“Does he want to marry you?”

“He claims it’s why he’s visiting.”

“But why would he want to marry you?”

Bitterblue giggled. “Don’t worry, I’m not insulted.”

Giddon was grinning. “You know what I mean.”

“Yes. I’m sure he intends some advantage to himself or Estill, but I don’t know which advantage, and unfortunately, I’ll never know, because I’m not going to encourage him. Is Joff what you wanted to talk about? I got the impression it was something about your trip.”

“Oh, yes,” he said. “What’s zilfium, exactly?”

“Zilfium?” she repeated, rubbing her braids the way she did when her neck was hurting. “It’s a rock that’s a powerful Torlan fuel. It’s used all over the Torlan continent, except in Winterkeep, where it’s illegal.”

“Why is it illegal in Winterkeep?”

“I believe it’s because zilfium use pollutes the air,” said Bitterblue, going to the large desk that sat in the middle of the room. She began to shuffle through papers, the gold rings on her fingers catching the light. “Maybe the water too. Winterkeep mines zilfium and exports it, but they don’t use it there. I have more information here somewhere. We can call for Froggatt—”

“Before you do,” said Giddon, “we have a message from Raffin. He says one of your men who died in Winterkeep wrote him a letter. Whichever man it was—”

“That would be Mikka, my envoy,” said Bitterblue, her voice suddenly quieter. “He had a correspondence going on with Raffin and Bann about medicines. He was an outdoorsman. He used to go hiking for days, then send them packages full of seeds and leaves.”

“Ah,” said Giddon. “Well, Mikka wrote to Raffin that he had news to tell you about zilfium. Did you get any news about zilfium?”

“None. What kind of news?”

“I have no idea. But Raffin says you should look into zilfium.”

“Look into it?” said Bitterblue, who was still shuffling through papers. “Look into it how?”

“Again, I have no idea.”

“What a silly message. Why can’t I find anything on this desk? Oh, weaselbugger!” said Bitterblue, then strode to the stairway and bawled “Froggatt!” down the steps.

A moment later, Froggatt appeared in the doorway. “Yes, Lady Queen?” he said, peering at her over his droopy whiskers.

“Where’s my information about zilfium?”

Froggatt turned and ran downstairs again.

“Katu is always talking about zilfium,” Bitterblue muttered, starting on a different pile. “Not that he’s bothered to write to me in forever.”