The second course of dinner that night was a light vegetable soup served in a savory broth, with slices of a local yellow cheese sharp enough to pierce the hull of a ship.

  Princess Astrid was quiet during the soup course. She maintained her pleasantly blank expression, but Aefric had no doubt that her thoughts whirled.

  It could be that she was ignorant on the subject of Malimfar’s espionage. But then, she certainly couldn’t deny a report that came from a justiciar of Taesark.

  Of course, it could also have been the case that she knew exactly what Malimfar had been up to in Deepwater, and was trying to figure out some new way to spin it.

  Either way, the result was that she ceded the conversation to Princess Xenia, who filled the time with questions about Deepwater that were clearly intended to flatter Aefric.

  She wanted to hear about the beauty of his coastline, the richness of his farms, the production of his mines and quarries. Even topics that might have involved trade interest, or similar, were phrased in such ways as to focus on complimentary aspects.

  For example, when asking about the ring Queen Eppida had given him — which was woven from sixteen different shades of gold, she’d phrased the question: “Such a lovely ring, your grace. Tell me. Was it fashioned entirely from your grace’s own gold mines? I’ve heard it said that the mines in the Threepeaks are rich enough that your grace could build a keep entirely of gold.”

  Aefric scarcely recalled later how he’d answered such questions, save that he’d erred on the side of self-effacing, and always tried to turn the topic around.

  Though asking about Caiperas was not so easy, when he knew so little about it to begin with.

  Princess Astrid finally rejoined the conversation between courses, while the kindaren musicians were singing a ballad about lovers lost in a forest, only to be guided to each other by friendly animals that served Halstaffur, the Green Lord.

  “Your grace must forgive my silence—”

  “Must he?” Princess Xenia asked, clearly enjoying Princess Astrid’s discomfort.

  “—but I have found his suggestions most troubling. Malimfar has always upheld the strictest rules of honorable warfare—”

  “I beg to differ,” Princess Xenia said archly.

  “Of course you do, Xenia,” Princess Astrid said breezily. “Begging comes easily to you. As I’m sure his grace will learn soon enough.”

  Princess Xenia dropped her fork, put her hands on the table and began to rise, glaring at Princess Astrid.

  Princess Astrid returned the glare, and matched the movement.

  “Your highnesses,” Aefric said, “I will not have violence descend on my dinner table.”

  They held their glares.

  “I believe Princess Astrid had a point to make. I’d hate to see that point get lost.”

  The glares continued.

  “Enough,” Aefric said. “I will not have the conflicts between Malimfar and Caiperas turn my castle into a war zone. If the two of you must fight, have a duel and be done with it. Otherwise, control your tempers or leave my duchy.”

  Both glares turned into surprised looks at Aefric.

  “You would require us to leave?” Princess Xenia asked. “So soon? Both of us?”

  “What choice do your highnesses present me?” Aefric asked. “If your highnesses cannot share a private dinner without incident, how can I trust their behavior in front of my court?”

  He shook his head. “No. This must end. If you must fight, have your duel and let that be the end of it. Otherwise, I would have your highnesses’ promise of peace for the duration of their stay.”

  “I’m not at all certain your grace has the authority to ask that of us,” Princess Astrid said.

  “I have the right of high justice,” Aefric said. “If I have the power to take a man’s head, I have the power to swear two princesses to peace.”

  “Not quite the same thing, your grace,” Princess Xenia said softly, as though hesitant to correct Aefric. “This is not a matter of law, but of rank and authority.”

  “And without a royal writ or decree to support him,” Princess Astrid said, “your grace lacks sufficient standing to compel us.”

  On this, it seemed, they were united.

  “These are my lands,” Aefric said. “This is my castle. You are my guests. If you will not respect your host enough to behave yourselves during your stay, then I will regard you as poor guests and require you to leave.”

