“Well. Vonat spies, trained in sorcery. This day gets better and better by the moment, doesn’t it?”Meralda nodded. In her hand was a pencil. She resisted a sudden urge to chew on it.“Why doesn’t Yvin just arrest every last Vonat and toss them in the dungeon until after the Accords?” sputtered Mug.“You know why,” said Meralda. “They have to sign the treaty too, or the Hang will sail away and never come back.”“Oh? And that’s a disaster, is it? Why?”Meralda sighed and put down her pencil. “Because the world isn’t as big as it once was, Mug. And we’re a part of it now, like it or not.”“Well, I don’t like it.” The dandyleaf plant tossed his leaves. “I just want that understood.”“I’ll make a note of it.” Meralda rose, stretched, yawned.“If that Vonat wizard is in with the meddlers, as the captain suspects, he’ll likely try and meddle with you, mistress. Probably with something shiny and sharp. Please tell me you’re going to take steps to protect yourself.”“I am.”
