“Maybe he used you like he uses everyone else,” Raesinia said. “Or maybe his plans have changed.”
“Or maybe something’s happened to him.” Marcus bounced to his feet again. “Last we saw him, he was on his way back to Mieran County. Maybe someone got to him, and now he’s got a gun to his head. Hell, Orlanko could be using him to try to get to you—”
“Do you really think Janus would do this for Orlanko, even with a gun to his head?”
“Either way, we need to know for certain,” Marcus said. “I’ll leave tonight. If I use the courier posts, I can be in Talbonn—”
“No.”
There was enough emotion in the word that it brought Marcus up short. He turned back to look at Raesinia, and found that her calm had cracked. Her eyes were shimmering.
“Marcus, please,” she said. “You have to think.”
“Think about what? If Janus is a captive—”
“You don’t know he’s a captive. What happens if you get there and he’s sincere?”
“Then I’ll try to talk some sense into him.” But Marcus’ conviction was already fading.
“And if that doesn’t work?”
“Then I’d...” He shook his head. “I’d come back here, of course. I made my choice, Raes. You know that.”
She took a deep breath, blew it out, and nodded. “I know. But what about everyone else?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Janus declares himself emperor. As soon as the news breaks, Marcus d’Ivoire, Janus’ closest ally and right-?hand man, immediately decamps to go to his old friend’s side. Surely you see how that’s going to look?”
“Ah.” Marcus had the distinct feeling of an unexpected pit opening beneath his feet. All the strength seemed to go out of him, and he sat back down abruptly. “Oh. I...”
“I know this is hard,” Raesinia said. “He’s your friend.”
“It’s more than that,” Marcus said. “He’s... Janus.” He paused, then looked up at Raesinia. “You don’t trust me.”
“I do.” She grabbed his hand in both of hers. “Please, Marcus. Believe that if you believe nothing else. I have always trusted you with my life, and I always will.”
He squeezed her fingers, tentatively, and she squeezed back. Marcus swallowed.
“Sorry. I’m just... a little off-?balance.”
“I know,” Raesinia said. “Shove over.”
Marcus obligingly slid sideways, and Raesinia sat down next to him. She bent her head, looking at her hands.
“The thing is,” she said, “it’s not my trust you need to worry about. The Deputies-?General is going to suspect you on principle, along with anyone else who worked closely with Janus. You can’t do anything that would give them ammunition.”
“Right.” Marcus’ hand clenched tight around his knee. Raesinia was next to him, distractingly close, practically leaning against him. “So what are we going to do?”
“We need more information, obviously. Alek is doing everything he can.” She shook her head. “Until we get it, we have to assume that Janus honestly intends to take the throne. What will the army do when the news gets out?”
Marcus frowned. “The soldiers will watch their commanders to see which way they jump.”
“And the commanders?”
“I’m sure of a few. We’ll have to ride herd on the rest until we know more.”
Raesinia nodded. “That’s the most important first step, then. I don’t want any violence, but we can’t afford to have troops marching away to join Janus. Not if we’re going to have to fight him.”
Fight him. Fight Janus. An involuntary shiver went through Marcus at the prospect. “Hell. Saints and fucking martyrs. I thought we’d finally—”
“I know.” She closed her eyes. “Believe me, I know.”
“I should go. If all hell is going to break loose, at the very least everyone needs to know where to find me.”
He got to his feet, then paused when Raesinia took his hand again.
“Marcus...”
He looked down at her, slim and beautiful, pale in the flickering light of the lamps. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, the way he had in Murnsk. They’d dallied all through the return trip, snatching brief moments from official business. But she’d made it clear that she didn’t want them to be seen together. And here in Ohnlei someone was always watching.
In his worst moments Marcus wondered if Raesinia wasn’t rethinking what she’d said, the offer she’d made him. It was one thing to talk about love when battle was looming. It was another to do it in the cold light of day, with the court and the Deputies-?General looking over your shoulder. She’d certainly been more reserved since they’d returned, and Marcus had told himself that he wouldn’t blame her if she wanted to pretend none of it had ever happened.
I should have just talked to her ages ago. But that meant facing the possibility that she’d say it out loud and make it real.
“Is something wrong?” he said.
“No.” Raesinia let her gaze fall. “Just... be careful. A lot might change in the next few hours. Make sure you stick close to people you trust.”
“You too. I’ll send a report when I know the situation.”
She nodded, looking away.
*
The Grand Army—?most of it, anyway—?was encamped on the rolling countryside north of Ohnlei, busily ruining the well-?kept meadows and scenic little. They’d constructed their camp with more care than usual, since it seemed likely they were going to be there through the winter, and while the soldiers had started under canvas, they’d set to improving their situation with the typical ingenuity of veterans. Now the camp resembled a small town, with two main roads crossing at a central square and smaller streets marking off a well-?defined grid, while the tents had mostly been replaced with wooden lean-?tos and even small log cabins. Hawkers drove carts up from the city every day and set up shop in designated spaces, eager to relieve the soldiers of their surplus pay. There was even a section designated for brothel tents, well patrolled by trusted men and women.
Marcus was proud of the camp, though he had to admit that Fitz Warus had done most of the actual administrative work. He’d hoped that the army could turn it into their winter quarters, and spend their time on making good the damage of the brutal Murnskai campaign. Now—
Let’s not jump to conclusions yet.