“I subtly pointed out that the manor-lords and their tenants would make a lot of money by having so many hungry wage-packets walking around, and that the city was creaming off a lot of gold,” Mathilda said. “They’re nervous, but reassured. It was worth sitting through one banquet. Rudi managed to escape because it was all Associates and they needed to be reassured by one of their own. Or at least that was his excuse! Plus he had some Mackenzie politics to take care of after the military stuff, and he really did have to handle that himself.”

Tiphaine sipped at the wine. “His Majesty just gave me my marching orders; I’m off tomorrow. Well, the army he just gave me is off tomorrow, I’m probably going to have to arrive first and last to chivvy everyone along, particularly the Yakima contingents who aren’t used to working with the Association. Including them is a good move in about four separate ways, but I’m going to have to sweat to make it work the way he wants.”

Mathilda tried to imagine Tiphaine doing anything else with a mission, and failed.

“Rudi’s brilliant about that sort of thing,” she said instead, with a glow of pride. “Not just a pretty face! Young for it, but he’s a first-rate general.”

“I’ve observed that,” Tiphaine said dryly; she had been one of his trainers, during his months every year in Association territory since the Protector’s War.

Then with something that might have been the barest hint of a wink: “He’s even sort of cute . . . for a guy.”

“You’re impossible!” Mathilda said.

“No, just improbable. Fortunately only stories have to be plausible; real life just has to exist. Otherwise I’d simply refuse to believe the Sword of the Lady was there at all, for example. Now, what’s on your regal mind?”

“First, let Delia know that I’m sorry you two—and Rigobert—couldn’t be there for the wedding up at Castle Corbec. We’re going to have a commemoration ceremony after the war in the Cardinal-Archbishop’s cathedral in Portland, and I want Delia as one of the Matrons of Honor.”

“Thanks, she’ll love that. We’ll come and she can be matron enough for both of us,” Tiphaine said, refilling her glass. “What’s the serious business?”

“Ah, there’s some information I need. Chancellor Ignatius has his old boss Abbot-Bishop Dmwoski working on getting an overall view of the CUT’s espionage and infiltration operations in our territory.”

“Good choice, Matti,” Tiphaine said judiciously. “He was uncomfortably smart when he was fighting against us, and he’s still plenty sharp even if he is semiretired. Plus he has extensive contacts. We need some people who aren’t rushing around being too busy to see the big picture.”