Against expectation, the morning after I met Prime Minister Cromwell, that master of the bow, Agnes Eisleben, came to the embassy. To see me, of course.
When we met on the roof of House Kirchhoff, naked hostility and killing intent had been leaking off her. Now she was smiling with a perfectly calm face, and that was unsettling. Her chest was thoroughly slim. In combat clothes before, it had still been possible to fake it, but in an everyday blouse and skirt the chest went straight down, and the hips were sadly short on bulge in both directions.
"Lady Agnes Eisleben, welcome. The Marie Kingdom welcomes your visit. But to be frank, why did you come so suddenly?"
I asked. No appointment, and she had brought the two men who had been with her on the roof.
"I heard from Prime Minister Cromwell that Ambassador Marie wanted to see me, so I came."
This person spoke straight.
"I met Prime Minister Cromwell yesterday. I did not think I would be able to see you this soon."
