“That’s right.” There was no humor in Niro da Morante’s smile. “The balefire swept the city, in three days and nights of terror. For each victim the flames claimed, they grew stronger, feeding on the lives of the fallen. After a hundred deaths, and a thousand, nothing could stop the blaze, not even the warlock himself. Only the word of the Falconer could end it.”

I nodded mutely, my lips pressed tight.

“But by the doge’s order, the Falconer withheld that word, until the king of Celantis was dead at the hands of his own people and the generals came out to surrender and beg for mercy.”

That Falconer had watched Celantis burn, knowing he could stop it at any time with one word. But he chose not to speak that word, out of loyalty to his doge. Did that silence cause him pain? Did he wake from nightmares every day for the rest of his life, hearing the screams, smelling the burning flesh?

“Since then, few indeed have dared refuse Raverra, the Serene City.” The doge steepled his fingers. “Thus, we have not needed to burn any more kingdoms. So you see the role a fire warlock plays in maintaining the serenity of the Empire.”

“Yes.” He’d circled back to my Falcon. He must be closing a trap. My heart beat twice for every tick of the clock. “Knowing we have a fire warlock makes it far less likely anyone will start hostilities with us in the first place.”

“And you also see why I cannot afford any doubt that if I call for you to unleash your Falcon’s fire, you will do as I command without hesitation.”

There it was. I stared, caught. A cynical smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. You see? it said. It’s not so easy.

“Your Serenity,” I said slowly, “should the security of Raverra require me to unleash my Falcon, I will do so.”

“No matter what the target?”

“I will defend Raverra if it is threatened.”

“Hmm.” His eyes flicked across my face as if he were reading a page. “You agree, then, to follow my orders?”

I clenched my bandaged hand until pain flared in it like a red sunrise. I couldn’t say yes, but I couldn’t say no. I hoped he didn’t see on my face how I wished my mother were in the room to answer for me.

“I cannot imagine, Your Serenity,” I said at last, “you would ever ask me to release my Falcon save for the security of Raverra.”

The doge laughed, thin lines fanning beside his eyes. “Well said.” He stood; I followed suit. “Very well, then. I suppose that will have to do for now.”

It seemed the game was over. But I had no idea if I’d won or lost.