"I should think it should be evident," Hespero said. "Suddenly, in the middle of the night, Sir Fail and his guard sweep into the royal apartments. His Majesty, King Charles, is brought in, also under Lierish guard. The Craftsmen become agitated, and the entire castle is thrown into a state of disarray."

Muriele shrugged. "Someone tried to kill me, Praifec," she said. "Under such circumstances, disarray is only natural. What would you have me do?"

"Someone tried to kill you?" His surprise seemed as genuine as his concern.

"Unless their true intent was to slaughter my guard and then my young maid, I would have to conclude so," Muriele said.

"This is terrible. How was it done?"

She smiled grimly. "As when the churchmen killed my daughters, no one seems to know."

The praifec's mouth opened in a little o, o, then closed before he began speaking again. "Majesty, if you are implying that the Church had any hand in this, I forgive you. Clearly the stress has clouded your judgment." then closed before he began speaking again. "Majesty, if you are implying that the Church had any hand in this, I forgive you. Clearly the stress has clouded your judgment."

"Nevertheless, this has the same stink about it," Muriele replied.

"Brother Desmond and his men were renegades," Hespero reminded her. "Worse, they were heretics practicing the forbidden arts."

"In afterthought, yes," Muriele agreed. "But I took the liberty of checking the roles of the monastery d'Ef and discovered that he-and his men-were trusted members of the Church until just before his death."

"Actually, I think he was probably considered less than sanctified when he murdered the fratrex of his order," Hespero said sarcastically. "The possibility of evil exists everywhere, even within the Church. I do not deny that. The murders of your children-and the methods used to accomplish them-have served to reawaken us to that simple but neglected truth. We have begun the most serious investigation of our various orders since the days of the Hegemony, a search which starts with the Fratrex Prismo himself and descends to the humblest frater and most rural sacritor. If you have any evidence at all that tonight's attempt on your life was connected with any man of the Church, I am compelled to ask you what it is."

"There is none," Muriele admitted.

"I see," the praifec returned. "Then what is is known?" known?"

"That someone killed the guard at my chamber door with a knife. That he then entered my apartments and slew my maid in the same fashion."

"But you escaped."

"I was not here," Muriele replied.

"That was very fortunate," the praifec said.

"Yes, it was," she said wearily. "Praifec, why are you you here?" here?"

Both eyebrows lifted in surprise. "To offer my support and my council."

"What council would that be?"

"Majesty, I must speak plainly. Though I now see your actions were spurred by fear and desperation-and were therefore perhaps in some way justified-they have created pandemonium. Rumors are abundant. Some say that this is some sort of Lierish coup, that you are being forced-or worse, have chosen-to take the kingdom by force."

"May I remind you, Praifec, that the kingdom is already mine?"

"It is not, Majesty," the praifec said, with what seemed excessive gentleness. "It is your son's, and he is a Dare, not a de Liery. You have no claim to the throne at all."

"Fair enough," Muriele replied. "Let me be candid, as well. Somehow, an assassin walked by or around the vaunted Craftsmen, entered my chambers, killed my maid, and would have killed me if I had had the bad fortune to be here. Since Cal Azroth, I have found it difficult to place full faith in the royal guard, and now I find it impossible. I trust Fail de Liery, and I trust his men. I do not trust anyone else in this castle, nor should I as you well may know. So I am protecting my life and the life of my son, and my son's throne as best I can. If you can think of a better way, please share it."

Hespero rubbed his forehead and sighed. "You are not a fool, Majesty. You must understand the repercussions of this. Whatever you are actually doing, if Hansa perceives that you are installing some sort of Lierish regency here, they will send armies. I and the praifec of Hansa have been working tirelessly to prevent this war. If you continue down this path, we will fail."

She spread her hands. "Then tell me what to do, Praifec."

He was silent for a moment. Then, hesitantly, he cleared his throat. "Well, there is a precedent here," he said at last.

"What precedent do you refer to?"

"Three hundred years ago, Liery ruled most of Crotheny, but controlled only the western part-the east was in relative chaos, until it was ceded to Virgenya."

"Yes. The lords of Liery hadn't the strength to control it, and considered it preferable to have it under Virgenyan control than Hansan."

