Ledo was dealing with the Gurta. But he wasn't selling us out. He was making peace. And knowing that, I understand everything.

Ledo saw the tide of public opinion turning and realised he was facing stiff competition in the field of battlefield medicine. Since all his interests were tied to the war, he needed to make a move into peacetime industries. So he agreed to marry off Liss to Clan Jerima, a successful textile manufacturer. He intended to use his workforce to make dyes instead of medicines, and he would go into business with Jerima. Probably he would also switch away from battlefield medicines to more commercial drugs like cold remedies. He knew the war was dying out, and he was gearing up for peace.

All this I'd learned from Casta, but I'd thought it was the backup plan in case his sabotage failed. I was wrong. He wanted to prevent Operation Deadfall, not sabotage it. He wanted to declare a truce.

As ever, it was all about the timing. If the other Plutarchs sensed the change coming, they would all start making similar plans. So Ledo went behind the Turnward Claw Alliance's back, and began gathering support among the Folded Wing for a truce with the Gurta. At the same time he contacted one of the Gurta, an influential Minister called Belek Aspa who was known to have the ear of the High Elder, and told him that he could get enough of the Plutarchs on his side to call a truce, if Belek could do the same.

His idea was to hamstring Operation Deadfall at the last moment, then defect to the Folded Wing, leaving him way ahead of his allies in the Turnward Claw Alliance, who had already committed themselves. Leaving them in the dust in the post-war era of peace. A smart and ruthless political move.

And I just fucked it all up.

Ledo wasn't the traitor. And that leaves only one person it could possibly be. One person who stands to profit by what I've done.