“I see,” said Quona. “Well, they’ve been showing me the explosions for a while, but the boat is a new image. I didn’t connect it to the boat that went down with your envoy, because I didn’t know that boat’s name. I’ve been focused on the explosions instead, trying to identify the house on the cliff. It’s why I keep flying north: I’ve been studying the coast to see if any of the houses look right.

“But then, the last time I talked to the silbercows, they suddenly seemed to have more information about the boat. They knew the names of your men, Mikka and Brek. They also seemed to know that those men had been murdered. I’m guessing now that they got that information from you?”

“Yes,” said Giddon grimly.

“Well,” said Quona. “Last night something sparked in my memory. A letter my foxes brought me from the Cavenda house here in Ledra a long time ago. It’s the reason I didn’t sleep; it’s the reason I tried to go north again today, to the Cavenda property in Torla’s Neck.”

“Well?” said Giddon. “What is it?”

“I suppose I should just show it to you,” said Quona.

She stood up quickly, not seeming to worry about the foxes on her person. Giddon had the impression that they were accustomed to shifting around, maintaining their balance on a moving planet. At the desk, she shuffled through some papers, finally pulling out a crumpled letter, which she passed to them both.

Hava read out loud, in Keepish.

“‘Note: Today, during my visit from the Estillan envoy Cobal, we were startled by a visit from the Monsean envoy Mikka, who is on a northern tour with a friend. The guards, knowing I was expecting a visitor but not knowing he was already with me, mistook Mikka for that visitor and brought him to the storehouse. They let him in at the back door. Cobal and I did not hear him enter. I believe Mikka overheard a great deal of our conversation before his presence became known to us. If you would kindly come north and honor us with a visit, I will furnish you with more details. Yours, LM.’”

Giddon’s nails were digging into his own palms. “Benni Cavenda had Mikka and Brek murdered.”

“Yes,” said Hava. “Because Benni and Cobal are planning something and Mikka found out. But what are they planning?”

“I don’t know,” said Quona. “I was up practically all night going through my papers, looking for clues. I sent my foxes out too, but they found nothing.”

“It was signed ‘LM.’ Who’s LM?” asked Giddon.

“No idea.”

“What were you going to do today once you got to the Cavenda property?”