They sat at the rickety table close to the fire, and they did this side by side as he threw the coin pouches and missives on the table.

They both ignored the pouches.

“Silver?” she asked.

“The Rising?” he asked in return.

She shrugged, for all they’d taken off priests they had hit thus far had come to nothing.

Chu reached for the missives, untied them and they saw there were only two.

He broke the seal on the first and, heads together, they read,

Instruct C to continue efforts with W. Recent plan is working. Unrest brewing. The brothers have made FC. New strategy commencing there. But they have been told to hold until after we AM.

“C, Carrington. W, Wilmer,” Serena said. “FC, Fire City? I have no idea about AM.”

When Chu didn’t reply, she turned her gaze to him to see him studying her.

“You decipher that in but a second?” he asked.

“It isn’t hard,” she replied, feeling a strange warmth hit her cheeks.

“No, I would have gotten it as well, but not in but a second.”

She had no idea how to respond, so she didn’t.

She looked away and urged, “The next.”

Chu set the first aside and broke the seal on the second, which was short enough to be sent by bird.

They read,

C reports M a growing threat. Plan to commence has been ordered. LLTR.

“C, Carrington. M, Mercy. Long live The Rising,” she whispered.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

She again looked to him. “Mercy’s a threat?”

He was still studying the note. “I do not know.”

“How can she be a threat?” Serena asked, her eyes straying back to the missive, until she felt his on her and she again turned to Chu.

“Ask my mother.”

A chill slithered down her spine.

“Women outside The Enchantments are not as powerless as you think, mouse,” he murmured. “You don’t have to swing a staff to make your point.”

He was being wise again.

And annoying.

She decided to ignore that.

“I think this proves Carrington is working with this Rising.”

“I think this proves nothing to King Wilmer. He is under a spell many weak men fall prey to.”

“What spell is that?”

“Compulsive stupidity.”

Serena started laughing.

Chu grinned at her as she did.

She reached out to the cheese, taking up a knife, cutting a slice and handing it to Chu, before reaching to cut her own slice, muttering, “We have to figure out what AM means. That’s the plan. But we need to report what we have to True, Cassius and Mars, and you need to send a bird to your brother in Fire City. This isn’t just proof Carrington is in on it. It proves this Rising faction of the Go’Doan is also at work in Wodell, and it would stand to reason they have agents in Airen.”

“Serena,” he called.