“Trade-offs,” Anna agreed.
Hecht wondered how she meant that.
“Dad,” Pella called. “There’s soldiers coming. Patriarchal Guards.”
Anna said, “And there goes the one day we thought we had.”
Pella made a startled squeal. Hecht rushed to the front, armed with a kitchen knife.
Heris stood six feet from Pella, who was framed in the doorway. The boy was pale. The woman had her hands spread to indicate that she was not dangerous.
“She came out of nowhere, Dad! I was watching the guards. When I turned around, there she was. And I was in the doorway the whole time.”
Heris said, “I’m no good at this yet. I meant to hit that breezeway down the street, across the street. A memory of this room got in the way.”
Anna and the girls crowded together behind Hecht, gaping. With Anna eyeing him suspiciously because it was obvious that he understood.
Hecht asked, “There’s a reason you did this?”
“Grandfather wants you to know that those men are real Patriarchal Guards.”
Hecht had not thought otherwise. Yet. But he would have done if the soldiers were not men he recognized.
“Has something happened?”
“Boniface has taken a bad turn. He’ll want to see you.”
News Delari must have gotten from Cloven Februaren. “I see.”
“Also, I’m supposed to tell you you’re all to come to the town house tonight.” Heris looked him in the eye. “It’s important, Piper.”
“The old man’s wish is my command.”
“And the old, old man’s.”
The Patriarchal Guards arrived. They formed up outside. Their corporal came up to the door with a letter case. Pella called, “Dad.”
The letter case contained only a brief note in a shaky hand. It urged the Captain-General to pay his final respects to Patriarch Boniface VII.
“It’s serious this time, sir,” the corporal said. “He doesn’t have long. Everyone says. He’s determined to see you before he goes.”
“I see.” Though he did not, really. “Anna, maybe you should take the kids to the town house now.” That place was no fortress but it would be safer than this if troubles followed Boniface’s passing. He would get his own men down here right away.
Hecht wanted to ask Heris if it was a problem, the family showing up now…
Vali said, “She just kind of turned sideways and wasn’t there anymore.” Her eyes were huge. “How did she do that?”
Anna, however, was suspicious. “What was all that? Never mind. I understand the need. I just hope nobody decides to loot this place while we’re away.”
“Don’t worry. There are watchers. And I’ll send some of my men. Corporal, I’ll make myself presentable and be right with you.”
Hugo Mongoz looked all of his eight decades, and more. “Out!” he rasped at his attendants. “All of you! Begone!”
The Patriarch had made prior arrangement with his guards. They began removing the physicians and hangers-on. They were not gentle with any who resisted.
“You arrived in time,” Boniface said.
“You’re a stubborn man.”
“I won’t let my Church slide into the grasp of those who want only to aggrandize and enrich themselves.”
Hecht did not ask why Boniface wanted to be different.
“You’ll observe my Will and Testament?”
“That’s why I hurried down from Alten Weinberg. I know Rocklin Glas. He’s a good man. He’ll be good for Mother Church. But he has drawbacks.”
“Which are?”
“You must know. He’s a cripple. Unlikely to outlive you by long. And he enjoys the enmity of every Principat? interested in assuming the ermine in order to aggrandize himself and his family.”
“True. Mustn’t forget the Five Families. Have they put forward an alternative to Bellicose?”
“No, Your Holiness. They’d have to fight it out amongst themselves, first. None of them have the charm to get the others to elect them.”
“Make them fulfill my promises.”
“I will.”
“Suppress the Society. Don’t let that whore in Salpeno seduce anyone else the way she did Sublime.”
“These things will be done. Are being done already.”
“Excellent. Excellent. I can go on satisfied that good men are in charge. Come here.” The old man’s voice had been weakening. Hecht knelt beside the sickbed. Mongoz exuded a sour odor that could not be masked by rosewater. “Tell Cloven Februaren I’ll haunt him if he doesn’t take care of you.” He laughed at Hecht’s surprise. The laughter turned into a coughing spasm.
“Yes. I know he’s out there. I know what he’s doing. He was always a busybody. With a juvenile sense of humor. But good at heart.”
“So it seems.”
“And a useful ally to someone like yourself.”
“Yes.”
“Pray with me.”
Hecht did so.
Principat? Delari could not wait to get Hecht into his silent room to ask about his visit to Krois. “The Patriarch had you in?”
“He wanted assurances that his plans will be carried out after he goes. And he wanted me to relay a message to your grandfather.”
“Uh?” Delari’s right eyebrow shot up.
“Seemed to know all about him.”
Delari scowled. “Makes me wonder who else knows more than he should.”
Heris joined them. She brought two permanent members of the household staff, Turking and Felske, who were married. The cook, Mrs. Creedon, seldom left her kitchen. Heris said, “Anna and the children are changing. Do you have anything that needs bringing in and putting away?”
“I have a couple of lifeguards outside. They could be made more comfortable.” Madouc’s men had caught up with him coming out of Krois.
Heris gestured. The couple hurried off. Hecht glanced at Delari. “She’s grown more sure of herself.”
“Blame it on the Ninth Unknown. And the Construct. Will you be able to spend time with us there, this time?”
“If I can. But I doubt it. I’m here to make the Collegium behave. Heris, what the hell were you doing, materializing in Anna’s sitting room? I have trouble enough explaining things without that.”
“I missed. I told you. The old man isn’t the best teacher. He mostly lets you figure things out for yourself. He isn’t around ninety percent of the time.”
Hecht faced Delari. “You said Heris and I have no talent for sorcery.”
“Inborn, less than some stones, certainly.”
“There are a million magical stones in folklore and myth.”
“My point. But in this case Cloven Februaren is just harnessing the Construct. The magic is in that. You could
