“And you played social music despite that?”
“Not in the least, Brigadier. Because of it.”
“Ah, of course.”
“So then, you wish to bring Lady Saruchka to you.”
“You have understood me exactly.”
Dinaand fell silent for a moment; then he said, “Yes, it shouldn’t be too difficult. I know Lord Ramon represents her. We can find a good hall—say the Owl’s Feet. Then we offer her Adham on lant and Dav-Hoel on fiddle, or, if they are not available, others of similar skill. From what I know of Lady Saruchka, she won’t be able to resist.” He frowned. “If it were me, I certainly wouldn’t be able to.”
“Good,” said Khaavren. “How long is needed?”
“It can be set up in days, if Ramon can reach her and everyone else agrees. A good month for publicity.”
“Do we need the month?”
“If it is to seem real, yes.”
Khaavren sighed. “Very well.”
“Shall I start working on it? That is to say, shall I visit Lord Ramon and have him put it together?”
“You are on good terms with him?”
“As good terms as it is possible to be with a musician’s representative. He will be receptive to the plan, because he will see money in it. Of course, it will require us to lay down the capital for renting the hall, and to guarantee payment for the musicians.”
Khaavren nodded. “You will have the authorization for the funds.”
“And so?”
“Yes. The sooner begun, the sooner finished.”
“Very well, Brigadier.”
Dinaand took his leave, and Khaavren sat back in his chair, closed his eyes, and considered matters. He realized that he had done everything he could for the present toward solving the problem. It must be said that the brave Tiassa, though capable of exercising great patience, felt frustration when a plan was in motion but there was nothing to do but wait. Yet he had the strength to put this aside and resume his duties; after five minutes, he opened his eyes, sat up, and did so.
Over the next week, Khaavren, for the most part, busied himself with the day-to-day tasks of being Captain of the Phoenix Guards, a post with no shortage of duties. While he never let the matter of the silver tiassa get far from his thoughts, he was able to distract himself with his routine.
Every few days he would receive a report from Dinaand, describing his progress. Khaavren gave these reports the same exacting attention he gave to all reports. In the first week he learned, therefore, that matters were progressing: the hall had been secured, the other musicians had agreed, and a date had been set pending the approval of Lady Saruchka. It was at this time that he received word that Her Majesty wished to see him; as he had certain matters to discuss with the Empress, he agreed to see her in the Blue Room at once.
Being the captain, he did not require an escort—or rather, he escorted himself into the Imperial presence. He noted with the experience of an old courtier that the Orb was a pleasant light shade of green. Her Majesty (whom Khaavren noticed after the automatic observation of the Orb) was seated, wearing an informal gown of Phoenix gold.
Khaavren bowed and silently awaited his sovereign’s orders.
“Well, thank you for seeing me so quickly.”
“Your Majesty knows I am entirely devoted to her service.”
“That is true, for you have proved it often enough.”
“Your Majesty is kind to notice.”
“I more than notice, I wished to especially commend your loyalty, Captain.”
Khaavren bowed. “I repeat my observations on Your Majesty’s kindness; but I am certain that is not all you wished to say to me.”
“On the contrary, that is all I wished to say to you, Captain.”
“How, that is all?”
“Entirely, Captain.”
“And yet—”
“However.”
“Ah, there is a however.”
“Indeed there is. While I have no more to say to my captain, there are certain matters to discuss with my brigadier of the Special Tasks group.”
“Well, I understand. Your Majesty must understand that between the two posts, I am sometimes confused about whose service is requested.”
“I understand completely.”
“I am glad Your Majesty does. So, then, how can I—that is, the brigadier of the Special Tasks group—be of service?”
“It concerns this investigation into the attack on Count Szurke.”
“Your Majesty knows I am conducting an investigation.”
“Yes, but it has come to my attention that this investigation has spilled over into other areas.”
“Other areas, Majesty?”
“I refer to the false Jenoine invasion, which I have no doubt you recall.”
“Oh, there is no question that I remember it.”
“And then, Brigadier? Are these investigations running together?”
“So it would seem, Majesty.”
“Well. Then I should imagine you would have questions to ask me.”
“In fact, Your Majesty is perspicacious.”
“Very well. That is why I wished to see you, so you could ask these questions.”
“That falls out better than I had expected, Majesty, as I had hoped to bring this subject up after Your Majesty’s business was complete.”
“Well, you see, there is no need to wait.”
“So much the better.”
“Ask, then, Brigadier.”
“Very well, Majesty. My first question is simple.”
“It is?”
“Who was behind the false invasion?”
“Brigadier, you know who arranged it.”
“Yes, Majesty. But who hired him to do it?”
“Ah, that. We never found out.”
“Your pardon, Majesty, but—was an effort made to do so?”
The Empress shook her head. “No. If I had wished this to be discovered, you are the one I’d have asked—in one of your posts or the other.”
Khaavren nodded as if that very thought had occurred to him. He hesitated, then said, “Your Majesty, why?”
Zerika sighed. “The Prime Minister and the Dragon Heir appealed to me. They pointed out what it would do to the Empire if a full attack on the Jhereg were to be launched; and nothing short of such an attack would have discovered anything.”
“I see,” said Khaavren.
“You see,” repeated Her Majesty. “But do you comprehend?”
Khaavren tilted his head. “If Your Majesty is asking if I approve, I would not do myself the honor to judge Your Majesty’s decisions.”
The Empress laughed—a genuine laugh, we should add, as opposed to the laugh of one intending to make a point. “I believe that you are being disingenuous, either with me or with yourself.”
Khaavren started to speak, stopped, then permitted himself a smile. “Your Majesty may be right.”
“So, then?”
“In this case, Majesty, I do not presume to pass judgment. I am not unaware that sometimes justice must be sacrificed to expediency.”
“But you don’t like it, do you, Captain?”
Khaavren stiffened. “I had thought Your Majesty was speaking to the brigadier.”
Zerika laughed. “Well taken. What other questions do you have?”
“The artifact—the mysterious silver tiassa. Has Your Majesty learned any more concerning it?”
“Nothing but the rumors we heard at the time—rumors I am personally convinced were fabricated.”
Khaavren nodded. “I do myself the honor to share this opinion with Your Majesty.”
“That is good. What is your next question?”