her instruments 03 - laisrathera by m c a hogarth Page A

to say for yourself,” she said, the words black with anger. “You have allowed our enemies to escape—and to the mortal worlds, where they can gather aid and return to crush us—and you have nothing more to say? ‘They’re gone’? Really?”
    “You are overwrought, Your Majesty,” Baniel said. “We are in no danger, I assure you.”
    Despite herself, she felt a faint fascination at this continued evidence of his delusion. “Go on. I would like to hear how you have derived this conclusion.”
    “They have gone to seek aid. But they will not find enough to win back the world.”
    “And how is that possible? Do not these mortals have thousands of their own vessels?” she asked, trying not to grit her teeth.
    “Ten vessels, a thousand, a million… the numbers are meaningless, Your Majesty, if they cannot be deployed.” He smiled. “It is a matter of mortal politics. I assure you I am well versed in them, and I can say with certitude that the Alliance will not have the resources to devote to our little… fracas.”
    “And if you are wrong?”
    “But I am not. Fear not, Your Majesty. I have the matter well in hand. Though if you like, I could educate you on the matter? I can send for our mortal allies and have them explain at length. I am sure they’d be pleased to meet a Queen, see a royal study. Drink sweet almond liqueur. Such opportunities come infrequently to people of their quality.”
    The thought of letting such creatures into the palace proper made her shudder. Bad enough that they were presumably wandering the catacombs. And yet, to trust him with the entire future of her endeavor… what would it matter if she succeeded in winning Liolesa’s former allies to a sulky acceptance of her reign if the woman could return on some spacegoing warhorse and depose her? And too, the matter that Araelis had spoken of… she knew so little. They had consorted with mortals to make her coup possible, and to her all mortals seemed alike. Did that mean that these mortals were allied with the ones Araelis suggested were interested in pillaging their world?
    Who had Baniel made his deal with?
    Could he be trusted?
    “Your Majesty,” he said, softening. “I know you are concerned. But I would not let harm come to you, when you carry all our hopes for a world free of the interference of mortals. Most of them will be departing this evening to protect our interests abroad. They will bar Liolesa’s way, I pledge you. Let me continue to be your obedient servant in this so that you need not soil yourself with the details.”
    “Departing,” she said, wary. “Do they mean to return?”
    “Only once, to collect their pay. I cannot pay them of course until they fulfill their contractual duties. These mortals can be led by their love of money, Your Majesty: dangle it before them, and they are completely predictable. No, they are well in check. They will take care of Liolesa and my brother, and then they will come for their money, and then they will be gone and we may continue in peace.” He tilted his head. “What will you do about the rebellious Houses?”
    “I will have a talk shortly with the Delen Galare,” Surela said. “And after that…” She looked out the window. “We will see. I may ride forth to demand allegiance from them.”
    “And the hostages?”
    “They are not hostages,” she said, irritated. “They are guests… guests, until they see reason.”
    “Your guests, then,” he said, inclining his head. “Will they be staying?”
    “What else? It’s the winter court.” She eyed him. “Almost I think you would have me kill them. Do all men have this bloodthirstiness? Is it inherent to the sex?”
    “Oh, I would never suggest such a thing,” Baniel said. “Surely your way is the best.”
    “Yes,” she said, still considering him. “Very well, then. You may go.”
    “Your Majesty,” he said, bowing. “Thank you for the opportunity to assuage your fears.”
    “Keep me better informed,