  Aefric was gambling now. The host-guest relationship was critical to noble society. He knew that much. But he was still learning how it worked. He might be right about what he’d just said — that they’d be behaving as bad guests — but in truth he might be the bad host for asserting himself above his rank.

  If that was what he was doing.

  Either way, he could only watch as they digested his words.

  Princess Xenia rolled in her lips as she looked back and forth between Princess Astrid and Aefric.

  Princess Astrid retreated behind her pleasantly blank expression, but Aefric could practically hear her thinking quickly.

  These two hated each other. That much was clear. But was their hatred more important than whatever mission brought them here?

  Because certainly they couldn’t doubt that, right or wrong, Aefric meant what he said, and he would have them removed from his lands. If he had to.

  “Very well,” Princess Astrid said. “For the sake of improving relations between Malimfar and Armyr, I shall set aside any … disagreements with Xenia, save for those that merit a challenge.”

  “And in the spirit of the love that Caiperas and Armyr have always held for one another,” Princess Xenia said with a smile, “I shall likewise set aside any disagreements with Astrid that do not merit a challenge.”

  “I thank your highnesses,” Aefric said.

  The second salad course came next. A mixture of crispy vegetables served with a tangy sauce that went quite well with the slightly stronger white wine served with that course.

  During that course, the musicians sang a song about a shipwrecked sailor whose life was saved by a mermaid. Sadly, the mermaid’s heart was broken when the sailor was later rescued.

  Their final verse was a two-part lament, of how the mermaid would pine for the sailor, and how the sailor would pine for the mermaid. With the end suggesting that to this day they searched the seas for one another.

  While enjoying that course, Princess Astrid resumed what she had been saying before.

  “Your grace’s suggestion about the use of agents to sow dissension and foment rebellion,” she said between bites. “That is contrary to the way Malimfar has always conducted warfare.”

  “And yet,” Princess Xenia said, “Malimfar thought nothing of massing its forces and hiring mercenaries in support of an attack without first declaring war.”

  “Only a fool declares war before fighting,” Princess Astrid said. “Wars are declared once they are fact, not theory. Anyone with any knowledge of history knows this.”

  Sadly, Aefric couldn’t deny it. In his experience, invasions tended to precede formal declarations of war.

  Turning back to Aefric, Princess Astrid continued.

  “Our scouts watch Armyr, as we assume Armyr’s scouts watch us,” she said with an elegant, one-shoulder shrug. “If we managed to amass a major force without Armyr noticing and assembling a force to match us, then the error is Armyr’s. Not Malimfar’s.”

  “So,” Princess Xenia responded, “you postulate that every country should keep a weather eye on every country that borders it, or they deserve to be invaded?”

  “This is the way warfare has been conducted since time out of time,” Princess Astrid said with another slight shrug, then turned to Aefric. “Please forgive Xenia her ignorance in these matters. She had no head for strategy.”

  Princess Xenia tried to say something then, but Princess Astrid spoke faster to get the rest of her point out.

  “Naturally, Father expected an emissary from Armyr to come ask about the massing armies, and negotiate a peace without bloodshed. Instead, King Colm took the coward’s way out and sent a wizard to rain down ice and snow.”

  She quickly raised a hand in a gesture that came close to apology.

  “I mean no offense to your grace’s skills. But armies expect to be matched by armies, with wizards playing their proper roles, and no more. To attempt to shortcut the whole process with spells that not only slaughtered many, but ruined the land beneath for years to come. Well. That was … excessive.”

  Of course, the land she spoke of was hardly rich farmland…

  “An interesting point,” Aefric said. “May I retort?”

  “Please do, your grace,” Princess Astrid said, and honestly looked interested in Aefric’s answer.

  “I shall begin by addressing the issue of Malimfar’s massing forces, and the response from Armyr. I happen to know that Duchess Ashling of Merrek, whose duchy forms much of Armyr’s border with Malimfar, was aware of the massing forces, and was building her response.”

  “Wise of her,” Princess Astrid said, while Princess Xenia frowned. Perhaps feeling left out of the conversation.

