“I thought Kirido didn’t have a navy,” Kelsey said accusingly.

  “It doesn’t have much of one, for any practical purposes,” Suliel replied.

  “What about flag-flying purposes?”

  “You couldn’t fly the navy’s flag on your boat, you’re not part of it,” Suliel stated. “And Anton doesn’t have the authority to make you part of it. If you had been flying the royal flag, we’d be at war right now.”

  “With a different country,” Anton clarified. Without waiting for breakfast, they’d moved to the castle's observation tower. It was a bit further from the sea than he would have liked, but Kelsey’s telescope made up for it.

  “It’s so slow,” Aris said as she took her turn looking through it.

  “Aye, look at her. Fat and slow, laden with gold. She’ll make a fine prize once our boys have swept their deck with a volley and cleaned off the blood.”

  Anton looked at Kelsey. Sternly.

  “Oh, are we not still doing the pirate thing?” she asked. The three-cornered hat that she was suddenly wearing went back to wherever it was she kept things.

  “I don’t think it’s an attack,” Suliel mused.

  “There are a lot of guards on the deck,” Aris countered.

  “High-level, too,” Kelsey, who had been the first to look through the telescope.

  “An average of…” She pulled a piece of paper out of nowhere and looked at it with a flourish. “Twenty-two and four eighths. That makes them elites, right?”

  “Third-tier,” Anton agreed. “Some of our survivors from the raid are that high, but most of them are lower than that.”

  “But we still outnumber them, even if they have more below deck,” Suliel said. “So I don’t think they intend a direct attack.”

  “An indirect attack?” Aris suggested.

  “They might expect to be welcomed within our walls and plan on taking over the castle from the inside,” Suliel said. “They can’t know that we’ve been informed of the rebellion and the King’s response.”

  “We couldn’t fit that many troops in the castle, even if we wanted to be taken over, could we?” Anton asked.

  “Not easily,” Suliel agreed. “But we might agree to take, say, a half-dozen and billet the rest in town. It only takes a small force to open the gates if they take the guards unawares.”

  “Just saying, if you want to sink it before it comes in, you’ll have to give the order sharpish,” Kelsey put in.

  Anton frowned. “We’re not just going to sink them without cause,” he said.

  “I think this might be a loyalty test,” Suliel said. “Or a reminder. They come here demanding more guns and see what we say. The troops are to put more pressure on us, and also to secure their escape if we try to stop them leaving.”

  “They don’t know about the cannon,” Kelsey said smugly. “Troops won’t help with that.”

  “They don’t,” Suliel agreed. “But give some thought to what we might not know.”

  Anton looked through the telescope, skimming over the soldiers, close-packed to avoid getting in the sailors' way. Someone had to be in charge, and he doubted it was the captain. There. The man in brightly coloured silks.

  Odran Tressault, Level 18, Human, Courtier, Squire/Knight/Courtier,

  S: 16 T: 21 A: 17 D: 21 P: 17 W: 14 C: 14

  “We’ll meet them on the dock,” he said. “Deny them entrance to the town.”

  “That would be rude,” Suliel warned. “Insult enough for the envoy to do something foolish.”

  “It would be foolish,” Anton said. “I’m not going to let them into my home to let them attack me. If he takes insult and attacks, well… better there than here.”

  Waiting on the docks, Anton was struck by how much more complicated sailing a ship was compared to the Whiskerwind. The pilot had to judge the approach precisely to make sure he arrived at the pier at a speed slow enough to be caught by the ropes and muscles of the dockworkers.

  He glanced over at the Whiskerwind. He had picked the berth for the navy ship so that the angles lined up. Cheia was on board his ship, covered by Tyla’s illusion. If relations deteriorated… he was ready.

  Suliel had talked Anton out of wearing his armour, but he didn’t need it, really. His tunic was woven out of Tier Three spidersilk, scavenged from the Hungry Depths. It wasn’t enchanted, but it would turn most blades, and Anton’s skin was tougher than steel, now.

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  He looked up calmly at the soldiers on the ship, who returned his gaze with caution. Soldiers didn’t get anything as good as Delver’s Discernment, but most of them got some way to detect dangerous opponents. Anton had only brought a light honour guard. There were only five of them, and they were only near the top of Tier Two, but they were armed with guns. Anton was fairly sure word of the weapons had spread.

  The gangplank came down, and Anton strode toward it, looking to intercept whoever came down first. It turned out to be Odran Tressault. The man stopped halfway down, not willing to approach Anton too closely.

  “Earnest greetings and fervent salutations, Lord Nos,” Odran said. “It is such an honour to be greeted before I have even set foot on your lands.”

  “I’m sure it is,” Anton said flatly. He was pretty sure that if Suliel had been down here, she would have elbowed him. He tried to remember what would be a polite response. “To what do I owe this pleasure, Lord Tressault?”

  “Why, nothing less than the King’s business, which is surely the foremost concern of both of us.” The man pressed his lips together nervously. “But such matters are best not discussed in public. I’d ask that we repair to your seat, so that we can speak freely.”

  It took Anton a moment to parse all of that. “Of course,” he said. “However, your… entourage will have to stay on board your ship.”

  The soldiers stirred a bit at that. Several of them looked over at someone that Anton couldn’t see. Odran also hesitated and looked back over his shoulder.