"Yes," the praifec agreed, "the animosity between Liery and Hansa runs very deep, to the days of the Hegemony, perhaps to before, when they were warring tribes. In any event, while the Church recognized the legal cession and the marriage that concluded it-the first in the series of Lierish and Virgenyan alliances of which you are the most immediate example-Hansa was the stronger nation, and prepared to take eastern Crotheny by force. Or retake it, as they might put it, since it was originally tribes from Hansa that broke the hold of the Hegemony in this region."

"I see," Muriele said, stiffening. "You're suggesting I allow a Pax Sacer Pax Sacer."

The praifec nodded. "As it was done then. His eminence the Fratrex Prismo could be persuaded to lend troops to secure the peace and allay suspicions that you are showing favoritism."

"And yet fifty years later, Hansa conquered all of Crotheny, east and west."

"True, but only after the pax pax was put aside." was put aside."

"So your suggestion is that I allow the occupation of this city by troops from Vitellia."

"From z'Irbina," Hespero corrected. "The most holy Fratrex Prismo's own men. Only until the political situation here is peacefully resolved. It is the best way, Majesty. Hansa will never dare go against the Church. Peace will be preserved, countless lives saved."

Muriele closed her eyes. It was tempting. If she gave control to the Church, she could rest. She could concentrate on protecting the children she had left.

"The Church hasn't taken sides on the part of any country in three hundred years," she said. "Why now?"

"Surely you understand, Majesty, that this goes well beyond determining who will sit the throne of Crotheny a year hence. A great evil has risen in the world, one we do not understand, but one which we cannot ignore.

"You've read the latest reports from Duke Artwair, in the east? Half his men have been slain by what can only be described as hordes of naked madmen, by demons and monsters the likes of which the world has not seen since the Warlock Wars. Whole towns have been destroyed, and the east empties out. Eslen is near to bursting from the refugees, and we are still losing ground.

"But it isn't just on the frontiers-Broogh was in the heart of Newland, and destroyed by an unholy creature none of us suspected remained in the world. Now is the time for nations to unite, not for them to be divided. You must stand together against this dark rising of the tide, not fight amongst yourselves as it drowns you. That is what I am offering you-not merely the chance to save this earthly throne, but to make it possible for us all to combat the real real foe-together." foe-together."

"Under the leadership of z'Irbina."

Hespero fingered his beard. "The reason we do not take sides in the secular conflicts of nations, Majesty, is because we have a higher calling. Virgenya Dare cleansed our world of the first evil, of the Skasloi. And yet it seems that no matter how well and deeply evil is defeated, it always returns, in a different guise. It is the Church which took up Virgenya Dare's mantle and her mission. When the Black Jester rose, it was through the leadership of the Church that he was thrown down in defeat."

"Yes. And then the Church ruled most of the known world for six hundred years."

"It was a golden age," Hespero said, frowning at her tone. "The most perfect peace and prosperity Everon has ever known."

"You wish a return to that?"

"We could do worse, but I am suggesting no such outcome. What I am saying is that we must be unified, and not through war or conquest. We need a cleansing, a resacaratum resacaratum, that will prepare us for the great test to come. The resacaratum resacaratum has already begun, Majesty, within the Church itself, but it must-it will-go further than that." has already begun, Majesty, within the Church itself, but it must-it will-go further than that."

"You're asking me to let an army march through my gates and occupy my country without a fight."

"By holy mandate, Majesty. To bring the peace and justice Crotheny so desperately needs."

"What if I refuse?" Muriele asked.

Hespero's face seemed to wither a little. "Then you deal us all a mortal blow," he said. "But we will will be unified-we will fight this evil somehow. I am suggesting the best course of action, but not the only one." be unified-we will fight this evil somehow. I am suggesting the best course of action, but not the only one."

"Suggest another," she challenged.

He shook his head, and his eyes glinted strangely. "It should not come to that. Please, Majesty-will you at least consider my words?"

"Of course, Praifec," she said. "They are wise words, and these are large matters, and I am tired. We will speak of this again soon. Be prepared to tell me in more specifics how your plan would be implemented."

"I pray the saints send you their best judgment, Majesty." He bowed and left, leaving Muriele with the distinct impression that she had been threatened.

Hespero seemed sincere, and he was correct-something terrible was happening in the world, and he probably knew more about it than she did. The Church's intention might be entirely pure, and it was entirely possible that Hespero was right, that allowing sacred troops in her city would be the best for everyone.

