“No. I’m sure he’s a pious and learned man”—which took care of the formalities—“but what you need right now are certain . . . personal qualities. An archbishop is inevitably something of a politician and that is not what’s required.”

Felipe and his wife exchanged a glance, and he went on.

“Very well, my lady Grand Constable, I will do as you recommend, and light candles and pray to St. James, the patron of my House. Could you tell me exactly what we’re facing? I know in general terms that the Church has denounced the CUT as diabolists and done everything but proclaim a Crusade . . . they’d need His Holiness for that, of course, and Badia is so far away . . . but could you give me some details? It would be very much appreciated.”

Tiphaine hesitated; she was operating at the limits of her discretion here, and Sandra had always preferred need-to-know. On the other hand . . .

I’ll edit things as I go along, just give him the gist. Certainly I’ll take out the personal bits! And I’ll be vague on exactly who helped me out. But he does need to know; the war effort requires that he be brought up to speed. Plus I think Ermentrude is his closest adviser. And unlike their men-at-arms, I think they can keep secrets.

“I was in charge of the Mary Liu matter,” she said.

“Dowager Baroness Liu? Lord Odard de Gervais’ mother?” Felipe said. “She was arrested for treason, wasn’t she? I’d heard she was under house arrest at Fen House. But there was a rumor she died . . .”

“Yes. That wasn’t simply a case of treason. What happened after her arrest has a bearing on your wound and what needs to be done to make sure it heals. The King had such a hurt on his quest from an arrow, and I did last spring, and now you. That May I rode to Fen House—”

INTERLACHEN PRISON
THE NEW FOREST, CROWN DEMESNE
(FORMERLY NORTHERN OREGON)
PORTLAND PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
HIGH KINGDOM OF MONTIVAL
(FORMERLY WESTERN NORTH AMERICA)
MAY 28, CHANGE YEAR 24/2022 AD

It was the dawn of a fine spring day when Tiphaine d’Ath rode out of the East Gate of Portland, taking the carefully maintained Banfield north to the I-205 interchange, towards the Columbia.

If anyone had been ill-advised enough to ask where she was going or why, she would have jerked her head back towards her squires and the mounted varlets carrying nets and boar spears and the half a dozen shaggy slothounds panting and padding in their wake. The dark green tunic and trews and shirt she wore, and the peaked Montero hat with a partridge feather in the livery badge would bear that out. It was well known that the Baroness of Ath had the rare and valued privilege of hunting in the Crown Preserves of New Forest and Government Island.