It seemed a thorough search of his house and papers, and even more thorough questioning of his most trusted lieutenants and advisers, turned up no further hints or evidence pertaining to the kidnapping of the Ardentine children. If he’d done more than supply the writ and seal, he’d left no trace of it. My hopes this discovery would free the children and end the threat of war faded. This wasn’t so simple a matter as Leodra orchestrating the entire thing himself.

The evening after Leodra’s treachery, Domenic paid a call, to my great relief. But we’d barely settled down in the parlor with a tray of rosemary-and-cheese crostini when he confessed the true purpose of his visit.

“I’m headed back to Ardence tomorrow morning.” He sighed despondently. “I don’t want to go. By all reports, court’s more a mess of shouting and bad ideas than ever. But I have to at least try to persuade my cousin the duke to receive the Serene Envoy again. And talk my brother out of making mistakes that could destroy the future of my city.”

“Are you not joining the Shadow Gentry after all, then?” I kept my voice light and teasing, but I could hear the strain under it, and I suspected Domenic could as well. “I was all ready to buy you a gray domino mask and a mysterious cloak.”

“While I’m sure I’d look quite dashing in that, you’d best hold off your mask shopping for now.” Domenic turned a crostini in his hands as if it were a rare artifact he was evaluating. “They do have some points, mind you, especially about the unwilling conscription of Falcons. But Gabril—well, our father was a historian, you see.”

“I know. I have his Chronicle of the Rise of Ardence.”

Domenic’s face brightened momentarily. “Yes, yes! That’s his best. Half the reason he abdicated the ducal throne was to write that book. Gabril loved it. All the glorious victories and clever stratagems. Those were the parts of Ardence’s history he paid attention to.” He took a contemplative nibble of his crostini. “But he forgets that the reason there are so many stories of great military battles in Ardence’s history as an independent city-state, before Raverra defeated us and brought us into the Empire, is because we were always at war. Endless bloody conflicts with the other city-states in central Eruvia, playing out petty power struggles and helping no one.” Domenic shook his head. “We may grumble about Raverra, and even rail at it sometimes, but Ardence’s golden years came after it joined the Empire. We are safe, and strong, and free to focus on the trade and art and innovation that made Ardence into a city truly blessed by the Graces. I can’t let them throw all that away.”

I swallowed a brittle lump. “Do you think they will?”