"Prince Antonov is praying at the moment, but he sometimes forgets himself. If I make some tea, would you take it to him for me?"

He nodded gladly. "I could get him some from the cook tent, if you like," Eryk offered. "To save you the trouble of making it."

"It's all right, Eryk, I don't mind," she a.s.sured him with a selfless smile. "Besides, his highness needs a bit of a boost. I thought he'd like some peppermint tea."

Chapter 78

Misha planned to convene a formal tribunal to try Ella Geon, Yuri Daranski and Madalan Tirov for attempted murder. Tia was all for summarily executing the three of them, but Misha knew the value of a public trial and Dirk supported his decision. The more public outcry about the Shadowdancers and what they had done to the Crown Prince of Senet, the better chance their cult would eventually be eliminated. The Shadowdancers' credibility was severely shaken after Bollow, but with the High Priestess still at the Lion of Senet's side, Misha's options were limited. While Marqel remained at large, Dirk couldn't really disband the Shadowdancers. He could issue all the decrees to that effect he wanted, but they would have no meaning unless the Lion of Senet withdrew his support.

So Misha decided on a public trial and as he was the key witness, he appointed the Lord of the Suns to preside over the case, which was the main reason he hadn't wanted Dirk to go to Omaxin. As he realized the very first day he returned to Avacas, having Dirk Provin in such a position of power was proving rather useful, and he intended to make the most of it.

Tia remained skeptical. Despite the fact Dirk had given Misha his unstinting support since his return, Tia still harbored a great deal of mistrust for Dirk Provin. She was afraid he would do something to sabotage the trial. Or worse, rule in favor of the defendants.

"There is nothing to worry about, Tia," Misha a.s.sured Tia for the hundredth time since he'd told her of his decision to try Ella and her cohorts publicly. "Dirk will see that justice is done."

"Whose idea of justice?" she asked, as they walked along the graveled path away from the palace.

Even now, Tia insisted he take a long walk each day to keep up his strength. Misha enjoyed the break and the chance to be alone with her, even if only for an hour or so. "Yours or Dirk's?"

"He won't let Ella get away with what she's done, my love. He promised me."

"He promises you anything you want to hear, Misha."

"I don't know why you still think he can't be trusted. He's done nothing but help me since I got back."

"Only because it's helping him."

Misha shook his head, at a loss as to how he could convince her. Then something else occurred to him that might account for her anger. "Tia, Dirk hasn't said or done anything... I mean he doesn't still think that you and he? ..."

"No, Misha," she sighed. "Dirk hasn't said anything. Or done anything, either. He acts like we're little more than strangers, actually. In a way, that almost hurts more. You'd think he'd have some shred of guilt. Some glimmer of feeling in him."

"Is that what's causing you so much grief then?" he asked, carefully. "That he seems to be so...

unaffected by your presence?"

Tia looked at him for a moment, thoughtful rather than angry at his suggestion. "I don't know. Dirk made a rather halfhearted attempt to apologize in Bollow, but I'd just escaped being burned at the stake by him, so I wasn't really in the mood to listen to excuses. I never thought of it like that, though." Then she shrugged, slipping her hand into his. "n.o.body on Ranadon can tell what's going on inside that head of his, so for all I know, he's dying from unrequited love. I doubt it, mind you. That would imply he was capable of normal human emotions. But anything's possible.""I can speak to him if you want," he offered.

"And tell him what, Misha?"

"To leave you alone, perhaps? Or ask him to apologize?"

"And let him think he meant something to me once? Don't you dare!"

"I'd like to do something to resolve the situation," Misha said, concerned by her obvious pain. "Like it or not, I'll be Lion of Senet someday. There is no way I can rule effectively without the support of the Lord of the Suns, particularly after what happened in Bollow. Dirk is going to be in our lives for a long time yet, my love, and I'd hate to think his presence causes you distress."

"In your life, Misha," she corrected. "I have no idea what the future holds for me."

He stopped walking and stared at her in surprise. "What are you talking about?"

