as he ensured his massive canine teeth were on full display. ‘It must be done.’
Vesna remembered his place and backed off, turning to Lesarl instead. ‘Did you counsel this?’
‘Despite my appearance,’ Fernal continued, ‘I am not some unthinking monster. Lesarl advised me of the alternatives. The decision is mine.’
Vesna looked around the rest of the room, as though expecting to see a Menin envoy hiding in one of the corners, but seeing no one seemed to deflate the Aspect of Karkarn and he lowered his voice. ‘You cannot believe their assurances?’ he pleaded.
‘Lord Fernal is well-aware of the Menin’s trustworthiness,’ Lesarl answered for his master, ‘or lack thereof, but signing the treaty was the price of the dukes’ official recognition.’
The Menin had arrived only three days before, offering a non-aggression treaty that effectively drew a line under the whole matter of Isak’s crusade. Unlikely as the offer was, the three other Farlan dukes had all demanded it be signed.
‘So we abandon everything?’
Lesarl’s eye narrowed. ‘So we deal with one problem at a time. We need the nobles to fall in line; this is the only way it can be done.’ He raised a hand as Vesna started to object. ‘We’re in no position to go to war until the nobles are happy with their lord. That we are abandoning our treaties with Narkang I know all too well, but treaties are of little use when we cannot follow through on them.’
‘So you would allow the Menin to pick us off one by one?’ Vesna said with contempt. ‘The dukes and suzerains may force you to honour this treaty even when we’re ready, but it won’t stop the Menin.’
‘What happens next year is uncertain,’ Lesarl assured him, ‘and the nobility may yet be brought around with careful management. If the Menin have moved against Narkang by then the picture will look very different; they will start to feel vulnerable, more open to persuasion. Until that time we need them to recognise Lord Fernal’s title and authority for without that we have civil war. Only with the unified support of the nobility will we be able to regain control of the cults.’
‘There is a greater war to be fought,’ Vesna argued, feeling increasingly desperate. ‘Are we going to sit here and do nothing? Isak lost his life trying to stop Azaer before his power-base developed further. Are we to do nothing?’
‘We can do nothing,’ Lesarl said very deliberately. ‘There can be no officially sanctioned action against either the Menin or those within their sphere of influence.’
‘What in Ghenna’s name is that supposed to mean?’
Lesarl gave him a cold, reptilian smile. ‘It means, Count Vesna, that no soldier or nobleman of the Farlan nation can act in any way that might contravene the treaty Lord Fernal will be signing this afternoon - while you are off marrying the delightful Lady Tila.’
Fernal pushed forward a piece of parchment that had been sitting in front of him, one bearing three official seals and the angular marks Vesna recognised as the Demi-God’s signature.
‘What’s this?’
‘The deed of trust to your estate,’ Lesarl said. ‘As a man of religious status, you are ineligible to hold military rank or title. This deed, back-dated to your return, entrusts all such affairs to the Lord of the Farlan until such a time as there is an individual to legally take possession of such things.’
‘Such as a wife?’
‘I believe a wife would suffice, yes.’
Vesna looked from the slender politician to his massive lord. ‘What’s the point of all this? The wedding’s this afternoon; surely this is a technicality hardly worth the time of the Lord of the Farlan.’
‘Nevertheless, such matters are best attended to in the correct legal manner,’ Lesarl replied smoothly, ‘so please sign and renounce your title in favour of any offspring the future Countess Vesna may bear you. You should also resign your army commission - unless you intend to join the chaplaincy branch of the cult.’
‘Are . . . are you telling me I should continue a fight alone?’ Vesna asked hesitantly.
‘Not at all. Lord Fernal could never condone such a decision. However, without the constraints of title, you would be free to act as you see fit, and as your God commands - this you should have realised by now, but since you failed to I thought it best the matter was brought up before your marriage. What opinions the God of War might have regarding the subject of continuing the fight I leave to theologians.