Read Online Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Katie MacAlister
Ads: Link
grossly overestimating just how much influence I have.”
“Nonetheless, it would give me the greatest pleasure to know I had your support in my campaign to become the next Venediger.”
I had to tread warily here—dragon politics had taught me that much. “I’m going to be honest here, since you seem to be a reasonable man. I am flattered that you think I can help you get the job, but I don’t know you. I barely know anyone in Paris, and nothing of the history of the Venedigers, let alone exactly what the job entails, so it’s out of the question for me to throw my support behind you. Or anyone else for that matter,” I added quickly, just in case he was pricked by my refusal. “It’s nothing to do with you personally. I’m just not qualified to recommend anyone for the job.”
He pursed his lips for a moment. “Are you aware of the laws governing the Otherworld regarding the position of Venediger?”
“No, I’m not. And that’s just one more reason why it would be stupid of me to recommend someone—”
“The laws of the Otherworld state that the position is granted to the person who has beaten all other chal lengers. If there are no challengers, then the position is put up to a vote by the membership of the L’au-dela. In short, the popular vote wins.”
“Very democratic,” I said as noncommittally as I could. If Peter thought I was going to march around Paris soliciting votes for him, he was quite, quite mad. “I don’t, however, see what this has to do with me. As.I said, I have no intentions of trying to get the position.”
“You don’t need to. If there are no other challengers— and to date, I am the sole contender, the two other individuals who were interested having killed each other in an ill-fought challenge—then anyone who is voted into the position will be declared the new Venediger.” He paused to let that sink in. “Even someone who is appar ently unwilling to take the position.”
“They can’t make me be Venediger against my will,” I said quickly.
“You think not?” His eyebrows rose. “There is prece dent for it, in fact. In 1518, a friar was made Venediger when the man who sought the position was proven to have participated in a number of human sacrifices. The members of the Otherworld refused to accept him and picked instead a man they felt would not abuse the po sition.”
“That has nothing to do with me. I’m not going to be Venediger, period.”
“My travels to explore the mystic side of myself have sent me into the Far East for so many years, I’m afraid I am unacquainted with most of the people in the L’au-dela now. They do not know me, but they know—and appar ently trust—you. I very much fear that unless you make it clear you support me, you may find yourself in the very position you so fervently wish to avoid. As you can see, it would benefit us both were you to make a public stand.”
The weight of the world settled onto my shoulders, making me slump with weariness. Just how much was any one person supposed to bear? Wyvern’s mate and demon lord and Guardian ... and now Venediger? My mind balked at the thought. I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t take on one more responsibility. I hadn’t yet proven I could handle the ones I had!
“I’m sorry,” I said, getting to my feet and shaking my head. “This is not something I can become involved in.”
“You already are, Aisling Grey.”
“No, I’m not; you just think I am. And I’m not going to be. Good-bye, good luck, and happy election or what ever it is you have to go through.”
He said nothing as I walked away, but I could feel his curiously unemotional black eyes on me until I was out of sight. I pushed away the twinge of concern our conversation had brought me. Peter Burke and his desire to become Venediger had nothing to do with me, nothing at all. Or so I prayed.
6
“So you’re saying there’s nothing short of a blood sacri fice that will satisfy the imps and
“Nonetheless, it would give me the greatest pleasure to know I had your support in my campaign to become the next Venediger.”
I had to tread warily here—dragon politics had taught me that much. “I’m going to be honest here, since you seem to be a reasonable man. I am flattered that you think I can help you get the job, but I don’t know you. I barely know anyone in Paris, and nothing of the history of the Venedigers, let alone exactly what the job entails, so it’s out of the question for me to throw my support behind you. Or anyone else for that matter,” I added quickly, just in case he was pricked by my refusal. “It’s nothing to do with you personally. I’m just not qualified to recommend anyone for the job.”
He pursed his lips for a moment. “Are you aware of the laws governing the Otherworld regarding the position of Venediger?”
“No, I’m not. And that’s just one more reason why it would be stupid of me to recommend someone—”
“The laws of the Otherworld state that the position is granted to the person who has beaten all other chal lengers. If there are no challengers, then the position is put up to a vote by the membership of the L’au-dela. In short, the popular vote wins.”
“Very democratic,” I said as noncommittally as I could. If Peter thought I was going to march around Paris soliciting votes for him, he was quite, quite mad. “I don’t, however, see what this has to do with me. As.I said, I have no intentions of trying to get the position.”
“You don’t need to. If there are no other challengers— and to date, I am the sole contender, the two other individuals who were interested having killed each other in an ill-fought challenge—then anyone who is voted into the position will be declared the new Venediger.” He paused to let that sink in. “Even someone who is appar ently unwilling to take the position.”
“They can’t make me be Venediger against my will,” I said quickly.
“You think not?” His eyebrows rose. “There is prece dent for it, in fact. In 1518, a friar was made Venediger when the man who sought the position was proven to have participated in a number of human sacrifices. The members of the Otherworld refused to accept him and picked instead a man they felt would not abuse the po sition.”
“That has nothing to do with me. I’m not going to be Venediger, period.”
“My travels to explore the mystic side of myself have sent me into the Far East for so many years, I’m afraid I am unacquainted with most of the people in the L’au-dela now. They do not know me, but they know—and appar ently trust—you. I very much fear that unless you make it clear you support me, you may find yourself in the very position you so fervently wish to avoid. As you can see, it would benefit us both were you to make a public stand.”
The weight of the world settled onto my shoulders, making me slump with weariness. Just how much was any one person supposed to bear? Wyvern’s mate and demon lord and Guardian ... and now Venediger? My mind balked at the thought. I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t take on one more responsibility. I hadn’t yet proven I could handle the ones I had!
“I’m sorry,” I said, getting to my feet and shaking my head. “This is not something I can become involved in.”
“You already are, Aisling Grey.”
“No, I’m not; you just think I am. And I’m not going to be. Good-bye, good luck, and happy election or what ever it is you have to go through.”
He said nothing as I walked away, but I could feel his curiously unemotional black eyes on me until I was out of sight. I pushed away the twinge of concern our conversation had brought me. Peter Burke and his desire to become Venediger had nothing to do with me, nothing at all. Or so I prayed.
6
“So you’re saying there’s nothing short of a blood sacri fice that will satisfy the imps and
Similar Books
