The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) (32 page)

“No, I haven’t forgotten that, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’d still be too dangerous.”

“What if I said you’d have a squad of either Feroun or Pathfinders here?”

“Permanently?”

“Until this ends.”

“Can you guarantee that?”

“Vukasin can.”

“Again, why would he?”

“Again, same reason.”

I shook my head. “I don’t understand.”

“Vukasin knows that you are challenging someone who thinks they can control Andreas. He cannot allow Andreas to think that he can ignore the zupans with impunity. I think he will appreciate the opportunity to use you.”

“I suppose so. I guess that means I might be able to get help from Vesela, too.”

Piri shrugged. “Possibly. I don’t know what she’s thinking about you. I also don’t know if she realizes how much of her power is at risk if the governor of Dassaretum becomes strong, powerful, and independent. Vukasin certainly does.”

I shook my head as Piri stood up. “I’m going to get Arkady and his slugabouts ready to go. You should go arm yourself.”

“I wish I had my scale armor.”

“Where is it?”

“With Sebastijan, so a day or two away.”

“Do you have any armor?”

“The leathers I wore as a caravan guard.”

“Wear that. I notice you have not been wearing your saex. Does Sebastijan have that as well?”

I nodded.

“And your sword would be distinctive, too,” she mused.

“Yes, he has everything but my spear.”

“But you have the spatha you wore last night?”

“Yes.”

“Wear that. Leave the spear.”

Nothing happened on our walk to Mrnjavcevic House. Whatever resources were lined up against us, they apparently were not immediately sufficient to attack a prepared squad of Pathfinders. As we got closer, I began to think about the trip home.

“We should not stay at Mrnjavcevic House long,” I muttered.

Piri grinned. “Just thought of that, did you?”

“What?”

“That the longer we’re here, the more likely someone could gather a big enough force to attack all of us.”

“Well, it’s happened to me before. Remember the night Desimir died.”

“No, that night Pal wanted to talk to you first. He could just as easily have attacked you on the way to the mansion.”

I shrugged. Piri was right as usual.

“In this case, we’re facing someone who might think this is his or her best chance to get at you.”

“So what are we going to do?”

“Nothing.”

“What?”

“I said that we’re facing someone who might think this is the best time, but that’s extremely unlikely.”

“Huh?”

“They don’t know what you’re planning. They don’t know you’re going to change everything.”

“Oh. They’ll think they’ll have some other chance when you and Arkady’s squad are not around me.”

“Exactly.”

I paused.

“But why do they think I’m going to Vukasin’s?”

“I’m sure they’re guessing you’re coming to ask for help, but not the kind of help you’re actually going to ask for.”

As I realized she was correct, we arrived at the Mrnjavcevic House.

“Arkady, keep your lads and lasses out here. I don’t expect anything to happen, but…”

“Yes, Piri. I’ll keep their eyes watchin’.” He turned to his troop. “You heard the hecatontarch.”

Piri, Maja, and I walked entered Mrnjavcevic House. A short, energetic, grandmotherly type awaited us. She seemed less disapproving of me than the first time we had met, but she certainly did not think I was worthy to consort with Vukasin or any other important Dassaretae. She did, however, respect Piri, so when Piri asked to see Vukasin, she did not question her and led us back.

I vaguely remembered the long, rambling path through Mrnjavcevic House. It led through hallways and rooms brightened by skylights and rooms lit by small candles and even one with a splashing fountain. The décor and fittings gradually became more luxurious as we processed closer to Vukasin’s den, though unlike the Gropas, the Mrnjavcevics never seemed anxious to wallow in opulence.

The short woman tapped on the door to Vukasin’s sitting-room door. At his sharp “Yes,” she admitted us.

Vukasin rose from his comfortable chair as we entered, putting a mark into the book he was reading. He looked at us with smiling eyes.

“Well, this is an interesting set of visitors. How may I help you?”

“May we sit, uncle?”

“Please. Shall you remain long enough for refreshments?”

Piri shook her head as we all took chairs. “No, we merely need your help.”

