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me, he’s going to be vastly indebted. He’ll want to—”
Reward you
, were the words that popped into her head, but they struck the wrong note, turning her rescuer into a servant or hireling. “He’ll want to demonstrate his gratitude. I do hope you’ll allow him to do something for you. Really, he could do a great deal.”
He could offeryou a permanent position at Belandor House
, she elaborated mentally.
And he will, I promise
.
    His reply astounded her.
    “I won’t meet the Magnifico Belandor.”
    “What? But of course you’ll meet him. You must.”
    “That isn’t possible.”
    “But he’ll want you to,” observed Jianna, as if this settled the matter. “And
I
want you to.”
    “No.”
    “I don’t understand. Why will you not?”
    “To seek out such a man as Aureste Belandor—to be received into his home, to exchange courtesies and pleasantries with him—would damage my standing in the eyes of the resistance beyond hope of recovery. Once I’m perceived as the magnifico’s friend, guest, satellite, call it what you will—then their trust in me is destroyed, and that is something I don’t wish to sacrifice.”
    “What kind of real trust is destroyed as easily as that?” Jianna demanded, scowling. “Are you saying that you can’t exchange a single word with my father, can’t even step over the threshold of our home, without fear of
contamination
?”
    “Know that I don’t mean to pain or offend you. But your father is a great enemy of the Faerlonnish resistance—”
    “He isn’t, he cares nothing at all about it! He just wants a pleasant, happy, comfortable life for himself and his family. Is that so wicked?”
    “Depends on what he’s willing to do to secure it, but that’s a discussion for another day. For now, only understand this—when I leave you in Vitrisi, I must return to the Ghosts armed with some hope of finding a welcome among them.”
    “Leave—” It came like a sudden slap. Surprised and unnerved, she floundered in search of sound objection. “But I thought you just agreed that you can’t stay here.”
    “
You
can’t stay here, and we must see to your safety. But I can still make my peace, and I mean to do so.”
    “Can you, though? Will these paragons of moral purity pardon your crime of assisting Aureste Belandor’s daughter?”
    “I believe so. I’m of some use to them,” he returned equably. “At least I hope so, for it’s more than the plight of the Ghosts that draws me back. I must keep an eye on my young sister.”
    “You sound worried.”
    “You heard her just now. When she holds a strong conviction, it fills her completely, leaving room for nothing else. At such times, she knows no limit or restraint. There’s nothing in the world that she wouldn’t risk or sacrifice for the sake of her beliefs.”
    “But you said just now that there’s little she can do.”
    “Little in terms of disrupting the camp or splitting the force, for the boys won’t follow her. But she could take it into her head to attempt something on her own.”
    “Attempt what? She’s only a young woman, without rank or noble kin, money or influence. What could she do on her own?”
    “Destroy herself, I fear. I’m her older brother and her only family. It’s my task to offer such guidance and protection as she can be persuaded to accept.”
    “I suspect she doesn’t accept a great deal of either.”
    “You are right. But she does pay me the courtesy of listening, and sometimes she can be swayed, or simply calmed. She needs my influence now, I believe, and so my sojourn in Vitrisi will be brief.”
    Perhaps
, thought Jianna.
    “In the meantime,” Rione mused, “I can only hope that nothing will happen to touch off one of her explosions.”

    It was high noon, but the streets of Vitrisi were dim and discolored, veiled in winter fog laced with heavy smoke. The smoke and the meaty odors that it carried were pervasive thesedays, masking the ordinary scents of the city,