Former Catwalk strategist Opal Saeger, erstwhile right hand of Cordelia Lehane, had led the Amberlinian chapter of the Geddan Alliance of Theatrical Technicians for two terms before the rise of the Ospies, representing the sizable local union at national meetings. Political experience, to be sure, but in Lillian’s opinion not nearly enough to run a country on.

Saeger was young—younger than Lillian—and her rhetoric naive, which won her a strong following in the university crowd. Her political party, Forward Gedda, centered largely on social programs, leaving large swathes of domestic and foreign policy either unaddressed or thrown together in a confused jumble.

Industrial doyenne Emmeline Frye, former Nuesklend City alderman, already had Lillian’s vote. But Saeger didn’t need to know that. Lillian would take a press position under either candidate. Jinadh, who had been born into court politics and been greatly relieved to escape it, was not eager for Lillian to reenter the fray.

Even she was appalled at her reluctance to go to Liso. But it simply couldn’t be done if she wanted to stay on the radar as a potential appointee.

“I had Magnusson send a cable to Daoud, to say any news should come here. And anything that comes tonight or tomorrow he’s said he’ll bring along.”

“Fine,” said Jinadh, and she saw him fighting to swallow her practicality. “So they will cable you here. What then? Will he come to Gedda?”

That brought her up like a hunter balking at a fence. “I’m … I don’t know. I suppose we could have him? Would you mind?”

“Would it be safe?”

The Ospie press had not been kind to the DePauls, following Lillian’s flight from Porachis. Her liaison with Jinadh had been blown out of proportion to the tune of espionage, eventually linked—not so erroneously—to Porachin money and Lisoan arms funneled to the Catwalk. She had been able to spin that story in her favor, after Acherby was deposed. What they had printed about Cyril … There was less room to maneuver, there.

A multiple murderer and turncoat to all sides. No loyalty paid to the OSP, nor to the FOCIS, which at least would have made him an honorable opponent. The only angle a sympathetic reader could latch onto was his affair with Aristide Makricosta, which had been trotted out briefly as a small detail in a sorry, sordid string of them. Someone in Acherby’s administration had clearly realized there was a hook there, and bent it down as flat as it would go.

Lillian rubbed at the stiff spot in her neck. “As safe as it is for anyone, these days. There’s been more than enough news in the last five years to bury anything we’d rather stay out of the sun.”

«If this scheme of yours plays out,» said Jinadh. «If you end up press secretary—»

«Then I will be perfectly placed to deal with that kind of problem.»