After stepping out of Fran’s carriage and onto the drawbridge, Mei stopped to stare at the Palace’s outer walls, which were festooned with prancing striped stags, somber oak trees, serene white-sailed ships, ferocious mottled badgers and many, many more creatures, plants, and objects, each the mark of a Souran noble or merchant. Among them, three held the place of honor under the royal cup and lilacs that hung over the Palace gates: a golden cup flanked by eagles, a trio of silver fishes, and a crimson mustang rearing in a field of golden grain, the mark of the Gallus family.

“Looks like Dwayne got his banner in.” Fran frowned at the three silver torches over the cerulean river on the banner hanging from the bottom far left corner. “Are those torches new?”

“Maybe.” Mei sniffed and caught wind of more important things. “Let’s go over there.”

Fran goggled at the stalls laden with fried fish, glazed buns, roasted sage apples, and pies of every filling. “Really? After the lunch we had, you’re still hungry?”

“Yes.”

Fran eyed Mei. “I don’t see where it all goes.”

It went towards running on city rooftops and trying to find a roofrunner who did not want to be found, but Mei only shrugged.

“Ha, well said. Before you go though, I just need to…” Fran fussed over Mei’s outfit, the sheathed dagger on her upper arm, the embroidered jacket sleeves, the gold buttons. “If only we had time to do something about-”

“It’s perfect.” Mei caught her friend’s hands and squeezed them. “Yours is too.”

After much agonizing, Maggie’s roommate had settled on a panniered dress and a knee-length jacket with wide open sleeves. Both were the color of the summer sky, and both were embroidered with gold and ivory dolphins dancing in teal ocean waves. The rest of it - the teal eye shadow, the storm gray lip paint, the impressive curly cloud her maids had made of Fran’s black hair with combs and pins - had been an easy decision.

“Is it?” Fran pulled out a tiny foldable mirror to check her makeup again. “Is it really good enough for a Royal Offering?”

Mei closed the mirror. “Yes.”

“Are you sure?” Fran sighed. “Of course, you’re sure. You’d do something like this without breaking a sweat. I just hope my roommate- Cups, Mags! What if she’s wearing something frumpy?”

“She’s fine.” Mei did not want to ask what “frumpy” meant, in case it was a fashion term that needed lengthy explanation. “You’ll see when she gets here. Let’s go eat.”

Taking her friend by the hand, Mei led Fran past finely silked merchants and strikingly furred nobles and over to a food stall with dozens of hand pies, each impressed with the Royal cup and lilacs.

“Ma’am.” The vendor bowed. “What would you like?”

“One of each,” declared Mei.

As slightly bemused vendor collected the pies, Mei turned to Fran, who was watching diamonds orbit a bragging mage’s head.

The wind Qe sighed. “And I’m still working on preparing spells.”

“You’ll figure them out.” Mei took the bag of pies from the vendor and offered Fran one. “Want one?”

“Sure.” When Fran bit into a pie, her eyes lit up. “Oh, this is good! Is that G’nj pepper?”

Mei sniffed the pie. “No, it’s Vanurian.”

“We have got to move in on this. There are some very bored people up north who desperately need this in their lives.” Fran took another bite. “By the way, where’s Dwayne? Shouldn’t you be guarding him?”

Mei paused mid-bite. “Huan… volunteered to guard him.”

“He did?” Fran’s eyes narrowed. “Your brother, who has skipped guard duty more times than you can count, volunteered?”

That had been Dwayne and Rodion’s reaction too. “Maybe he’s trying to be good?” Maybe he felt guilty. “Or he wants to make a good impression?”

“Oh, I think that ship has sailed,” said Maggie.

Mei frowned. “What ship?”

“Mags!” Fran engulfed her roommate in a hug. “Please save me from Mei’s insatiable appetite and her impeccable nose. They’ll have me fit for the feast table by the end of the night!”

“Mei,” Maggie returned the hug while giving Mei a mock glare, “we need her to at least be able to walk onto the stage.” Then her eyes drifted.

“Dwayne isn’t here.” Mei gestured in the vague direction of the Gray Tower. “The baron wanted him to meet people.”

Maggie’s face fell. “Oh.”

“Mag, is gray Dwayne’s favorite color?” Fran looked over Maggie’s dress. “Because if it isn’t, I’m confused as to why you went with it.”

