“Last tide’s harvest was good in Aifir,” Gavin added. “If you’re willing to lift the embargo, I can have a shipment of wheat sent by the end of next span.”
He was addressing me. “Oh! I—I see no reason why some trade cannot resume. As long as the trade convoys have proper charters and are vetted by the garde. Lord Sunder, you’ll double the gate patrols accordingly.”
“I don’t have the people for that, dem—dauphine.” His eyes were metal.
“Find them,” I said, a little harsh. “I won’t see my people starve. And did I hear you say, Lady Marta, that the palais’s grain stores are kept separately from the city’s?”
She inclined her head.
“Have half our grain sent down to the city under close guard, then distribute it in the Paper City. Also—issue a decree that bread shall not be sold for more than the standard cost. Subsidize the bakeries, if necessary.”
Sunder’s fists tightened on the edge of the table. “The second riot occurred in Rue de la Soie.”
Surprise sprinted through the room. Rue de la Soie was a commerce district beyond the Échelles—wealthy merchants curated goods from across the daylight world, and skilled artisans sold expensive luxury merchandise.
“Over what?” Barthet asked.
“Religious beliefs,” Sunder ground out, “although it was hard to tell over all the shouting. Zealots are targeting the district—rocks through windows, warehouses being set on fire, flaming swords painted across the doors and windows of known atheists. The citizens are demanding more Loup-Garou patrols and an investigation into who’s been putting their business at risk.”
The Red Masks had moved beyond the Paper City and begun victimizing Ambers who didn’t worship the Scion?
Outrage tightened my limbs.I am the sword that culls with light.
“Halve the number of wolves in the palais,” I growled. “Send them to patrol Rue de la Soie.”
Silence slapped me in the face.
“Dauphine, the city is already crawling with wolves,” Dowser protested. “An increase in patrols might make this dissidence worse.”
“Or they will see you as an easy target here in the palais,” Marta said. “Attempts have already been made upon your life.”
“Enough,” I commanded. “We must preserve rule of law and religious tolerance in this city. My coronation at Ecstatica will hopefully provide much-needed stability, but until then sacrifices must be made. You mentioned three riots, Lord Sunder. Which was the third?”
“Not so much a riot, dauphine, as an altercation.” His face tightened with remembered violence. “A group of Red Masks held up a carriage in Jardinier and took a noblewoman hostage. Their terms for her release were simple—they demanded the freedom of Pierre LaRoche, the first boy who tried to kill you in the street.”
Ice coated my veins, and I saw the young man’s glowering, gloating face:They will crush you with sunlight and feed your bones to Midnight.
“And?”
His smile was a wolf’s—all teeth. “The Loup-Garou doesn’t like demands. The lady was safely returned to her family—albeit a little worse for wear.”
“And the Red Masks?” My chest tightened. “Did you manage to capture any of them for questioning?”
“No, dauphine.” His eyes glittered with ice. “I did not.”
“I think the point is,” Dowser interrupted, “that there are powerful factions growing restless with that boy being kept prisoner for so long. This could be an opportunity to show the city you stand for justice.”
“Or you stand for mercy,” Gavin suggested, from the corner. “You should pardon the boy. Show him the Scion’s mercy and the city will love you for it.”
“That will only show she is weak,” Sunder sneered. “The boy tried to assassinate her in full view of a crowd of bystanders. Such a thing is treason and punishable by death.”
“He will stand trial, before the city and the Scion,” I said, ignoring the brush of dusk against my heart. “Rotting away in a dungeon or disappearing in the Nocturne—that was how Severine treated her enemies. But rule of law must also be upheld. I will not pardon a traitor on a whim. Does anyone have an argument with that?”
No one did.
“Very well.” I laid a hand flat on the table. “Set the trial for this week. I want it somewhere public, so the city can see I have nothing to hide. Barthet—can I rely on you to see this is done?”
The older man nodded.