"The future, Misha," she said. "I can't just hang around the palace looking decorative forever, can I?

Certainly not once your father and brother get back. And you'll have to get married someday and produce an heir and there'll be no place for me unless I want to be your mistress, and I don't think I could bear that. I suppose I could go to Kalarada with Mellie. I haven't really given it much thought."

"But I thought..."

She smiled. "Thought what? That I would be there for you to lean on forever? You don't need me, Misha. Not anymore. You've beaten the poppy-dust. You're strong enough to take on the whole world without any help from me. You've proved that time and again since you got back. Even Palinov is afraid of you now."

"But I love you."

"And I love you," she a.s.sured him. "But that's not enough. You know it as well as I do. You're the Lion of Senet's heir and I'm the heretic's daughter." She laughed suddenly, but it was tinged with bitterness. "It's not like you're planning to marry me, is it?"

Misha was dumbfounded.

She smiled understandingly. "It's all right, Misha, truly. And I know it's not your fault. You can't help being who you are, any more than I can."

"No," he objected. "You don't understand. I thought... well, I suppose I just a.s.sumed you wanted to marry me. G.o.ddess, what a fool I am. I never even thought to ask."

Tia was obviously unconvinced. "You don't have to say that to make me feel better."

"d.a.m.n it, Tia! I'm saying it because I mean it. What do you want me to do? Get down on my knees and beg for your hand?"

She searched his face for a moment and then frowned. "You're serious?"

"Of course, I'm serious."

"But I'm the heretic's daughter."

"And I'm the Crippled Prince. We'll make a fine pair, don't you think?" He pulled her to him and kissed her, just to make certain she knew he meant what he said, and then he smiled. "Besides, the Lord of the Suns is a friend of mine. I don't think Neris Veran's heresy is an issue anymore."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" she asked uncertainly. "Aren't you supposed to marry some well-bred virgin with all the right credentials?"

"Like who?"

"I don't know. Someone like... Jacinta D'Orlon, maybe?""Let me tell you something about the immaculately credentialed Lady Jacinta D'Orlon, my love. She has her sights set on someone far more unattainable than the Lion of Senet's heir. Anyway, I don't love anyone else. I love you."

"You're a prince, Misha," she reminded him. "You don't have that luxury. In fact, you're an idiot for even considering the idea. n.o.body will accept me. There's a price on my head, remember? And I don't know the first thing about being the consort of a prince."

"I can get rid of the price on your head with the stroke of a pen, Tia, and you can learn to be a princess, if you really want to. Anybody would think you didn't want to marry me."

"I do, Misha, but that's not the point."

"Then we'll do it right now," he declared. "We'll get Dirk to perform the ceremony."

"The h.e.l.l we will," she snorted. "The last person I want at my wedding is Dirk Provin."

"Just so long as you want me there."

She was silent for an agonizingly long time.

"Don't torture me, Tia. Will you marry me?"

After a long time, she shrugged. "I suppose."

He kissed her again, wishing he could bottle this moment for the future. Then a polite cough interrupted them and he looked up to find Dirk standing on the path behind them.

"Do you mind?" Misha said with a smile. "I just got betrothed."

"And I wish you and Tia all the happiness in the world, Misha," Dirk replied heavily. "But right now, you've got another problem."

"What problem?" Tia asked with a scowl, no doubt thinking Dirk had deliberately invaded their brief moment of happiness out of spite.

"Antonov is dead," Dirk told them. "You're the Lion of Senet now, Misha."

"Oh, G.o.ddess..." Misha gasped, clutching Tia for support.

"It gets worse," Dirk added grimly. "Kirsh has declared war on us."

They met in Antonov's private study a short time later: Dirk, Tia, Lord Palinov and Misha. The letter from Omaxin was waiting for him on Antonov's desk. It was written in clear and concise words and left no doubt about Kirsh's intentions.

Misha read it through and then looked up at Dirk. "He can't mean this."

