Savine was gazing down at her sleeping baby. Their baby. There was love in her eyes then, he noticed. “Given all that’s happened,” she murmured, “we are lucky to be where we are.”

Crossing a room was an ordeal, pissing hard labour and dressing himself near impossible, but it was true things could’ve been worse. They’d been confessed traitors, after all, rotting in the cells at King Orso’s pleasure. Now Orso was a prisoner in his own palace and they were back in Savine’s cavernous house just off the Middleway. Most of it was shut up for lack of servants, but even so.

“We know people living far worse,” he said.

“We know people not living at all. We have to protect ourselves.” She gently stroked the dark fuzz on her baby’s head. Their baby’s head. “Protect our family.”

“The people still admire me. We can use that.” Being bounced on the shoulders of that mob outside the House of Questions hadn’t been pleasant. But a lot better than being torn to pieces by them. “That and my place on the Assembly.” Leo tried to force his scarred mouth into the easy-going smile he used to have, the one he’d worn when King Jezal handed him that badly balanced commemorative sword, but that felt like a thousand years ago. There was still a trace of the Young Lion there, if he tried. “No recklessness this time. No vanity. No sentiment.”

“No overambition,” said Savine. “No gambles. We have to stay safe. Take care who we trust.”

Leo snorted. “We could hardly have picked worse friends.”

“Isher, Heugen and Barezin.”

“Cowards and fools,” grunted Leo. “Though they might still have their uses.”

“That savage Stour Nightfall.”

“I should’ve kept him on a tighter leash.”

“That weasel Vick dan Teufel.”

“Quite the liar.” He’d have been outraged by that once. Now he almost admired it. Things he’d taken for failings looked like strengths these days, crowning virtues like fatal flaws.

“Your old friend Rikke.”

Leo frowned. “She was held up by bad weather.”

“Please.” Savine curled her lip. “She sent a letter to King Orso, months in advance, warning him about the whole plan. He knew we were coming.”

Leo’s nails bit at his palm as he clenched his fist. “That fucking treacherous bitch,” he snarled, dotting the mirror with spit. “I risked my life for her! Why the hell would she—”

“We cannot waste time on what is done,” said Savine. “We have to learn the lessons and find better friends for the future.”

“You’re right.” Leo took a long breath and pressed the anger down. He couldn’t let himself be swept off by whatever emotion blew his way. “What about your man Broad? He’s close with the Breakers. A captain in the People’s Army.”

Savine thoughtfully pursed her lips. “Too close with the Breakers, perhaps.”

“Aren’t his family still in Angland?”

“You’re suggesting we squeeze them?” She looked surprised. Shocked, even. “You’ve changed.”

“To regret the methods, you have to win.” He couldn’t stay on his feet any longer, and he grunted as he took one lurching step and the padded socket squeezed at his stump. “Once you’ve won… who cares about the methods?”