Gales watched from outside the center of activity, wrestling his conscience for the thousandth time. Could he remain in service to a man who dealt with Magden Norath’s like? He had his debt, true, but didn’t he also have a higher moral responsibility? Wasn’t his debt, in fact, more to Inger than to Dane’s family?

Shortly after Norath appeared a messenger arrived saying that the commander of the Vorgreberg garrison had announced that the King was dead. Chaos ruled the city.

“Perfect,” the Duke said. “We can restore order and be hailed as saviors.”

The messenger added, “There’s also a strong rumor saying Ragnarson’s cronies have murdered the Queen and her son. The people think there’s no one to take over.”

“I will.”

“Legally, fool. Legally.”

Gales chuckled. The Duke’s scheme was so much dust if Inger was dead. All those years for nothing. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving soul. But his humor lasted only a moment. Inger was too dear a price for Dane’s embarrassment.

General Liakopulos led the way round west of Vorgreberg, to the barracks of the King’s Own, which lay outside the city wall. He found the troops demoralized and confused. He instructed their commander to assemble them.

“Men,” he said, “you’ve heard that the King is dead. You’ve heard the Queen was murdered. I give the lie to the latter right now. Her Majesty the Queen.”

Inger stepped forward. Liakopulos had torchbearers illuminate her, so there would be no doubt. “There’s been a battle in the east. The King was involved. We did lose it, and badly. But as yet we have no direct evidence that the King was killed. All we have are rumors started by people who want to profit from confusion and despair. It’s just more of the same thing that goes on every day in Vorgreberg. Don’t take it seriously. Don’t sit around like men condemned. We’re soldiers. Our job is to maintain order. It’s time we got on with that.”

He spoke a while longer, trying to restore morale. He did not scruple against lying. When he finished he turned the troops over to their captains, who prepared to move into the city.

“Major, they seem a little weak, number wise. What happened?”

“Desertions. We lost close to seventy men. All the Marena Dimura scouts. Most of the lads of Nordmen background. The Wessons stood up better.”

“They were always a more solid lot. All right. We’re going to split the force into two companies. One will accompany the Queen to the palace. The other will follow me to the Vorgreberger barracks. We’ll get them stirring, then start clearing the streets.”

The Major looked out his window. An orange glow illuminated the underbelly of the clouds. “It may be too big a job for the tools at hand. General.”