  “However,” Aefric continued, “your highness suggests that Malimfar was massing its forces openly. And that’s not entirely true. After all, half of the Indecisive River Valley belongs to Malimfar. And yet its forces were not massing on Malimfar’s side of the river, but up above the ridge beyond, where their numbers could not accurately be gauged.

  “Further,” he continued, “the ridge hid from Armyrian sight the presence of those mercenary companies. Scouts from Merrek would have been hard pressed to assess the strength of Malimfar’s forces accurately to within ten thousand soldiers. To say nothing of the siege engines I myself saw while flying.”

  “The key,” Princess Astrid said, “was that we were not hiding what we were doing. Withholding information about the extent of our resources was simply good battlefield management.”

  “Hardly the same thing,” Princess Xenia said.

  Princess Astrid visibly checked herself from loosing an insult there, so Aefric hurried into the conversational gap.

  “Perhaps. However, it does not address the larger point. Malimfar sent agents into Armyr aetts, perhaps a whole season in advance of assembling its armies. Agents working to turn my vassals against each other, and against me, before I’d even arrived in Deepwater. And these agents did their work in such a way as to try to shift the blame for their Deepwater activities to Merrek.”

  “Well,” Princess Xenia said. “That would make invasion easier, wouldn’t it? I mean, perhaps I don’t have Astrid’s ‘head for strategy,’ but it seems to me that getting the nobles to squabble among themselves would soften Armyr up for invasion. And getting one duchy to blame another, well, that would split forces. Wouldn’t it?”

  Princess Astrid tried to say something, but this time it was Princess Xenia pushing ahead to finish her point.

  “It seems to me that this is hardly a shining example of the honorable warfare Malimfar claims to uphold.”

  Princess Astrid frowned. Turned her attention to Aefric.

  “I know that your grace is convinced that Malimfar has done this thing,” she said. “And I know that speaking even unintentional untruths to a justiciar blessed by Taesark cannot be done, let alone deliberate lies.”

  “Does make the evidence rather damning,” Princess Xenia said with fake sympathy.

  “And yet,” Princess Astrid said, “I would swear before your grace here and now, that if such activities were commissioned on behalf of Malimfar, they were done without the knowledge and permission of Malimfar.”

  She shook her head. “I know my father would never countenance such a thing.”

  “Perhaps you know strategy, but not your father,” Princess Xenia said.

  “Do you want that challenge, Xenia?” Princess Astrid asked. “Because if you do, I’ll forgo a champion if you will.”

  “Your highnesses, please,” Aefric said, making calming gestures until both eased back in their chairs again. Then, to Princess Astrid, he said, “Whether King Eadred knew or not, the fact remains that the blame for the activities of Ser Grud and his agents belongs to Malimfar. And I fear that if you cannot accept that, we will have difficulty finding much to discuss profitably.”

  Princess Astrid considered that, while the three of them finished their salad.

  The main course of the meal that night in Aefric’s private dining room was a fivefin shark steak, served with a rich sauce that brought out the subtleties in the shark’s flavoring. It paired well with a crisp white wine that seemed to add dimensions to the taste of both the shark and the sauce.

  It was served with a small side of mussels, a soft, chewy bread, and asparagus spears.

  Through the main course, Aefric started to believe that the princesses were willing to be on their best behavior for the rest of the meal.

  They didn’t bicker. They didn’t discuss sensitive subjects. Both seemed happy to discuss the positive aspects of their respective countries, and to ask for tales of Aefric’s adventuring days.

  In fact, Aefric found himself relaxing. Enjoying their company even. Both princesses could be quite charming, when they wanted to be. And whether Princess Xenia was telling of a misadventure on horseback while riding with her maids, or Princess Astrid was recounting entertaining mistakes she made while learning to sail, both seemed content to settle into allowing themselves to be pleasant company.

