“Any idea what this is about?”

  “No,” Dwayne covered a yawn with his hand, “no idea.”

  “Ah. So,” Lady Pol nodded at the back of the servant slowly leading her and Dwayne to the Privy Council Chamber, “Her Majesty isn’t in the habit of sending for you?”

  “No.”

  Lady Pol lowered her voice. “This is definitely about last night, isn’t it?”

  “Maybe.” Or it was about Lord Kalan’s continued silence even after what had happened at the Harvest Ball. “Probably.” Dwayne stifled another yawn. “How are you so awake right now?”

  Lady Pol smirked. “I didn’t spend all night cavorting with young Gallus.”

  Dwayne sucked in a breath.

  “I know, I know,” Lady Pol waved away his shock, “‘Cavorting’ isn’t the right word. Cueller knows you’re too intemerate for that.” She sighed. “Hopefully, she cures you of that soon. For now, let’s just be thankful for we’ll have a chance to talk to Director Giordano.”

  Putting aside the question of what “intemerate” meant, Dwayne asked, “Why do we want to talk to the Exchequer?”

  Lady Pol raised an eyebrow. “Have you seen last night’s receipts?”

  “No.” Between fighting, not cavorting, and Mei’s report, receipts had been the last thing on Dwayne’s mind. “Is it bad?”

  “Let’s just say that Odette and I shall be making Sanford our residence effective immediately.”

  “Lady Pol, young Kalan.” The servant opened the door to the Privy Council Chamber. “We’ve arrived.”

  With those words serving as announcement, Dwayne and Lady Pol entered the room and took their seats , Dwayne joining the clerks on the outer ring of stools, Lady Pol taking her place among the councilors at the table. The expressions the rest of the Privy Council wore were myriad: Lord Commander Gallus’s red anger, High Judge Koenig’s pale fury, Director Giordano’s easy calm and Crown Princess Anna’s affected peace. Dwayne’s fellow clerks were, on the other hand, all stone-faced with the exception of Giordano’s clerk Monti, who waved.

  “How good of you to finally arrive,” said the princess. “The Council has much to discuss.”

  “Does it?” Lady Pol placed clasped hands on the table. “I was unaware of any particular emergency worth pulling such esteemed personages out of bed.”

  High Judge Koenig raised her chin. “Last night, an event was hosted on Bradsbridge.” Every one of her consonants bore an edge. “Said event was not only unsanctioned, it also involved a great many residents from the Plague District.”

  “‘Unsanctioned’ implies that sanction was required.” Lady Pol leaned back in her seat. “Was it?”

  Koenig bristled. “It-

  “Wasn’t,” Princess Anne said, “but the Council does expect some notice as does both the Chamber and the Gray Tower so that we all have time to prepare for any complaints,” her eyes flicked to Dwayne, “we may receive.” Her eyes flicked back to Lady Pol. “As such we have heard from a great many citizens who were concerned about what was happening.”

  Dwayne held back a scowl. Anyone living near Bradsbridge had had to endure the noise and bustle of The Exchange, and last night’s demonstration couldn’t possibly compare to the market’s peak trading season. Besides, the Club had made sure there was food and entertainment. The Club he apparently chaired. He was going to have to get used to that.

  Giordano chuckled. “No complaints from the waterfront, I bet. In fact, I’ve heard naught but praise. Before coming here, Monti ran a quick poll and found that we’re looking at increased tax receipts from a night that’s usually as dead as a bola fish on dry land.”

  “Even so!” hissed Koenig. “Encouraging heretics and heathens to gather here in Her Majesty’s city is the height of recklessness.”

  Dwayne blinked. Koenig was very concerned about the bridge when Mei’s own show of recklessness had rattled Sen Jerome’s. Either Koenig didn’t know about that or she was avoiding embarrassing the cenobites. Interesting.

  Lady Pol tilted her head. “Recklessness? How so?”

  The judge glared. “It’s obvious to everyone here.”

  “I’m new here so explain it to me.” Lady Pol smiled, showing teeth. “What are the risks of giving the common people a chance to enjoy themselves?”

  “I don’t care about that,” growled Lord Gallus. “I care about the attack on my daughter’s person.”

  Dwayne’s lips pinched. Of course Lord Gallus wouldn’t care that Dwayne had been the target, even if he knew.

