“No, I think Silvermane needs to hear Dove’s story, from what Sparrow told us of the meeting she’d seen, Silvermane never believed Dove to be a traitor. Hale convinced her I’d stolen my sister away. She’s always hoped to free Dove and bring her back home.”
Dove nodded. “I’ll go.” I could see her strength, her bravery in the face of her fear, putting herself potentially in harm’s way.
I nodded. “Once Fin is back, we’ll visit Tanuki first and confirm her allegiance. Then to Porcupine House and Spike. I don’t think he’ll be in Merlin’s sway, so hopefully he’ll be easier to bring to our side. After that to the capital and Skyfire and Silvermane.” I sighed. “I just don’t know which one to do first. If the first one goes badly, we’ll have to flee and won’t be able to do the second.”
We all considered for a moment. I spoke my thoughts aloud: “Both Skyfire and Silvermane were with the queen the day of her speech. That doesn’t mean anything per-se, but…” I shrugged.
“Silvermane might be willing to listen to Dove, but she may also think you killed her mother,” Ursa advised. “That might not go well.”
“So Silvermane could be good or bad, depending on which way she leans. She might believe Dove but still not trust me.” I sighed. “That doesn’t help us. Skyfire is a complete enigma. So, I guess the question is, do we do the complete mystery first, or the one where we have some intel, but it could go either way?”
“Do Silvermane first,” Dove said resolutely. “I’ll convince her.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Dove nodded.
That was it. We were set.
Chapter 15
Tanuki and Spikewere on board, and on our side. I was starting to feel just a little confident that everything was going to work out. That was three Houses with us. That alone was a significant triumph. But now came the hard ones: Pegasus and Wyvern. We needed one of the two with us if we wanted to be sure of a stalemate and both of them if we wanted a victory. These meetings would make or break my plans.
As such, we wanted to be ready and rested before we went in, staying for a day — hidden away in a small inn — in the capital before we went to see Silvermane.
I spent the day with Alvere, I wouldn’t be seeing him much after this, and we sat together, talking and kissing and… more. Ursa remained alone and was the only one of us who could move freely around the capital, so she was out, finding out what she could. Dove and Fin were with us, and I had happily noted how they had been spending more and more time together. I was fairly certain they were in the next room doing much of what Alvere and I were doing. I was glad my sister had found someone. Fin was a big man, but gentle and caring. I wished them well.
Ursa didn’t find out much of note, and the next day, we went to see Silvermane.
I was hidden underneath Alvere’s cloak as our group was escorted into Silvermane’s sitting room. The cloak hampered my spider’s ability to sense things around me, but I knew Lord Horn was in the room when he spoke first.
“Lady Ursa, we were expecting only you, not such a group as this and cloaked against the world. Who are these others?”
I heard a gasp, then Silvermane’s soft voice. “Dove!”
“Yes, Lady, and this is the King of Vauphan. He comes in hopes of talks of peace.”
“Hello, my Lady.” I heard Alvere’s voice, felt the rumble of it in his chest, and the motion of his arms as he removed his hood.
“This last is a guard for the King,” Ursa said, indicating Fin. That was his cover. The large man was wearing heavy armor including a helm to hide his identity. He hated the armor, especially since it wasn’t quite made for someone of his girth. He’d said it chafed something fierce, but he’d agreed to it.
“The King of Vauphan?” Lady Silvermane’s voice was shocked. “This I had not expected when you’d asked for a private meeting, Lady Ursa.”
I crawled up Alvere’s back, high enough so I could be free of his cloak. I felt his shiver — I’m sure having a spider walk up his back had been… interesting — but he settled quickly. I didn’t need to peer over his shoulder, just be free of the cloak, then my senses were free to take in the room. The four from my delegation were still just inside the door. Lady Silvermane sat behind a large desk with Horn standing behind her. A large bank of windows occupied the wall behind them.
Silvermane was rising, though, and came around the desk to embrace Dove. “I was so worried about you. Your sister… what we’ve heard…”
Dove embraced her former leader. “Thank you for your concern Lady. However, what you have heard is mostly rumor and lies, but we’ll get to that shortly. The King should speak first.”
“Yes, of course,” Silvermane said, and I sensed her going to Alvere. She curtseyed, offering her hand, which he took and bowed his head, though his lips didn’t quite touch her knuckles. “Your Majesty.”
“Lady, thank you for seeing us. I apologize for the subterfuge in Lady Ursa’s message, but it was necessary. Unfortunately, we do not know who we can trust here in Elista. As Lady Dove has said, there are far too many rumors and lies about. I am here to hopefully clear up some of those and to tell you of my proposal for peace.” With his hand still holding hers, she guided him to a chair and he sat. Silvermane returned to her chair behind the desk. Dove sat next to the King, and Ursa stood behind her. Fin stood behind the king, a looming presence. I could feel the tension from everyone in the room, but most of all Lord Horn. He would be the wildcard in this meeting.
“Say your piece,” Silvermane said, voice just a little cool. That wasn’t a good start, but at least she was willing to listen.
“What do you know of the war in the North?” Alvere began.
I heard Silvermane’s heavy breath, tight and long. “I have heard many things,” she said, enigmatically. “Mostly I heard how a force from Vauphan somehow crossed into our camp and slew or captured all of the high Nobles of House Panther. And the mysterious magics which hinder our men from wearing or wielding steel. Do you deny this?”