Maggie’s dress had the usual shape Mei had come to expect: narrow waist, panniered hips, complicated bump of fabric just below the back. The main difference was how much collarbone the neckline showed off and how blandly gray it was, a fact that didn’t match the pink lip, the green eyeshadow, or the bright jewels threaded into Maggie’s hair.

Maggie grinned at their reactions. “Oh, this? Is it really gray? Or is it…” She placed a hand on her stomach and muttered under her breath. “Something more?”

Cream burst out from under her hand, chasing away the gray and leaving rearing red mustangs in its wake in a revelation that made the braggart’s orbiting diamonds look banal.

Maggie twirled. “Well?”

“Not bad, not bad at all.” Fran circled her roommate. “How many colors can you do? Can you do the makeup too? What about your hair?”

“Hair? Why would I-” Maggie’s eyes narrowed. “Fran…”

Her roommate grinned. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. It’s amazing, it looks great, and it’s a very, very good choice. You got something special planned for Dwayne?”

“Yes. I mean, no.” Maggie looked down at her feet. “I mean… He didn’t ask me to dance.”

“Just ask him.” Mei pulled out another hand pie. “He has time.”

“You don’t understand. I-”

“‘I just don’t know if he’s into me or if he’s interested in someone else or if he’s just not interested in anyone.’” Fran rolled her eyes. “The worst he’ll say is no. Ask him.”

“But I don’t want to ruin anything.”

“I don’t think you can,” said Mei.

Maggie frowned. “What does-”

“There you are!” A scrawny brown-haired boy in an ill-fitting dark brown suit ran up to them. “They moved up our Offering. We’re first.”

“We’re what?” asked both Maggie and Fran.

“First. Right after Her Majesty’s remarks.”

“Why?” asked Fran.

“How should I know?”

“This is bad.” Maggie started to pace. “Her Majesty always pays the most attention to the first Offering, and we’re only able to create the small cores about half the time, and they’re not impressive enough for a first Offering!”

“We have got to get out of this,” said Fran.

“I don’t think even you can pull that off,” said the boy.

Mei finally put two and two together. “You’re Colin Fletcher.”

The boy blinked at Mei. “Yeah, and who are you?”

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“She’s Mei and we have to go.” Fran grabbed her project partners and started to drag them away. “Sorry, Mei, we have to go set up.”

“Sorry, Mei!” Maggie called out. “We’ll catch up with you afterwards!”

Mei waved good-bye until they were out of sight, and then she went to wander around the drawbridge. When she finished her hand pies, she tossed the bag away, found that, for some reason, she wasn’t hungry anymore, and so decided to make her way through the Palace gates and into the entrance hall, which, just like outside, had been decorated for the season. Since she didn’t recognize anyone, she made her way to an empty corner of the room and watched the crowd nibble on fruit, marvel at jugglers and mill about under nut trees. This, unfortunately, gave her time to stew in her worries.

When Huan had volunteered for escort duty, dread had dripped its way down Mei’s back because she knew that he had to be using Dwayne to get into the Harvest Ball for a reason she could not identify. She’d tried to believe what he told the shocked Dwayne and skeptical Rodion: that he was demonstrating commitment to his work, that he wanted to make up for not being there the night of the attack, that he really wanted Mei to have fun, but it all rang false in her ears.

She shook her head. Standing in lonely corners and questioning her brother’s motives was not how she’d planned to spend tonight. She’d planned to support her friends and enjoy herself. Besides, in addition to the guards, even more than there’d been during the Autumn Session, there were hundreds of Sourans to call out if something got stolen, and while that also meant there were any number of ways to create a distraction, that was something Lord Gallus and the Royal Guard were surely prepared for.

Still, Mei was almost elated to see Momin walk in with two other Imperial citizens, a lean young woman in gold celk robe and black skirt and a heavyset young man in a long silver blue tunic, following close behind her because threats she could deal with.

Unfortunately, the night had other plans for her. “Excuse me?” A Souran in a high-collared silver dress approached. “Are you Mei the Axesnapper?”

Her eyes still on the spy and her entourage, Mei nodded.

“I thought so!” The Souran pulled closer. “You look so daring in that dress. Would you be available for a dance?”

“Sorry, what?” Mei’s attention snapped to the Souran. “No, I… Sorry.”

She fled, but another Souran in a wolf’s head cloak was already approaching.

“Excuse me. Did you say you were Mei the Axesnapper?”

