Naamah's Blessing

ourselves summoned to appear before the newly appointed Regent.
    Duc Rogier was in a state of white-hot fury. His anger in the Hall of Parliament was mostly theatrics. This, this was genuine rage.
    “
What
”—he gritted out the word, and had to pause to collect himself with a violent shudder before continuing—“what in the name of all that’s holy do you mean by spreading such a rumor? Moirin, I understand you’re unhappy at being thwarted. But this…” He shook his head in disbelief. “This is beyond the pale. It’s irresponsible, childish, and downright
cruel
.”
    “It’s not a ploy, my lord,” I murmured. I couldn’t blame him for thinking otherwise. “I had… a vision.”
    The Duc picked up a paperweight of colorful Serenissiman glass, squeezing it so hard his knuckles whitened. Bao eased his staff surreptitiously out of its harness, but the Duc was merely trying to contain his fury. “You had a vision,” he repeated in a flat voice. “A vision.”
    “Moirin’s folk are known for such gifts,” Bao offered.
    “I know what Moirin’s folk are known for!” Duc Rogier shouted at him. “Do you think to tell a descendant of House Courcel what comes of the Maghuin Dhonn meddling with visions?”
    “It wasn’t that kind of vision.” While the Duc and Bao were glaring at one another, I took a deep breath and summoned the twilight, wrapping it around all three of us and plunging the study into dimness.
    In the soft blue gloaming, Duc Rogier startled, the whites of his eyes showing. “What threat is this?” he demanded. “Guards!”
    “They can’t hear you,” I informed him. “And this is no threat, my lord.” I let the twilight fade away. “It is a way of taking half a step into the spirit world. I wanted you to see, so that you might understand better. It is a gift that has allowed me, from time to time, to do things others cannot. I believe it is why this… vision… was given to me.” I met his gaze without flinching. Balthasar had told me to stay well away from discussing an expedition with the Duc, but I reckoned itwas a moot point now. “As Denis de Toluard can attest, I have already sworn on the sacred oath of the Maghuin Dhonn that this is no trick. I believe Prince Thierry is alive. So let us lay our cards on the table, my lord. I mean to gather an expedition to Terra Nova and attempt to bring him back. Do you mean to oppose me?”
    He looked at me, his rage slowly ebbing and turning to wonder. “You really do believe this, don’t you?”
    I had a feeling I’d be answering a version of that question many times before this was over. “Aye,” I said. “I do.”
    Duc Rogier’s death-grip on the glass paperweight eased. He tossed it in the air and caught it as he contemplated his response. “Do I mean to oppose you?” he mused. “I’d like to, Moirin. Even assuming you
are
telling the truth, it’s a foolhardy notion with little chance of success, and I suspect more men will die for your precious vision.”
    “I fear it, too,” I said honestly.
    He gave me a sharp glance. “But you’ve done a fair job of setting a third of my Parliament against me. What will they say if I oppose you?”
    “They will say that you were afraid that Moirin would succeed in restoring the rightful heir to the throne,” Bao said in a calm tone. “And they will meet again, and vote to strip you of your appointment and replace you. And then the new Regent will grant us a letter of decree, and we will sail anyway.”
    Duc Rogier was silent, his lips pressed tight. At length, he dismissed us with a curt gesture. “Go. Get out of my sight.”
    Outside the door to his study, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
    “That went reasonably well,” Bao observed. “He can’t afford to oppose us. See, Moirin? I told you there was a reason for you to address the Parliament.”
    I took his arm. “So you did, my magpie.”
    “Lady Moirin?” one of a pair of royal guardsmen stationed outside the Regent’s study addressed me in a deferential manner. “We heard your witchcraft tells you his highness Prince Thierry and his company yet live. Is it true?”
    “I believe it to be true,” I said. “Although I fear I can offer no proof.”
    “And you mean to try to rescue them?” the second guard inquired.
    “We do,” Bao confirmed.
    The guards exchanged a glance. “I’ve heard tales of Terra Nova,” the one who’d spoken first said. “ ’Tis a dangerous place.