Sing the Four Quarters by Tanya Huff Page B

great-grandfather, your great-greatgrandfather, surrendered Ohrid's ever so valued independence to Shkoder. If King Theron says jump, my dear Pjerin, you ask how high on the way up."
    A muscle twitched in Pjerin's jaw. "I don't give a rat's ass about King Theron. I am Due of Ohrid and I will not allow increased trade with Cemandia." Hands curled into fists he charged toward the door, whirled, and glared down at the Cemandian trader. "See you that remember it, Albek!"
    "I will, Your Grace. Oh, and I was sorry to hear about your dogs." His sincerity was undeniable. "To lose them both at once must have been very upsetting."
    Pjerin stared at the Cemandian, conflicting emotions twisting his face. Unable to find an answer, he snarled what might have been a wordless agreement and slammed out of the room.
    "Well, that bit of unexpected sympathy certainly confused him," Olina observed. "Which I'm sure was your intention."
    "If he doesn't think of me personally as an enemy, it will make things easier tonight." Albek sighed and stretched his feet back toward the fire. "Besides, I was sorry to hear about his dogs. I had a dog once myself."
    "Spare me."
    "You play him very well."
    Olina snorted. "It isn't difficult. He's too arrogant to see past what I dangle in front of him. It never even occurs to him that I have as little desire to run a tollgate between Shkoder and Cemandia as he does, that I want a part of something bigger."
    "That you want to control a part of something bigger."
    "That goes without saying."
    "I liked the bit about King Theron. A nice touch. I can use it."
    "Of course you can."
    "But you still seem hesitant."
    "I'm still considering your certain amount of risk ," she told him dryly.
    "Olina." Albek shook his head. "I've studied every possibility and this leaves us with the greatest chance of success.
    Consider," he raised a finger, "the accidental death of the due would require a full investigation before the title could go to his son. The bards would not only question us but the kigh as well, and that risk is far too great. While the kigh are not always around, we can't take the chance they won't be watching." He closed his eyes for an instant as fear beaten into him his entire life threatened to break through his control, then he raised a second finger. "Assassination, the same result. But…" A third finger lifted to join the other two. "… if he condemns himself by his own mouth, there will be no further investigation, there never is. You will be left to regent for the child with a shocked and saddened people behind you."
    "And it will all be over."
    "Oh, no. It will just be beginning." He dropped his hand and laced his fingers in his lap, adding with no change of expression in either face or voice, "You've bedded him."
    "Yes." It wasn't a question, but she chose to answer it anyway. "Was it that obvious?"
    Albek smiled, wondering why she'd chosen to let him know, fully aware she did nothing without a reason. "Wasn't it intended to be?"
    "Perhaps." Pushing herself away from the mantle, she advanced on the trader. "At nineteen he was an enthusiastic partner, but as he got older…"
    "He insisted on retaining control?"
    "Essentially."
    "And the boy, Gerek?"
    "What? Do you suddenly think he's my son as well? Don't be a fool." Amusement and disdain were equally mixed in her tone. "Gerek is exactly what we say he is; the legally witnessed child of a woman who had her eye on timber rights. Pjerin, in turn, wanted an heir but had no interest in being joined; not after the mess his father made of it. She got her favor. He got his heir. I thought you spoke to Gerek's mother? You told me that, in your not so humble opinion, as long as her son was safe and happy she would be no problem."
    "I did." Albek brushed a honey-colored curl back off his face and let both shoulders rise and fall in a graceful shrug.
    "But I had to explore the possibility. You understand."
    "Yes, I understand." Her voice held an edge. She straddled