She takes it, and turns to display the unbroken seal to those assembled.

"This is a letter from Melisande Shahrizai to Waldemar Selig of the Skaldi," she says. "To explain the problem in brief: Selig plans to conquer Terre d'Ange in the spring with thirty thousand Skaldi and the half-unwitting aid of Isidore d'Aiglemort, who believes that after he lets the Skaldi into Camlach through the southern passes they will sign a trade agreement worked out in advance and then turn around and go home. Melisande plans to be Selig's queen, or perhaps betray him in some subtle way she has not committed to paper where I can see it, but in any case Selig believes her his conspirator and she is acting the part in full."