  “My dear Gerald,” said Lady Pol, “your daughter is fine. I’ve lectured her on the dangers of charging in alone, and I believe she was responsive. She took notes.”

  “You lectured her?” Lord Gallus’s eyes glinted. “You, the ‘Lightning Bolt of the East,’ gave a lecture on reckless behavior?”

  Lady Pol waggled her eyebrows. “My past mishaps do make me an authority on the matter.”

  “And your apparent success will lead young mages to destruction,” said Koenig.

  “Such assaults do appear to happen in the vicinity of your office’s Head Clerk quite often.” Princess Anne’s eyes were on Lady Pol, but her attention was on Dwayne. “Our Baron Thadden also reported an assault.”

  Council Protocol demanded that non-councilors, with the obvious exception of the Queen, stay silent unless spoken to and so Dwayne clenched his fists and said nothing.

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “What are you implying, Your Highness?” asked Lady Pol.

  Princess Anne shrugged. “I’m only raising the question.”

  Lord Gallus ignored the tangent. “Prior notice would have enabled both my office and the Chamber to put some real security in place, which would have prevented any assaults.”

  Dwayne doubted it. While soldiers and guards may have deterred petty theft, Huan’s goal had been the License Key now tucked under Dwayne’s shirt and only Magdala’s quick thinking, and that strange voice, had prevented Huan from getting it.

  “Perhaps,” Lady Pol shrugged, “but, as the Director will tell you, when it comes to worthwhile enterprises, risk is unavoidable.”

  “While I applaud you’re finding a way to enrich the waterfront,” Director Giordano smoothed his mustache, “I must protest your reliance on the Plague District, what was the name, ‘worker associations.’ Surely, you could have hired Sourans to do the work?”

  Lady Pol glanced behind her. “Dwayne?”

  Smothering a wince, Dwayne stood up. “We didn’t because it’s almost winter and any Sourans we would have hired are already heading home. Furthermore, Wesen and Vanurians were very willing to work the late hours required.”

  Koenig scowled. “Did you even try to hire Sourans or is this like appealing to like?”

  Dwayne tensed with the effort of containing his irritation. “Our goal was to show the common Souran what the Qe core could do for them, which they could best experience as participants.”

  “Young Kalan, we are not interested in your explanations,” stated Princess Anne, “only in the position you and Lady Pol have placed this Council in.”

  “The position of looking brilliant, you mean?” Giordano gestured to Lord Gallus. “I assume you’ve heard reports from your off-duty officers? What did they think?”

  Despite his scowl, Lord Gallus signaled for Lieutenant Hill to speak. As she rose to attention, Dwayne sat.

  “Every officer I spoke to,” she said, “reports positive things about the event, milord.” She sat back down.

  Dwayne blinked. To him, common hadn’t meant soldiers, but that’s who they were under the armor and the uniform.

  “Considering that,” Giordano grinned at his fellow councillors, “I say we take the credit.”

  “We should not take credit,” growled Koenig, “for encouraging lascivity and wantonness.”

  “My dear Judge, if you’ve reports of people rutting in the street, then you’ve buried the lede.” When Koenig didn’t reply, Giordano snorted. “I see, nothing of the sort? Oh, well.”

  “Nevertheless, this Council must not encourage such behavior in its Councilors, confirmed or otherwise.” Princess Anne raised her gavel. “I move to censure Royal Sorcerer candidate Lady Luisa Pol and her proposed Head Clerk for failing to inform this Council of their intentions.”

  According to the Privy Council’s current rules of governance, such censure would become an official proclamation.

  “I second the motion,” announced Koenig.

  “I stand opposed,” said Giordano.

  The councilors turned to Lord Gallus.

  “What is the point of censure?” he asked.

  “Soura must know its Council does not stand behind these reckless actions,” said Koenig.

  Lord Gallus’s expression darkened. “While I do bear concerns as a father, as a Councilor, I fail to see what has to do with our role as advisers to the Throne.”

  Princess Anne stared. “A member of this Council flaunts its rules and regulations, and you say it is not for said Council to bring them into line?”

