Kit squeezed my thigh under the table, I don't know why. Perhaps I was drooling. But Trevelyan seemed pleased.

"It quite took me that way, as well, when first I saw it," he said. "Still does in truth. But then, they only managed to pry it out of the king's hands a fortnight ago. Blasted man owns half the world, but do ye think he'd turn loose of the one thing likely to give him the rest of it?"

"He was wise to be cautious," the handsome Spaniard to his left said. He'd been introduced simply as 'Senor Garza.' Judging by the size of his ruff and the small fortune in jewels he wore, that was almost certainly false. But then, no one had questioned my introduction of Kit as George Dunn, so I couldn't really complain.

"His father wouldn'a been so timid."

"His father lost the Armada," Garza said sharply. "His son would prefer not to lose anything else in these isles. And La joyel de los Austrias La joyel de los Austrias is a great prize." is a great prize."

"It's nothing next to the prize to be won!"

"Which is why you now have it."

Trevelyan shook his head. "T'wasn't so easy," he told me. "We had t'show him those demmed Venetian doodads that your lot intended t'use before he'd see reason."

For a minute, I had no idea what he meant. And then a vague memory stirred. "Murano," I said, glancing at Kit. The island off the coast of Venice was famous for the quality of its fake pearls. They were so good that the penalty for selling them as real was the loss of a hand and a ten year exile. But Trevelyan didn't seem to agree.

"Gla.s.s pearls," he snorted. "No disrespect meant to yer ladyship, but those scoundrels sold you a bill 'o goods. You would need a gla.s.s eye not to know they was fake."

"I thought they were credible," I said, remembering the ropes of black beauties in Kit's little chest.

"To the layman, perhaps," the Spaniard said condescendingly. "But not, I think, to the queen."

"Aye. If there's one thing the old harridan knows, it's pearls," Trevelyan said, getting up to refill my gla.s.s himself, as the servants appeared to have been banished for the night. "Particularly those. She paid three thousand pound for 'em, back when the Queen o' Scots needed some quick coin."

"I'm surprised she'd part with so much," Kit commented mildly.

Trevelyn shook his head. "Bargain 'o the century it was; not even half their value."

"Nonetheless, when you consider how tight she is-"

"But they're unique," Trevelyn interrupted eagerly. "Something that no one else has. That's what hooked her before, and it's what'll do her again!"

"But we cannot risk a subst.i.tution," Garzas said, looking from me to Kit and back again. "After so long, I am willing to bet she could tell in the dark whether they were hers or no."

"Aye," Trevelyn said amiably. "T'is better this way."

"And what way would that be?" Kit asked casually.

"The joyel de los Austrias joyel de los Austrias contains two named stones, contains two named stones, La Estanque La Estanque and and La Peregrina La Peregrina," Garzas said, gesturing at the gleaming jewel behind the ward. "The first is the large center diamond and the second is the pearl-believed to be the largest in the world. His Majesty's father gave it to the late queen when he came to England to marry her, and she wore it almost constantly thereafter. Naturally, the present queen a.s.sumed it would be hers upon her sister's death, only to find that it had been quite properly returned to the prince in Queen Mary's will."

"Rumor was, she was furious," Trevelyan added, grinning. "But she was also new ter the throne and couldn't risk makin' an enemy over something as trivial as a jewel. But she'll not let it slip away a second time."

"I am not sure I'm following you," I said, actually afraid that I was.

"La joyel de los Austrias will be presented to the queen in open court, as a peace offering from his Majesty," Garzas said, with a twist to his lips. "And if her people manage to so much as see it before she s.n.a.t.c.hes it out of the amba.s.sador's hand, I will be shocked." will be presented to the queen in open court, as a peace offering from his Majesty," Garzas said, with a twist to his lips. "And if her people manage to so much as see it before she s.n.a.t.c.hes it out of the amba.s.sador's hand, I will be shocked."

Kit's hand clenched on my leg, hard enough to make me wince. I didn't need the hint; it was clear enough what they planned. People had been trying to a.s.sa.s.sinate the queen since before she even took office. There had been numerous plots to shoot her, stab her or foment rebellion against her; it wasn't a great leap to imagine one to poison her.

"You seem to have it all arranged," I said, sinking my own nails into Kit's silk-covered thigh.

"Aye," Trevelyan said, shrewd brown eyes narrowing. "But the question is, will the covens rise, once the deed is done?"

"I...will need to discuss that with the elders," I temporized, only to have him scowl.

