“So you’re sayin’ we put our lives on the line for a treenage squit shoveler.”

“Basically, yeah. This job ain’t up to much, but I kinda like livin’ in the trees. I’ve heard horror stories about Maw and I don’t want that lot takin’ over ’ere, thank you very much!”

Two hours later Ark stood quietly on a balcony overlooking the main inner courtyard of the castle. The moon was finally full, filling the space below with pale light. For some, it was a silver coin that would fill their coffers when the night was done. But for Ark, it was a staring eye of truth, unblinking and bright, soon to uncover dark deeds.

He studied the scene. A long damask-covered table ran around the square, the oak-leaf pattern spilling across the white cloth. Laid on top was the best that Arborium had to offer: great sides of oak-smoked boar and wooden bowls of apple sauce jostled with pitchers of first-flush wine and moon-shaped crusty loaves baked from scaffield wheat. At the courtyard’s heart, a tall, copper-clad fountain sprouted sprays of water from its many sculpted branches as courtier children, young princes and petticoated princesses squealed and splashed each other.

At the four corners of the high battlements that surrounded the castle, great lengths of string dived into the sky, held taut by gilded leaf-kites riding the stream of wind currents far above. The kites symbolized the ideal of Arborium, bound to the earth yet dreaming of the heavens above.

The great and the good were assembled, paying homage to their king and raising endless toasts to the successful harvest. Among such jollity, it was hard to imagine that the future of their world hung in the balance. With every duke and earl and their armed retinues well on the way to drunkenness, the timing couldn’t be better. The King looked at ease, laughing at one of Grasp’s jokes. The Councillor sat on his left, with Commander Flint on his right. Quercus was surrounded by death dressed up as loyalty.

Ark’s eyes focused in on the two bodyguards right behind the King, the same ones he’d talked to earlier. He hoped they believed him. If not, the plan was already doomed.

There was an explosion and the sky above was suddenly filled with bangs and flashes. The noise made the perfect signal. Ark remembered Corwenna’s words. He hoped the trees were listening. It was the best fireworks display in years. Ark retreated from the balcony and worked his way back through the corridors.