  Lord Gallus glared at her. “Has Her Majesty made a statement of disapproval?” His glare shifted to Koenig. “Has the Church made a claim of heresy? Has the Magisterium taken action against the students who participated? Has either the Vanurian or Ri delegations sent letters of approbation? They are who we respond to, who we must keep in line, not a few private individuals. I stand opposed.”

  He sat back in his seat, his arms crossed.

  “As a vote of censure does not devolve to the proxy of the office in question,” the princess’s voice was stiff and formal, “no further statements are allowed. The motion fails. Meeting adjourned.”

  Before they left, Lady Pol caught Dwayne by the arm and towed him over to Director Giordano. “Director.”

  “Go on ahead,” Giordano said to Monti before turning to smile broadly at the two mages. “Lady Pol, young Kalan, you’ve done an excellent job of keeping this season exciting.”

  Dwayne winced, but Lady Pol smiled. “You can not have expected anything less?”

  The director laughed. “No, I couldn’t have. Although may I suggest slowing down, at least a little bit? Save some for the spring season.”

  Dwayne cleared his throat. “Speaking of saving, we were hoping that the Exchequer could help us with last night’s receipts.”

  “Oh?” Giordano glanced at Lady Pol. “Tell me you didn’t pay for all that out of your own pocket.”

  Lady Pol rolled her eyes. “I pay my taxes. You know how much I make in rents.”

  “Yes, umm…” Dwayne looked down at his boots. “Young Gallus paid for it.”

  “Oh, that will not endear you to her father. Unfortunately,” Giordano sighed, “as much as I appreciate you the tax revenue, my office cannot develop the habit of opening its purse to private persons without formal application.”

  Dwayne’s heart fell. “Oh.”

  Lady Pol narrowed her eyes. “You said ‘private persons.’”

  Giordano’s eyes glimmered. “I did.”

  Dwayne blinked. “What does that- Oh, the Royal Sorcerer’s Office has to request the money.”

  “Just so,” said Giordano. “Mark your receipts as official business then submit them to my office. Make sure to include any and all profits along with a list of vendors and organizers. Do all that, and I’ll approve it if,” his tone turned serious, “you do two things for me.”

  “Other than a pile of paperwork?” asked Lady Pol.

  Giordano shrugged off the joke. “First, you’ll have to accept an Exchequer auditor, someone to ensure post-factual asks like this are a rare event. They’ll have to be officially part of your office, but I can provide someone to-”

  “Can we recommend someone?” Dwayne asked.

  Giordano stared. “You have someone in mind?”

  “Francesca Lucchesi.” Before going to bed, Dwayne had heard Magdala, Mei and Francesca talking about how Francesca had lost her job. “She already knows your office, and I think it would make sense for a mage to take up the position.”

  Giordano raised an eyebrow. “You are aware that we were pressured to dissolve her position, yes?”

  “Yes.” Dwayne met the Director’s eyes. “Is there a problem?”

  “Not at all.” Giordano flashed a smile. “She’s more than acceptable.”

  “What was the second thing?” asked Lady Pol.

  Once again, Giordano’s expression turned serious. “The same pressures that forced my office to let Miss Lucchesi go will be the same ones that will oppose my office granting your office any assistance. To prevent this, your position as Royal Sorcerer, Lady Pol, must be shored up.”

  “Oh, is that all?” Lady Pol grinned. “Would Dwayne passing the Qe Master’s Examination be enough?”

  “My doing what?” Dwayne asked.

  “Oh, that’s why you’ve been getting the Latia Arena ready,” said Giordano. “I’d wondered.”

  “And I’ve already sent invitations to the Imperial, Ri, and Vanurian delegations to attend in seven days’ time,” said Lady Pol. “I may even get the Cokop to attend.”

  “I believe that would work,” said Giordano.

  “Excuse us, Director.” Dwayne pulled Lady Pol aside. “I can’t pass the Qe Master’s Examination.”

  “You must for three reasons.” Lady Pol put a hand on his shoulder. “One, we do not have time for you to attend the Academy. Two, you’ve yet to show your worth as a mage. And three, while Her Majesty has accepted me as her next Royal Sorcerer, her queendom has not.”

  “But what if I fail?” asked Dwayne.

  “You won’t.” Lady Pol turned back to Giordano. “I assume that will do?”

  Giordano grinned. “Seriously, save something for spring.”

  Dwayne hoped he made it that far.