"You know, I hadn't thought about that before. Do you suppose the break somehow became known Outside and that's why the playing decks split? Perhaps refugees from the war...." She makes a face. "Sorry. I go off on these wild tangents." Sophie pushes her demolished napkin aside.

"I think our leaders are acting more as a unit than they ever have--at least in my memory. But there's so much distrust sown, due either to a Suit's historical reputation or...or recent events." The thought of King Andrew's murder saddens her. "The castle festivals have been aimed at the Arcana. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the 'show' was intended to demonstrate we aren't pushovers.

"However, I certainly agree that we sometimes appear to be working against each rather than with each other. Most of that's unintentional. I hope. Once this challenge is over and done with, I planned to address the problem, at least so far as research goes. But maybe you could bring up the subject before that?

And I'll talk to Fin. It won't take long to copy the diary. I have this horrible dread that something will happen to it before he finishes. His translation should definitely be copied and the copy kept separate from the original."

She sounds like a paranoid. Oh, dear. "Perhaps I've read too much fiction."