Gil raised a goading eyebrow. “Is it not?”
His expression left a sour taste in her mouth. “Hmph. Again, old man.”
He smirked and pressed her again. This time, she forced him back with a touch, then another. She rotated as he sidestepped, keeping him at a distance—
And faced Touraine, breathing as if she’d run all the way from the city. A bead of sweat curled around one dark eyebrow and down the gentle slope of Touraine’s nose. The woman’s mouth hung slack in surprise.
A moment later, Gil’s blunt blade rested at her throat.
Luca blushed and stepped away from him. “Hello, Touraine.” She told herself that it was just the exertion that had left her flushed.
“Your Highness.” The other woman bowed.
Luca grunted and dropped into the sitting room’s single chaise, stretching her legs out on it. She rolled her fist over her leg muscles, hoping to lessen the pain later. Like smoothing wrinkles out of crumpled parchment—futile. She hissed whenever she hit a tender spot. Touraine was still waiting.
Luca waved her over. “Sit, sit. Did you find the book?”
“No—but I—he took me to a meeting. With the heads of the rebellion, I think.” The other woman practically vibrated in her seat.
“Is this—they met with you. They met with you!” She jumped up, heedless of the sore muscles, fists clenched in victory. This was even better than The Last Emperor. “This is—wait. It was the rebels? The bookseller is a rebel? Does he know you work with me now?”
“He does. They all do. Do you remember I mentioned Malika Abdelnour last night?”
Luca raised an eyebrow. “She leads them?”
The soldier allowed herself a small smile. “No. It looked more like a council.”
“Who else was there?”
Touraine’s face darkened. “The two who held me captive. The Brigāni and the bastard who broke my ribs. I think they’re the ones highest in the hierarchy.”
“The magic user.”
“I never said I believed it. I don’t, I swear—I’m not—” Touraine shook her head hard.
Luca knew that fear in her eyes. She’d felt it in her office not an hour before. The fear that someone would suspect you of thinking there was something greater in the world than logic and humanity.
“It’s all right. What did they say?” It was happening, sooner than she’d expected, and effortlessly.
“They’re grateful for your offer to send the children to school. They also want full amnesty for Qazāli arrested for sedition.”
“What?” Luca said, incredulous.
Touraine nodded. She seemed irritated. “I know. I only said you might be interested in negotiating. I didn’t promise anything.”
Luca buzzed, pacing back and forth, one hand on her cane, the other in her hair.
“I overstepped. I shouldn’t have said anything,” Touraine said. “But I saw the opportunity. You have to take the open shots as you get them. You don’t always get a second opening.”
“No, yes, you’re right.” Luca stilled and pressed her hand to her forehead as if she were shading her eyes. “It’s just—this has to be a secret, Touraine. An absolute secret. None of the nobles, the merchants, no Qazāli. Even Cantic cannot know any terms we propose until a deal is inked and signed. I… I need to have control over how and when I enact any demands. If Cantic disagrees with any of them, she’ll stop negotiations. Worse, she’ll bring the military down on them instead. They have to promise secrecy, or it’s all null.”
She looked around the room and caught everyone in her glance. Lanquette, who stood by the door. Gil. Even Adile in the corner, where she was preparing refreshments.
“Understood, Your Highness. But why—” Touraine shrugged helplessly. “Why not just arrest the ones we know? It would compromise their council—we can hunt the rest down and rout the rebellion that way.”
This was the Cantic in her speaking. Touraine thought like the other soldiers. Maybe the strength of the military could crush the rebellion now. But what about later, when the next generation grew discontented? There would always be new rebellions if they didn’t try peace first.
Luca stopped pacing and sat down, her leg finally reminding her of its pain.
“Because. I truly do want to work with them. Once you start making arrests, it’s hard to turn back.” Luca rubbed her eyes. She noticed Touraine held a parcel. “I take it that’s not a copy of The Last Emperor?”