was impressed by Catherine. His thoughts briefly went back to when she was a judge for Edyon’s murder trial. “Firm but reasoned” summed her up perfectly. That sounded all to the good, but Tzsayn had been healing for weeks, and yet he still hadn’t met with Calidor’s delegation? Why not?
Thelonius looked up briefly and then began to read again. “Lord Darby’s assessment is written thus: ‘The Pitorians are vulnerable to an attack from the Brigantines in the north—they should hold against normal forces, but the boy army is an unknown factor. They are also vulnerable to an attack in the south—if the Brigantines sent a force by ship, the Pitorians would have to split their army, and the north would likely fall.’ It is Lord Darby’s assessment that such an attack is likely.”
And if the north were to fall, the Brigantine army would have clear access to the whole of Pitoria, the Northern Plateau, and the demon world, and they could transport the smoke to their boy army as fast and as often as they wanted. They would be unstoppable. Edyon was itching to speak, but should he comment? What was he supposed to do or say?
Thelonius looked to Regan. “Our own reports are that the Brigantine fleet is massing.”
Regan nodded. “A naval attack seems inevitable. But will they attack us or the Pitorians?”
Both, probably. Edyon wanted so much to speak, but he pushed his fist over his lips. Don’t say it. Don’t say it.
Thelonius tapped his finger on the scroll. “Aloysius wants revenge for Boris. I’m sure of that. He wants his daughter to suffer. I suspect he will attack the Pitorians first, but we won’t be far behind.” Thelonius continued to read through to the end of the message. “Lord Darby recommends we send assistance to the Pitorians, not with men but with boats.”
Regan scowled. “But if they have our ships, we are vulnerable.”
The chancellor was frowning too. “The lords will oppose such a move.”
Regan continued. “We need all our boats for our own defenses. The Brigantines could attack our coast first—or even if they come for us second, as you said, it won’t be long. It’s not our fault that the Pitorians haven’t prepared their own fleet as we’ve prepared ours.”
Edyon wanted to scream. If they didn’t help to protect Pitoria now, then it would be impossible to stop the boy army later! What did it matter whose “fault” it was?
Edyon was surprised to see his father smile. “Lord Darby has quite an ingenious plan. He suggests we send fifteen scullers. The loss of just fifteen small boats should not affect our defenses.”
“Then how will it help the Pitorians?” the chancellor asked.
“They can use the scullers to steal ships from the Brigan-tines, thus depleting the Brigantine fleet while adding to their own.”
Lord Darby was turning out to be both astute and clever.
“Won’t they need training in their use?” the chancellor asked.
“Yes,” Lord Regan replied. “The scullers are our design. They ensure our waters are safe. If we give away their secrets to the Pitorians, then we have no advantage, should they ever come for us.”
Oh, that’s ridiculous. Why would they do that? They’ve never threatened Calidor. If Regan said another thing, Edyon would have to chew off his own tongue to stop himself from speaking.
Thelonius shook his head. “Regan, you go too far. The scullers are our design, but they’re no secret weapon. We either give them boats and train the Pitorians, or give them boats and men. And I know you won’t want to do the latter.”
“Nor do I want to do the former. We should give them nothing.”
“Nothing?” Edyon couldn’t not say it. But it came out as a strange kind of squeal, forced through his lips, and he tried to cover it with a cough.
“This is not the thin end of the wedge that you fear, Lord Regan,” Thelonius said. “This will not lead to Pitorians coming to fight on Calidorian land.”
“The boats are Calidorian and will have Pitorian men on them,” Regan countered.
Thelonius muttered, “And if you say it, the other lords will too.”
“The boats won’t be Calidorian if we sell them to the Pitorians,” Edyon said. Regan and Thelonius turned to him. “Just thought I’d make a small suggestion. I mean, it’s just an idea. And presumably we can charge a high fee for these scullers, whatever they are.”
Thelonius nodded. “I like that idea, Edyon. The lords can share equally in the revenues. It will