***

As he stood next to the Gray Tower’s spiraling stairs, Dwayne’s attention drifted from yet another person Thadden had left him with and back to the little surprise that Rodion had left for him on the Palace wall. He’d expected the banner itself, he’d personally ordered it in fact, but the silver torches, a nod to Dwayne’s true abilities, had been unexpected. Whenever Rodion got back from whatever he was doing elsewhere in the Palace, Dwayne would have to thank him.

“How did you come by that outfit?”

Unfortunately, the banner had been the only bright spot in Dwayne’s evening so far. Holding in a sigh, he put a smile on his face and turned back to the conversation. “Lord Gallus chose it for me.” Laid out on the bed, the black jacket with navy lapels and silver buttons had looked good but was actually so stiff he’d barely had room to put in the License Key plate in his pocket. The itchy white wig that had come with it did not help. Perhaps Lord Gallus was secretly made of wood. It would explain some things. “His tailor put it together.”

“Ah.” Dwayne’s latest conversation partner Sir Wyatt Stelfox was a gaunt, black-mustached man in gray and horrid maroon. He’d stared at Dwayne’s bare fingers the whole time Thadden had been making introductions. “The Lord Commander does have bold taste. Too bad he’s not near as bold when he’s dealing with our heathen southern neighbors.”

“Ah.” Despite barely listening to Stelfox’s dull monologue, Dwayne had learned that the knight had been an office under Lord Gallus’s predecessor before joining the Royal Secretary’s Office. “As I understand it, the Southern Line is our first line of defense.”

“Certainly, certainly, it’s a fine piece of work, but surely, one must, on occasion, prune the weeds beyond the hedge?” Stelfox rubbed his mustache. “I hear that you’ve personally participated in a bit of pruning yourself.”

Dwayne’s smile almost slipped. “We rescued my master.”

“And under that noble pretext, couldn’t you have turned your rescue operation into a punitive one?”

Dwayne tensed. “What do you mean?”

“Oh, am I being too circumspect, too subtle?” Stelfox’s chuckle burbled in his throat. “Then allow me to speak plainly. With the force you had on hand - the lord commander’s personal cavalry, the Southern Line’s finest, whatever weapon you used to ultimately obliterate those abominations - you could have pushed deep into that forsaken jungle and secured a real position for the Queendom. After all, they had the gall to violate our cities, spill our blood, kidnap one of our own. Preventing such insolence should be paramount.”

Dwayne closed his mouth. “Sir, I-”

“Moreover,” interrupted Stelfox, “we could have secured a few of those famous azade mines for ourselves.”

Which was the real reason for an invasion. With effort, Dwayne managed to keep his tone neutral as he asked, “You have a particular interest in the mines?”

“A particular interest?” Stelfox laughed. “My boy, my family has delved the Psorn mountains for generations!”

Well, the miners his family had hired had anyway. “Would you bring in Sourans to do the mining?”

“Of course not. We’d use slaves.” Stelfox’s sip of wine did a great job of covering Dwayne’s failure to hide his horror. “If it weren’t for the Miner’s Lodges and the Church, we’d have brought slaves up to the mountains to do the work. I’m not saying we’d make no changes.” He’d misinterpreted Dwayne’s attempts to get his face under control. “The Counts are foolish to rely solely on Wesen slaves when locals are available.” Of course, he had no idea why Wesens were enslaved to mine the azade. “It’s all that democracy nonsense going on down there. Imagine, commoners choosing their leaders!”

Dwayne was glad he’d skipped breakfast. “Yeah, imagine. Excuse me, sir, I-“

“Wyatt.” Thadden stepped between Dwayne and Stelfox, his rich brown and gold robes settling around him. “I think our dear Exchequer is finally ready to hear your proposal.”

“Is he now?” Stelfox downed the rest of his wine. “Well then, I’d better go and present it. Young Kalan, it was a pleasure to meet you. Do mention my ideas to the Lord Commander when you have the chance.”

“I’ll be sure to present it at the right time.” Which was never.

When Stelfox was out of earshot, Thadden rounded on Dwayne. “I see what you did there.”

“I’m sorry?”

“You have no intention of presenting Stelfox’s ideas to the Lord Commander.”

Dwayne shot a look at the baron. “Do you really support invading Vanuria?”

“I support my friends, who will soon be your friends.”

Dwayne’s words spilled out before he could stop them. “And if they won’t be?”

“Of course, they’ll be.” Thadden placed a hand on Dwayne’s shoulder. “Once I become Royal Sorcerer, you’ll be their conduit to me.”

