Sing the Four Quarters Read Online Free Page A

brought her the news of their mother's accident and she'd clutched his hand when they'd buried her, not understanding why the healers couldn't fix her. She'd been the first after the proud parents to hold Theron's baby girl. That wasn't being spoiled. "Look, Milena, you're happy. Why can't I be?"
    "I found happiness on the path of duty. Obviously, that's not good enough for you." Having said what she'd come to say, Milena spun on her heel and returned to her partner's side. After a moment, their heads moved so close together a feather wouldn't fit between them.

    Annice felt her lip curl watching them, so she propped one leg on the window ledge and glanced around the room.
    Everyone seemed to be staying as far away from her as they could get, as if afraid physical proximity might implicate them in her plan. Well, Theron had been pretty angry and was likely to stay that way for some time . Only Tomelis would meet her eyes. Why does he look so sad ? she wondered. Just for an instant, she wondered if she might have made a tactical error. How could she at fourteen actually outmaneuver a man nineteen years her senior?
    But I've done it. With everyone else joined before Theron takes the throne, he's already let me know that I'm too strong a game piece for him to lose from the board. Even if I didn't join with Prince Rajmund, he'd never let me become a bard.
    He couldn't stop her now.
    The door to the bedchamber opened and the men and women in the solar dropped to one knee as the new king emerged. Expecting him to walk right on through, Annice was startled when he stopped before her.
    "By the will of the late King Mikus," he said, "you have permission to enter Bardic Hall. I, Theron, King of Shkoder, High Captain of the Broken Islands, Lord over the Mountain Principalities of Sibiu, Ohrid, Adjud, Bicaz, and Somes, do on this day declare that by doing so you forfeit all rights of royalty, that you shall surrender all titles and incomes, that all save your personal possessions shall revert to the crown. Furthermore, for the stability of the realm, you may neither join nor bear children without the express permission of the crown. To do so will be considered a treasonous act and will be punished as such."
    Annice thought she heard a deep voice murmur a protest, quickly hushed. Eyes narrowed, she glared up at her brother, her new king.
    "Do you understand?" he asked, his lips pulled tight against his teeth. To be convicted of an act of treason was to face a Death Judgment.
    He thought she'd back down. Well, he was wrong. "I understand."
    "Witness!"
    Behind him, the Bardic Captain sighed. "Witnessed."
    Annice thought she saw something that might have been regret flicker for a moment in Theron's eyes then he turned away from her and said, "Done."
    CHAPTER TWO
    Done . Annice pulled off her mitten and rubbed the back of her hand under her nose. Sometimes Bardic Memory stinks .
    She didn't know whether she'd seen regret that afternoon or just imagined it. She'd never spoken to Theron, to any of them, again. Not once in ten years. She wasn't even sure if that was his idea or hers. "Annice?" Jon laid his huge hand lightly on her shoulder. "Are you all right?"
    "Yeah. I'm fine."
    "I didn't mean your stomach." She sighed and let it go with the breath. "I know." He sat back, still watching her, worry creasing his face. "I'm sorry I brought it up." He offered her a tentative smile. "I'll forget it if you like."
    "Will you forget that unenclosed song, too?"
    "I'll even pound it out of my brother's head." Annice grinned and held out her fist. "Done," she said.
    "You want yer weight carried back upriver in the spring, Bard, you whistle me up." Sarlo smacked her fist into the top of Annice's with enthusiasm. The kigh had got them to Riverton one full day faster than average. "Pity I couldn't use yer help in the races."

    "Wouldn't you rather win because of your skill not because of a push from the kigh?"
    Sarlo snorted. "I'd rather win."
    Grinning,