“Tomorrow night. Before that, we’ll need a few things. Cloaks for everyone, and some hurricane lamps. That warehouse may be stuffed with flash powder, and I don’t want to take any chances.”

“I can get whatever you need,” Andy said. She sounded eager to be a part of things. “I’ll make a trip down this evening.”

“Good. Lieutenant, anything else you think of that we might require, let Ranker Dracht know.”

“Yes, sir.” Uhlan saluted. “I’ll speak to my men.”

He bustled off, and Marcus stepped away from the table to let the others know they were dismissed. Andy followed Uhlan, with Hayver trailing in her wake. Raesinia tried to catch Marcus’ eye, but he pretended not to notice, slipping out of the dining room and up to his office while she spoke with Cora in low, urgent tones. It might have been a cowardly move, but Marcus was expecting harsh words from his monarch, and she often didn’t give enough thought to the possibility of being overheard.

In any event, it only won him a few minutes’ respite. He’d managed to uncork his ink bottle and sharpen his quill by the time there was a knock at the door.

“It’s me,” Raesinia said. “I need to talk to you.”

“Come in,” Marcus said, making a show of setting his pen aside as she entered. “But I still need to write to our illustrious general.”

News of the great victory at Gaafen and the fall of Desland had come via flik-flik within hours, but only trickled into the rest of the city by more conventional means over the past few days. The mood was subdued. While the surrender of a League city was by no means a small triumph, the Hamveltai army at Antova made it a temporary one. It was widely agreed that Janus would have to confront the fortress next, or risk being cut off from Vordan in the event of a sudden enemy thrust. The general opinion of his prospects seemed low, though Janus’ messages to Marcus were nothing if not confident.

Raesinia frowned. “It hardly matters, does it? It’s not like he can send us any help.”

“I like to keep him up-to-date.” Marcus sighed. “Maybe it’s just for my benefit, but it eases my mind. But all right, shut the door.”

Raesinia did, then stood opposite the desk, looking thoughtful.

“I have an idea,” she said finally. “For the distraction.”

“Oh?”

“I talked a little with Viera, one of the students you rescued.”

“The Vheedai girl?” Marcus nodded. “What about her?”

“She was studying with your friend the Preacher.”

Marcus nodded again, a bit slower. She’d mentioned that, but it hadn’t really registered.

“And before that, she worked with an alchemist in Hamvelt,” Raesinia went on. “I think we should bring her in and put her to work on making our distraction a good one.”