“And, of course, we must think about what to tell the people,” Senator Esvan said. His eyes flickered briefly to the empty chair at the queen’s right, then to her eyes. Apparently, Kaezia’s warning was evident enough; whatever comment he was going to make died in his throat.

“How do you mean?” asked Senator Ormund. “Surely we cannot go to war without the populace realizing something’s up.”

“I didn’t say hide it,” Esvan said, barely suppressing a note of irritation. “But we have to figure out what to say. We need a pretext the people will buy. We cannot simply tell them that we’re invading an island and starting a war just for the island’s strategic value.”

“You can and you will,” came a deep voice from behind and just above the senator’s head. Esvan practically levitated from his seat as the missing member of the council leaned over his chair back to stare down into his face.

“Excuse me?” he squeaked.

“You want this war. You will tell the people why you want this war. If they disapprove…” A quick shrug followed a sardonic smile. “Well, Senator, you may want to remember that you are here to do their will and not your own.”

A pause. The speaker headed for the door, and Senator Esvan started breathing again. Then: “Oh, and Senator?”

Esvan stared in resignation. “What?”

“It’s not that strategically valuable a location.”

With that, Liamariye Thaziazhsta vanished out the door.

Kaezia suppressed a smile. She might be young, she might still look like a weedy (and unusually effective) scarecrow, but no one could deny that the new general had style.