  “Ah… could I prevail upon you to at least let them quarter in your lovely town? Conditions on the ship being what they are, the men were looking forward to shore leave.”

  “I’m afraid not,” Anton said firmly. “We’re still rebuilding from the Elitran raid here, and we’ve also taken on some repatriated prisoners.”

  Suliel had come up with that excuse, which was mostly the truth.

  “I see,” Odran said. “Well, it cannot be helped. I’ll gratefully accept your hospitality, Lord Nos.”

  Anton blinked. Suliel had expected more trouble from the man at this point. Someone else must have expected more, because there was a disturbance, and another man came into view.

  Rami Dazhar, Level 26, Human, Captain, Sailor/(broken) Warrior/Soldier/Commander,

  S: 29 T: 21 A: 28 D: 24 P: 13 W: 12 C: 13

  “Sir!” he protested. Odran smiled apologetically at Anton and turned to face the commander.

  “I’m sorry, Rami, but there’s nothing I can do! I’m sure once we discuss things, I’ll be able to convince Lord Nos to allow you shore leave at least.”

  Commander Rami looked angry. Anton thought he might protest more, or even do something foolish, but he looked at Anton and folded.

  “Very well, sir. I’ll await word.”

  “You do that, Rami,” Odran said warmly, and turned to Anton. “My apologies for that disruption. Shall we go?”

  Odran kept quiet on the walk up to the castle, looking around him with interest. Anton winced as he realised there had been some developments around town that he didn’t really want to be reported to the King.

  The walls were one thing. Critical as they were to the town's defence, their increased height would be immediately noticed by anyone approaching. The horseless carts that were now a common sight, ferrying materials and goods about, were an entirely different matter. Anton was just glad that the streetlights weren’t so noticeable during the day.

  Kelsey and Suliel were waiting for them at the castle steps. Anton kind of resented that the sudden relief he felt on seeing Kelsey meant that he was happier to see her than he was his wife. Still, Suliel’s smile when she saw him was worth the wait.

  Suliel bowed to the Odran and let Anton introduce her. Effusive greetings and compliments followed.

  “And this,” Anton finished, “is Kelsey.”

  “Making me sound like chopped liver,” Kelsey commented. “You know I’m the only reason this place is on the maps.”

  “Such a rare and unusual treat for a humble courtier to meet such a unique entity as yourself.”

  “It sure is,” Kelsey said approvingly.

  The courtier kept up the barrage of compliments and flattery until they arrived in the well-appointed tea room that Anton found himself using for meetings. Then he bowed.

  “Lord Nos,” he said formally. “Can I ask that you make sure that we are unheard by any who are not in your circle of trust?”

  Anton stared. “Are you… that phrase…”

  Suliel was less taken aback. She clapped her hands three times, which was apparently the signal for the maids to make themselves scarce. Anton hadn’t known that.

  Odran smiled. “I should show you this,” he said, pulling out a silver locket from under his clothes. Still around his neck, he opened it to show the ruby carved in the shape of a rose.

  Anton stared at it. “I’m supposed to show you mine,” he said, reaching for it.

  “No need,” Odran said. “I was notified of your membership when I set out on this mission.”

  Anton sank down on the lounge and gestured for his guest to sit. Suliel perched herself daintily next to him. “You’re on a mission for the Rose Circle?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Odran said sadly. “My mission is from the King, and will no doubt trouble you greatly.”

  “Are you concealing your class?” Suliel asked curiously. “Your loyalty is shown as being to King Kalond, as would be expected.”

  “Of course,” Odran said. “Take another look.”

  Anton did so.

  Odran Tressault, Level 19, Human, Treacherous Courtier, Squire/Knight/Courtier/Treacherous Courtier, S: 16 T: 21 A: 17 D: 21 P: 17 W: 14 C: 14

  “Your level changed, but your Abilities didn’t,” he noted.

  Odran raised his eyebrows. “I had to gain two levels in secret, in order to get the Hidden Status trait. I’ve been bringing the gap closer since then. Not many people can see Abilities, it’s a gap in my defences I hadn’t considered.”

  “What are things like in the capital?” Suliel asked.

  Odran sighed. “Dire,” he said. “There have been arrests… I don’t know how many of our members have been taken, but it’s at least some.”

  “What about—” Suliel asked, but Anton stopped her with a touch. Talking about other members was supposed to be forbidden, as part of keeping the membership secret. Odran looked at her sympathetically.

  “Tell me about your mission,” Anton said.

  “It is as you probably suspected,” Odran said. “I’m here to demand more guns, as a test of loyalty. If you refuse me, or I do not return, the King will declare you an outlaw, like the rest of the Tarazin duchy.”

  “And how does your Rose Circle membership change matters?”

  “Not by much, I’m afraid. I can cooperate with whatever plan you come up with, but the decision of how to proceed must be yours. I should mention that Commander Rami is loyal to the King, and will take action if I should behave treacherously, or do not return.”

  “I have to decide?” Anton asked. Odran nodded.

  “If you decide to sink the boat, I can let the Crown think I’ve died, and make my way back to Tarazin by land. If you want to hand over more guns to the King, that is not the Rose Circle’s preferred course of action, but you are the agent with the most knowledge of the situation.

  “The decision is yours.”