A Kiss of Fire (A Kiss of Magic #2)(20)

“We did not have the means to pay the Sarens what they were asking for outright. We are a rich country, but we are not that rich and we were desperate for the land. It was a good choice. Or as good a choice as we were able to make. As it is it is taking us time to refill our coffers in the wake of the purchase.”

“They will never refill if we have to pay a tithe every autumn.”

“They will. It was not an unreasonable amount.”

“I never agreed with the war, but since we were in it, it seems we would have been wiser to simply take what we wanted, purchase be damned.”

“Of course you did not agree with the war. You never agree with any of my choices,” Sin said dryly. “But we were losing too many lives and too many battles. We were lucky the Sarens wanted to make the deal at all. It cost us less in lives and the expense of war in the long run. Now our country is enlarged by half. Is that not worth a small tithe every autumn?”

“It is hardly small,” Vich said.

“Neither is the land.” Sin was tired of this same argument. They had had it dozens of times since the agreement had been made. Raj Vich insisted that, had he been there they would have struck a better bargain. Raja Sin let this insult slide. He could care less about his brother’s opinions…however voluble they might be.

“But to give it away for free…”

“The land needed to be settled. We need farmers willing to plant fields and begin to grow the grain and produce we need to feed our people. We needed to make it as attractive to them as possible. I will not go over my reasons again,” Sin said testily.

“Of course not,” his brother said with sudden magnanimousness. “I mean only to provide a differing perspective.”

“A talent you excel at,” Sin said wryly.

“Well, I came only to say it is good to have you returned to us safe and undamaged. But…you did not tell me what business it was that you had with the Sarens.”

And he damn well wasn't going to. Not a moment before he had to. Oh, Sin knew that his brother would find out very quickly. That there was a woman installed in the peculiar room Sin had ordered be constructed some time ago. That it had been left empty and without apparent purpose until six weeks ago when he had ordered the room outfitted with a bed and all the things of comfort a woman could use. Now that the room had an occupant, it was only a matter of time before his brother learned there was a woman there…and not too long after that that he would discover the identity of that woman. Then…then there would be a price to pay. What that price would be he didn’t know. There was no telling what the people would think of what he had done. Especially if it brought new war to their doorsteps.

But the deed was done and there was no going back. He only had the future to be concerned with.

A future with her.

“I needed to establish a trade of goods,” he said.

“Well surely you could have sent emissaries for that,” his brother said keenly.

“Not for this. It was a delicate matter that needed my presence. Besides, you always enjoy ruling in my stead. Are you complaining about the duty?”

“Not at all. You know I am more than capable.”

“If you call your solution to the mining problem capable.”

His brother bristled. “My solution was just as good as yours was.”

“For the short term perhaps…until they grew discontented again. Our manpower resources are not what they once were. There are no longer ten men vying for one job.”

“Again, your land claiming idea is to blame for that,” his brother said.

“I am glad of it. It means there are no longer men and their families starving. It means there are no longer the unemployed or generations fitted under one roof just to survive on the pittance one or two working family members can bring in. No, I do not regret my choice to give the land away for free. And again, I will not rehash the idea any further.”

“Of course not, Brother,” the raj said to the raja. “Well, it is good to see you. A month is too long for my brother to be gone.”

With a little bow, Raj Vich left the room. Once they were alone, Sin glanced up at Lindo.

“It is only a matter of time before he discovers it,” Lindo said.

“I am aware of that,” Sin said.

“What will you do when he does?”

“I will make no apology for my actions, that’s for damn sure. What I have done is in the way of our people. No one can argue that.”

“It’s not how or why you did it that people will take exception to. It is the who.”

“She is a healthy, beautiful woman of childbearing autumns. That is all that should matter to them.”

Lindo snorted out a laugh. “You don’t believe that for a second.”

Sin threw back the rest of the liquor in his glass, taking it in one large swallow. He rose to his feet and walked over to the sideboard where an array of liquors of varying colors and potency sat. He chose the hussa again. It didn’t mix well with others. Not in flavors and not in the belly. He poured a healthy glass and took another swallow of it before turning to face his friend and advisor.

“Perhaps,” he said. “But it is the tactic I will take in the matter. As I said, I will make no apology for what I have done. And I trust none of my closest aides will gainsay the matter.”