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drop before having her say, particularly a matter of such importance.
    “I’m still not certain I can do this,” Evanthya said, turning to stare at the ravens.
    “We can’t stay out of it forever, love. These are Qirsi men and women we’re talking about. It’s not out in the open yet, and may not be for another year or more. But make no mistake, they’re fighting a war for the future of the Forelands. Now, we can watch from the towers of our castles, or we can do something about it.”
    She had learned long ago that there was little to be gained from arguing with Fetnalla about almost anything. But Evanthya could be headstrong as well, and in this case she couldn’t stop herself.
    “And what about our dukes?” she asked. “You worry about Brail learning that we’re lovers. That’s a trifle, next to this.”
    “If we do this right, our dukes will never know.”
    Evanthya took a breath.
If we do this right
. When it came right down to it, most of this burden would fall on her shoulders, not Fetnalla’s.
    “We’re going to be paying someone a good deal of gold. People tend to notice such things. Even assuming that we can find enough money, keeping it quiet is going to be hard.”
    Fetnalla produced a small leather pouch from within her cloak and handed it to her. It was quite heavy and it jingled like bells on a dancer’s shoe.
    “That’s nearly sixty qinde,” Fetnalla said. “It’s most of what I have, so be careful with it.”
    “This is your money?”
    Fetnalla nodded.
    “I can’t take this. There must be another-”
    She tried to hand the pouch back to Fetnalla, but the minister merely shook her head.
    “Please, love. I’m asking a good deal of you already. I have no choice in the matter. Orvinti is too remote for me to do any more. But at least I can take care of the gold. You may have to add a gold piece or two, but this should cover most of it.”
    Evanthya stared at the pouch chagrined at having felt overburdened a moment before. “I’ll guard it with my life,” she said softly.
    Fetnalla laughed. “Well, don’t go that far. It’s only gold. Just don’t go wagering it on a game of dice.”
    She smiled and looked up, her eyes meeting Fetnalla’s. “I promise.”
    “You know where to go?”
    Evanthya nodded, the smile leaving her face as quickly as it had come. “There are a few places, one in particular. It shouldn’t be a problem. A person can buy anything in the alleyways of Dantrielle.”
    Fetnalla grinned again, the same crooked grin Evanthya remembered from their first meeting in Solkara so many years ago. “I’m counting on that.”
    They fell silent, their eyes still locked, and Evanthya longed to kiss her again. But at that moment, she heard a footfall behind her and the jangling of a guard’s blade.
    “Good morrow to you, First Minister!” the man called.
    Fetnalla didn’t take her eyes off Evanthya, but she raised a hand in greeting. “And to you,” she answered. “Is the duke awake?”
    “He is, First Minister. And the duke of Dantrielle also. They’re asking for the two of you.”
    She finally looked at the guard, and Evanthya turned as well. He was a large man with a thick neck. Eandi, of course. They all looked the same to her.
    “Let them know we’ll be along in a moment,” Fetnalla said.
    The man nodded once and retreated into the castle.
    Fetnalla gazed at her again. “We probably won’t have another chance to speak alone before you ride. Is there more we need to discuss?”
    “Are you sure about all this, Fetnalla? I know you want to do something, but this…” She shook her head, uncertain of how to finish the thought. “There are other paths we could take,” she finally said.
    “I know there are. But we’ve already waited longer than we should have. Everything else we talked about would take too long. It’s time, love. We can’t delay anymore.”
    Evanthya nodded. She had known just what Fetnalla would say, but she had to ask. “All right