Honovi looked back at Meleri. “And have you?”
“We know of the quarry in thevasilyetgoverned by the House of Kimathi in Solaria through the inventor we rescued. Broaching such a subject with the Solarian emperor wouldn’t get us anywhere. Besides, I don’t have the clout to initiate such an overture.”
“You used to.”
Meleri smiled tiredly, gaze heavy with an old grief. “Once. When I had a queen to serve.”
“Daijal would give you one.”
“She may carry the Rourke name, but she is not Rourke. The North Star decreed it so and I have never been led wrong by my guiding star.”
“But she can’t lead you to the Daijal court.”
“It is difficult to get spies into the higher social circles in that country’s major cities. I have tried, and I know many cogs have died for my efforts. We still need to find a way. The death-defying machine proves we cannot stand by and let Eimarille continue on this path.”
Honovi hummed thoughtfully, weighing his choices. “If you need a spy in the Daijal court, I could perhaps help with that. I would need theComhairle nan Cinnidhean’s permission to do so, though. It is not an offer I can make on my own.”
Meleri eyed him with a sharpness that made Honovi think she’d hoped for such a result from their conversation. “What are you suggesting?”
“That I get recalled back to E’ridia and have theComhairle nan Cinnidheansend me to Daijal instead. I am not Ashionen, and it wouldn’t be suspicious for my people to want to gauge the support and intention of both countries. I could walk where your spies can’t.”
“Your efforts would make you a spy.”
“My efforts wouldn’t make me anything but concerned for my country’s continued peace.”
“Ah, so we agree Daijal is a threat.”
Honovi chose to ignore that statement. “Will you accept such a venture?”
“What would you and your country want in return?”
“I’ll let you know when I speak with theComhairle nan Cinnidhean.”
“I know you do this more for Blaine than for my country’s future, but I’m not one to turn down such aid. If yourComhairle nan Cinnidheanapproves your request, then I will take whatever information you can give me about this death-defying machine and what plans the Daijal court has for Maricol. I can’t promise anything on behalf of Amari, but I can on behalf of the Clockwork Brigade.”
“Curious that you don’t limit the Daijal court’s aspirations to Ashion.”
Meleri’s smile was flinty. “We both know you would not have offered such critical help if you truly believed Eimarille will not cross your border.”
Honovi stood. “How shall I contact you when a decision has been made?”
“As loath as I was to agree to Blaine’s continued contact with you out of the embassy, he hasn’t been caught yet, and no one is the wiser. I will let him know to be on the lookout for your messages when he sends his reports to E’ridia.”
“Very well. I’ll send my request to theComhairle nan Cinnidheantonight. I may have an answer for you after sunrise if we are lucky. In which case, I’ll come here.”
Meleri tipped her head back, looking old and small in her grand leather chair, but there was a steeliness to her gaze that belied her age. “May the stars guide you well, Honovi.”
“May your road be an easy one, Meleri.”
He left Meleri’s study and the Auclair estate without saying farewell to Lore or the girl sleeping off a bar fight, unaware of the world the people around her wanted her to build.
Twelve
EIMARILLE
“I’ll kill them.”
Eimarille spoke the promise with an icy fury that made her teeth ache. The anger hadn’t left her since Terilyn had stumbled home, wounded and bringing with her such incendiary news.
