At my side, Marcello laid his hand at the edge of his seat, next to mine. An inch or so still separated our fingers, but I cupped my hand slightly, as if I were clasping his back.

“Is Duke Astor Bergandon aware of the time limit?” I asked.

Lady Terringer nodded. “I’ve talked to him through unofficial channels. His nobles insist he can’t receive me in court, but he’s sent Lady Savony over here on his behalf. I haven’t explicitly told him what will happen if he can’t comply with the doge’s orders by the deadline, but I believe he understands the situation.”

“And what is his stance?”

Lady Terringer eyed me oddly. “You tell me. He’s asked to meet with you this afternoon.”

“With me? Why?”

“I don’t know. But he wants to speak with you alone.”

“No.” Marcello all but leaped to his feet. “Absolutely not. For one thing, Zaira has to be with Amalia at all times.”

“She can stay in the garrison.” Lady Terringer shrugged. “That’s permitted for Falcons traveling or stationed abroad. Should it come to an emergency, Lady Amalia can still unleash her from there.”

“It could be a trap,” Marcello protested.

Lady Terringer snorted. “If they were going to lay a trap for a Raverran, it wouldn’t be a Cornaro. No matter what they think of Raverra, the Ardentine court has an irrational degree of affection for your family. I’d be more worried about a trap if they did want you to bring your fire warlock.”

“We need to hear what the duke has to say,” I decided. “Especially if he’s shown he wants to engage diplomatically with Raverra but doesn’t feel he can do so openly. We’ve only got time for a few more chances at peace; we can’t waste one of them.”

Marcello stood, arms crossed, mouth set in an unhappy line. I knew if I were a normal Falconer, under his command, he would forbid me to go alone.

“I’ll be fine,” I said, more gently. “The duke has nothing to gain by threatening me, and a great deal to lose. And frankly, I don’t want Zaira along on a delicate diplomatic meeting, regardless.” I turned to Lady Terringer. “Please tell His Grace I accept his invitation.”

Despite the confidence I tried to project, Leodra’s unfinished warning echoed through my head: If you go to Ardence, you’re in danger. But until I knew where that danger lay, I couldn’t balk at every shadow, or I’d never get anything done.

“Very well,” Lady Terringer said. “And now, we need to talk about balefire.”

I nodded, my throat dry as week-old bread. I took a sip of coffee out of desperation, and the bitterness shriveled my tongue.