"I hope he left nothing out," said Noish-pa.
Aliera nibbled daintily and said, "What's the plan, then? My cousin"-she indicated Morrolan, perhaps for Noish-pas benefit-"said it would be exciting."
"Yes," I said. "We're going to end the war."
"That will be pleasant," said Daymar "You aren't in it, I'm afraid." "Oh?"
"Except, of course, for getting us there."
"Where?"
"Greenaere."
"You wish to journey to Greenaere?" said Morrolan "Explain."
"The Phoenix Stones prevent psionic communication and they prevent sorcery. Daymar was able to temporarily punch through the one, and I suspect that with Sethra's help he could punch through the other long enough to get us in. Perhaps even to get us out again after."
"After what?"
"After we have forced a truce on them."
"How?"
"Leave that to me. Your job is to keep me alive long enough to get the truce into our hands."
There was considerable silence at this point, then Morrolan said, "Several things need to be discussed, I think "
"Goon."
"In the first place, I do not perform assassinations."
"No problem, I do. If you want to kill someone, you are welcome to challenge him to single combat, if that somehow pleases you more."
"Then you admit you are going to assassinate this King?"
"No. But neither do I deny it."
"Hmmm. In the second place, we cannot be sure Day-mar and Sethra can succeed. The Empire has tried several times to break through and failed. What makes you think this time we can succeed?"
"Several things," I said. "First, we now know about the Phoenix Stones. Second, we know that Daymar has succeeded once already, in a limited way. Third, we have Sethra Lavode." She smiled and dipped her head by way of acknowledgment.
"It sounds chancy," said Morrolan.
I said, "Sethra?"
"It's worth a try," she said. "Just how well do you know Greenaere?"
"I have a spot marked well enough to teleport to, if that's what you mean."
"I don't know if that will be good enough. We're going to need a solid, detailed image of the place, memories of all five senses."
"Hmmm. I've got an idea for that. Let me think about it."
"Very well," said Sethra.
I said, "What next?"
Morrolan spoke up again. "How do you know that, if we succeed, the Empire will, in fact, release Cawti?"
I shrugged. "I don't. I'm working on that. I have some ideas. If they don't pan out, perhaps we'll scrap the whole plan. I'll know by noon tomorrow."
"It seems to me," said Morrolan, "that you are doing a great deal of hoping here. You hope we will be able to break through the Phoenix Stones. You hope you can force a treaty out of Greenaere. You hope we will be able to escape again. You hope the Empress will be sufficiently grateful to you to free Cawti."
"You've expressed it quite well."
I waited for about two breaths, then: "Count me in," said Morrolan.
"Sounds like fun," said Aliera.
Sethra nodded and Daymar shrugged. Noish-pa looked at me steadily for a moment, then resumed eating. I wondered what he was thinking. Perhaps he was remembering how I'd said I hated Dragaerans, and now, when I was in trouble, whom did I go running to for help? A good point, that. I'd known them a long time, and we'd been through so much together. I just never thought of them as Dragaerans; they were friends. How could I—
"When are we going to do it?" said Morrolan.
I asked Sethra, "How much time will you and Daymar need to prepare?"
"At least until tomorrow. We won't know until we start looking at the problem."
"All right. Tentatively, tomorrow afternoon. If you aren't ready by then, we'll see. In the meantime, I to run home and get somebody."
"Who?"
"You'll meet him. He's a drummer."
"From Greenaere?" said Sethra.
"Yep."
"Think he'll help?"
"If he's a spy, which I think is possible, he'll be glad to. If he isn't, he might not."
"If he's a spy—"
"It won't matter for what I'm trying to do."
"Very well, then," said Morrolan, and called for dessert, which involved fresh berries of some kind and a sweet cream sauce. It arrived, and I ate it, but I don't remember how it tasted. After dinner I made sure my grandfather was settled in as well as possible, studied Kragar's notes a bit more, then walked out to the courtyard of Castle Black.
"Loiosh, you and Rocza stay real alert.",
"I know, boss. I'm not happy about this at all. They were waiting for you once— "
"1 know. How's your lady doing?"
Rocza shifted on my right shoulder and nuzzled me a little. I got my mind fixed on a place across the street from my flat and teleported there. Loiosh and Rocza left my shoulder as we arrived and buzzed about.
"No one here, boss."
"My compliments to Rocza. She's learning the business, I think."
"She's got a good teacher. You okay?"
"I didn't lose my dinner, anyway. Give me a minute and stay alert."
"Check. "
When I felt better I walked up to the flat. I was in luck: Aibynn was there, and there were no assassins.
"Hey, how you doing?"
"Not bad. How'd you like to help me out?"
"Doing what?"
"Ending the war."
"That sounds fine. What do I have to do?"
"Come with me, and let someone read your mind while you remember everything you can about that spot on Greenaere where we met."
"I could do that."
"You'll have to take your pendant off" while you do it."
"What? Oh, this?" He fingered the Phoenix Stone around his neck, then shrugged. "That's fine."
"Good. Come with me."
"Just a minute."
He collected his drum and stood next to me. I took a look around the flat, wondering if I'd ever see it again, then we teleported right from there, because I still didn't feel very safe.
Aibynn stared around Castle Black in amazement. "Where are we?"
"The home of Morrolan e'Drien, House of the Dragon."
"Nice place."
"Yeah."
Lady Teldra greeted him like an old friend; he grinned from ear to ear. I went back up to the library and performed introductions. He was pleasant, and either didn't know or didn't care who Sethra Lavode was, not to mention Aliera and Morrolan. They were polite to him, and then Lady Teldra showed him to a room. I found my own room and slept for about fourteen hours.
Late the next morning I saw Morrolan in his workshop, where he was showing Noish-pa around. I found myself fascinated by the door that led to the tower that held the windows. Morrolan caught me staring at it, but asked no questions. Instead he mentioned something else: "I've had an official emissary from House Jhereg."
"Oh?"
"I've been asked to surrender you."
"Ah. Are you going to?"
He snorted. "What did you do to them, Vlad?"
"Actually, nothing. It's what they think I'm going to do."
"What is that?"
"Kill someone important."
"Are you?"
"Only if we escape Greenaere successfully. First things first, you know."
"Of course. What about the Empire?"
"I'm going to see to that in a few moments."
"Can I help?"
"Perhaps. Can you arrange for the Empress to see me?"
"Certainly. When?"
"Now."
He stared at me and his mouth worked for a moment. Then he concentrated, and was silent for about two minutes. It was interesting trying to piece together the conversation from the expressions that crossed Morrolan's face. He shook his head twice, shrugged once, and once his face twisted up into an expression I couldn't fathom. At last he opened his eyes and said, "She is expecting you."