Phalue thanked her past self for marrying a woman who understood subtleties far better than she ever would.

One of the voices was Gio’s. The other she did not recognize.

“So you want the Ioph Carn to stop black market trade of caro nuts to Imperial and the surrounding islands. And for what? So I can be poorer for it?”

“You’re already a wealthy man,” Gio said. “And you’ll want her deposed too. Her father let you skim the fat off his profits because he couldn’t care enough to stop you. His daughter will be another matter. She’s looking to change things, to prove herself different. Think of it as an investment in your future. Do you think she’ll continue to let the Ioph Carn do business unimpeded?”

“She won’t have a choice.”

“Don’t be arrogant,” Gio snapped.

A heavy sigh. “Which of us is the arrogant one, old man? You want to bring down a regime. I just want to profit off it. Speaking of which – what’s in this for me? And I don’t mean just as an investment. You asked me here: tell me what you’re willing to pay me.”

A brief silence. “I heard you’ve always wanted to raid a monastery. Cloud juniper berries and bark would make quite the addition to your collection. Used judiciously, they could expand your power.”

“My desire is fairly common knowledge. I make no secret of it,” the other man said in an easy tone. “But indulge me: how is this relevant?”

Phalue held her breath. Gio was speaking to one of the Ioph Carn. She was glad Ranami had stopped her from walking in on this meeting; they didn’t need any further complications in their relationship with the Shardless Few. Then again, he might not care. Gio hadn’t made many secrets of his goals.

“You don’t need to engage in a frontal assault to raid a monastery. Their walls are high and they’re always ready to defend against attacks. They’ll use cloudtree bark and berries and your Ioph Carn won’t stand a chance. But what people don’t know is that there are always back ways into the monasteries.”

“Be clear, old man. What exactly are you offering?”

“The isle just east of Nephilanu has a cloudtree monastery. I know the back way in. You stop the black market trading and I’ll draw you a map. That’s what I’m offering.”

“Where did you get this information?”

“I protect my sources.”

For a while, no one spoke. Phalue resisted the urge to scratch an itch on her nose, afraid the rustling of her cloak might be heard.

“Fine. I’ll stop black market trading of caro nuts near Imperial and you give me the map.”

“Done.”