The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) by Rob Howell Page B

located at one of the few places around Lake Achrida where the land and lake meet comfortably. When the Periaslavlans founded Anzhedonev on the far east of the lake route, Achrida became the obvious point to handle the lake trade in the west.”
    I nodded. I had learned all of this from Svetislav when I had dealt with the Gropas so I added, “The trade comes here from the east on lake boats, transfers to a caravan, marches to Lezh on Crownstreet, and then sails into every western port.”
    “Exactly. And all the trade of the west comes through Lezh and thence to here.”
    “Sounds like both cities make a great deal of money, but...”
    “The two cities compete for the lion’s share of the east-west trade.”
    Piri had explained to me once that the Empire of Makhaira essentially existed as a collection of rivalries. Clan against clan, tribe against tribe, guild against guild, and city against city.
    “And the Emperor encourages this.”
    “Every emperor we know of has.”
    I shook my head.
    “Does that mean that Gibroz and Katarina compete against rivals in Lezh as much as I’m guessing the Gropa and the Mrnjavcevic do?”
    Zvono laughed.
    “I would be shocked if they did not, though we’re less privy to what the kraljevics are doing than the zupans.”
    “All the more reason to visit the kraljevics.”
    She shrugged. “You’ve dealt with them before. You know we can’t help you.”
    “What about the zupans? Do you think Vukasin will know anything?”
    Zvono shook her head. “This is beneath Vukasin’s notice right now. He’s focused on keeping a tight rein on the Dassaretae.”
    “And Vesela cares even less,” growled Kapric, “After you drove her father into exile with Katarina, she’s busy keeping what the Enchelei still have.”
    “But could that not be simply an opportunity for one of their Lezhan competitors to attack them?”
    They leaned back.
    Finally Kapric muttered, “I suppose.”
    “Piri told me she’d come have dinner at the Faerie tonight, Kapric. I’ll check with her and Svetislav and see if they’ve heard anything. If Vukasin and Vesela are worried about the Lezhans encroaching on their prerogatives, especially in murderous ways, then I would guess they’ve warned the leaders of all their companies.”
    “True.”
    Zvono fiddled with her wax tablet.
    “Something wrong, Zvono?”
    “I’m not sure, Sevener. This does not feel like the kind of maneuver a zupan would make.”
    She dismissed our suspicious looks with a wave.
    “No, I don’t mean that any of the zupans would hesitate to murder someone if it truly benefited their tribe. I mean this seems so small in scale. If this involved Vukasin or Vesela, I think you’re right that the hecatontarchs and such would know. But so would a large number of others, including us. Or at least I’d expect to know if Vukasin was worried about some Lezhan threat, and I’d expect Vesela would tell Kapric.”
    Kapric shrugged. “I don’t necessarily agree. Vesela and I have never really talked, and she’s distracted. I’m sure she knows about me and my position, but she never had cause to deal with me. Pal talked to me periodically but not her.”
    “And anyone can see that the Enchelei are more vulnerable right now. It could be some attack on the Enchelei, subtle and small though it might be now.”
    “Either way, Sevener, it’s worth checking. I still think that this does not feel like an attack on either of the zupans,” Zvono tapped her wax tablet with her stylus. “But we simply don’t know enough yet to be sure.”
    “I’ll wait for Piri, and I’ll keep my eye out for Svet. I’m not sure he’s forgiven me yet for my part in what happened with Pal. I sure haven’t seen him here since.”
    “He’s upset at you? I don’t see why. He let us in and gave you the time to bring Pal down.”
    I nodded. “True, he’s a good man. This is just a tough time for him. He may also feel guilty for his part.”
    I paused.
    “Of