“No, no.” He lifted his palms, warding off the idea. “Venasha’s baby is fine. A family friend; no one you know. But the point is, this is no rumor. It really happened.”

I couldn’t reconcile Domenic’s earnest expression with the doge’s fury at not knowing of the incident. I pressed my fingers to my forehead. “What really happened, exactly?”

Domenic sucked in a long breath. “During a grand state ball, when most of the high nobles of Ardence were out carousing late into the night, groups of Falconers and imperial soldiers stormed into the homes of over a dozen of the most powerful lords in Ardence and seized their children. Even though they weren’t mage-marked. The Falconers had an imperial writ and seal they showed the governesses and nursemaids brave enough to challenge their authority.”

I stared at him. He sounded so sure. “There must have been some mistake.”

“There was no mistake. The Falconers left letters in place of the children they took, under the seal of the Serene Empire, declaring Raverra had taken the children to ensure their parents’ cooperation. When the parents stormed up to the embassy demanding to see their children, the Serene Envoy refused.”

“That doesn’t sound right. What did she say?”

Domenic spread his palms. “I don’t know exactly. She dismissed them out of hand. Some of them wanted to gather their household guard and search the envoy’s palace by force, but Duke Astor arrived around dawn and pulled them into council to discuss Ardence’s official response before anyone could do anything too rash.”

Lady Terringer’s message to the doge had mentioned incoherent demands. If she knew nothing of the incident and had been roused from her bed before dawn to find raging parents flinging accusations at her door, she might not have made much sense of what they were saying.

“This doesn’t add up.” I tapped the table. “This wasn’t done with the doge’s knowledge, and I can’t believe the Falconers at the imperial garrison in Ardence would dare take such steps on their own. Even if they did, they wouldn’t have access to the imperial seal.”

Zaira frowned. “Curse my tongue for speaking well of those bastards, but I have to admit I never saw any brats at the Mews who weren’t mage-marked.”

“Even so, it happened. I know some of the children who were taken.” Domenic’s fingers tightened on his cup. “I know their families. Maybe Gabril and the Shadow Gentry are right after all, if the doge is stealing children. I’ve heard they’re getting ready to do something about this. I’m half tempted to join them.”

The Shadow Gentry—the gray-masked secret society Ignazio had mentioned, which wanted Ardentine independence. Hell of Discord. If Domenic’s brother was a member, that wasn’t good. And if they were taking action on their own, that was worse.