"None of that, now. You wanted proof that we can do as we say, well here it is. The amba.s.sador will be here in an hour to pick it up, and tomorrow he'll present it. A day after that, the country'll spiral into chaos while the privy council scrambles to find an heir. She's never named one-"

"It is a.s.sumed by most at court that the king of the Scots will succeed," Kit broke in.

"But he's in Edinburgh, in't he?" Trevelyan shot back. "An' like as not, he won't risk starting for London only to have someone else named while he's still on the road. He'll wait to be invited, and while the court squabbles an' he paces in his castle, we'll have our chance!"

"And once England has been added to the empire, I a.s.sure you, the covens will find themselves in a much more advantageous position," Garzas informed me, leaning over the table. "We have seen how you are treated here, your skills devalued, your ancient knowledge wasted. But we will restore you to your past greatness. We will give you back that which is lost."

They were both staring at me, obviously expecting a decision. "I believe I've seen enough," I said, my head reeling. "If the curse works as you say, my coven will be ready."

"And the others?" Trevelyn said sharply. "Ye promised at least three."

I hadn't thought there were three intact covens in England, other than those which had buckled under the Circle's demands. Or had seemed to do so.

"Yes, well, where ours leads, the others will follow."

"You must be sure," Garzas told me. "We cannot do this by magic alone. We need men, if we are to hold this land. But most of those loyal to our cause are in the north and will need time to shift their armies here. Just as we need it to transport ours across the channel. You must buy us that!"

"You'll have our aid," I said evenly. "As soon as you keep your side of the bargain."

"Then we will have it tomorrow," the Spaniard told me. "And tomorrow, we will have England."

Chapter Four.

It took another ten minutes of drinking and well wishing before we could finally make our escape. The river's stench had never smelt so good, I thought fervently, leaning against the side of a building down the street, heedless of the fine fabric of the witch's cloak. My insides felt like someone had stirred them with a stick, but it was over. It was over and we'd done it.

I didn't quite believe it.

"You were right," I told Kit, feeling a little giddy. "That wasn't so bad. There were a few rough moments, I grant you, but all in all-"

"Return to the ship and give this to my man," he said, cutting me off and pressing something into my hand. "Tell him what pa.s.sed this night, and the danger in which the queen lies. He will see to it that you receive what I promised you."

He strode off back the way we'd come as I stared in confusion at my palm, where his signet ring gleamed softly in the dim light. And then I picked up my skirts and chased after him. "What are you talking about?" I asked, catching him up. "Where are you going?"

"I'm going back."

"Back?" I stared at him, wishing I could see his expression. But the only light came from a few weak moonbeams that had managed to fight their way through theclouds, and the pinp.r.i.c.k of a lantern in the Spaniard's blackened guts, doubtless from some scavenger. Still, the features I could make out looked serious. "Back where?" I asked, hoping I had misunderstood his meaning.

"You heard the mage. The amba.s.sador will be here in half an hour. I must get the jewel before then."

He started off again, but I grabbed his arm. "Why?" I asked incredulously. "Simply tell the queen to refuse the gift. Now that you know the plan--"

"It is not so simple."

"And why not?" I demanded.

"Because they chose the bait too well," he said, sounding aggrieved. "If the queen has a weakness, it is for pearls. She wears seven strands of them on a daily basis, and more on state occasions. They are the symbol of virginity, and she is the virgin queen. She identifies with them closely."

"Why does that matter?" I asked heatedly. My initial elation had evaporated, leaving me angry and confused. We were out; we were free free. We needed to get as far away from this place as possible, not talk of going back!

"It matters because she has what may be the finest collection in Europe. She has given explicit instructions to her sea captains to seize pearls for her whenever they have cause to raid another ship. Drake once told me he thought they would win a man a knighthood faster than any amount of gold."

"Then surely she has enough!"

"There is no such thing," he said dryly. "She once forced one of her ladies-in-waiting to present her a magnificent black velvet, pearl-embroidered gown as a gift-and the woman was wearing it at the time! White and black are the queen's favorite colors, and pearls her favorite adornment, and no one is allowed to outshine her in her own court. Or anywhere else."

"You cannot believe she'd risk her life for a single jewel!"

"Not just any jewel, no. But for La Peregrina La Peregrina--"

"But it's cursed. cursed."

"Yes, but it will not appear to be so," he said impatiently. "Trevelyan was a coven mage before he was banished. If he's cursed the stone using earth magic, the Circle won't detect it. Their advisors at court will tell her that there's nothing wrong with it."

