Stormseer (Storms in Amethir Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

nothing like Arisanat, but he shared Rija's artistic bent, and Arisanat thought him the spitting image of Venra at eight.
    "Now you must go away, Da," Variden said. "I'm making you a gift, but I have to finish it." He squirmed. "Put me down."
    Arisanat kissed him once more and set him gently down. Variden darted back into his room. When Rija didn't follow, Arisanat glanced questioningly at her.
    "Don't worry, Kala's in there. She'll watch over him." Rija took his arm and turned him back towards the front rooms. "So. Tell me about your journey."
    Arisanat cleared his throat. "Journey itself was uneventful. The quarry's filling faster than it was, though. If you need any more of that heartstone marble, you'd best send the orders up at once. I think the vein will be under water before Longday."
    "Gods have mercy, Aris," she whispered. Her brows drew together as she stared up at him.
    "Never mind. Fenla's a genius, and his apprentice is nearly as skilled. Fenla has him up scouting for a new location." Arisanat straightened his shoulders; she didn't need to know how worried he was. "Your husband did request your presence at the estate."
    She waved a hand. "As soon as this commission is finished. Another fortnight, at most." She pressed her lips together in something that was trying to be a smile. "We'll figure something out, Aris."
    "Of course we will. We're House Burojan." He hoped his smile was more convincing than hers. "Now I could use a hot bath, and perhaps a massage. The roads are not smooth, this early in spring. I'll join you for dinner later."
    "And Variden?"
    "Tonight, of course." He paused. "Rija? When you go back to the estate, take Vari with you. I think he would be better away from the city, just now." He smiled at her and headed for his bath. He opted to skip the massage, though, when his chamberlain knocked as he was drying off.
    "Beg pardon, my lord. Councilman Birona is here to speak to you. I told him you are just returned from the country, but he insists. He says he must apprise you of developments within the council."
    "Ah, well, let me finish dressing, then bring him in." Birona was head of the Third Family, and he had been a welcome voice of reason on the council this last year. Known as a moderate until then, he had been less than enamored of King Marsede's peace plans. "And send in wine and refreshments. My head is aching."
    "My lord." The chamberlain bowed and withdrew.
    Five minutes later, Lord Birona strode in. He was bulky without quite being fat, but his small eyes and broad forehead pushed him across the line into ugly. Nevertheless he was one of the shrewdest men Arisanat knew, as well as one of the richest. In recent years, with the slow failing of Arisanat's quarry, Birona's wealth was likely creeping up even on him. Best of all, for Arisanat's purposes, was that Birona's fortune had been made on supplying the army and rebuilding Rivarden. Marsede's peace had threatened that.
    "Burojan," Birona said, sitting without preamble or courtesies. "Trouble in the countryside, or was that a pretext to get away from the endless council meetings?"
    Arisanat snorted and straightened in his chair. He removed a cinnamon shard from the little box at his elbow and stuck it between his teeth. "Neither. Just a bit of business that couldn't be done without me."
    Birona merely grunted. He was studying Arisanat. The chamberlain entered with his tray of coffee and sweetcakes, pouring silently and vanishing again. Arisanat sipped his drink and met Birona's gaze.
    "Well, I hate to trouble you so soon after you returned home, but I might as well tell you what trouble the council has caused while you were away."
    "Please do. Coffee or wine?"
    "Need you ask? Wine." Birona took the proffered goblet and leaned back in his chair. "There's been some unrest regarding the new tax on coffee. Ridiculous. It isn't as if we can transport it from the Long Coast at no cost."
    Arisanat rolled his eyes. "It could be worse. The council