“Ordered his men to push the whole lot off, saying later that every one of them — men, women, and children — had been resisting arrest and the result was truly unfortunate. Apparently, Quercus was so angry about what had been done in his name and without his agreement that he sent the lot of them up north. Out of sight, out of mind. But in fact, it’s said that in the end, the crushing of the revolt brought lasting peace to Arborium. That was the last-ever uprising. Every Dendran knows the story. After old Ponticus had his heart attack, Flint was named commander in chief—” Petronio suddenly blanched. “And this is the man you want me to find?”

“Precisely!” She reached within the folds of her habit and pulled out a purse that jingled as she handed it over. “The old ways are the best when it comes to persuasion. And from what you say about your king, it might be easier to deal with him than I thought. Now, I want you to deliver this message and emphasize that we have only a few days to prepare.” When Lady Fenestra had finished whispering her precise instructions, she turned away and disappeared through a side door.

Petronio was on his own. Only this morning, he had been bored to tears in a stuffy lecture hall. This was more like it! A mission. The trust of someone powerful. He ordered the groom to saddle up and took off down the branch line, the rubber-shod hooves gripping the wood as he cantered away into the twilight.

Five minutes later, his father was also on the move, flanked by his two bodyguards. He was heading toward the Court of Quercus. The old shire horse he rode could barely keep up with the two guards. Grasp cursed Maw, Lady Fenestra, and especially his son as the horse ambled unhurriedly along the byways. At this rate, it would be midnight by the time they arrived.

Petronio’s passage was quicker. Mercury, a silver-gray stallion, was true to his name. They flew along the broad branch lines, beating out a muffled rhythm as the sun slowly sank from the sky, and the woods filled with lengthening shadow. Petronio didn’t bother with the niceties of the Highway Code. Dendran pedestrians were a nuisance. Luckily, most heard the horse before he was upon them and they jumped out of the way, offering the rider various gestures with arms and fingers that certainly weren’t polite. The populated areas were soon left behind and Petronio was by himself, heading north into unknown territory.