Rescue, he says. It implies a threat - something this Empress child should by all right find surprising - but she is hard nosed and doesn't bat as much as a long pale eyelash over the phrasing. She is just fourteen, but a simpler child would have died a long time ago even protected by the House of Chairs. She has always been lucky and clever - and her spies are devoted.

But not always successful or timely, it seems.

"Then we're truly the last to know of Inivial and Bal's plot." She doesn't turn her head to address the robed figures at the door, but it's implied in the 'we.' She has no time for the majestic plurk either literally or metaphorically (the outer rim peoples find it charming that she calls herself 'I' and their favor has served her better than most). "An advance communique would've been more helpful. --No matter; what is your rescue plan?"