A Business of Ferrets (Bharaghlafi Book 1) by Beth Hilgartner Page A

sure," he said slowly.
    "Does that mean, 'I have a guess I'm not telling you?'"
    "Yes." A deadly silkiness invaded his voice. "And you've pushed me as far as you will tonight, my sweet thief. Go back to the Trollop and send the others home."
    "While you do what?"
    But Sharkbait had already melted into the night.
    ***
    Much later, Rhydev Azhere sat in his comfortable study, nursing a solitary brandy and thinking. He thought he had all the pieces, now, if he could just construct the puzzle... The boy, the beautiful Owl, was bait. The obvious inference was that Ycevi meant to use the boy to leverage some concessions out of him ; but somehow, that was too obvious, too crude for a woman of her subtlety. So if not him, then who? He'd heard the rumors: Venykhar Ghobhezh-Ykhave offering five Royals for the child; but Ycevi had nothing to gain from House Ykhave. She wouldn't need expensive bait to lure the Council Lord of the artisans. The boy could be aimed at the Prime Minister; but if so, he doubted her ploy would work. Old Uncle Zherekhaf was truly unlikely to sacrifice his eternal, convoluted scheming for a fleeting passion, be the boy ever so appealing. No. He had another theory—and he thought he was right. Ycevi's young kinsman, Cithanekh, had the proper bloodlines; and—judging from his behavior this evening at that tavern—he was compassionate enough to be vulnerable, whatever his proclivities. Unless he was very much mistaken, the boy was aimed at Cithanekh.
    It was a beautiful plan; it might even work. But if it would work for Ycevi, it would certainly work for him. The ticklish part was how to get the boy. After that, it would be a fairly simple matter to eliminate rival claimants and engineer a disaster for the Scholar King. The whole would take delicate conniving, but Rhydev was confident of his ability. He smiled very slowly. If he were particularly skillful, he might even enlist his uncle's support—and that truly would be an elegant piece of deviousness. Pleased with himself, Rhydev tossed off the rest of his brandy and went to bed.

Chapter Nine—The Lady's Puppy
    Owl sampled, with elaborate caution, the breakfast Myncerre served him—a fact she couldn't fail to notice. After the third time he broke one of the savory cakes into tiny pieces, Myncerre clicked her tongue.
    "The Lady forbade me to dose you with more haceth . You might as well enjoy your meal."
    Owl nodded. "And if she had given you orders to poison me gain, no doubt you'd say exactly the same thing."
    Myncerre winced. "I daresay I deserved that."
    Owl went back to dissecting breakfast cakes with great attention. After several silent minutes, Lady Ycevi herself swept into the room in a swirl of pale blue silks. Owl froze in outrage as she swooped over to him, and planted a scented kiss on his brow.
    "How are you feeling, my poor, sweet boy? Why, you've hardly eaten any breakfast."
    "Do you blame me?" Owl demanded.
    Lady Ycevi's mouth hardened. "I paid ten Royals for you. I'm unlikely to poison you intentionally. If you hadn't proved sensitive, the haceth wouldn't have been harmful."
    Owl did not reply, but the skeptical assessment in his clear eyes flustered even Lady Ycevi. She picked at the hem of one flowing sleeve. "Have you finished your meal?" she asked, then at his nod gestured for him to follow her. He obeyed, trailing the requisite three steps in her wake.
    At the door of the library Lady Ycevi paused and said, with a little moue of irritation. "I've left something in my chambers. Go amuse my guest until I return."
    "May I not fetch it for you, most gracious Lady?"
    "Do as I say," she instructed. She opened the door, sent him through with a gentle push, then she shut it behind him; he heard the scrape of a key as the lock snicked home. A man stood by the tall windows, looking out across the sheltered gardens; as he turned toward the boy, Owl's breath caught. He had dreamed of this man: young, thin, with aquiline features, a green-gemmed