Carlot dan Eider stood in the middle of the warehouse floor, gold thread gleaming in her red coat, watching Monza as she came down the steps, trying not to limp, Cosca following after.

“What in hell happened? Cardotti’s is still burning! The city’s in uproar!”

“What happened?” barked Monza. “Why don’t you tell me what happened? His August fucking Majesty was where Foscar was supposed to be!”

The black scab on Eider’s neck shifted as she swallowed. “Foscar wouldn’t go. He said he had a headache. So Ario took his brother-in-law along in his place.”

“And he happened to bring a dozen Knights of the Body with him,” said Cosca. “The king’s own bodyguards. As well as a far greater volume of guests than anyone anticipated. The results were not happy. For anyone.”

“Ario?” muttered Eider, face pale.

Monza stared into her eyes. “Deader than fuck.”

“The king?” she almost whispered.

“Alive. When I left him. But the building did tend to burn down after that. Maybe they got him out.”

Eider looked at the floor, rubbing at one temple with her gloved hand. “I’d hoped you might fail.”

“No such luck.”

“There will be consequences now. You do a thing like this, there are consequences. Some you see coming, and some you don’t.” She held out one hand. “My antidote.”

“There isn’t one.”

“I kept my side of the bargain!”

“There was no poison. Just a jab with a dry needle. You’re free.”

Eider barked despairing laughter at her. “Free? Orso won’t rest until he’s fed me to his dogs! Perhaps I can keep ahead of him, but I’ll never keep ahead of the Cripple. I let him down, and put his precious king in harm’s way. He won’t let that pass. He never lets anything pass. Are you happy now?”

“You talk as if there was a choice. Orso and the rest die, or I do, and that’s all. Happy isn’t part of the sum.” Monza shrugged as she turned away. “You’d better start running.”

“I sent a letter.”

She stopped, then turned back. “Letter?”

“Earlier today. To Grand Duke Orso. It was written in some passion, so I forget exactly what was said. The name Shylo Vitari was mentioned, though. And the name Nicomo Cosca.”

Cosca waved it away with one hand. “I’ve always had a lot of powerful enemies. I consider it a point of pride. Listing them makes excellent dinner conversation.”

Eider turned her sneer from the old mercenary back to Monza. “Those two names, and the name of Murcatto as well.”

Monza frowned. “Murcatto.”

“How much of a fool do you take me for? I know who you are, and now Orso will know too. That you’re alive, and that you killed his son, and that you had help. A petty revenge, perhaps, but the best I could manage.”

“Revenge?” Monza nodded slowly. “Well. Everyone’s at it. It would’ve been better if you hadn’t done that.” The Calvez rattled gently as she rested her hand on its hilt.