Why is Raisa’s general offering political advice? Han wondered. What’s his dog in this fight?

Lord Hakkam nodded in agreement. “There may be opportunity here, if we proceed carefully. Whether any alliance with Arden would be acceptable to the Council of Nobles would depend on how claims for land and holdings are adjudicated and whether southerners have any claims on properties here in the north.”

Tilting his head back, Hakkam looked down his nose at the others. “If we come to Gerard’s aid, it would seem that grants of lands and estates in Arden should be ceded to us as victors. There’s the potential that many of us could do very well on a larger stage, with more resources.” He smiled, his eyes lighting with avarice. “Arden and Tamron! Think of it—miles and miles of fertile fields and riches such as we’ve never seen in the Fells.”

He’s in as long as he gets shares, Han thought. Everybody here is voting his own interest. Running this council is like herding cats and rats together and trying to keep anybody from having a meal.

“I was just in Arden,” Han said, “and it’s not what you think. They’ve been at war for almost a decade, so it’s pretty torn up. A lot of the crops have been destroyed, and they’ve been pouring money into their armies for so long there’s been little to spare for building and repair.”

They all looked at him as if a dog had suddenly spoken up, offering military advice.

“Well, then,” Hakkam said, folding his fingers carefully together and wrinkling his nose like he smelled something bad. “Likely many of the major landholders have been killed, so there will be properties available and in need of management. There may also be the opportunity to negotiate advantageous marriages with prominent families in Arden or Tamron.”

“That may be, Lord Hakkam,” Averill said, “assuming that Gerard wins. I’ve not been impressed with his military efforts so far. If Geoff wins against us as Gerard’s allies, I suspect we won’t be making any marriages to the south.”

He paused. “Your Highness, you already know my opinion of Gerard Montaigne. He’s a snake, and a snake doesn’t change its basic nature if you dress it up and give it a fancier title. I think it wise to look both inside and outside the queendom for a match, but as a father and a counselor, I cannot advise that you go to Montaigne. You would never sleep soundly in his bed.”

A ghost of a smile passed across Raisa’s face, coming and going so quickly that Han wasn’t sure he’d really seen it.

Maybe Montaigne wouldn’t sleep soundly, either, Han thought. That cheered him. But only a little.