But she saw what the praifec had carefully hinted at, as well. Whatever the Church's ultimate motives and intentions, they needed a tool to accomplish them. A nation. If Crotheny would not be that nation, only Hansa remained.

She was still considering that when they brought in Alis Berrye, who was still wearing the dressing gown Muriele had last seen her in.

"Majesty," the girl murmured, bowing. She stood uncomfortably as Muriele appraised her. She was a pretty thing-there was no way around that, even with the dark circles under her sapphire eyes and her curly hair in absolute disarray.

"She has been searched?" she asked the man-at-arms.

"Yes, Majesty. She has no weapons."

"You searched her hair?"

"Ah-no, Majesty. But I shall."

He proceeded to do just that. Berrye took it with a tiny smile on her face.

"Do I seem so dangerous to you, Majesty?" she asked.

Muriele didn't answer, but nodded toward the man-at-arms. "Please leave us, sir," she said.

When the door was closed behind him, Muriele settled into an armchair.

"Lady Berrye," she said. "Much has happened in the past few bells. Doubtless you have heard some of the rumors."

"Some, Majesty," she allowed.

"Someone tried to kill me last night."

"That's terrible."

"Thank you. I know you've never wished me anything but the best of health."

Berrye looked puzzled. "I never have, Majesty. I have always admired you and wished you well."

"Even when you were in bed with my husband?"

"Of course."

"But it never occurred to you that it might bother me?"

Berrye shrugged. "That was a matter between you and His Majesty. If it bothered you, he was the one to tell. Unless I was the only only one of his mistresses you took exception to." one of his mistresses you took exception to."

"You are too bold, perhaps," Muriele said, "especially now, when you don't enjoy his protection."

"I have no one's protection, Majesty," Berrye said. "I am most acutely aware of that."

Something was wrong here, Muriele realized. Wasn't anything anything the way she thought it was? the way she thought it was?

"You are are too bold," she repeated. "Where is the simpering, nervous girl who used to cower when I entered the room?" too bold," she repeated. "Where is the simpering, nervous girl who used to cower when I entered the room?"

Again, Berrye smiled faintly. "She died with William."

"You will refer to my late husband as his Majesty or as the king or not at all, Lady Berrye."

"Very well," she said easily.

"Enough of this," Muriele said. "My time is precious. You wrote to me claiming that I was in danger. Within a few bells of that correspondence, there was an attempt on my life. If you want that head of yours to stay where it is, you'll explain to me-this moment-precisely what you know."

If Berrye was surprised that Muriele knew she had left the note, she didn't show it. She stood straight, without any fidgeting, and met Muriele's gaze squarely. "I will tell you everything I know, Majesty, but I believe my letter also mentioned my own need for protection."

"At this moment, you need protection from me. And the only thing that will save you is the truth."

Berrye acknowledged that with a small nod of her head.

"Do you know why why His Majesty was on the headland of Aenah that day?" she asked Muriele. His Majesty was on the headland of Aenah that day?" she asked Muriele.

"You're going to tell me you know?"

"Prince Robert came to the king, in the Warhearth. He had been gone for some time, on a secret embassy to Saltmark. When he returned, he brought something with him-the severed finger of Princess Lesbeth."

"Lesbeth." Lesbeth was William's younger sister, Robert's twin. She had long been missing.

"Prince Robert claimed that Lesbeth's betrothed-Cheiso of Safnia-had betrayed her into the hands of the Duke of Austrobaurg, who was holding her hostage."

"For what ransom?"

"Saltmark, you remember, was pursuing a war against the Sorrow Isles. The ransom was that His Majesty arrange to secretly aid them in that war."

Muriele crossed her arms. "The Sorrows are a Lierish protectorate and thus under our protection, as well. He could not do that."

"His Majesty could and did," Berrye said. "You must know how much he loved Lesbeth."

"Everyone loved Lesbeth. But to aid our enemies in a war against our friends-William was rarely that poor in judgment."

"Prince Robert pushed him into it-he was very convincing, especially since he had Lesbeth's finger as proof. Ships from Crotheny, under assumed banners, attacked and sank twenty Sorrovian ships. His Majesty went to Aenah to collect the princess Lesbeth, and there he was betrayed."