“So . . . what you are saying is that you can—let’s call it impede—things that might lead to my Plan being discovered between now and the Regatta?”

The Record Keeper nodded, and gestured at what was on its desk. “These seals are power, Lord Duke. And as long as we can determine ways to circumvent our restrictions, that power is at your command.”

He let that sink in for a while. The Record Keeper seemed perfectly content to allow him the time. Then again, the Dolls had seemingly infinite patience.

“I’ll try to use it wisely,” he said, then ventured, “What is your opinion of the Plan?”

“Reckless, risky, and puts at hazard the lives of those you will leave behind,” the Record Keeper said frankly. “Reckless and risky—any Plan to elude the Emperor will need to be both. But risking the lives of those who choose to stay . . .”

“Can you think of anything that will protect them?” he asked, trying not to sound desperate.

“Not immediately. But there are records to search that might help. And this one does have advice, Lord Duke.” The Doll tapped its hand on the table. “This one advises patience. Be patient as the serpent that waits for its prey to walk near enough to strike. Do nothing that will precipitate suspicion. Above all, make no moves before the Regatta. It is, as this one said, your best chance to save as many as you can, and us, and the dissidents. If you move sooner, this one anticipates that you will hazard the lives of both those in Valdemar and the ones beyond your new Gates. Leaving without the supplies and preparations you have planned may doom the larger part of them, and all of them will suffer needlessly, because you gave in to haste.”

He ducked his head in shame, because the Doll was right. Impulse got me here. But . . . impulse got me here, where I have new allies.

“Now return to your quarters and play the Game with patience, Lord Duke. This one will think, and we will all search through the Records, and we may find answers. This one will tell you via Star when the messenger is about to be dispatched, that you may alert your spouse to show no surprise.”

“The messenger won’t be surprised at the size of the packet?” he asked anxiously.

“The messengers are neither paid to be observant, nor care to be.” There was no doubt of the wry tone in the Record Keeper’s voice. “Humans . . . are very like that. It is, after all, the very reason why we are here and not the Imperial Secretaries. Humans given no incentive to do more . . . generally will not.”

And as he and Star turned to use the Doll Gate back to his quarters, it occurred to him that the amount of truth in that last statement had probably been enough to feed the Dolls in the Hall of Records for a week.

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