Revolution (Chronicles of Charanthe #2)

  *

  Eleanor was relieved to have a few days without pressure before she was expected to start hunting her Association colleagues, but she found herself no closer to a plan for stealing the key from Nicholas.

  She next saw Ivan at lunch a couple of days later, and took a seat beside him. “I take it there’s still no sign of the traitors?”

  “They’ve gone well and truly to ground,” he said. “We haven’t had a hit for days.”

  “I’m sure you could use that key as bait to tempt them out. If that’s the only way they have to learn their own fallback plans, they’d bargain for it, surely.”

  A smile spread across his face. “I like your thinking. But how could we get a message to the council?”

  “Where’s the lock that fits that key?” she asked. “Someone must be working on opening that thing, if it’s so important.”

  “Nick knows the way – he said it was near Flintmoor, didn’t he?”

  “Well, you might find someone there. But you don’t have to pass them a secret note – just make as much noise as possible about the fact that you’re open to a deal. Someone will bite.”

  “Are you happy to set this up yourself?”

  “Sure. Let me go and see Nicholas first, and then I’ll get things moving.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Should I keep you up to date?”

  “Come back to me if there’s anything you need. And let me know when Nick decides you should have your third star.”

  Eleanor walked across to Nicholas’s rooms at the palace, passing through the gatehouse unchallenged. As the only woman so far to wear a Shadow Corps uniform, she was easily recognized.

  Nicholas invited her in and supplied her with tea and cake before asking the reason for her visit.

  “I had an idea to lure the Association out of hiding,” she said. “But I need your help.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

  “I want you to make it known that you’re open for offers to sell that key you wear around your neck.”

  “I can’t possibly–”

  “You’re not listening. I don’t want you to sell it, I just want you to arrange a sale. We can bring the armies with us to take care of the rest.”

  “You think it’s enough to bring them to a meeting.”

  She sipped at her tea. “Precisely.”

  “How will we make them believe this is real?” he asked. “I wouldn’t expect them to trust me.”

  “It’s of no use to you, is it? They must know that. And you can ask a suitably ridiculous price – they’ll pay.”

  “I’m still not sure they’ll believe it.”

  “It doesn’t matter if they suspect a trap. If it’s the only hope they have, they’ll walk into it with their eyes wide open.”

  “And if they send more people?”

  “Assume that they’ll send everyone they can spare. Which means more heads above the parapet for us.”

  He nodded. “You know, this could just work. Have you run it past Ivan?”

  “He said I should just get on with it.”

  “He’s probably right. What do you need me to do?”

  “Not much. I’ll start putting the word about. Don’t deny it too strenuously if anyone approaches you directly, but don’t agree anything, either.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’ll tell you if we get any word back – and I’ll probably need you to come along to whatever meeting we agree.”

  “I’m the bait in the trap?” He laughed and poured more tea. “That’s fine, just let me know.”

  “The key is the bait,” Eleanor said. “You’re just there to see it safely carried, and to give the attack signal.”