The Stoneholding

broached.

"Plague on him! It's about time, seeing as it's all our necks that are like to get stretched if we let the old-guard rabble take Tower Dinas."

"The situation would be even worse if they took the Silver Palace. Precisely the reason why it's you they've put in command of the garrison here." Frysan leaned forward in his seat. "Let Queen Asturia and her son get sprung loose and you'll ignite whatever resistance there remains to the Mindal in Arvon, like pouring oil on fire. As far as the Queen and baby are concerned, the Mindal's taking no chances."

"No chances! How do you mean no chances?" Baldrick struck the table with his fist. "If they were serious about taking no chances, they'd be coming to me with the order to blood their throats!"

"Not yet, Captain, you know the time isn't ripe for that kind of thing yet."

"So instead they want me to move the wretched termagant and her whelp to the Summer Palace and hold the both of them there together with the King, if he survives the trip. 'Take the royal barge' they say." He lifted the document and let it drop onto the table. "And a dozen of your best men for escort' -- with Elzemon Dorassy of the Drapers' Guild to hold her ...