“I know.”
“Have you told her as much?”
Sertio faltered briefly.
“I see,” the minister said quietly.
“My daughter is a proud, difficult woman, First Minister. Being so new to the throne, she isn’t likely to accept counsel that runs counter to her own ideas.”
“That doesn’t speak well of her as a ruler, my lord.”
“It says only that she’s young, First Minister,” the duke said, an edge to his voice. “Her mother was much the same way when she first claimed the duchy as her own, and I think you’ll agree that she turned out to be a fine leader.”
Kreazur looked away. “Of course, my lord.”
“I do intend to speak with her,” Sertio went on, his voice softening once more. “I see the dangers as well. I find myself convinced of your innocence in this matter, Kreazur. I’d be far less concerned for Diani’s safety knowing that you were at her side. And like you, I have no desire to see Qirsi imprisoned and persecuted here, or anywhere in the Forelands.”
“With all respect, my lord, I’m not certain that you do see the danger. This is about far more than your daughter’s safety or the mistreatment of my people.”
Sertio felt his stomach tightening. “You think this could lead to a civil war? A conflict between the races?”
The Qirsi let out a high, harsh laugh. “My lord, we’re on our way to such a war already! Don’t you understand? That’s what the leaders of the conspiracy want. They believe my people can prevail in such a war, perhaps not yet, but someday, sooner rather than later.”
“You know this?”
“Not from any reliable source, but the other ministers and I have spoken of the conspiracy, wondering where these killings and machinations may be leading. On the one hand it seems quite clear: the leaders of the conspiracy wish to divide the seven realms, both against one another and against themselves. But more than that, I believe they wish to destroy the trust between Eandi nobles and their ministers, indeed, between all Eandi and all Qirsi. By imprisoning us, by indicating so clearly that she distrusts us, and, in turn, by nurturing our resentment against the arbitrary exercise of her power, the duchess is doing more to help the conspiracy’s leaders than any Qirsi traitor in the seven realms.”
Sertio had halted in front of the minister and was staring down at him as if he had never seen the man before. The duke should have thought of all this long ago. For that matter, Diani should have as well. But clearly neither of them had. By considering it for them, Kreazur was merely doing his job, proving himself to be a loyal servant of House Curlinte and an enemy of the renegade Qirsi. Yet, the mere fact that he could think in such a way, that he could anticipate the desires of the conspiracy with such chilling certitude, made him more suspect in Sertio’s eyes, not less. Did all the white-hairs think this way? Were they born with a propensity toward treachery, or was it a product of their service in the Eandi courts?
“You disagree with me,” the minister said, misreading his expression.
“Not at all. It just never occurred to me to think. . in such terms.”
The man actually smiled, shaking his head. He was heavier than most Qirsi, with a fuller face, and in the dim light, looking both hurt and amused, he resembled an overindulged child. “So now you think me a traitor, just as your daughter does.”
Sertio resumed his pacing. “Not at all.”
“Please don’t dissemble with me, my lord. It does both of us a disservice.”
“I don’t think you’ve betrayed us, Kreazur. If you had, you wouldn’t have been so honest a moment ago in your assessment of the danger facing the courts.” He faltered briefly. “I merely find myself thinking that the Eandi mind and the Qirsi mind work differently. No Eandi could have devised such an ingenious plot.”
“I think you give your people too little credit, my lord,” the minister said, his voice thick with irony.
They both fell silent once more, Sertio wishing he hadn’t come at all. He feared for his daughter more now than when he had come, and though convinced of Kreazur’s innocence, he doubted that he could ever rely on the minister’s counsel again. It wouldn’t come as a surprise if the Qirsi and his fellow ministers left House Curlinte permanently upon winning their freedom from the prison tower. If Kreazur had accurately gauged the intent of the conspiracy’s leaders, the duke and his daughter had been all too quick to further their plans.
“I take it you haven’t found the assassins yet,” Kreazur said at last.
“No. I have men searching the countryside, but I fear they may have come to Curlinte by sea. They may be impossible to find.”
“Perhaps not impossible. More difficult certainly. But our house has good relations with most of the merchant captains between here and the Crown, even those sailing under the Wethy flag. They may be able to help us.”
“Yes, that’s a good thought. I’ll send messages to the ports later today, provided there’s no word from the moor. Thank you, First Minister.” It was sound advice. Perhaps Kreazur could still serve House Curlinte after all.
“Of course, my lord.”
They slipped into another uncomfortable silence, until Sertio finally decided that he had best leave. He stepped to the door and called for the guard.
“I’ll leave you to sleep, First Minister. Please forgive the disturbance.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, my lord. Were I in my chambers neither of us would think twice about such an interruption. Despite this unpleasantness I still serve you and your house.”
Sertio nodded as the soldier appeared in the corridor and unlocked the steel door.
“I will speak with the duchess about gaining your release. You have my word.”
“I’d be most grateful, my lord.”
Sertio nodded and walked out of the chamber as soon as the soldier pulled open the door. He was eager to leave the prison tower and the company of this man. No doubt Kreazur had been wronged, by Diani as well as by the duke himself. But though he would keep his word and attempt to prevail upon his daughter to free Kreazur and his fellow ministers, he had no desire to prolong their conversation.
It was still dark when he stepped into the ward once more and began to make his way back to his chamber. Dawn couldn’t have been far off, but the stars still shone brilliantly against the black sky, even in the east. Panya glowed directly overhead and red Ilias hung just above the eastern wall of the castle like some curved, bloodied blade.
“My lord!”
He turned at the sound of the voice and saw two soldiers approaching from the lower ward.
“You’ve found something?”
“Possibly, my lord,” answered the older of the two men. “An innkeeper to the south remembers seeing two men with shaved heads and bows just before dusk. They were on foot and claimed to have been hunting. They inquired about staying at his inn, but didn’t like his price and so continued south.”
“Where?” the duke asked eagerly, striding to the stable. “Show me. I’ll ride with you.”
“It’s almost all the way to Kretsaal barony, my lord. It’s an hour’s ride from the castle, at least.”
“I don’t care. If they were heading south and looking for a place to stay, they probably chose Kretsaal. If we ride now, we may find them before they leave whatever inn they settled on for the night.”
The soldier and his companion exchanged a look and the second man shrugged.
“If you insist, my lord,” the first man said. “But we can just as easily bring them to you.”
Riding to Kretsaal himself made little sense. They couldn’t even be certain that these were the same men, though Sertio had little doubt that they were-no one hunted the moors this time of year. But after sitting by helplessly while Dalvia died, and watching in idle frustration as Diani struggled to learn the rudiments of leadership, Sertio needed to do something. Anything. The ride would do him good, and he wanted to interrogate these men himself, before Diani had a chance to vent her rage at them through torture or summary execution.