"He means it," Dirk replied. "He says he swore an oath to Antonov that he would see Ranadon is true to the teachings of the G.o.ddess as set down by the High Priestess of the Shadowdancers. He knows you and I intend to get rid of them. What other interpretation can you put on it?"

"But war? How did it come to that?"

"You sent him up to Omaxin alone," Dirk pointed out. "I warned you it wasn't a good idea to let Marqel at him."

"I knew Kirsh was besotted by Marqel, but I don't believe he'd plunge Senet into a civil war, just to keep her in power."

"But he would honor an oath, Misha," Dirk warned. "Particularly an oath he made to your father.""I'm inclined to concur with the Lord of the Suns, your highness," Palinov agreed. "Your brother takes his honor very seriously."

"When I want your opinion, I'll ask for it," Misha snapped, in no mood for Palinov right now. He turned to Dirk with a look of despair. "I can't fight Kirsh. He's my brother."

"He'll be counting on that," Tia suggested.

"Tia's right," Dirk said. "And I'm guessing Kirsh doesn't want to fight you, any more than you want to fight him. But unless you're willing to give in to his demands, then you have no other choice."

"He demands you," Misha pointed out. "The burden of heresy has shifted somewhat, it seems."

"That's Marqel talking, not Kirsh."

"If Kirsh wants Dirk, then maybe that's exactly what you should give him," Tia mused.

They all looked at her for an explanation.

"And I don't mean that the way it sounds," she added, impatiently. "This isn't about you and your brother, Misha; it's about the Lord of the Suns and the High Priestess of the Shadowdancers. You and Kirsh just happen to support different sides and unfortunately, you're the ones with the armies."

"What are you suggesting, Tia?" Dirk asked. "That I lead Misha's forces into battle against Kirsh?"

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting."

"I'm not a general," Dirk objected. "And what army in Senet would follow me?"

"Any army I ordered to follow you," Misha pointed out thoughtfully.

Dirk stared at him. "Don't send me to war against Kirsh, Misha. Not that."

"The way I see it, I have two choices," Misha concluded. "I can send the Lord of the Suns to Omaxin to put down a minor uprising led by the disgraced High Priestess of the Shadowdancers, or I can lead an army against my own brother. One choice will cause a fuss that will more than likely blow over in a few months. The other will tear Senet apart and plunge us into civil war."

"This isn't my fight, Misha."

"That's where you're wrong, Dirk," Tia told him. "You made this your fight the moment you asked Paige Halyn to name you his heir. Now you're going to have to see it through to the bitter end."

Misha nodded slowly. "Tia's got a point, Dirk."

"But I don't know anything about fighting a war."

"That's a real pity, Dirk," Tia said unsympathetically. "Because from what I hear, Kirshov Latanya is pretty good at it."

Chapter 79.

The news of the sudden death of the Lion of Senet somehow seemed less important in the face of impending war. Jacinta heard from Lord Palinov that Dirk Provin was to lead Misha's army against the High Priestess. It was interesting, she thought, that everyone was going to great pains to point out this altercation was between the Lord of the Suns and the High Priestess. The fact that Senet's army had been split between Misha and Kirshov Latanya-which const.i.tuted the very essence of a civil war in Jacinta's opinion-seemed to be very deliberately downplayed.Her concern was not for Senet, though. The mainland could tear itself to shreds for all Jacinta cared.

Her concern was for Alenor and what such a thing would cost her people. Somebody had to pay for Senet's war and she was d.a.m.ned if it was going to be Dhevyn.

Jacinta demanded to see Misha as soon as she heard the news, and somewhat to her surprise he granted her an audience almost as soon as she asked for it. He was alone when she arrived, sitting in the large gilded chair Dirk had been keeping warm for him. It was his by right now. Misha didn't seem nearly as uncomfortable in it as Dirk had.

"Lady Jacinta."

"It was good of you to see me on such short notice, your highness," she said with a graceful curtsy.

"I realize what a trying time this must be for you."

"More trying than you imagine," he agreed. "Please. Sit down."

Jacinta took the seat he offered her and folded her hands in her lap. "I was sorry to hear about your father."