Her only true companion lay stretched out a few yards away against the back wall. Cinla, sleek and sinewy, was a moor cat of average size, but striking design. Her strange reddish gold color was an exquisite rarity. Like all moor cats, she had the ability to appear and disappear at will, sometimes without even seeming to move. She accompanied her mistress outside her chambers every now and then, even on occasion into the Coalition Council chambers, but mostly she remained hidden from view. Drust himself had seen the big cat only once.

There were rumors about the relationship that existed between Edinja and Cinla, but they were of the sort that most often originated from malicious gossip and lacked any basis in truth. Still, there was a troubling intelligence in the moor cat’s green eyes as she studied Drust. He held her gaze only a moment before looking away.

“Good evening, Prime Minister,” Edinja greeted, indicating a chair close to where she rested.

“Good evening to you, Minister Orle,” Drust returned. He moved over to the chair indicated and sat down. “I appreciate your giving me this opportunity to speak with you alone.”

“And I that you were willing to come to me in my chambers so that this meeting could be conducted discreetly.”

He smiled. “I am flattered to be allowed into such a private place.”

“It must be difficult finding time for meetings such as this these days,” she responded, dismissing his compliment with a small wave of one tiny hand. “Given the demands of your new office.”

He decided not to let that pass. “Let me say something right up front. I am fully aware that you wanted the position of Prime Minister and that you are less than happy that I now own it. I didn’t seek it out and perhaps I should have refused when it was offered. But it seemed wrong to do so when you and Commander Arodian were at such odds. I took it as a means of avoiding further conflict, not to satisfy any need of my own. You may not believe me, but this is so. I am aware that you are better qualified to be Prime Minister than I am. So is Arodian, for that matter. I have said so publicly. I am here for that very reason. I cannot do this without your help.”

“Is that so?” She said it as if it were hard for her to believe. “You think yourself inadequate? You believe you require my poor skills to help you navigate treacherous waters?”