games. He eyed her fur cloak and raised a questioning brow. 'What's with the bearskin? Surely you're not feeling the cold?'
'Of course not,' she said, shrugging off the thick white cloak and draping it over one of the chairs at the
other end of the table. 'It's just everyone else is wandering around Herino like their balls are frozen solid. It looks a bit odd if we're dressed for a summery turn along the lakeshore.' She walked the length of the long table in the centre of the hall, studying the diagrams and plans laid out on its surface as she walked. 'Is it your doing?' 'Is what my doing?'
'This weather?' she asked. 'Have you had a hand in this astonishing cold snap, or is it just coincidence that the day you decide to invade Caelum by marching across the ice, the Great Lakes conveniently freeze for the first time in living memory?'
Jaxyn smiled. 'Don't you just love serendipity?'
'It's a risk, isn't it?'
'Not particularly,' he said. 'I haven't altered the weather. Just ... encouraged it a bit. And it didn't need much. I've never felt the Tide rushing in like this before.'
'I meant what if the others had felt you working the Tide?' she said, glancing up from the table. 'Won't Tryan or Elyssa have felt what you were doing?'
He shook his head. 'It was done in the smallest increments I could manage over a period of several weeks. I was very careful. They wouldn't have noticed a thing.'
She smiled humourlessly. 'Well, aren't you the clever one?'
'I'm glad you're starting to appreciate that.' 'Will you win?' 'Of course.'
'And what will you do with the others when victory is yours? Once you've taken the Caelish throne and murdered your old boyfriend. I mean, I assume that's what this ...' she waved a hand to encompass the plans laid out on the council chamber table, '... is all about. You, getting back at your old boyfriend for making you look a fool.'
Jaxyn scowled at her. 'This is about securing a comfortable place to see out the next High Tide. If you don't like it, find someone else to sponge off.'
Lyna smiled apologetically. 'Now, now, dear, let's not be snippy. I was just wondering what will happen when we win, that's all. Syrolee's not going to hand over the kingdom she's earmarked for her new empire without putting up a fight. So you must have something to offer her that will make them back off. I mean, if it comes down to it, Tryan and Elyssa could wipe the floor with you, darling, if they combine their power once the Tide has peaked.'
Jaxyn knew that. He also hadn't quite figured out the solution to that minor but important detail. He did not intend to let Lyna know that, however.
'There's no need for you to concern yourself with that,' he told her. 'If, and when, your input is required, I'll let you know. Are you packed?'
'Ah ...' Lyna said, a little sheepishly. 'About this trip to Lebec ...'
'You're coming with me, Lyna. Don't bother trying to wheedle your way out of it.'
'But why?' she asked, with a petulant scowl. 'There's nothing to do in Lebec. The weather's awful. It rains all the time ...'
'Lebec is two days north of us,' he said. 'The weather is exactly the same as here in Herino. And if you think for a moment that I'm leaving you here in Herino with Diala so the two of you can plot behind my back, you've another think coming. Besides, you're my betrothed. It would look odd if you didn't accompany me to Lebec'
'And what am I supposed to do while you survey your ducal holdings? Hold tea parties for the landed gentry?' She rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh. 'Tides, you'll be wanting me to socialise with half-wits like Tilly Ponting next.'
'Tilly Ponting isn't nearly as stupid as she'd have you believe,' he warned, rising to his feet. 'And you'd
do well to at least pretend to care about the rest of the landed gentry, as you call them, until the Tide's high enough that it doesn't matter.'
Lyna glared at him unhappily, then after a moment she shrugged. 'I suppose. What are you going to
'Of course not,' she said, shrugging off the thick white cloak and draping it over one of the chairs at the
other end of the table. 'It's just everyone else is wandering around Herino like their balls are frozen solid. It looks a bit odd if we're dressed for a summery turn along the lakeshore.' She walked the length of the long table in the centre of the hall, studying the diagrams and plans laid out on its surface as she walked. 'Is it your doing?' 'Is what my doing?'
'This weather?' she asked. 'Have you had a hand in this astonishing cold snap, or is it just coincidence that the day you decide to invade Caelum by marching across the ice, the Great Lakes conveniently freeze for the first time in living memory?'
Jaxyn smiled. 'Don't you just love serendipity?'
'It's a risk, isn't it?'
'Not particularly,' he said. 'I haven't altered the weather. Just ... encouraged it a bit. And it didn't need much. I've never felt the Tide rushing in like this before.'
'I meant what if the others had felt you working the Tide?' she said, glancing up from the table. 'Won't Tryan or Elyssa have felt what you were doing?'
He shook his head. 'It was done in the smallest increments I could manage over a period of several weeks. I was very careful. They wouldn't have noticed a thing.'
She smiled humourlessly. 'Well, aren't you the clever one?'
'I'm glad you're starting to appreciate that.' 'Will you win?' 'Of course.'
'And what will you do with the others when victory is yours? Once you've taken the Caelish throne and murdered your old boyfriend. I mean, I assume that's what this ...' she waved a hand to encompass the plans laid out on the council chamber table, '... is all about. You, getting back at your old boyfriend for making you look a fool.'
Jaxyn scowled at her. 'This is about securing a comfortable place to see out the next High Tide. If you don't like it, find someone else to sponge off.'
Lyna smiled apologetically. 'Now, now, dear, let's not be snippy. I was just wondering what will happen when we win, that's all. Syrolee's not going to hand over the kingdom she's earmarked for her new empire without putting up a fight. So you must have something to offer her that will make them back off. I mean, if it comes down to it, Tryan and Elyssa could wipe the floor with you, darling, if they combine their power once the Tide has peaked.'
Jaxyn knew that. He also hadn't quite figured out the solution to that minor but important detail. He did not intend to let Lyna know that, however.
'There's no need for you to concern yourself with that,' he told her. 'If, and when, your input is required, I'll let you know. Are you packed?'
'Ah ...' Lyna said, a little sheepishly. 'About this trip to Lebec ...'
'You're coming with me, Lyna. Don't bother trying to wheedle your way out of it.'
'But why?' she asked, with a petulant scowl. 'There's nothing to do in Lebec. The weather's awful. It rains all the time ...'
'Lebec is two days north of us,' he said. 'The weather is exactly the same as here in Herino. And if you think for a moment that I'm leaving you here in Herino with Diala so the two of you can plot behind my back, you've another think coming. Besides, you're my betrothed. It would look odd if you didn't accompany me to Lebec'
'And what am I supposed to do while you survey your ducal holdings? Hold tea parties for the landed gentry?' She rolled her eyes with a heavy sigh. 'Tides, you'll be wanting me to socialise with half-wits like Tilly Ponting next.'
'Tilly Ponting isn't nearly as stupid as she'd have you believe,' he warned, rising to his feet. 'And you'd
do well to at least pretend to care about the rest of the landed gentry, as you call them, until the Tide's high enough that it doesn't matter.'
Lyna glared at him unhappily, then after a moment she shrugged. 'I suppose. What are you going to
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