  In fact, it wasn’t until the dessert course — a mixed berry compote, served with fresh, whipped cream and a sweet white wine — that Princess Astrid finally addressed an uncomfortable topic.

  “Your grace,” she said. “I know that the history between Malimfar and Caiperas has been … difficult. With poor decisions made on both sides.”

  “I can accede to that,” Princess Xenia said with a nod.

  “But before this past spring, there had been peace between Armyr and Malimfar for close to a century. And even then, our last dispute was what had led to us sharing the Indecisive River Valley in peace and comity ever since.”

  “Well,” Aefric said, “‘ever since’…”

  “The words were poorly chosen,” Princess Astrid said. “But the fact remains that, for the most part, relations between Malimfar and Armyr have been pleasant.”

  “I’m afraid I’m too new to Armyr to speak to that,” Aefric said. “I’d have to consult my historian.”

  “I would take it as a kindness if you did,” Princess Astrid said. “So that your grace would know that I do not exaggerate.”

  “She’s telling the truth,” Princess Xenia said, reluctantly. “Though we’ve had our problems with Malimfar since time out of time, their relations with Armyr have traditionally been frustratingly good.”

  “With that in mind,” Princess Astrid said, “and in the spirit of past good relations, I will reveal one truth I need not reveal, make to your grace one promise, and ask of your grace one boon.”

  “All … right…” Aefric said, while Princess Xenia frowned as though Princess Astrid were doing something clever and unexpected.

  “The truth I need not reveal is this. Ser Grud of the Garnet is known to me. He did, in fact, spend much of last year at court in the capital at Svarturvigi.”

  Aefric had already guessed as much from a hint she gave earlier, but said nothing.

  “The promise I make is this,” she continued. “I shall investigate the actions of Ser Grud and such others as might have been involved, and find their source. For I know that it could not have been my father. He would not countenance so cowardly an act.”

  In another world, the part of Aefric known as Keifer would have referenced the common term “plausible deniability.” But he wasn’t sure the phrase was known here in Qorunn.

  “What will you do when you find this ‘source?’” Princess Xenia asked.

  “We are speaking of wrongs committed in Malimfar’s name. I shall turn the guilty party over to my father, of course, to see justice done.” Princess Astrid turned to Aefric. “And then I shall return here and bring you a full report of my findings. And, if my father is willing, the perpetrator’s head.”

  “The head will not be necessary,” Aefric said, “but I would be curious about the report.”

  “Then you shall have it, your grace,” Princess Astrid said, smiling now. And there was such purpose in her smile that it made her prettier.

  Interesting.

  “And the boon your highness would ask?” Aefric asked.

  “It is of two parts, your grace,” she said. “But they are related. First, I would ask that your grace pardon my behavior earlier, especially the … vehemence of my insistence that Malimfar had been the wronged party in the events of this past spring. I lacked critical information to judge the situation.”

  Princess Xenia managed to convey sheer disbelief while doing nothing more than exhaling.

  “Would it help if I requested a copy for your highness of the justiciar’s report regarding Ser Grud?” Aefric asked.

  “It would. Thank you, your grace,” Princess Astrid said with a smile. “And the second part of the boon I would ask is this. I am well aware that during your grace’s tenure as duke, he has had good reason to think ill of Malimfar. I would ask that he keep an open mind regarding my kingdom … and its royal family.”

  Her smile took on a shy quality then that was simply devastating. Aefric’s heart lurched, despite himself. He had to swallow before he could speak.

  “I have learned since the Godswalk Wars that many previous assumptions must be reexamined. I can attempt this with Malimfar as well.”

  Of course, keeping an open mind was no promise that he would forget what had gone before…

  “Your grace is most kind,” Princess Astrid said, holding that shy smile.

  “Fortunately,” Princess Xenia said quickly, “I need ask no kindness in regard to the history between Armyr and Caiperas, which has always been good. However, in the spirit of the evening, I too would be willing to offer a truth I need not reveal, make your grace a promise, and ask of your grace a boon.”