This week in the saga

The chapter reaches its title. First the war council: at the alliance summit he rounds on the allies who lean on America's shield and demands they pay more. On the morning of the meeting he blames his own country's past folly — and the hunt at home — for how low relations with the great northern power have fallen. Then the lonely stage: two lecterns, immense flags, the whole world watching, and he casts the handshake as peace over politics. The firestorm that follows forces a correction — he has great confidence in his own intelligence people after all. The stage empties, and he is left alone on it, having gambled more on one handshake than any summit before.