Adrian understood the logic, well enough; but, again, didn’t really care. Not at the moment, for certainty. The dimples were facing his way.
“So what next, O great master schemer?” Yes! There was even a lilt in her voice.
Trae answered for him. “You—everyone, including all the camp followers—take ship to Solinga. You and Adrian and his gunsmiths, immediately. The others can follow in later ships. Father’s there already. He wants to drive on to the capital as soon as possible, but he wants Adrian with him to oversee the siege guns. I’m really the only other one could do it, and I’ve got to get back to Chalice.”
He gave Adrian a look that was half apologetic. “My brother Olver’s the governor of Emerald province and that won’t change right away. But we need to get you installed in his place as soon as possible.”
Adrian’s mind seemed blank. What in the name of the gods was he talking about?
“The new proclamation,” Trae explained. Then, seeing the confusion still on Adrian’s face, found it necessary to explain the explanation. “The newest, I should say. Father’s being making a lot of them. The proclamation that extends the rights of the core provinces to the rest of the Confederation. Everyone’s a citizen now. A full citizen, with all the rights, not this half-and-half business. Even the members of the auxiliary nations, if they choose. As soon as they make a public sacrifice at the nearest temple of the All-Father, and get it officially recorded by the temple scribe. And, um, goes without saying, take an oath to support the lawful Triumvirate.”
Adrian was still trying to catch up. The running commentary from his inner ghosts was more confusing than a help.
—brilliant move. He’ll have the Emeralds and the Islands welded to him solid. The Ropers and the Haggen, too, as soon as they realize—
—on hrapti also. here, with this quality of leadership, the probability is even higher. 84%, ± 3. and—
—core of the new industrial base. Who cares about the capital? Just a mob and a pack of bureaucrats, let ’em fester in their own juices. Within a year—
—key now are the eastern provinces. if demansk—
—gaining twice what they lose—
—probability lower, but still 74%, ± 6—
“Shut up,” he hissed. “Sorry, Trae. I was, ah, talking to myself and didn’t want to hear it.”
Helga seemed to choke down a laugh. Trae just looked puzzled.
Adrian took a slow breath. “Start from the beginning. Are you saying you—your Father, rather—wants me to become the new governor of the Emeralds?”
Trae bobbed his head, like a schoolmaster encouraging a none-too-bright schoolboy reciting his lessons.
“That’s insane! There’s a price on my head in the Confederacy!”
Trae managed to looked mildly embarrassed. “Well. Not any longer. Turns out the whole thing was a mistake on the part of the Justiciar who was in charge at the time of the investigation into the Redvers rebellion. Turns out—amazing, really—the Justiciar himself was in league with the traitors and cast the blame elsewhere to protect himself. That was Albrecht’s man Jacreb Quain, in case you’d forgotten. When Father found out—did I mention that he’s got the most amazingly capable man running his own new police force?—he was purely furious.”
Trae was leading them toward the workshop, Helga’s arm in one hand and Adrian’s in the other.
“The police chief’s an Islander, believe it or not. In fact, he was supposed to have been one of the chief conspirators leading the rebellion on Preble. Man by the name of Enry Sharbonow. Thicelt recommended him to Father, and once Father discovered that Enry—like you, of course—had been one of the loyalists playing a double game to undermine the traitors, he had the records corrected. Um. Actually, I believe he had them expunged altogether. Anyway—”
“How can Father trust such people?” protested Helga. “They’re—they’re—” An apologetic glance at Adrian. “Well, not you, of course. But—”
Trae shook his head. “I don’t think ‘trust’ particularly enters into it, sister. Except trust them to do their job. Father does still have the only large and triumphant army in the Confederacy, y’know? Four brigades worth—more than that, and building.”