“I doubt it very much. Who could say? So many records are hidden behind unbreakable codes. But this was the letter Apparitor was given when he was exalted. Elisiant is a tradition of sorts, I think.”

She should discourage him from liking her. Men who liked her were invariably doomed. “Would you like to take dictation?” she asked him. “So you can tell Apparitor what I write?”

He covered his smile. “Will you strangle me for it?”

“Not without provocation,” Baru purred, and the purr reminded her of Treatymont, pretending to flirt with Bel Latheman as he pretended not to hate her, or up in her accountant’s tower with Muire Lo, watching the city’s laundry lines blow against a low cold autumn sky, taking bets on the ducal partisans fistfighting in the plaza.

Her eyes stung in the dry. “Let’s begin,” she said, harshly.

First she dictated a poisonous note to Xate Yawa. A jab—I know your game—a casual threat of death, and an apology for failing to save her brother, Olake. Iraji took it all down expressionlessly. That should satisfy Apparitor she had no alliance with Yawa.

“Now,” Baru said, tapping her brow, “I should write to Aminata. I’m sure you read a file on her?”

“She was very lovely, last we met,” he said, with an innocence so studied Baru looked up in outrage. He was refreshing his quill.

“You’ve never met her.” Baru leaned in on him. “Have you? Apparitor didn’t turn up in Falcrest until…”

“He was arranging the pieces for some years. A fact he brings up, often and bitterly, when you seem to be receiving too much credit.” He smoothed out his paper. “Your letter? You must be very eager to get back in touch.”

In fact, Baru was terrified, for it was very likely Aminata loathed her and would never speak to her again. Suddenly she didn’t want Iraji to hear a word of this letter. “I’ll write it,” she snapped. “Give me that.”

They had a childhood code, which they’d used in the Iriad school to pass letters in a little kitchen dead drop. Aminata had shown Baru how to seal the drop with saliva and a single hair. If it’s moved, you treat that drop as compromised, understand?

Dearest Aminata, etc. etc. Baru hesitated.

I read of your promotion to Lieutenant Commander. My congratulations. Upon her return to Falcrest, I intend to recommend you to Province Admiral Ormsment. You may wonder why a technocrat thinks to recommend you to a flag officer, and, well—more cause to hear my story!

She would mention Juris Ormsment so as to bring up the Welthony matter sideways. Ormsment had commanded the tax ships Baru betrayed and sank. Baru was trying to say, hey, I know what I did. Will you talk to me about it?