"But you can tell her differently. You can-"

"I do not have direct access to her Majesty," he said, starting back for the house and forcing me to jog alongside. "My lord Walsingham did, but since his death it has been far more difficult to gain her ear."

"You must have some way-"

"Yes, but the queen may well choose to believe those who tell her what she wishes to hear, or pick up the king's gift before anyone can tell her anything at all!"

Suddenly, I could see it-the jewel in a beautiful presentation box, the amba.s.sador opening it before the throne, the queen's astonishment. My own fingers had itched to touch it, to feel the pearl's glossy perfection and prove to myself that it was real. Anyone's first impulse would be to pick it up.

And even if her mages stopped her, if they made her wait while they inspected it, they would find nothing wrong. Only a coven witch might detect whatever malediction Trevelyan had used. And the Circle had insured that there were none of those at court.

We reached the mage's house and I dug in my heels. "You can't go in there!"

Kit shot me an exasperated look. "I have explained why I must."

"But you'll die!"

His lips quirked. "In case you failed to notice-"

"Make a joke now," I told him seriously, "and by the G.o.ddess-"

I cut off as someone threw open a window above us. Kit s.n.a.t.c.hed me back into the shadow of the house as a single candle was thrust out into the night, shining bright as a beacon in the darkness. It highlighted Trevelyn's stubble as he peered up and down the street.

I held my breath, pressed hard against Kit's chest, as the candlelight struck glints off the gold in the witch's gown and a few drops of hot wax splattered the street in front of her dainty shoes. But the mage never looked down. I finally realized that he hadn't heard us; he was looking for his guest, who was due any minute now. After a long moment, he closed the shutters once more and I let out a shaky breath.

"You must go," Kit whispered.

"And you must listen listen," I said, in a furious undertone. "That isn't an ordinary ward in there-it's a mortuus mortuus field. Any living flesh that pa.s.ses through it dies." field. Any living flesh that pa.s.ses through it dies."

"Which should prove no hindrance for me."

I rounded on him. "You may not be alive in the human sense, but your body is animated by living energy-energy that the field will suck right out of you. It might not kill you, but it will drain you dry, thus leaving you at Trevelyan's mercy-or lack of it!"

That wiped the perpetual smirk off his face, at least. "How can you be certain?"

"Because I was a wardsmith. And that's a Druid ward."

He was silent for a moment. "Then I'll hook it with something and pull the jewel out."

I shook my head. "Nothing but flesh can pa.s.s through the field, but only the caster's is immune. He can reach safely through; you can't."

Kit's eyes narrowed as he stared up at the window. "Does he have to be alive at the time?"

I glared at him. "You do not want to take on a dark mage on his own territory!"

"I will do what I must," he told me, with a stubborn glint in his eye.

"Listen to me," I said, resisting a strong urge to shake him. "Trevelyn is a Black Circle mage with the added benefit of earth magic. He's also an expert poisoner, who has littered G.o.ddess only knows how many traps around the place. I'm telling you plainly: go in there and you will not come out."

"And yet I must have it, Gillian." And I finally found out what he looked like when he wasn't joking. I decided I preferred the jovial mask to this glitter-eyed stranger.

I stared at him, angry and confused. "If this is about your lady, surely she will-"

"This is about my queen," he said furiously. "She may not be yours, but she is mine. And I will not fail her in this!"

He started to climb up, but I held on. "But...but you mocked her," I said, in disbelief. "She's old, her teeth are bad, she's cheap-"

"She is all of those things, as well as stubborn and vain and childish and mercurial and a thousand others. She is England England," he hissed, gesturing sharply. "With all its faults and frailties, its pettiness and posturing, and its stubborn will to survive. She should have been dead a thousand times by now, we all should--when Rome invited most of Europe to invade, when the Queen of Scots fomented rebellion within her very borders, when the Armada came. And yet she lives, and so do we, Protestant and free in spite of it all, because of that willful, stubborn, impossible, indomitable woman!"

I blinked, finally catching up. "You're not doing this because you were ordered to at all, are you?"

He drew himself up. "My lady instructed me-"

I crossed my arms and just looked at him.

He scowled. "Go and do as I asked. Tell my man what you heard and then depart this country as quickly as you can. If this fails, you need to be far away from here before Trevelyn and his ilk come to power."

He grasped hold of the lower story, preparing to lever himself up. Preparing to die, if necessary, for the country he loved and the woman who embodied it-for all of us. He was completely mad, but I was no better. England was mine. It might have forsaken me, but nothing changed that. And I couldn't watch its ruin any more than he could.

G.o.ddess' teeth.