“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 explanation sounded plausible. As far as it went. Was she yielding two-thirds of the truth to mask the remainder?

“Sounds like a good idea to me. It would benefit Kavelin, surely, if the historical inertia of Shinsan could be shifted. Otherwise it doesn’t matter who’s in power.”

Again she made him sit through an extended silence. He did not let it distract him.

“What are you saying?”

“That I wouldn’t be averse to a scheme. But I want an understanding up front. You’re Chatelaine of Maisak. I don’t want to worry about my hold on the Savernake Gap.”

“I see. You want guarantees. What did you have in mind?”

Bragi smiled. Her attitude betrayed her thinking. “Not now. Not here. We need time to think. And I want witnesses. Varthlokkur and the Unborn.”

“You don’t trust anyone, do you?”

“Not now. Not anymore. Why should I? Your scheme is just one of my problems. I’m going to walk light and careful till it’s all under control.”

She laughed. He responded with a smile. She said, “It’s too bad you were born a westerner. You would have made a great Tervola.”

“Possibly. My mother was a witch.”

She seemed startled. She started to say something, but was interrupted by a servant who announced, “My Lady, there’s a gentleman here looking for His Majesty.”

Bragi looked at Mist and shrugged. “Send him in,” she said.

Dahl Haas bustled through the doorway. He still looked fresh. “Sire, I’ve been looking all over.”

“What is it?” Bragi had a bad feeling. Haas looked grim.

“An emergency, Sire. Please?” He gave Mist a meaningful glance.

What is this? Bragi wondered. “We’ll talk later,” he told Mist, and followed a frantic Dahl out of the house. “Come on. Spill it, Dahl.”

“It’s General Liakopulos. Somebody tried to kill him.”

“Tried? He’s all right?” Kavelin’s army was the foundation of Ragnarson’s power. Liakopulos was one of his most important officers.

“He’s in bad shape, Sire. I left him with Doctor Wachtel. Doc said he didn’t know if he’d make it. That was three hours ago.”

“Let’s ride, then. Who did it? A brawl?” The General frequented rough dives. He had been warned, but warnings did no good.

“No, Sire. Assassins.” Haas kicked his mount into a trot beside his King. “He was riding outside the palace. They ambushed him in the park. He got one of them, but they cut him up pretty bad. Gales found him and brought him in.”

“Who was the dead man?” Wind streamed past Bragi’s ear. It bore a smell of rain.

“Nobody recognized him. There wasn’t anything on him to identify him.”

“Harish?”

“No. He was fair. Possibly from the north.”

“Find Trebilcock when we get back.”