Thierry said, “Gambling debt, as you seem to have already guessed. Unpleasant men. Threats were made.”

“I see. You’ll likely be paid for your assistance, if that helps.”

“Oh, it does,” Thierry said feelingly. “Depending on how much. The provost uses you to consult your…uncle?”

Another silence. The stars above were fiercely bright now with only the thin blue moon riding. Scattered clouds. The night was hard and clear, but not as cold. A change in the air. Orane at night. The mysteries of it. Shadows and domes.

“Yes, he does,” said Medor. “He uses astrologers and others. Most military leaders do. I told him about Gauvard. He knew of him.”

Thierry took a chance. “It helped you rise among the serjeants? A useful connection to the half-world?”

Medor sighed. “I’m sure it did. I was never a soldier. Grew up here, entered the provost’s ranks young, running errands at the beginning, grooming horses. Usually they prefer military men. Not always, but…”

“So this was good for you. And did he really hold you as an infant?”

Medor shook his head. “He likes to say he did.”

“He didn’t tell us anything just now, did he?”

Medor stopped in the street. “Now you’ve disappointed me, Villar. Think back. What he said. Think carefully.”

Thierry, stung, tried to do so as the other man looked down at him, waiting.

It didn’t take long.

Chagrined, he said, “High levels of power involved. Dangerous choices to be made. He…said what you and the provost have been thinking? And he didn’t know if the man in the red cloak was dead.”

“Well,” Medor said, “that’s better. Maybe you can learn things after all. He told us a great deal, in his way. Also…I saw you looking. The flowers were from the queen.”

“What? How? How does she have fresh…?”

“There’s a room in the palace, I’m told, kept extremely warm with fires, piles of earth, gardeners attending. The queen likes flowers. Even in winter.”

“So if flowers were in Gauvard’s house…”

“She likely sent for him today, yes. With a gift, before or after. So she’s also trying to learn what happened last night.”

“And he’ll have told her…?”

“I have no idea,” Medor said. “I’ll just report it to the provost.”

“Who has choices to make.”

“Choices which could get him, and me, and even you killed, yes.”

Which gave a man pause.

“I’m just a poet,” he said.

“Not right now you aren’t.”

“Do you…do you really think they’d have killed me? If you hadn’t come?”

“If the provost hadn’t sent us, you mean?” Another animal heard, also behind them. Or the same one? “Likely, yes,” Medor Colle said. “No reason not to, the way the world is. Safer for him to have it done.”

Thierry had time to draw and let out a breath, then they were attacked.

—