“Ah.” Dwayne’s hand slipped into his pocket and closed around the License Key. Yet again Thadden was demonstrating that he was more interested in the Office of Royal Sorcerer than in advancing magic. It was something they’d never eye to eye on. “Sir Stelfox said he wants to bring slaves to the Psorn Mountains.”

“He just wants to increase efficiency.”

“Does Ak- your slave, increase your efficiency?”

“Of course, she…” Thadden’s eyes widened. “Oh, this is because you were a slave. You shouldn’t be concerned. Slaves are a natural part of society. From Vanuria to the Tuqu, they are integral to having the world run as it must. Even the Ri has slaves.”

“I’m sorry. I won’t work with a slave owner.” Dwayne stepped back from Thadden. “It’s not a thing I can compromise on.”

All cheer drained from Thadden’s face. “You’re acting like you didn’t know. Surely, you’ve met other nobles with slaves?”

“No.” Of course, Dwayne didn’t actually know that. It was more than possible that the nobles he’d met had had slaves tucked away in their kitchens and fields, which was a thought that turned his stomach. “And I don’t want to.”

“I see. Then there’s only one thing to do.” Thadden spread his hands. “I’ll manumit Gretchen.”

Dwayne stared. “What?”

“Young Kalan,” Thadden stepped close, “what you need to understand is that, just as the Royal Sorcerer’s Office needs my connections and experience, I need the talent of a mage who can passed the Slip Test in the blink of an eye. By the way, you’ll have to tell me how you did that someday.”

“I, uh, just heard Cueller’s Voice so clearly.” No reason to dwell on that. “So, you’ll really release Akunna?”

“Who?”

“Gretchen.”

“Oh, yes, of course.” Thadden put his arm around Dwayne’s shoulders. “I’ll file the necessary paperwork as soon as the night is over.”

“Good. Then… we can work together.” Dwayne still felt uneasy, but this was a significant step. “I think I need to take a rest from talking.”

“I understand.” Thadden pulled away. “Let me know when you feel up to meeting more of our future allies.”

After a quick bow, Dwayne escaped to a far corner of the room, where a very bored Huan watched over the proceedings. “You’re still here.”

Huan rolled his eyes. “Surprised?”

“I’m surprised you volunteered.”

“Ouch.” Huan put a hand to his heart. “That hurts, milord. After all we’ve been through together, to think that you don’t feel I care about you. That hurts.”

“Right, you’re here because you care about me and not the coin I pay you.” Dwayne looked over the room. Aside from himself, Thadden, and, for some reason, the Rosa twins, there weren’t any other mages in the room, just dozens of lay persons in unseasonable red and black. “Is everyone here from the Royal Secretary’s Office?”

“Yes.” Huan raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t know?

Dwayne winced. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

Everyone here looked so happy, which made sense because they’d made it through both the Autumn Session and the Harvest Ball without like their boss disappearing or quitting or getting robbed. In fact, even she had looked cheerful when she’d stepped in to greet her staff before heading off to other royal duties.

“You look jealous, milord,” said Huan.

“Not jealous. Not exactly.” Dwayne sighed. “I want this to be us.”

Huan gave him an odd look. “Us?”

“Mei and myself, the Royal Sorcerer, whoever we hire, us.” Dwayne gestured to the room. “Maybe once we have a real Royal Sorcerer, we start hiring people and start building a community instead of just running around repairing what little we have.”

“‘Myself, the Royal Sorcerer.’” Huan shook his head. “I don’t think that they’d let that happen, milord. Not with your complexion or your… condition.”

Dwayne blinked. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, don’t worry.” Huan tapped his nose. “I can keep a secret.”

“Young Kalan.” Thadden’s hand closed around Dwayne’s elbow. “Haven’t you rested enough? I really should introduce you to my fellow Associate Secretaries.”

Frankly, the thought of talking to yet more dull people made Dwayne cringe, but Thadden had made a significant concession, which meant Dwayne had to reciprocate. “Just lead the way.”

“Before that,” the drawl was Adhuan, the tone delighted, “I’d love to talk about those delightful little fire charms you made.”

“Director Giordano!” Thadden wheeled Dwayne around to face the Exchequer. “Has Stelfox had a chance to present his proposal to you?”

Giordano flashed a smile through his mustache. “Oh, Elena is taking down every word, I assure you, but I could not miss the chance to question young Kalan here about the small miracle he created. I mean Ri magic in the hands of Souran mages? I never thought I’d see the day. So,” the merchant’s steel blue eyes sliced into Dwayne, “how do you do it?”