Chapter 9 Oleg #2
“Look at her results, not her public actions,” Lidik continued. “The new terrin works quietly, and she stays out of the spotlight. This was her first public appearance in five years of being terrin. She’s focused on Poshani matters. It’s nothing personal with you.”
“Eastern Poshani financial assets have fully doubled in the time that she’s been terrin,” Rudov added. “It’s quite impressive.” Oleg’s brother Rudov was always the numbers man.
“Yes, she’s all business now.” Mika pretended to be bored. “I’ve tried to have conversations with her—we used to work in Elene’s office together—but she’s like a robot. I swear the Poshani have sucked all her personality away.”
“Why are we still talking about Father’s old accountant?” Polina asked.
“Because she’s the one making Ivan constipated?
” Rudov offered. “Either way, I agree with Lidik. Forget making a deal with the Poshani right now, Ivan. Leave it and let them cool off. Eventually Radu will get tired of following her rules. We all know she’s the junior partner of that trio even if she does get results. ”
Oleg usually allowed his governors to run these meetings, but he cleared his throat and everyone shut up.
“I don’t like Ivan’s territory being an island,” he said. “It’s not convenient or efficient. Perhaps I can meet with Kezia and get things back on track.”
There were general murmurs of approval, which Oleg took as a message that everyone was ready to move on.
“Black Sea ports,” Ivan said. “For now I’ll focus on moving my trucks south.”
“Licensed,” Rudov said. “I don’t need headaches with the human authorities over your smuggling. Your trucks need to at least appear to be licensed, and your drivers better carry their own bribe money.”
Ivan nodded. “Yes, yes. I’ll take care of it. Brother, speaking of the Black Sea ports, I heard some interesting rumors at the summit.”
Polina muttered, “There is no gossip like vampire gossip.”
“Yes, rumors are flying that your sire will be striking a marriage deal with Alina Machabeli,” Ivan said.
Every vampire on the chat fell silent; Luana’s memory still haunted all of them.
Oleg’s dead wife had been a political marriage of sorts, though deeply passionate at first. But Luana had been erratic and highly unstable. And she had threatened nearly all of them at one point or another.
Which was why Oleg had finally killed her.
“I do not have any plans to marry Alina Machabeli,” Oleg said simply. “That is a rumor without basis. We spoke, and she didn’t even allude to it. It’s pure fiction.”
“But a rumor nonetheless,” Juliya said. “Do you think Alina has spread it?”
“It’s possible,” Mika chimed in. “She could be using you as a stalking horse.”
“How so?”
Mika shrugged. “She’s surrounded by threats.
Arosh in the north. You on her eastern flank, and now with Saba and her people taking over the Southern Black Sea since they killed Laskaris, she probably feels besieged.
Alina might be negotiating for marriage with someone else while spreading rumors about you in order to strike better terms for an eventual contract. ”
“Hmm.” Oleg pretended to be nonchalant, but he was seething at the idea in truth. “Say nothing to counter it right now. Alina knows I’m not interested in a marriage contract. I do not care about the chatterers.”
Not when he was married in truth to his blood mate.
“But it will be interesting to watch what happens.” Oleg closed his file. “Is there anything else before we conclude? I expect all your feedback on the cybersecurity proposal next month.”
“Yes, Knyaz.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Of course.”
A chorus of agreement, then one by one, the screens on his wall went blank.
Mika walked in from the other room. “So is Ivan spreading the rumor?”
“He is at least participating in the gossip,” Oleg said. “But why?”
Ludmila and Oksana had flown down to meet him at the citadel the moment the Báthory Summit ended and were waiting in the library after Oleg finished the conference call.
“What is this rumor I hear of you marrying the Georgian queen?” Ludmila spat out. “People were saying that contracts were signed in Budapest. It is all anyone in Moscow is talking about.”
“It’s just that.” Oleg walked over and perched on a corner of the library table. “A rumor. It’s good to see your shining faces. How are you both enjoying Moscow?”
“Oh, fuck off.” Ludmila grumbled. “I hate hearing rumors like that because they always seem to have just a kernel of truth.”
“The kernel of truth is that I am married.” Oleg leaned forward. “But I have no plans to become a bigamist. My questionable moral code isn’t that flexible.”
“Yes, it is,” Ludmila said. “Bigamy would be nothing if it served your purposes.”
