Shadow Scale: A Companion to Seraphina(99)

“Josef Apsig fought the knights of three nations and won?” cried Kiggs.

“Technically, it was a bit more like persuasion, and only the knights of two nations resisted. The Ninysh might have resisted a bit harder. I don’t mean to imply that they are cowards …,” Maurizio said, shrugging, clearly implying that the Ninysh were cowards.

Kiggs rubbed a hand down his beard; his other hand was clenched in his lap. Comonot took the opportunity to ask, “Are the dracomachia units you rescued sufficiently trained?”

“Alas, you never know for sure until they face down a real dragon,” said Sir Maurizio, squinting in the sunlight and licking his dry lips. “I think most have mettle enough to bust a gasbag, as we used to say. No offense, Ardmagar.”

“None taken,” said the old saar.

“How many units is Samsam holding?” said Kiggs, his voice coarse.

Maurizio’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Fifteen, Prince. Once the newest recruits are trained, it will be closer to twenty-five.”

“And what the devil does Josef hope to gain by depriving Goredd of defense?” cried the prince, unable to contain his anger any longer.

Sir Maurizio shrugged his bony shoulders. “That may not be his main intention, Prince. What can one do with dracomachia units but fight dragons? Cuthberte and I believe Josef plans to have Samsam join the war, on nobody’s side but Josef’s own. When the Loyalists—” He cut off, shifting his gaze uncomfortably to the assembled Agogoi.

“Comonot has outlined his strategy in detail,” said Speaker Melaye with surprising gentleness. “And we are all under oath here. We take that very seriously.”

Maurizio grimaced. “Thank you, milady. We expect that when the war comes south, Goredd will find herself with a second front—at her back.”

Murmurs rose around the courtyard; the Agogoi concealed their mouths with their fans as they whispered together. A matron in blue silk raised her fan, and Melaye pointed the staff at her. “This is worse than you let on, Ardmagar!” the woman cried. “We have no quarrel with Samsam. The policy is neutrality!”

“The priority is commerce,” said Melaye. “And alas, in this dragon civil war, neutrality may prove fatal.”

“Fatal to the Southlands, you mean. We have a treaty with the dragons. They would never dishonor it!” a white-bearded patron said.

“That’s debatable,” interjected Comonot, tenting his thick fingers. “The Old Ard have a new ideology, and it’s blazingly anti-human. They consider even my Loyalists unacceptably tainted by humanity. Treaty or not, when everyone else is dead, they’re going to turn their baleful eye on you.”

Speaker Melaye banged her staff, and the circle all looked to her expectantly. “You didn’t warn us we’d get sucked into a conflict with Samsam, Ardmagar,” she said.

Comonot began to protest his lack of clairvoyance, but she held up a hand to silence him. “These knights and their ship must be gone by sunset so Samsam can’t accuse us of harboring fugitives. We’ll deny them that pretext for war, at least.”

Kiggs raised his hand; Melaye pointed the staff at him. “Our faction requests a private consult,” he said.

“Granted,” said Melaye haughtily. Around the circle, the Agogoi raised their fans, speaking privately with their neighbors. My friends turned around on their stools and drew their seats closer together. I knelt and leaned in.

“If the knights are sailing back to Goredd tonight, I should be on that ship with them,” said Kiggs quietly. “I’m needed at home.”

“Understood,” said the old saar.

“I’m not sure you do,” said Kiggs. “I don’t want to leave with these negotiations unresolved. We can’t coordinate a military campaign with that kind of uncertainty. You have to agree on a price. I need to know you’ll be going up the Omiga.”

He and Comonot stared at each other for some moments.

Eskar said, “Ardmagar, stop being stubborn. Give Porphyry what it wants.”

“It wants too much!” hissed Comonot.

“How much are dragons worth?” said Eskar. “Every passing day means more death, means the Old Ard and their pernicious ideology gaining ground. Bend like a willow, Ardmagar. We must learn to do this if we’re to survive.”

The Ardmagar turned red and his lips worked against each other. I half believed smoke might come out his ears. Somehow he swallowed it down. Our party turned their stools back around. Comonot addressed Melaye in a thin, tight voice, like a furious bassoon. “Speaker, I must get to the Kerama. I agree to your last proposal, though it was hardly more reasonable than your first. I will take every saarantras who wishes to accompany me. Your city will supply us, and we will leave as soon as all is in order.”

Melaye’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “I have your word, Ardmagar, by Dread Necessity, and you have mine. We must write up our agreement and sign it.” She pointed her staff at a matron, who went to the door and began giving orders to the guard outside.

Comonot bowed sharply and sat down again. “Bend like a willow,” he whispered to Eskar out of the side of his mouth. “You made it sound so simple.”

“It was simple,” said Eskar, unperturbed.

“Indeed. I bent and changed everything. This is going to have consequences.”