‘Serenissima is about to enter an interesting phase. Waterford has heard from our spies in the palazzo that Doge Dandolo will be the last of his family to hold the throne. There will be a tussle for power. I propose that from a distance and through Lord Waterford, we offer the Maleovellis our support. We give them the Dogeship of Serenissima.’
There were nods and murmurs.
‘For how long?’ asked the Duke of Dunlilley. ‘I thought Serenissima was to be ours?’
‘Oh, it is, your grace. I have not changed my mind about that.’
‘Then why are we offering these people the Dogeship?’
‘Because it will ensure their cooperation and ease the transition of power from them to me.’ Zaralina laughed. Sir Kay and Earl Farwarn exchanged quick glances. They knew what that laugh signified. ‘It will be a puppet regime. They will act according to my orders, in the best interests of Farrowfare, of course.’
She turned to Earl Farwarn. ‘Please, your grace, share with the Privy Council the news you brought from the Ottoman Empire.’
Earl Edward Farwarn took a gulp of his wine and then rose. Moving to the side of the room where the lawyers sat hastily taking notes, their quills a continuous scratching that accompanied the meeting, he rustled through a pile of documents before finding the pages he needed. He returned to his spot at the table but remained standing. He extracted one piece of parchment and handed it to Father Morrison, who sat beside him. Father Morrison glanced at the content and then hastily crossed himself.
‘What I am passing around now, ma’am, gentlemen, is a copy of what I gave to Her Majesty last night. That is, a list of the Ottomans’ defences. The number of soldiers they have, weapons, including the cannons they’ve bought from us. The final figures at the bottom of the page are ships already in Vista Mare; the other is those currently in our shipyards that are almost finished. They will be ready to set sail within the month, which means the Ottomans will take delivery of them in the next three or so.’
The paper was shared around, each member taking some time to digest the columns and what they meant.
‘Why, their forces are huge,’ exclaimed Lord Rodbury. He’d attended the queen’s meeting with Farwarn last night but had been forced to leave when a late-night hunting party returned. He could still smell the bear carcass on his skin. He hadn’t seen this list.
‘Over two hundred thousand,’ said Earl Farwarn.
There was a collective gasp.
‘Does this not concern Your Majesty?’ asked Lord Halthorn. ‘Why, our own forces are not more than –’
‘Ninety thousand –’ finished the duke.
The men tried to picture the numbers. Unease filled the room.
‘Unless,’ said Zaralina softly, ‘you include the Morte Whisperers in our forces. Each one is worth a thousand soldiers.’
An uncomfortable silence fell. Not even the sun shining through the windows or the candles flickering brightened the coldness that filled the chamber.
Zaralina resisted a smile. These men, these brave, bold men who desired nothing more than to fight, win wars, claim more land and thus wealth, still had scruples about how this should be accomplished. It never ceased to amaze her that they thought nothing of killing each other, in cold blood, at the command of a monarch or ruler they often never saw, but when it came to forming alliances to ensure victory, they developed sensibilities.
Shazet was right. Humans were weak. Their souls were made of snow that froze hard for a while but melted as soon as things became a little warm.
‘Your Majesty.’ It was the earl who broke the silence. ‘As you know, we of your Privy Council have grave concerns about the Morte Whisperers.’
‘Really?’ asked the queen innocently, her blue eyes wide.
The earl touched his face again, scratching his chin through his beard, which was badly in need of a trim. ‘Your Majesty, while we feel the Ottomans have numbers that would make a seasoned soldier tremble, we also know that not only are they beholden to us, but they need us to cross the Limen. Whereas your Morte Whisperers –’
‘My Morte Whisperers?’ She sank into her seat.
‘Forgive me, Your Majesty, I meant it as a compliment. As spies, as messengers, there’s no doubting their efficacy, their subtlety. They are incomparable, and certainly the information they have retrieved about the Ottomans as well as the Serenissians has been of enormous help in finalising our plans. But if it came to war, ma’am, hand to hand