“Those three have no loyalty to Orso beyond their pockets. They were persuaded easily enough to betray Cosca for me, and me for Faithful, when the price was right. If the price is right, with Faithful gone I can bring them back to me, and from Orso’s service to yours.”

A slow silence. Ishri raised her fine black brows. Rogont tipped his head thoughtfully back. The two of them exchanged a lingering glance. “That would go a long way towards evening the odds.”

“You are sure you can buy them?” asked the Gurkish woman.

“Yes,” Monza lied smoothly. “I never gamble.” An even bigger lie, so she delivered it with even greater confidence. There was no certainty where the Thousand Swords were concerned, and even less with the faithless bastards who commanded them. But there might be a chance, if she could kill Faithful. Get Rogont’s help with that, then they’d see.

“How high would be the price?”

“To turn against the winning side? Higher than I can afford, that’s sure.” Even if she’d had the rest of Hermon’s gold to hand, and most of it was still buried thirty strides from her dead father’s ruined barn. “But you, the Duke of Ospria—”

Rogont gave a sorry chuckle. “Oh, the bottomless purse of Ospria. I am in hock up to my neck and beyond. I’d sell my arse if I thought I could get more than a few coppers for it. No, you will coax no gold from me, I fear.”

“What about your Southern Powers?” asked Monza. “I hear the mountains of Gurkhul are made of gold.”

Ishri wriggled back against one of the pillars. “Of mud, like everyone else’s. But there may be much gold in them, if one knows where to dig. How do you plan to put an end to Faithful?”

“Lirozio will surrender to Orso’s army as soon as it arrives.”

“Doubtless,” said Rogont. “He is every bit as proficient at surrender as I am at retreat.”

“The Thousand Swords will push on southwards towards Ospria, picking the country clean, and the Talinese will follow.”

“I need no military genius to tell me this.”

“I’ll find a place, somewhere between, and bring Carpi out. With two-score men I can get him killed. Small risk for either one of you.”

Rogont cleared his throat. “If you can bring that loyal old hound out of his kennel, then I can surely spare some men to put him down.”

Ishri watched Monza, just as Monza might have watched an ant. “And once he is at peace, if you can buy the Thousand Swords then I can furnish the money.”

If, if, if. But that was more than Monza had any right to hope for here. She could just as easily have left the meeting feet first. “Then it’s as good as done. To strange companions, eh?”

“Indeed. God has truly blessed you.” Ishri gave an extravagant yawn. “You came looking for one friend, and you leave with two.”