Free The Quartered Sea by Tanya Huff

you," he added, with a leer, "that I was raised to recognize the responsibilities of royalty."
     
    Smiling distractedly, Jelena tucked her shirt back into her waistband. "Lord Brencis and Lady Hermina were instrumental in convincing the Council to agree to fund the Starfarer and her crew."
     
    "Were they?" he asked softly, reaching out to fasten the buttons he'd undone. "In my opinion, the Council was so happy you'd found yourself again, they'd have agreed to almost anything you asked."
     
    "Perhaps." Her fingers closed over his for a moment then she hurried toward the door. "But Lord Brencis and Lady Hermina were perceived as being instrumental, and you know as well as I do that needs a perceived response."
     
    Laughing at her sudden descent into politics, Otavas blew her a kiss and began to fasten various buttons and ties of his own. He'd always known she'd be a wonderful queen, and now that they'd gotten through those four horrible quarters of grief and guilt, he was relieved to see he'd been right all along.
     
    He only hoped she could come to an understanding with the Bardic Hall. Eight years in his adopted country had taught him that, eventually, everything in Shkoder came back to the bards.
     
    * * *
     
    Benedikt was at the Bardic Hall in Vidor before he heard the details about his captain's disagreement with the queen.
     
    "Well, I wouldn't go so far as to say it was a disagreement," murmured Edite, the new lieutenant, leading the way into her office and motioning for Benedikt to sit. "Of course Kovar disapproves of this voyage, but he'd never go so far as to disagree publicly with the queen."
     
    Arms folded over his quintara case—held shieldlike on his lap—Benedikt frowned. "What do you mean, of course?'"
     
    "We're a small country," she told him sharply, "surrounded by larger countries. Our attention must remain focused on the situation here at home, not on chasing some wild melody out over the sea."
     
    "What situation here at home?" This was just one of the many reasons why he hated not being able to Sing air. Every bard in the country knew what he didn't. There certainly hadn't been a situation back when he'd left Pjazef. Unless Pjazef knew something he wasn't telling. There had been a guarded tone to the older bard's voice.
     
    "Benedikt?"
     
    Jerked out of memory, he focused on Edite's face only to see an expression of impatient disapproval.
     
    "When you ask a question, you should, at least, attempt to pay attention to the answer."
     
    "Sorry."
     
    "Yes, well. I said, the situation in Shkoder is the same as it has always been." She leaned back, hands clasped under the prominent shelf of her breasts. "If we allow our strength to be bled away…"
     
    "I hardly think one ship will bleed much of anything away," Benedikt protested.
     
    "One ship is where it starts. Where does it end?" Her dark eyes narrowed. "One bard lost is one bard too many; we're all part of the pattern that keeps the country strong."
     
    Pjazef had used that exact line and, his memory prodded by repetition, Benedikt now knew where it came from. As Bardic Captain, Kovar had taught every fledgling since Liene had passed over the title a dozen years ago. Although Benedikt now remembered the lesson, it seemed to have had less effect on him than on the others. He could think of only one reason, only one way he was different. "Do all the bards think like you do?"
     
    "Well, I certainly can't say that I know what all the bards think, but those who've Walked out of Vidor since First Quarter Festival have no intention of supporting the queen's fancy."
     
    "Isn't that treason?" Behind what he hoped was an expressionless mask, Benedikt worked at pulling all the bits and pieces into a recognizable tune. Edite had been appointed to her position by Kovar. Although his choice for the lieutenant's position in Vidor had been limited to those bards who Sang all four quarters, would he have chosen Edite if she hadn't supported his