Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...

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"Who has choices in the face of duty? I must serve my Empire, you must retrieve your child. War makes
barbarians of us all, and someone's life is always lost, ground between its wheels; this way we may
ensure it is neither yours nor your child's nor mine. Hah! It should have beenhis sooner; it would have
been far fewer others'."
Koru, arokatzkphilosopher . "I understand your point of view, Arkan," she said coldly, as though
resigned. "I, of course, don't necessarily agree, having suffered enough at Arkan hands. It will take some
time. I imagine you don't care how I do it; so I choose to be subtle. You understand the necessity, I'm
sure. I wouldn't want to free my son to leave him an orphan moments later."
"Of course, of course, of course," he said, like an overly syrupy party host. "Though I am well-apprised
of your superior capability in such matters; no one covers a getaway better than an illusionist. An
illusionist—I."
For once the Arkan's smoothness was broken, interrupted, it seemed, by his own thought; but in a
moment he d put it aside or filed it away, and went on. "And you understand that while time may not be
of the essence for you—an eight-day wouldn't come between you and your child—it is very much of the
essence for us, withhim rapidly coming between us and our future. How long did you have in mind?"
"An iron-cycle is roughly what I'll need," she said, sending a questing thought for Fishhook's mind.
Nothing. "That should still give your army time to break the Alliance, if they're as good as they're
supposed to be."
"Mydear ." His voice picked up a scolding edge. "First of all, stop the childish little stabs at my race.
You don't want to try my patience unnecessarily,believe me . Second: all the rest of Arko may kid itself
about how this war has gone, and will go. You and I are not such fools, so don't think to beguile me with
that . And an iron-cycle is a damn long… what in Hayel is an iron-cycle?"
Whoops, thought Matthas.Almost gave away I've lived on the Brezhan, there !
An illusionist… the visions in camp…
"Thirty days." Megan pursed her lips. "Look, Arkan, how do I know you won't snuff my son just to
clear up loose ends even if I do what you want? You ask me just to trust you, with no reassurances."
"If you won't trust me, there's no point in talking further; I shall just cease sending the order I'm sending,
and never think of it again. But let me reassure you. First, I will swear the oath sacred to all: Second Fire
come if I lie, I will deliver your son to you unharmed if you succeed at what I ask, kill him if you fail.
Second, do I need to explain why it would be bad tradecraft to doublecross your…"
"No. I'm familiar with the principles. Fine, I'll trust you, but if youdo betray me… I've gone a long way
before, for revenge."
"As would be understandable and just."
"I need an iron-cycle to set things up properly."
"Thirty days. Why so long?"
"Do you think I carry subtle poisons with me?"