Chapter 38: Seven Of Wands

Marriette walked into the Council, and seGraine stood before any of the others. ReTaggin's sour look hadn't changed.

"In my day we didn't let any ragtag ambassador waltz in and insult the throne," he said once he'd sat down again.

"I don't recall any recent wars with the Empire." Torrance sounded amused. "If we'd hung ambassadors on the city walls, I'm sure I would have heard about it from my father."

"The Empire didn't much care about us then," duSarche said. He'd returned from his estates on the coast. Marriette didn't know anything about him other than he was a loner and preferred to live on his estate as much as his wife and his duties allowed. "They were skirmishing on their eastern border. Now they've settled the border for a time, and we're getting richer. We'd give the Empire a foothold on this side of the sea.  They may not invade, but they'll try something to at least gain control. Don't sign anything a Lusian ambassador puts in front of you."