Tain let out his breath in a huff of air and gazed at me with the wounded expression of an animal kicked to the side of the road. “Are you joking? After what happened? I’m not risking anyone else that way. If I’d known what would happen if they were caught I wouldn’t have allowed it in the first place.”
We had no time to discuss it further, as Bradomir and Lazar soon joined us, their manners somewhere between concern and smugness that they had been called privately.
Tain wasted no time, thanking them for coming and speaking plainly. “I’m afraid it doesn’t appear any of our messengers made it through.” The Credolen sucked in their breath—genuine surprise, I thought. “Which means we can’t assume help is on its way.” We had decided not to reveal the details of how the runners had died. The truth would bring nothing but grief and turmoil to the families, and since presumably the army outside had wanted their brutal act to raise terror among our people, we would not give them that satisfaction. Marco had promised to arrange a private and respectful burial for the remains.
Bradomir stroked his moustache. “And they have cut off our supplies, so we cannot afford to wait here indefinitely.”
“We must send out more messengers.” Lazar looked between us, his voice edged with wildness. “At once!”
“They’re waiting for us to do it,” I said.
“Surely we could slip some men over the walls in the dark?”
“We will find a way of getting help,” Tain said. “No matter how widespread this rebellion, they can’t have taken all of our border cities. Very soon I’m confident the siege will be noticed and word sent to our army. In the meantime we have to buckle down and hold our defenses. I need to try to communicate with the army out there, to find out if we can negotiate our way out of this.” He leaned in closer. “I have a few favors to ask. First, can you check with your household staff whether you have any Darfri believers? I want to find out more about how that’s tied into the rebellion, but I don’t know enough. You two have the two biggest staffs in the city. Can you send me someone to help?”
“Of course, Honored Chancellor,” Bradomir said, and Lazar echoed the same.
“Second, can you use your contacts, any of the merchants you deal with, to find out if there is any way to get in and out of the city undetected?”
When both men looked guarded, Tain laughed. “I’m not stupid. I’m aware smuggling goes on. Not that I’m accusing either of you of profiting from it, of course.”
“I can certainly ask some of my people to look into it,” Bradomir said, inclining his head politely.
“I’ll have an answer for you by the end of the day,” Lazar boasted. “I know the merchants of this city, Honored Chancellor.” The poor man practically salivated in his eagerness to impress Tain.
“Much honor to the both of you, then,” Tain said. “I appreciate your help and your loyalty.” He clasped each man by the shoulders.
Lazar caught Tain’s arm as he did so. “Honored Chancellor,” he said, and his voice quavered, “I must thank you for this opportunity to help you. I so desperately want to restore my family’s honor and your trust in me. I was so ashamed it was in my home that Chancellor Caslav … that I hosted the man who gave that … terrible gift…” He seemed to choke on the last few words.
Tain patted him on the shoulder, his face bleak. “I don’t doubt your intentions, Credo,” he said. “You weren’t to know Lord Ectar’s gift was dangerous. And your servants did their best to capture it.”
I felt cruel watching Lazar supplicate himself, guilt and shame leaching from his pores like sweat. There was no way to comfort the poor man and let him know he had not contributed to Caslav’s death, not without admitting it had been poison. We had agreed to tell no one we did not accept the illness theory.
As Tain and I had planned in advance, I walked the two Credolen out of the Manor. The older men seemed unsure how to deal with me; Bradomir in particular alternated between condescension and flattery, making it clear he did not respect me but was willing to pretend to do so in order to ingratiate himself into Tain’s closest circle.
“You mentioned Lord Ectar, Credo Lazar,” I said as I escorted them through the grounds. “I wanted your opinion on something, as two of the most learned statesmen on the Council.” My attempt at flattery seemed clumsy and transparent to me, but both men puffed up at the compliment. “The Honored Chancellor doesn’t think he has cause to hold him, and Lord Ectar is understandably frantic at being confined and unable to follow what is happening in the city.”
Bradomir, settling with relish into the role of trusted adviser, nodded. “He is a well-connected fellow. It could have political ramifications.”
Lazar wrung his hands. “I do believe it was a horrible accident only,” he said. “But … if he were such a villain as to deliberately gift an infected creature to the Chancellor, how can we be safe with him loose in the city?”
“I agree, it’s a risk,” I said. “And certainly I—and the Chancellor—would be more comfortable if trustworthy eyes were on Lord Ectar, if he were free.”
Both men nodded vigorously.
“We trust the two of you,” I said. “But some Councilors have very strong relationships in Talafar, and I’m just not sure they would be quite so capable of being objective.”
Bradomir frowned. “I, too, would be cautious.” He paused. “We cannot overlook the timing of our beloved Chancellor being attacked only days before the city itself. I would never suggest anyone from the Families would be involved directly in any kind of plot, but there have been … interesting … words spoken in defense of these traitors. Credo Javesto…” He trailed off delicately.
“Just so,” I agreed. “I don’t like to suspect anyone, least of all fellow Councilors from the honored Families, but we’re vulnerable here.”
“You can count on me, Credo Jovan,” Lazar said, wetting his plump lips and bowing his head. “I would sooner forsake my family’s fortunes and honor than betray our city or our country.”
“Likely I’m being overcautious, and the rest of the Council shares our dedication. But until we can be certain, can we count on you to say nothing of this to anyone else? Just if you happen to observe any … odd behavior from Lord Ectar or from any of your fellow Councilors…?”
“Of course,” Bradomir said. “I will take an active interest in the activities of my colleagues.”
Lazar’s head bobbed. “You can rely on us.”
I watched them go, wondering if we had done the right thing. Bradomir had been right near the Chancellor at the lunch, and had visited the Manor later according to Kalina’s list. But he owned half the city; it was just impossible to imagine he could be involved with a rebellion from our common workers. Still, I did not trust him.
A crowd of petitioners, ever present outside the Manor, called out to the Credolen as they tried to leave, and Bradomir hastily urged his waiting handservant to prepare his litter. One of the petitioners, though, a tall woman in gray, focused her attention not on the two men struggling into the litter but on me. I looked back, disconcerted by the intensity of her gaze, but she made no move to approach. This new world of being a Councilor and being recognized widely outside my normal circles was unsettling. Given she seemed only interested in watching, not calling out or crossing the street, I turned to return to Tain.