When Silverdun and Paet stepped into the Shadows' Den the next day, Ironfoot and Sela leapt to their feet.
'Silverdun!' shouted Sela. She ran to him and embraced him, and he was more than happy to let her.
'You're alive,' said Ironfoot.
'That's a matter of some philosophical debate,' said Silverdun. 'I'm here, anyway.'
'What happened?,' asked Ironfoot. 'How is this possible?'
'Pray you never find out,' said Silverdun. He looked at Paet, who shook his head. 'Apparently it's a bit of a trade secret.'
'We can celebrate later,' said Paet. 'Right now there's work to do.'
'But-,' began Sela.
'Another time,' said Paet. 'Silverdun's untimely death has stolen away valuable time. So catch us up. Any progress on the Einswrath?'
Ironfoot's face fell. 'Unfortunately, yes.' Ironfoot filled them in on his discovery about the plans Timha had brought them.
'I'm sorry,' he said. 'I wish I could give you better news.'
'What are you talking about, man?' said Paet. 'That's excellent news!'
'How so?' asked Ironfoot.
'Because if they don't have the real plans,' said Silverdun, 'that means they don't have any Einswrath, either.'
Ironfoot's eyes widened. 'So we may have a chance after all.'
'We need to tell Everess immediately,' said Paet. 'If this is true, then we may be able to avoid a war entirely. Mab was clearly counting on having the Einswrath in order to bolster her attack. She may be having second thoughts now.'
'What makes you think that?' asked Silverdun.
'Remember what Timha told us,' said Ironfoot. 'Mab's thaumaturges were under heavy pressure to complete the thing. They were on a strict timetable. She committed to a war footing in the hope that it would be finished on time.'
'We hope,' said Silverdun.
'If nothing else,' said Paet, 'if we let Mab know through diplomatic means that we're aware of this, she may stand down, and we won't have to engage in a war that we can't possibly win.'
'Even without the Einswrath?' said Sela.
'The last time I spoke to Mauritane,' said Silverdun, 'he admitted that we're hopelessly outmatched. We now know that Mab's been drafting soldiers from all over the Unseelie Lands, and with the Annwni Army at her disposal, we're outnumbered nearly two to one. The Einswrath was merely the shot of whiskey in the beer.'
'I'm off to talk to Everess,' said Paet.
Paet sat in Everess's office at the Foreign Ministry, with Everess and Baron Glennet, and told them what Ironfoot had discovered.
'Wonderful news,' said Everess.
'I believe that if we pass this information to Ambassador Jem-Aleth and he spreads it around the City of Mab, then she may think twice about her invasion. We could avert this whole nasty business.'
'Perhaps,' said Everess, thinking.
'No,' said Glennet. 'Those in Corpus will disagree. They'll argue that the only information we should send to Jem-Aleth is instructions to abandon the embassy and return to the City Emerald. What you've just told us is the best argument I've heard yet to proceed with Corpus's plans.'
'Which plans are these?' asked Paet.
'Corpus has asked General Mauritane to prepare for a preemptive strike against the Unseelie,' said Everess.
'Where does the queen stand on this?' said Paet.
'Titania keeps her own counsel,' said Glennet. 'She has informed Corpus that she will consent to whatever they decide.'
'This is Regina Titania we're talking about, right?' said Paet. 'The Stone Queen, the Fist of Cold Iron?'
'The queen is not as she once was,' said Glennet. 'It is sad, but true. She's become far less involved in affairs of state since midwinter.'
'But Baron Glennet,' said Paet. 'General Mauritane has said that-'
'Mauritane is more concerned about the safety of his troops than the