“All of you? I mean, I know Edward is involved in something between Ylli and Gibroz. How are you involved?”

“I suppose I am not involved, at least not any more than as an advisor.”

I spoke up. “And I am the recipient of Piri’s advice.”

“What did she advise you?”

“That I come to you asking a favor. I need two score or so people to help me keep this conflict between Ylli and Gibroz from exploding.”

Vukasin leaned back thinking. “Forty people? That is a large favor to ask.”

“And more than that, Uncle. He’ll need a squad of Pathfinders or Feroun to stay at the Faerie until this is done.”

He tapped the book on his thigh. “You think he’s in that much danger?”

“Yes. And the Faerie, and those who are staying there.”

I started to explain the plan, but Piri put her hand on my wrist. Vukasin rose from his seat and strode around the room, occasionally muttering to himself.

“You’re wanting the two score primarily to gather information?”

“Yes. I need to keep track of Gibroz, his main thugs, Gabrijela, Andreas, and Pherenike.”

“Ah, yes. Andreas.” He grinned tightly and continued. “If you are simply looking to gather information, you are expecting to need them for some time.”

“Piri said weeks, maybe months.”

He nodded. “A sizable commitment.”

“Yes.”

“Is someone trying to oust Gibroz?”

“That’s my best guess. I don’t think Ylli is pushing at Gibroz.”

“You learned this in Lezh?”

“Yes. Ylli is not actively trying to cheat Gibroz, so the evidence that suggests he is must be intended to provoke a conflict.”

Vukasin thought about that and nodded. “You’ve been attacked, what, twice so far?”

“Three times, plus an ambush that I avoided.”

“So even though you want the two score to gather information, they have to be able to take care of themselves.”

I nodded sourly.

“Don’t like that, do you, Sevener?”

“No, I don’t.”

“That must mean you’re going to direct my two score and not lead them.”

“Yes.”

“And you’re even more bothered that Piri’s asked for a squad to guard you and the Faerie.”

“Yes.”

“What about Sebastijan?”

“I’ll certainly use him when I can, but he’s two days away and his man Radovan is hurt. I don’t know that Radovan won’t be attacked, so right now Sebastijan’s three other men are watching him. I do not yet know how much he and his men can help.”

“You worked with Svetislav before. What about now?”

“I think Svetislav is telling his Lakewardens to eat and drink at the Faerie, but I don’t think the Enchelei are strong enough to provide constant help right now.”

Vukasin nodded. “So you would use the Faerie as a hub for the information. Have my two score bring you reports and have the squad of Feroun or Pathfinders protect you from the inevitable response?”

“That is the plan.”

“Piri’s plan?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think of it?”

“It goes against my instincts. I should be confronting the possible players. I shouldn’t sit and wait like a Reader for people to bring me scraps to sift through.”

Vukasin laughed his rumbling laugh as I continued. “But clearly I’m simply going to get attacked repeatedly. Maybe this way I can find things out instead of giving Kapric and Zvono more paperwork.”

“I hear she’s quite upset with you.”

I sighed. “She’s probably right to be. I’m on a galloping horse that doesn’t want to stop, making decisions that just seem to be the best thing to do at the time. I’m not sure any of them are right.”

“And you and Piri are looking to smooth the ride.”

“Yes.”

He thought for a long while. “Why do you think I’ll do this? Are you appealing to my generosity?”

“I’m sure you’re quite generous yourself, but you’re a zupan first. Piri tells me that you have not yet rewarded Andreas for holding me despite your instructions.”

“That’s true.”

“I care not for Andreas. I care about Honker Harald and the people at the Frank Faerie. I care about fulfilling my word and ending this. I suppose I also care about your grand-niece now, also. I am completely comfortable throwing Andreas to the Great Wolf if I can fulfill my obligations and protect my friends.”

“Why Maja?”

“Piri has convinced us that Maja will benefit by entering my service. I have sworn her bencriht this very morning.”

With a raised eyebrow, Vukasin looked at Piri.

“Interesting,” he rumbled. He paused. “But irrelevant to your request.”

“Yes. I only mentioned her because she is one of my responsibilities now.”

