Annette continued after a draught of tea. “We finally got what money we could claim as ours out of the Galatine banks. And not just us.” She grinned. “You have more friends in the nobility than you may realize. They’re in hiding, some of them, but we collected donations from the Mountbank family, the Clareglens, the Rock River Cherryvales, so many others—even a few Pommerly offshoots.
“That’s why Viola is in Pellia—we found an exchange there that would accept the money in our names. That’s another story entirely, and you should consider banking reform at some point in your next council session,” Annette said with a wry smile. “It still wasn’t nearly enough, especially as the Serafans were not going to be willing to sell us naval vessels on any kind of open market, knowing where we intended to deploy them.”
“The Serafan black market is quite expensive,” Sianh agreed.
Alba burst out laughing. “‘Quite expensive’? As though you were talking about the price of button mushrooms at the market!”
“At any rate,” Annette continued, “I wasn’t sure what to do. And then I heard from—well he isn’t really an old friend. Do you recall Prince Oban?”
“That intrepidly dull East Serafan you were supposed to marry?” Theodor said. “Of course.”
“He sold me fifteen ships, at what must have been a loss. Fully outfitted with cannon, and rigging and sails so new you can smell the hemp.”
“Why would he do that? Still madly and hopelessly in love?”
Annette snorted, somehow dainty. “It probably comes as no surprise that the East Serafans are less than thrilled with the West Serafans’ involvement in the Galatine Civil War.” She passed her mug to Alba for a refill. “Oh, yes, you have an official name abroad now. The Galatine Civil War.”
“It’s not very creative,” Alba said.
“It will have to do,” Annette replied. “As for Oban. The East Serafans don’t have the money or influence of the West Serafans, and rely quite heavily on Galatine grain exports. War means more uncertainty and fewer rewards for them. But they’re rather dragged into the whole thing by virtue of being neighbors. Oban saw a way to make some money to lay aside for the inevitable increase in grain prices, and some insurance in case we happen to win. Won’t we be grateful?” She inclined her head with a conspiratorial smile.
“Makes sense,” Theodor said. “Though I can’t help but worry that they’re ready to spring leaks at any moment or that the cannons aren’t sound, if it was such a bargain.”
Annette rolled her eyes. “I know more about ships than you do. If Ballantine is here, maybe he can settle any argument about their quality.” Theodor’s face went ashen.
“Ballantine was captured by the Royalists,” I said quietly. “We presume he’s been executed, as we haven’t heard anything from or about him.”
“Oh no,” breathed Annette. Tears sprang into her blue eyes. “Theo, I—I’m so sorry.”
Theodor swallowed, forcing back the thick pain I knew rode with him all the time. “I am, too.”
“Damn. I had so hoped—he would have made a far better admiral than I.”
“You seem, my lady,” said Sianh, “to make a fine sea captain. But is it not unusual for a lady to do so? Or do I presume Galatine custom too similar to our own?”
“You presume nothing incorrect,” Annette replied. “We’ve recruited along the southern coast, and they’ve been accommodating to the, shall we say, inconsistencies of this armada. Serafan vessels with all of their quirks, a former princess assuming the role of admiral. With all of her quirks,” she added. “But I had hopes of giving this all off to someone with better expertise than I have.”
“It seems it’s on you, at least for now,” Theodor said, “but what I want to know is, now that we have a navy, what best to do with it?”
“Protect our ports, of course,” Alba said. “We’ve supplies incoming. We can’t afford to lose any more to the Royalists.”
“A prudent course of action,” Sianh said, but he looked unconvinced.
“What are you thinking?” Theodor asked.
“I am considering,” said Sianh slowly, analyzing the idea even as he spoke, “the methods by which a navy can grow itself.”
26
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ‘A NAVY CAN GROW ITSELF’?” KRISTOS asked even as Sianh and Annette exchanged a conspiratorial glance. “I figured you’d just—patrol the coast or whatnot.”
Annette drummed her thin fingers on the table. A pink garnet ring on her right hand caught the light and winked at me. “There is no point in patrolling unless you’re going to do something about anyone you happen to come across. Tomcats patrol their territory to tear the ears off any feline intruders. Ships?”
“Ships patrol to chase off incursions or to take prizes,” Sianh interjected.
“Exactly,” Annette said.
“We are undersupplied. Still.” The kitchen went quiet at Sianh’s simple statement, the only sound the muffled pops of the settling coals in the hearth. “If we are to succeed in taking first Rock’s Ford and then Galitha City, we are in need of more powder and shot. Particularly for the cannons.”
Theodor sighed. “I know. But we can procure more from Fen, now that we have some lines of finance coming through, with Viola managing the funds in Pellia. It will take time to run the money through and send messages, but—”
“We do not have time,” Sianh said through gritted teeth.
“Beyond that.” Alba’s voice was quiet but cut through the argument instantly. “The factories and foundries of Fen are… shall we say, understaffed at the moment?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Annette leaned back in her chair, her narrow shoulders in her perfectly tailored coat nestled into the high back.
“The workers,” I said. “They’re in a proper revolt now?”
Alba nodded, then dug a creased letter out of her pocket. “Just received this from Erdwin Tyse. He’s offering to sell another load of powder, along with some bayonets and muskets, at exorbitant prices—but recommends we take the deal given as he foresees difficulty in any manufacture in the near future.” She paused, waiting for the rest of the group to follow. “The workers are striking.”
“That can’t go on forever,” Theodor said.
“No,” Alba agreed, “but it can go on a good long time—long enough that your war will be over and lost for want of powder and shot. Besides, do you realize how volatile the production and storage of black powder is?”
“I’ve a good guess,” Kristos said.
“So you can understand how difficult it would be to prosecute anyone for arson in such facilities.” Alba’s mouth twitched into a smile. “Funny, but all three large manufacturers experienced ‘accidents’ just before the workers went on strike.”
“Then if we want more supplies,” Theodor said slowly, “we are going to have to capture them.”
“And one excellent method,” Annette said, “is to take ships.”