“If he dies, it will not be because of you. He is a traitor to the Serene City.” She squeezed my shoulder. “His fate is not for you to decide. Leave that to the Council of Nine.”

“About that,” I said. “I’m worried. Prince Ruven made it clear Vaskandar is preparing for war. We stopped him from using Orthys to steal mages, and from crossing the border with the tools and knowledge to trigger a volcano, but I’m sure Vaskandar has other schemes in play we don’t know about yet.”

“No doubt. I assure you, I intend to bend our intelligence efforts in that direction.”

“I want to help.” I felt like a child again, saying it. Surely that was how she saw me: dozing off on the second-floor balcony, listening to the soothing rise and fall of voices below deciding the fate of Eruvia. “I’ve met Prince Ruven; I know him, and I want to help stop him.”

La Contessa’s eyes glittered. “Very well.”

The acceptance in those words fell on me like a heavy cloak. They opened a door to a room where words could kill: where a nod or a gesture could launch ships, send armies marching, dispatch assassins, or set cities aflame.

But I’d already crossed that threshold. I’d taken that mantle on my shoulders. I was done hiding in my room.

“Another thing.” I took a deep breath, summoning all my courage. This couldn’t be worse than dying alone on a warehouse floor. “Mamma … I think you’re wrong about Lieutenant Verdi.”

She didn’t look surprised; but then, Ciardha must have given her a full report. She regarded me with flat skepticism. “Verdi again. Do you have an answer for me now, as to what advantage he would bring to Raverra or House Cornaro, such that I should allow you to entertain him as a possible suitor?”

This was a delicate moment. I could tell her I didn’t care about bringing advantage to Raverra, and that love was more important. I could remind her that she’d wanted me to stand strong on my own, and that in this matter I would stand against her to do so.

But sentiment was the last thing that would persuade La Contessa. And besides, I wasn’t sure those things were true.

“You misunderstand. I’m not asking to court Marcello. I agree with you that at least for now, I need to remain unattached, for political purposes.” My chest twinged painfully at the admission, but I pressed on. “But I do think you underestimate his value as a prospect. Marcello is a talented officer of good birth, rising quickly through the Falcons. With our backing, he stands a strong chance of replacing Colonel Vasante when she retires.” I lifted an eyebrow, a move I’d learned from my mother. “You wanted me to get House Cornaro a Falcon. Well, Marcello could get House Cornaro all the Falcons.”