“I understand,” she said. “You’ll have my answer soon.”
They left the Prince Bishop’s office in silence, Guillot trying to make sense of the task he had been given and how the Prince Bishop knew so much about what was going on. He supposed the man had a network of informants, but when it came to the Prince Bishop, it was never a good idea to take anything at face value.
He shook his head. However mentally dominating his challenge was, the quandary Solène faced was more pressing. As they walked along the main hall, Guillot turned to her.
“If we head straight back to Bauchard’s, you can be riding out of the city within the hour,” he said.
She laughed. “To where?”
“That’s a good question.”
“I’m going to agree,” she said, “but after everything you’d said about him, I wasn’t going to make it easy. Where else can I find what he’s offering?”
Guillot shrugged. “You can never trust him. I did once, and it cost me. He’s a snake with unbound ambition. He doesn’t care who he has to destroy to get what he wants.”
“I’ll be careful,” she said. “I’ve lasted this long, I’m sure I can figure out how to survive here. I might even learn something.”
Guillot had an overwhelming sense of unease but in the absence of a better idea, perhaps this order was the best option for her. “You might be right,” he said, “but in my experience, Amaury never gives anyone anything without expecting something in return.”
She was about to respond when they rounded a corner and were greeted by dal Sason, who apparently had been waiting for them.
“An interesting day,” dal Sason said.
“You could say that,” Guillot replied.
Dal Sason nodded. “The Prince Bishop’s asked me to accompany you on the hunt. He’ll be sending a few others with us, people from his personal bodyguard.”
“That sounds encouraging,” Guillot said, hoping everyone could detect his sarcasm.
“I’ve met a few of them before. They’re top drawer. He only takes the best for his order, so I’m sure they’ll be useful when the time comes.”
“It strikes me as curious that the head of the great and wonderful church needs a personal bodyguard. I always thought I was the only one who didn’t like him.”
Dal Sason glared at him. “His Grace is also the First Minister of Mirabaya. That role requires the making and enforcing of decisions that aren’t always popular. A bodyguard seemed necessary. He recruits the best from the Academy and has them trained at an old priory nearby. It’s said he trains his spies there too.”
“Really?” Guillot said. He cast Solène a conspiratorial look. “I wonder who else is trained there?”
“Anyhow,” dal Sason said, “I’m here to bring you to the others who’ll be working with us. Thought it would be best if we had a chance to get to know one another before we set off.”
“I might go back to the inn and take a little more advantage of the Prince Bishop’s generosity,” Solène said.
“Thinking like that makes me glad to know you,” Guillot said. “I’ll see you there later.”
With Solène on her way to hopefully make some extravagant purchases, dal Sason led Guillot to another room of the palace, where a man in a cream doublet and britches waited for them. Entering, Gill realised he’d been there before, years ago—the palace map room. Sections of the walls were lined with pigeonhole shelves, some with scrolls visible inside. Other parts of the walls were covered with former campaign maps, most still bearing marks made by the commanders who had used them in war. Gill recognised one as being from a battle he had fought in and did his best not to dwell on the slaughter he had witnessed there.
“This is Banneret-Commander Leverre, of the Prince Bishop’s personal guard.”
Leverre clicked his heels together and nodded in a banneret’s salute, which Guillot returned. Just because Leverre was the Prince Bishop’s lackey didn’t mean his professional accomplishments were not worthy of respect.
“I took the liberty of bringing some maps,” Leverre said.
Guillot nodded and moved toward the large map table that dominated the centre of the room. “Will it just be the three of us?”
“No,” Leverre said. “Three more of my people will join us, but there was no need for them to be present at this meeting.”
“Fair enough,” Guillot said, “I’m interested to hear any thoughts you have on how we might kill the beast.”
“Track it to its lair and slay it while it sleeps,” Leverre said.
“Ah, the traditional approach,” Guillot said. “Tell me, though. How do you propose to track a creature that flies? The lack of spoor might raise some problems.”
Leverre cast dal Sason a nervous look. “We believe we might be able to overcome that issue with intelligence gathered by royal agents.”
“Really?” Guillot said. He gave dal Sason a knowing look. “I’m going to be frank. I don’t appreciate being treated like an idiot, and if you think you can pull the wool over my eyes, you’re sadly mistaken.” He pulled a chair out from the table and sat. “Now, why don’t you tell me the truth? You either already know where the dragon’s lair is, or you’re part of Amaury’s little commune of magicians. Or both. Well?”
Dal Sason nodded and directed his attention to Leverre. “The Prince Bishop said it was all right to make Banneret dal Villerauvais aware of the true nature of your abilities when it became expedient. I had hoped we could wait until we were out of the city, but I suppose now is as good a time as any.”
“Fine,” Leverre said. “It appears that the beast is magical in nature. We should be able to track the magical trace it leaves. Then I’m sure we’d all like to see a demonstration of the Chevaliers’ dragon-slaying abilities.”
Guillot forced a smile. Leverre wasn’t going to be a pushover. He didn’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed. “I think we’re all taking a leap into the unknown and it’s a waste of time to suggest otherwise,” Guillot said. “Maybe being a Chevalier of the Silver Circle will help me, maybe it won’t. I think the latter is most likely, but I’m willing to step up and try, and I expect you and your lot to do the same. I’m not going anywhere if I can’t count on everyone to pull their weight.”
“We’re as committed to the mission as you are,” dal Sason said.
“I want to hear him say it,” Guillot said, looking pointedly at Leverre.
“We are responsible for ridding the land of this beast,” Leverre said. “We intend to see that it’s done.”
“Good,” Guillot said. “There are a number of things I’ll need, and time is obviously limited, you’ll have to use the Prince Bishop’s influence to expedite things.”
“That won’t be a problem,” dal Sason said. “Give me a list and I’ll make sure everything is ready in time.”
“No time like the present,” Guillot said, tearing a scrap of paper from a map—much to dal Sason’s horror. He took one of the cloth-wrapped map pencils from the table and started jotting down a list, suggesting the most expensive suppliers he could think of. The main item was a new suit of armour, and there was only one place to go for one, particularly if someone else was paying. When he finished he handed it to dal Sason, who looked it over and nodded.
“If that’s all,” Guillot said, “I look forward to seeing you all when we depart.”