To give Matei some privacy with his daughter, Diarmán poured himself another cup of wine, and Uachi stepped out to consult with the guard outside of the tent. He asked for water so that he and Diarmán could wash up, and for accommodations for the evening.

"We're short on space," said the guard, looking chagrined. "I'll see what I can do to get private tents for you, Captain—"

"Don't be a fool," Uachi interrupted. "If you can find a stretch of open ground, that will be good enough for me and the horse's arse I traveled in with. I won't put anyone out, do you understand?"

The guard smiled with relief, nodding her head. "We'll see what can be done, sir."

Back inside, Diarmán was studying a map spread over a table on one side of the tent, his back to Matei and Uarria. The little girl was wrapped more tidily in her blanket, drowsing in the warm circle of her father's arms. Matei looked as he had looked years ago, when Uachi had visited him and Mhera right after the birth of their daughter: tired and deliriously happy.

"I need to send a bird," he murmured. "Mhera must know as soon as word can reach her. I'll send her back as soon as..." He trailed off, troubled.

"It's been a while, so you probably don't remember how to take my good advice," said Uachi, "but save the planning for the morning, Matei. Let her rest. She has been on a journey no child should ever endure. And rest yourself."

Matei nodded slowly, still gazing down at the girl. "The message, though."

"Carefully worded. It appears that you have the advantage in these fields, but it might still be shot down."

Normally, Matei might have given Uachi a look that said he did not need reminding. No doubt he was keenly aware of how dangerous it would be for an enemy to realize that the Princess of Penrua was tucked away in the imperial encampment. But tonight, he nodded instead. "I must think of how to phrase it so she will not mistake my meaning."

Silence descended. More at his ease than he had been in an age, Uachi returned to his wine. Matei settled Uarria in his camp bed, covered her with another blanket, and watched as she drifted off to sleep, gently stroking her hair back from her face. Then he eased himself to his feet and came to stand by Uachi, weary, but glowing.

"She is so quiet," he whispered. "She didn't say a word."

"I should have warned you," Uachi replied. "She hasn't spoken. Not since we recovered her, I'm afraid. I think...perhaps...it has been a lot for a small girl to bear."

Matei looked back toward where Uarria slept, folding his arms. He gazed at her for a long moment, until a soft clatter drew his attention. Over at the table, Diarmán was dabbing at the map with the sleeve of his tunic, and he had knocked over a couple of carved wooden pieces in the act.

"Come away from there," Uachi snapped, his voice still low so as not to disturb the princess.

"Just a bit of wine," Diarmán said, although when he turned, he looked embarrassed.

Amused, Matei looked at the new arrangement of pieces, adopting a thoughtful expression. He stroked his chin. "An interesting configuration. I shall have to consider it."

Diarmán opened his mouth to speak again, but Uachi put a hand on his shoulder, interjecting. "Forgive him, Matei. We will leave you in peace for the evening."

"Yes, you should rest. I'm certain that accommodations can be found for you. No doubt you'll be supplied with what comforts may be had."

"I already spoke with your guard, and I think they will find us a spot to bed down where we're out of the way. Don't worry about us, Matei. You know we need no comforts," Uachi said.

"Now, then," Diarmán said, "I might need some comforts."

Uachi planted his hand squarely between his shoulder blades and steered him toward the flap of Matei's tent. "Go see where they've got us, will you?" he asked. "I need to have another word with Matei."

"One comfort?" Diarmán called over his shoulder as Uachi shoved him out of the door.

"Try not to make yourself a nuisance!" he called. "And take Farra with you."

He sensed, rather than saw, the rude gesture Diarmán no doubt gave him on the other side of the closed tent flap in response to being dismissed. Uachi turned back to Matei, who looked amused at Diarmán's parting words.

"I wanted to talk to you about something else. I'll try to make it brief—you need to sleep far more than I do."

Indeed, the marks of exhaustion on Matei's face had not diminished despite his joy at seeing his daughter again. "What is it?"

"When we were at House Olarian, I discovered something interesting. The High Queen has daughters—two of them. An attendant at her castle told me that they had gone with Koren to the front."

Matei looked troubled. "Daughters."

"Aye, princesses. Young. I thought it odd that he would take them with him into war. I don't suppose..."

Something was dawning in Matei's face. As Uachi watched, he seemed to come to a realization. "Yes," he murmured, turning away from Uachi and moving further back into the tent. He balled his right hand into a fist, tapping it against his hip a few times before turning back and nodding his head. "Yes. Perhaps it makes sense."

"What does?"

"From our hostages, we learned that Koren had dispatched a contingent of men-at-arms some days before we clashed. He sent them to holdings not far to the east. House Resh Deran. Known to be loyal to the High Queen. With them went Koren's wife and child and two ladies-in-waiting."

Hope ignited in Uachi's chest. "Coratse's daughters?"

"It could be. Mayhap he took them with him to ensure that she cannot raise arms against him. She has no love for us, Uachi, but Coratse is a prudent woman, and the changing tides of battle can make allegiances fickle indeed. If he has the princesses—"

"Then there is nothing Coratse can do without risking them. That's what I thought."

Matei nodded. "If we can take those girls into custody, we may very well be able to offer Coratse something she is willing to barter for. A slim hope for peace. I have mulled over whether to pursue Liara and Kochan, Uachi. I cannot ignore how valuable they would be as hostages. This new knowledge...I think it has decided me. Besides, during the battle, Koren broke and ran. We believe he traveled by the blood, probably to safe harbor at the same house."

Uachi sighed. "I had the same from a dying soldier we came across, but Diarmán and I assumed that he'd gone back to Coratse. It makes sense that he would rejoin his family—we had not realized they were parted."

"Mm." Matei was deep in thought. "We must carefully consider how to proceed, Uachi. I will be eager for your council."

"And I'll be eager to give it, once I've two wits to rub together again. I'm bloody tired, and so are you." Uachi clapped Matei on the shoulder.

"And so am I," he agreed. "Let us say good night. Go now. Get some rest. Weariness will age you before your time, my friend."

But from the look on his shadowed face, the emperor would not be getting much sleep that night. He was calculating, planning, thinking ahead—as Uachi would spend his night doing. He would have to be prepared to be the advisor Matei would look to in the morning.

First, though, he would need to relay what he had learned to Diarmán.