They were alone in the huge suite. Sothe had herded all the servants out hours ago, then departed herself to double-check Janus’ security arrangements. Mierantai guards prowled the halls, and blue-uniformed soldiers from the Army of the East stood watch at the doors and in the stairways.

“A break from being constantly assaulted with hors d’oeuvers is just the thing,” Janus said, taking the chair opposite her. “Everyone in Vordan seems to want to invite me to a feast. I sometimes feel like they’re fattening me up for the slaughter.”

“They’re grateful,” Raesinia said. “I am grateful. I’ll say that officially, of course, but I want you to know that I mean it personally as well. You and your army saved the city from Maurisk and the Black Priests, and saved me from God only knows what fate.”

“Colonel d’Ivoire and Colonel Ihernglass had a great deal to do with the latter,” Janus said. “Frankly, I arrived too late to be much good.”

“I’ll convey my thanks to them, too, of course.” She cocked her head. “You’ll be able to retrieve the Thousand Names?”

“Oh yes. The river is barely ten yards deep at that point, and steel tablets won’t drift in the current. It shouldn’t take long to haul them out again.”

“That’s good.” Raesinia paused, trying to decide how to raise the main issue. Her indecision must have shown on her face, because a quick smile flickered across Janus’ features, like summer lightning.

“You want to know what I’m going to do with Vordan City,” he said, “now that I’ve got it.”

“The thought had crossed my mind,” Raesinia said, obscurely relieved. In a way, it was freeing to be so helpless. She had no army, no loyal followers, nothing to match the thousands of soldiers who would march at Janus’ command. But march where?

“The Deputies-General is in chaos now that the Directory has been arrested,” she went on. “Maurisk locked up most of the Ministry of War, and now they’ve been let free, but nobody seems to know what to do with themselves.” Giles Durenne had been one of the Spike’s last victims. His second in command, Captain Robert Englise, was trying to keep the basic logistical apparatus of the army running, but it seemed like an uphill battle.

“The situation is confused,” Janus agreed. “I think that, just now, the country needs a strong hand to guide it.”

This is it, then. The end of the Orboan dynasty, the moment where Janus elevated himself from general to king. I wonder what he’ll do with me.

“I . . . don’t disagree,” she said cautiously. “But . . .”