about it."
„You're changing the subject."
„You noticed. You're too damned smart for a female. Can't put anything past you."
„All right. I'll back off. All I can tell you is that he goes to Mist's house every day when she comes to the city. I saw him go by this morning. He was pretending he was inter ested in the park. I recognized him anyway."
„He doesn't seem to be sneaking, though, eh?"
„I don't know."
„He wouldn't just ride out Lieneke Lane if he was, would he?"
„I don't know him well enough to guess."
A servant signalled Kristen. She led Bragi to the kitchen, where he devoured most of a chicken. „Been eating so much chicken lately, I'm going to turn into one. Guess I'll have to see Mist for sure. Find out what the hell is going on. Going to be embarrassing if they're just playing a little push-me pull-you."
„She's ten times as old as he is!"
„She doesn't look it. And Aral's still that age where he does most of his thinking below his belt."
Kristen gave him an arch look. „Do men ever outgrow that?"
„Some. Some of us take longer than others. Old Derel probably outgrew it when he was twelve. Which reminds me. He should be back by Victory Day. We're going to have a wingding Victory Day night. I'll send a carriage for you. ... It don't seem possible that it was that long ago. You must have been a snotty-nosed kid in pigtails."
„I remember. Mother and I went out to meet you coming back from Baxendala. To meet Dad, really. You were all so dirty and ragged, and... glowing, I guess. I remember my father broke ranks to grab me and squeeze me. I thought he was going to break my ribs. It's still hard to believe. We beat the best they had."
„Not without luck. Should I send that carriage?"
„If I can find something to wear."
„Good. I'd better go if I want to catch Mist before she goes to bed."
But before he left he toured the bedrooms, to look at his sleeping children and grandson. He ventured into the Vorgreberg night feeling better about his role as King. It was for such as they he was struggling. Yesterday's little ones were today's Kristens and Sherilees. Today's children needed their chances too.
Mist met him in her library after keeping him waiting twenty minutes. She didn't apologize. „You're out late."
He scanned her quickly. She was as cool as ice. He wondered why her beauty didn't demolish him the way it did so many men. He was conscious of it, but never overwhelmed or intimidated. „I was at the house. I wanted to see you. Thought I'd save a trip and do it now."
„You look exhausted."
„I had a rough day. Excuse my manners. They may not be what they should."
„What's on your mind?"
„I'm curious about what you and Aral are up to."
„Up to?"
„I see some things coming together. Thought I'd get an explanation before I jump to conclusions."
„So?"
„There's an exiled princess minus the tempering effect of a husband who fell at Palmisano. A young merchant of wealth and influence. And on the staff of Lord Hsung's Western Army, Tervola who remain supporters of the exiled princess." He watched closely, saw no reaction. She was good.
„It's curious that these ingredients should come together just when it looks like there might be war on Shinsan's Matayangan border." Again, he awaited her reaction. This time she seemed a little twitchy.
She seemed to go off somewhere inside herself. He spent several minutes trying to decipher the titles on the spines of her books.
Finally, „You're right. I've been in touch with people inside Shinsan. A traditionalist faction displeased with Lord Kuo. They think I can restore stability and traditional values. It's just talk. Nothing will come of it."
„Why not?"
„These groups don't have enough power or influence."
Bragi steepled his fingers under his nose. „What's Aral's part?"
„The trading climate would improve if a friend ruled the east. He's been trying to gather financial backing."
Bragi stared at the books. Her
„You're changing the subject."
„You noticed. You're too damned smart for a female. Can't put anything past you."
„All right. I'll back off. All I can tell you is that he goes to Mist's house every day when she comes to the city. I saw him go by this morning. He was pretending he was inter ested in the park. I recognized him anyway."
„He doesn't seem to be sneaking, though, eh?"
„I don't know."
„He wouldn't just ride out Lieneke Lane if he was, would he?"
„I don't know him well enough to guess."
A servant signalled Kristen. She led Bragi to the kitchen, where he devoured most of a chicken. „Been eating so much chicken lately, I'm going to turn into one. Guess I'll have to see Mist for sure. Find out what the hell is going on. Going to be embarrassing if they're just playing a little push-me pull-you."
„She's ten times as old as he is!"
„She doesn't look it. And Aral's still that age where he does most of his thinking below his belt."
Kristen gave him an arch look. „Do men ever outgrow that?"
„Some. Some of us take longer than others. Old Derel probably outgrew it when he was twelve. Which reminds me. He should be back by Victory Day. We're going to have a wingding Victory Day night. I'll send a carriage for you. ... It don't seem possible that it was that long ago. You must have been a snotty-nosed kid in pigtails."
„I remember. Mother and I went out to meet you coming back from Baxendala. To meet Dad, really. You were all so dirty and ragged, and... glowing, I guess. I remember my father broke ranks to grab me and squeeze me. I thought he was going to break my ribs. It's still hard to believe. We beat the best they had."
„Not without luck. Should I send that carriage?"
„If I can find something to wear."
„Good. I'd better go if I want to catch Mist before she goes to bed."
But before he left he toured the bedrooms, to look at his sleeping children and grandson. He ventured into the Vorgreberg night feeling better about his role as King. It was for such as they he was struggling. Yesterday's little ones were today's Kristens and Sherilees. Today's children needed their chances too.
Mist met him in her library after keeping him waiting twenty minutes. She didn't apologize. „You're out late."
He scanned her quickly. She was as cool as ice. He wondered why her beauty didn't demolish him the way it did so many men. He was conscious of it, but never overwhelmed or intimidated. „I was at the house. I wanted to see you. Thought I'd save a trip and do it now."
„You look exhausted."
„I had a rough day. Excuse my manners. They may not be what they should."
„What's on your mind?"
„I'm curious about what you and Aral are up to."
„Up to?"
„I see some things coming together. Thought I'd get an explanation before I jump to conclusions."
„So?"
„There's an exiled princess minus the tempering effect of a husband who fell at Palmisano. A young merchant of wealth and influence. And on the staff of Lord Hsung's Western Army, Tervola who remain supporters of the exiled princess." He watched closely, saw no reaction. She was good.
„It's curious that these ingredients should come together just when it looks like there might be war on Shinsan's Matayangan border." Again, he awaited her reaction. This time she seemed a little twitchy.
She seemed to go off somewhere inside herself. He spent several minutes trying to decipher the titles on the spines of her books.
Finally, „You're right. I've been in touch with people inside Shinsan. A traditionalist faction displeased with Lord Kuo. They think I can restore stability and traditional values. It's just talk. Nothing will come of it."
„Why not?"
„These groups don't have enough power or influence."
Bragi steepled his fingers under his nose. „What's Aral's part?"
„The trading climate would improve if a friend ruled the east. He's been trying to gather financial backing."
Bragi stared at the books. Her
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