I’d fought side by side with Tisala. The thought of what it would take to make her flinch from anyone made me want to hit something. I wanted to say something to comfort her—but the closed look on her face told me she wouldn’t talk about it.

“Do you think Jakoven has taken someone else?” she asked again.

“That depends upon what he really wants,” I said finally. “If he’s really trying to break Alizon’s support, he’ll go after the lower born first. Build up cases against the nobles from the confessions he gets from the ones he can attack with impunity.”

“What do you mean ‘if’?” she asked.

“I told you,” I said. “On the run the way he is, Alizon’s no threat to the king now. He has no access to his wealth or lands—both of which have been padding the king’s purse nicely. Alizon might have had a chance four years ago, if Kariarn had been a little more successful in his attempt to take over Oranstone—and if Alizon weren’t illegitimate. When Alizon’s caught, Jakoven will make a fool of him and confine him somewhere convenient—like the asylum next to the king’s younger brother, Kellen—where Alizon will die from choking on his dinner some night after everyone has forgotten about him. Jakoven’s too smart to make a martyr out of his half brother either by a long trial or by killing him.”

“So what do you think King Jakoven is doing?” asked Tisala after a moment. I thought she sounded bleak—had she really thought Alizon had a chance of oversetting his brother?

“I think Jakoven’s moving against my cousin,” I said. “Though he’s taken quite a risk in doing it.”

“What do you mean?” Tisala wasn’t sitting up quite so straight anymore, and her face had gone from pale to gray. She tried to lean back against the headboard of the bed, but desisted as soon as her raw back touched the wood. I could have moved away and allowed her to lie back comfortably, but I didn’t want her to feel as though I was making allowances for her fear.I hadn’t done anything to her—she just had to force herself to remember that.

“Taking you could have precipitated a scandal,” I said. “Even with your father disowning you, you are a highborn lady—and as such entitled to a certain amount of respect to your person. The Tallvenish are very protective of their aristocratic womenfolk, and it is the Tallvenish who are the heart of Jakoven’s seat upon the throne.”

“Not that protective,” she protested. “They wouldn’t change their allegiance over a woman—especially not an Oranstonian who fights like a man.”