Read Online No Quarter by Tanya Huff - Free Book Online Page A

kigh and leaving it at that. Unfortunately, filtering out trivial information and deliberately misleading a sovereign lord were two entirely different pieces of music. Shooting the chancellor a withering glance, Liene began with Karlene's recall, a sizable document she'd spent half the night reading, and finished with both her and Kovar's personal impressions.
    The tight smile remained. "Why didn't the younger bard—what's her name?"
    "Karlene, Majesty."

    "Yes, Karlene. Why didn't Karlene inform His Imperial Majesty, the Havakeen Emperor, that this Gyhard continued to exist in the assassin's body?"
    That was the first easy answer of the morning. "As Gyhard was in some manner responsible for a number of crimes against the Empire, formulating rebellion as Governor Aralt, not to mention intending to murder an Imperial Prince and take over his body…"
    "Not to mention," Rozele repeated dryly.
    Liene ignored the interruption. "… Karlene assumed that if the Emperor knew of his continued existence, he would order Gyhard's death. This would be impossible without destroying Vree, and His Majesty must admit she personally has done nothing to merit destruction."
    "Except perhaps saving the abomination," Theron growled, but his gesture conceded her point. "So," he leaned back and steepled his fingers, "you are suggesting that for the sake of one ex-assassin, I harbor a traitor to the Imperial Throne. I had thought that his Imperial Majesty required those bards who served in the Empire to swear on their music that they would not act contrary to the needs of the Empire while living there."
    "That is true, Majesty. However, those oaths specifically state that earlier oaths take precedence; oaths to Shkoder, oaths to the Bardic Hall."
    "And this was bardic business?"
    "Precisely, Majesty." Liene's voice deliberately left no room for doubt. "And it continues to be bardic business. It is an excellent opportunity for us to study the fifth kigh, Majesty."
    "Oh, yes, the fifth kigh." The king's words took on a distinct edge. "I'm glad you reminded me of that." He jabbed at the air with an emphatic finger. "This assassin is not, do you hear me, not to come in contact with my niece!"
    Magda sighed and wished that both the Bardic Captain and the chancellor—who bracketed the throne like a pair of scowling old buzzards—were somewhere else.
    Theron-her-uncle could be got around; not as easily as her father, perhaps, but the principle was the same. Theron-the-king was another matter entirely. "Majesty, I promise you I'm in no danger."
    He shook his head. "Child, you have no idea what this assassin is capable of."
    "But I do , Sire. I read every available reference in the Bardic Library and I'm probably safer with her than I am with anyone. Assassins kill for only two reasons."

    She held up a finger for each point. "Because they've been ordered to and because they're in mortal danger. That's why she killed the pirate, to save her life. You'd have done the same yourself."
    Magda's tone implied that he could have done the same himself and Liene hid a smile at a mental picture of Theron leaping from ship to ship with a knife in his teeth. Sixteen years in constant company with bards had taught the girl a trick or two—or perhaps it was those same sixteen years spent wrapping her father around her little finger.
    "They're very predictable," Magda continued, leaning forward, practically quivering with intensity. "And besides, she needs me. I'm the only person in the whole world who has any chance of finding Gyhard a body."
    The name chased away any amusement Theron might have been feeling at her emphasis. "And what of the abomination?"
    "Gyhard doesn't want to hurt me. He needs me, too. Without me, he'll never hold her or love her or…"
    "Maggi." Theron lifted a hand and cut off the list. "You can't know what an abomination needs."
    Yes, I can . But she didn't say it; even though the whole thing was really very simple, true love wasn't the argument