“Vaskandar first,” he announced. “Their forces on the border have moved—but not through the pass. They appear to have taken up rather uncomfortable positions on and around Mount Whitecrown.” The green stones had in fact shifted, forming a scattered cluster deep in the heart of the Witchwall Mountains. It didn’t seem like a good vantage point from which to attack. “Can anyone explain this madness?”

The generals frowned at the map. Something tickled the back of my mind.

“Volcanic glass.” The words burst out despite the fact I wasn’t strictly supposed to speak at these meetings unless asked a question.

The doge frowned. “Excuse me?”

“It’s a power source for artifice. Volcanoes contain an incredible amount of power, even ones like Mount Whitecrown that haven’t erupted in a hundred years. Artifice can extract some of that power from volcanic glass.”

I had their attention; Colonel Vasante nodded, and the Council and the generals looked thoughtful. The doge drummed his fingers on the table. “But Vaskandar has next to no artificers.”

“The Witch Lords have never shown interest in obsidian before,” the marquise of Palova said. “It’s a good point, and we should keep it in mind. But I’m more concerned about Mount Whitecrown as a vantage point over Ardence and the central border defenses. If they’re planning any kind of magical assault that requires a clear line of sight, they’ll have it from there.”

The doge stared at me thoughtfully for a moment, then at the marquise, then down at the map. “Mount Whitecrown is on their side of the border, just barely. If we try to take it from them, we’re the ones starting a war.”

“Now is not a good time for that,” my mother said.

The marquise of Palova nodded. “We need to figure out what they’re doing, watch them closely, and have forces in position to act. But first we need to stabilize Ardence, and quickly. We can’t have rebellion threatening the heart of the Empire when Vaskandar may be getting ready to make a move.”

The doge nodded. “Ah, yes. Ardence. I agree we must resolve that matter swiftly. We cannot afford to appear weak when we have faced … internal difficulties.”

A tense hush fell over the room. No one looked at the spot where Baron Leodra usually stood.

La Contessa broke the silence at last. “We need to show unity as well as strength. What we do in Ardence must appear effortless. If the city can be brought back into the fold diplomatically, so much the better.”

“It is difficult to employ diplomacy when Duke Astor won’t speak to the Serene Envoy, save to issue unreasonable demands,” the doge said dryly.

“He’s receiving poor counsel from the Shadow Gentry,” my mother said. “I suspect you’ll see a change within the next few days, when Lady Savony returns to advise him.”