"But this isn't Auberon; this is someone else entirely, and I don't think it's right to presuppose villainy when she hasn't done anything yet," Marcello argued. "I'm not Niabheara; I am a natural peacemaker, and I don't believe in starting wars for no reason."

"Then you need to realize that everyone around you does believe in starting wars for no reason," she told him, seriously. "You didn't answer the question, Marcello, so I'm telling you the answer: the first thing that's going to happen to you is that people are going to see if you'll be as easily beaten down as she was. Granted, they haven't had thirteen years to beat on you and you won't be a scared little girl when they start."

"So, what are you saying, we should take Duncan up on his blackmail, take Cabhon, turn around and stab him in the back and turn his children into the next Neely O'Nialls?" Marcello asked.

She threw up her hands in exasperation, laughing. "No!" Grabbing a handy pillow, she swung it at him. "I'm saying you've got to learn some way of fighting or eventually someone is going to force you to learn theirs. Also, I would like to point that it is not technically stabbing someone in the back when they're already blackmailing you."

"Well, no, if they don't see it coming, it is stabbing them in the back. It's just not wrong," Marcello replied, catching the pillow and tugging it toward him. "Can we choose a way to fight that doesn't involves sending armies after people?"

"Can you?" She sent another pillow after him. "First step would be to defang Duncan, however that might be done."

"Augh!" Marcello was caught unawares this time, and took the onslaught full on. "We can use his children," Marcello replied. "And Dierdre. I hope we can use Dierdre. At very least, I think he'll want the babies. How, I'm not sure. And it means talking to Dierdre, which Niabheara doesn't want to do. Starling actually seemed to have some good ideas, but I still feel a little guilty for dragging him into this."

While he was fighting the second pillow, she snatched back the first. "I hope there's something to use against him," she said, seriously. "It's very hard to fight a man who only cares for himself."

Marcello sighed, and relentingly whacked her in return with the pillow he still had his hands on. "The babies. That's the only thing I can think of. Although I still don't see why we go to Dierdre Oisin and spoil his plans."

She blocked with her pillow. "I never said you shouldn't. Just don't expect her to be grateful. And don't turn your back to her."