Hernod Grieg was a merchant who traded out of Sudvic, as Drakkar did. Drakkar knew of him, had met him and didn’t like him. Grieg didn’t consider himself wronged by the crown in so much as he disliked paying taxes to it for he preferred his coin in his coffers.
Why he would participate in a treasonous plot, Drakkar did not know. But both Quincy and Balthazar were already riding to Sudvic to find out.
With Viola out of the room, Atticus pulled himself together and not for the first time Drakkar thought this was one characteristic every king should have that Atticus of the House of Wilde did not.
He didn’t have the stomach for the dirty work of politics.
It was a weakness.
“I’ve heard of this Grieg,” Atticus stated.
“And what do you know?” Drakkar asked.
“Not much,” Atticus shook his head. “He’s a merchant in Sudvic. He attended the Solar Hunt last year, invited by a member of a House but he did not go to the Gales. I met him very briefly. I can’t even say for certain I recall what he looked like,” Atticus answered.
“Which House?” Drakkar pushed.
Atticus shook his head again. “That, as well, I can’t recall.
Drakkar studied his king then he whispered, “Try.”
Atticus held his eyes then replied, “Ravenscroft or Lazarus, maybe Sinclair or Njord but saying any at this juncture is slander for, indeed, Drakkar, this meeting was insignificant and I truly cannot recall.”
Drakkar’s eyes went to Annar who was standing, hands on hips, in the corner. “Get to Ravenscroft, Lazarus, Njord and Sinclair. They’re all here. I’ll need to speak to them before I go.”
Annar lifted a chin and left the room.
Drakkar looked to Aurora.
“And you?” he queried.
“I’ve never heard of him before,” she replied instantly, her eyes blank but active, though not, Drakkar sensed, from an attempt to hide something.
Drakkar turned his head to Franka. “And you?”
She lifted a fluttering hand to her wide, garish expanse of cle**age. “Me?” she drawled.
Drakkar turned his whole body to face his cousin.
Then he said softly, “I know you fancy yourself a cat who isn’t content unless she’s got herself a mouse to play with but do not mistake me for a mouse, Franka. A mouse cannot yank a cat’s throat out with his fist.”
He knew she knew his threat was not idle when she lost some color in her face.
“What do you know of Hernod Grieg?” Drakkar pressed.
“I live in Fleuridia, Frey, as you know. And even there, I don’t consort with merchants,” she said her last with disdain and not a small amount of folly for she was speaking to one.
Drakkar moved to stand two feet in front of her.
“You called the maid to you, Franka, I noted it. There were two glasses of champagne on that tray, I noted that too. You took your glass first,” Drakkar remarked.”
“It’s touching to see how much attention you pay your new bride, Drakkar,” she purred.
Frey didn’t allow his expression to change but he lifted his hand and touched his index finger lightly on her throat, watching her body tense as she pulled in a breath.
“You cannot forget mere seconds ago, Franka, when I told you I was no mouse,” he whispered, she looked deep in his eyes, read them correctly and swallowed.
Drakkar dropped his hand.