He nodded. “If I grant you this favor, you will swear that you will not hurt the Dassaretae or any of their interests.”

“Yes, unless I am unaware I am doing so.”

He tapped his book in his lap. “Very well. Piri was correct. I can and will provide your spies. I will have them, or at least a contact, come to you at the Faerie. Can you organize them properly?”

I shrugged. “I doubt it. Or, rather, I have no doubt you or someone from this city can organize them better than I can. I have led small groups of men in battle, but this is not a type of war I’m familiar with. However, I do plan on relying on Piri and, when he gets back, Sebastijan.”

He nodded. “That’s probably wise. I can help with that, too.”

He looked at Piri and added, “And you can station a squad at the Faerie. I assume you’d prefer it normally be a Pathfinder squad?”

“Yes, but we’re still understrength.”

“Set up a rotation.” He paused for a moment. “Tell Dominik to assign Vojin to lead whichever Feroun happen to stay at the Faerie. Edward knows him slightly, and he needs more command experience anyway.”

She nodded. “One more question, Uncle.”

“Yes?”

“How likely is it that an organization, a large organization, might be active in Achrida without your knowledge?”

“Why would you ask me that?”

We detailed our thoughts and reasoning from earlier in the day. He listened calmly and took a few moments before answering.

“I must admit that I do not think it likely. However, I would not have guessed that Andreas would disregard my instructions, and yet he did so.”

“Have you found out who prompted him to do so yet?”

Vukasin shook his head.

“No, Sevener, I’m rather frustrated to say that I have not.”

“Who else would he obey?”

“Theoretically, he would obey instructions from the Emperor.”

“Theoretically?”

“Most of the time, governors know that to actively disobey a zupan in Achrida, even against the will of the Emperor, will put a kink in their normal activities.”

“Normal activities?”

“Gathering every dinar they can by whatever corruption seems reasonable into their own coffers. They serve for five or six years, and they all aim to earn more than they can squander in the rest of their lives.”

“Have you disrupted Andreas’s collection of bribes?”

“Yes.”

So might an earthquake answer in the affirmative.

“You said ‘most of the time.’ You’re saying governors have at times ignored the will of the zupans?”

He nodded. “Occasionally, an Emperor will make instructions that brook no discussion. Governors get nervous when Imperial headsmen are looking their way. However, that did not happen this time.”

“You know the instructions they’re given?”

“Yes. That is to say, I know all his kurioi tell him and the Emperor, and I usually know what the dispatches sent back and forth say.”

“It’s possible that such an instruction came to him, though.”

“I suppose, but the chances are low.”

“Yet Andreas held me for enough time to prepare ambushes from Lezh.”

“Yes. And somehow someone managed to convince Andreas to do so. I still don’t think such instructions came from the Emperor—though I’ll admit it is possible, because someone
did
convince him.” He rumbled laughter as a thought struck him. “However, I can tell you the Emperor is quite interested in you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. He’s eager to meet you after what happened to Pal.”

I shook my head in amazement.

“You should have no problems attaining a station in the Imperial Guard when that time comes. But that time is ahead of us, and we still have this problem to resolve.”

“You’re saying that you are no closer to determining who got to Andreas now. And while you don’t think a large organization could exist in Achrida without your knowledge, Gibroz’s kral could easily be manipulated without your knowledge.”

Vukasin nodded. “Achrida is my home, and to an extent my domain. It is both my responsibility and the requirement of my station to remain vigilant here.”

“But the krals...”

“But the krals are challenging for me to penetrate at times. Of course, some Mrnjavcevic and Dassaretae enter the krals. Some work for both of us, as their positions may not have any conflict between my expectations and one of the kraljevics. Nevertheless, I know less of what happens in the krals themselves than I do with the Enchelei. Again, partially that is because of their people, and partially that is because our domains do not always cross each other.”

“So if there were a large organization working in Achrida outside your knowledge, it would be more likely a kral instead of the Enchelei.”

“Exactly. I will investigate your questions. And I will not allow potential competitors to thrive.”

“I’ve no doubt of that.”