Startled, I looked more closely at the map. The Empire’s northern reach ended in the Witchwall Mountains, a long range that marked the Vaskandran border. Beyond it lay the wild, dark tangles of the Vaskandran forests and the fog-shrouded folds of its hills and moors, a vast country under the Witch Lords’ complete dominion. Stones marked the fortresses in the passes, forest green for Vaskandran castles and ocean blue for Raverran forts. But a cluster of green stones gathered at one of the passes, a clump as telling as a swarm of ants on a dead beetle.

“Is Vaskandar invading again?” I whispered to Marcello, alarmed.

He shook his head. “No, thank the Graces. But they’ve moved troops to the border.”

“They’d be mad to attack us, after we defeated them so soundly in the Three Years’ War.” The Witch Lords held near-absolute power in their own domains, but outside their realms they lacked the military might to mount a serious offensive into an Empire protected by the Falcons, and they had no navy to speak of.

“Well,” Marcello murmured, “they do have a certain reputation.”

“I don’t think we can ignore Ardence.” My mother tapped the city with an elegant nail. “Though by all reports Lady Terringer is making good progress bringing the duke around. The unrest there still makes it a weak spot for the Empire, and the River Arden has its source in the Witchwall Mountains, not far from where the Vaskandran forces are gathering. It’s a road for invasion they’ve used before, in the Three Years’ War. And we know Prince Ruven has been meddling with Ardentine politics. Whatever gambit Vaskandar is trying, Ardence is part of their strategy.”

Baron Leodra sniffed. “Don’t try to shield Ardence from the consequences of its actions by shifting blame to Vaskandar. If their unrest weakens us, let us respond with strength. If we occupy Ardence, we can oust the would-be rebels there and be well positioned to defend if Vaskandar invades.”

La Contessa shook her head. “You’re showing your inexperience, Leodra.”

He twisted a flinch into a scowl. This was Baron Leodra’s first elected term on the Council of Nine, a fact my mother rarely let him forget. “How so? It’s common sense to keep a strong hold on such a key position.”

“They’re trying to draw us out.” My mother cast a jaded glance at the map. “That force on the border is so obvious, it has to be a distraction or a provocation. It’s Loreice they’ve been after the last two times they went to war, not Ardence; we can’t assume this isn’t a trap. They haven’t made a true move yet. We need to keep our cards hidden, but be ready to act swiftly when the moment comes.”