“Can I be frank?”
“Always.”
“Better than his sire.” Pavel sighed a little. “Better than me if I’m being truly honest. He’s a natural leader like you. His subordinates love him. He engenders loyalty. He’s a rule follower but not blindly. He’ll question you.”
Oleg nodded slowly. “This is good insight. Thank you.”
“You want to pit him against Ivan.” Pavel’s jaw was clenched, and his voice was low. “Don’t you?”
Was Pavel angry? Interesting.
“No,” Oleg said. “I do not want to do that.”
“Do you think I’m blind, brother? Do you think I don’t see what is happening in Moscow? How you are antagonizing our brother? Your own governor?”
Oleg was surprised, and he was not often surprised.
“Is that what you think, Pavel?” Oleg kept his voice steady and firm. Pavel didn’t need to be patronized, but neither did Oleg want his brother thinking that he was going to follow in Truvor’s footsteps. “I have no intention of pitting Yury against Ivan. I am thinking only of Yury’s potential.”
Pavel was clutching the arms of his chair, and his knuckles were even whiter than usual.
Oleg continued, “You were harsh with me when Zasha was killed.”
“Zasha was our blood.”
“Zasha was wreaking havoc and trying to start a war.”
Pavel lifted his chin. “We were responsible for Zasha. We failed our systkin.”
The fact that Pavel used the Old Norse told Oleg that his brother’s mind was back in their time with Truvor and not anywhere near the present. “Zasha never wanted our help. They fled, and I tried to let them find their own path. In the end, they chose violence. Just like Luana. Just like Zara.”
Pavel said nothing, but his eyes became more calculating and less angry.
“You ask why I am inquiring about Yury,” Oleg continued. “Someone made an attempt on Ivan’s life. Whatever my feelings about that, my priority is the stability of the largest city in our empire. I need to know that if something happened to Ivan, there would be someone in Moscow able to step into the role of interim governor whom I could trust to hold the city.”
Pavel’s hands relaxed. He might be all business, but he was well aware of how politics could affect his bottom line. “You aretrusting me enough to ask this and do not want me to inform Ivan.”
“I am.”
Pavel nodded. “Very well. Why are you not considering Ivan’s own sons?”
Oleg lifted an eyebrow. “You have met his sons. They are not as disciplined as yours. This is not an aristocracy, brother. I don’t care about bloodlines; I care about the best person for the job.”
Pavel said nothing, but his head angled slightly as he considered Oleg’s words.
“Come.” Oleg stood up and slapped Pavel on the shoulder. “We should rejoin the party. You have confirmed my own impressions of Yury. As far as I am concerned, this matter is finished and nothing more needs to be said.”
“Yes, Knyaz.”
Tatyana did not answerhis knock on her day-chamber door two nights later.
Oleg was immediately irritated.
“If you’re looking for her…”
He turned and saw Rumi waiting near the door.
She smiled a little bit. “She’s already at her dress fitting.”
