“It’s not clear why she’s here at all.” Marcello rubbed his temple. He could be warding off a headache or signaling to his people hidden in the room. After the incident in the market, I wasn’t leaping to any conclusions. “She’s the voice and hands of the duke. She can’t possibly be on the ambassadorial staff.”

“Maybe the duke wants her personal report on Raverra’s reaction to the unrest in Ardence.”

“Or maybe she’s helping make plans to attempt to neutralize Raverra’s fire warlock.” Marcello leaned closer and dropped his voice. “Be careful, Lady Amalia. Please don’t go anywhere alone tonight.”

The thin inches of air between us hummed, live as a luminary wire.

I could have counted the amber flecks in his intent green eyes. As my suddenly clumsy tongue fumbled after a reply, a court functionary approached us with a bow.

“Excuse me, Lieutenant Verdi, Lady Amalia. His Serenity would like to speak with you.”

Surprised, I glanced over to where the doge presided in his informal court.

He was staring right at us, and he did not look happy.

Chapter Nine

Lieutenant Verdi.” The doge’s voice was soft as an adder’s hiss. “Has there been some incident with the Falconers in Ardence of which I should be aware?”

The heavy gold embroidery in his robes glinted in the lamplight, and a storm brewed behind his eyes. His attendants had cleared a space around us for private conversation. Somehow I doubted it was Marcello’s pride they were protecting, which worried me. Being part of something the doge wished to hide could be dangerous.

Marcello bowed stiffly. “No, Your Serenity. Not that I’m aware of. We have a handful of Falconers and Falcons there, but at last report everything seemed in order. The colonel would know better than I.”

The doge brought his fingertips together under his chin. “The colonel is not here. And the Ardentine ambassador would disagree with you, it seems. Vehemently.”

“Your Serenity, I am at a loss.” Marcello bowed again, nervously. I could have told him that wouldn’t help. A man like the doge would pounce on weakness like a cat on a fluttering feather. “I am not aware of any incident involving the Falconers in Ardence.”