Count Janel stared at the woman in shock. “Haven’t you heard a word I said? Tamin is being tricked. We have to show him—”

“And that’s supposed to make it all right? The villages swept clean? The men, women, and children sent to the flame?” Ninavis pushed herself upright from where she’d been sitting. “Don’t you dare tell me his gullibility excuses what he’s done.”

The count’s jawline whitened as she stared at Ninavis. Dorna stood. Brother Qown stood as well, unsure what he could do.

“There are ways—”

Ninavis thrust out her jaw. “Are you about to start talking about Censure? Because I swear if—” Her voice died, though, trailing into a numb silence as she stared at the Count of Tolamer.

Janel’s eyes glowed incandescent. Inhuman.

“Allow me,” the count said, “to explain how we do politics here in Jorat.” She stepped forward, and Ninavis stepped back. Except Ninavis already stood at the bed’s edge, so she sat down.

“If I march in there and murder the baron,” Janel explained, “who has no children, who has picked out no heirs—his title and lands don’t fall to me but to the strongest stallion in his service. Who might you think that would be, hmm? Dedreugh. Dedreugh will be in charge. You didn’t see him at the tournament. He’s as strong as I am, if not stronger. He’ll kill all of us, and nothing will change. In Jorat, you cannot assassinate your way into power. Maybe, just maybe, allow the possibility I have some idea how to handle this.”

The count walked over to a chest, threw open the lid, and began rummaging around inside.

A long, awkward silence wrapped around everyone in the room.

“What are you?” Ninavis asked.

The Count of Tolamer turned her head. “Determined.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know. I just don’t care.”

Ninavis inhaled. “Look—”

“Are you going to help me, or are you going to peck at my every action like a little bird?” Janel dropped the clothes in her arms and turned to face the woman. “I can help you and your people outside. But not if you think I’m an enemy whose purpose is to give you something to rebel against.”

Silence.

Dorna and Brother Qown both looked at the two women, not daring to breathe as they waited to see who would move first.

“Might have been a touch out of line back there,” Ninavis said.

Brother Qown exhaled.

Janel tilted her head to acknowledge she’d heard, but otherwise said nothing as she began to toss more clothing onto the floor.

“They’re my people,” Ninavis continued. “And they’re about to be sacrificed to demons.”

“Maybe…” Brother Qown cleared his throat. “Couldn’t we send a message to Tamin’s liege? Warn them he’s a rogue baron? Who is the count here, anyway?”