“You know I don’t.”

“Well then.” He shrugged. “As I see it, if you’re able to influence the party into pursuing goals compatible with the ones I favor anyway, then there’s no reason I shouldn’t work with you—or even other Liberals. But as you suggested a few minutes ago, there’s not much chance of New Kiev and her bunch climbing out of bed with that unmitigated bastard High Ridge anytime soon. So if I want to work with any Liberals, I have to try to put someone like you in charge of them.” He grinned at her. “You see? Nothing but pure, unadulterated, calculating self-interest on my part.”

“Sure it is.” She snorted, then stood in uncharacteristic stillness for several heartbeats while she thought it over.

“This is all very fascinating, Anton,” she said finally. “But even if this entire ambitious scenario you’ve mapped out for me were workable, it would still depend on High Ridge calling elections. Which means that however interesting the possibilities are, I can’t do anything about them. Probably not for years, the way things are going right now.”

“I agree that there’s not much chance High Ridge is going to call a general election any sooner than he has to,” Zilwicki agreed calmly. “But I’ve been doing a little quiet research. And it seems that the Member of Parliament for the Borough of High Threadmore right here in Landing has just been offered a very lucrative position with one of the major Solarian banking houses. If he accepts it, he’ll have to relocate to the League. The only reason he hasn’t already said yes is that he takes his responsibilities as a member of the old Liberal Party seriously, and he’s extremely unhappy with the way New Kiev and the party leadership have decided to play fast and loose with their principles in the name of political advantage. According to my sources, which include the gentleman in question, he and his family could certainly use the additional income the new position would provide, but he feels he has a moral responsibility to himself and to his constituents to stay where he is and try to prevent things from getting still worse.”

“Now, if he were to accept the banking job, he’d be required to resign his seat in Parliament. High Threadmore wouldn’t like that, because a majority of the borough’s voters are also members of the old Liberal Party, and they’re no happier with their present party leadership than he is. But under the Constitution, his resignation would automatically trigger a special election to refill his seat within a maximum of two months. That’s an absolute requirement, one not even High Ridge could prevent or defer, time of war or no time of war. And if you were to register as a candidate for his seat, and if he were to give you his enthusiastic endorsement and actively campaign for you, and if your campaign strategy emphasized the fact that you’ve renounced one of the most prestigious peerages in the entire Star Kingdom in order to seek election as a mere commoner as a matter of principle…”