Oleg shrugged. “Perhaps, but it does not.”
Mika walked into the library behind Oleg. “This particular rumor is likely Ivan’s bullshit.” He lowered his voice and put on a thick Moscow accent. “Hello, my fellow comrades.” He spread his arms wide, as if to envelop both Oksana and Ludmila in an embrace.
Oksana laughed a little, and Ludmila flipped him off.
Oleg moved to his favorite wingback chair as his three boyars pulled up seats around him. He had started a fire in the hearth before the conference call, so the cold chill of the castle was slightly cut, but not by much.
Despite the weather, Ludmila was wearing a short-sleeved black shirt and a pair of combat pants.
Mika was also in black. With their matching clothes and similar expressions, Mika and Ludmila could have been siblings save for Mika’s slim height and Ludmila’s diminutive frame.
Oksana, on the other hand, tall and broad shouldered, had donned a bright red sweater to match her red lipstick.
Oleg smiled. It was a pleasure to have Oksana in any room. “My dear, how are you?”
“I don’t love the winter in Moscow,” she confessed. “But your house in the city is very nice. Thank you for letting us stay there.”
“You are welcome anytime.”
“We know the truth about Tatyana,” Oksana said, “so hearing the rumors came as a surprise. People seem very split on the idea.”
“You and Ludmila, Mika, Lazlo, and Omar are the only ones who know I am married and who my wife is,” Oleg said. “I can’t deny the rumors without bringing more attention to them, which is likely what whoever started the rumors wants.”
“Personally, I think Alina started the marriage rumors,” Oksana said. “I suspect she wants to raise her profile. Though I do think she is pursuing a political marriage contract, I don’t think she has her eye on you.”
Oleg nodded solemnly. “Why do you think she started it?”
Oksana was young, but she was perceptive. “I am hearing Arosh’s name more, even in Moscow. I believe the Fire King is feeling confined.”
“He already has, like… tons of territory,” Ludmila said. “Everyone thought he was dead a decade ago. Why the fuck does he need more territory when he was just dead?”
“Because he was dead,” Oleg said. “And before that, he was emperor of a vast land. Oksana could very well be correct. All of Alina’s territory used to be Arosh’s center of power.
She is feeling pressure having such an ancient on her border.
She knows that if Arosh wanted her territory back, he could take it. ”
“Do you want to know what I think?” Ludmila asked.
“I think we’re hearing Arosh’s name in Moscow because the Fire King is quietly backing Ivan.
I think he wants Ivan to unseat you because then all Arosh will have to do is kill Ivan to take your empire and killing Ivan is far easier than killing you. ”
Oleg nodded. “Yes, that is also possible.”
“Fuck this, boss.” Ludmila’s petulant expression never changed.
“Let’s kill Ivan now. You’re strong enough to hold the empire together.
In a decade, Ivan’s death would be nothing.
Then we can go in and kill all the other little Ivans he sired, because if I have to figure out which Ivan is which” —Ludmila clapped her hands together— “every” —slap— “single” —slap— “time I visit Moscow, I’m going to kill someone. ”
Oksana said, “You’ll kill someone anyway.”
“Who names most of their sons after themselves?” Ludmila shouted. “Not even Truvor did that. He is a fucking egomaniac, and I’m just… very tired of him.” She sighed and slumped in her seat. “Please can I put a bullet through his neck? I promise I will not miss his spine.”
Oleg reached over and patted Ludmila’s hand. “I know you won’t.”
“Is that a yes?”
“No, that’s not a yes.” Oleg thought about Ivan dancing with Tatyana, then patronizing her in front of his governors. “Yet.”
Ludmila fell into unintelligible mutters, and Oksana smiled at her grumpy mate.
“What about a political marriage to Alina?”
The fire in the hearth leaped up as Oleg turned to Mika. “Say that again.”
His chief boyar lifted an eyebrow. “What about a political marriage contract to Alina? It would not be a bad move politically.”
Oleg kept his expression even, though the fire in the hearth blazed hotter. “Did you forget I am already married?”
“In the church, yes.” Mika leaned forward.
“Personally, yes. But we are talking about politics. A marriage contract with Alina Machabeli would be an alliance to a powerful regent. It would shore up both your borders against Arosh, and together, the two of you would control all the northern and eastern Black Sea ports. Saba’s daughters control the south now; Radu is in the east. If you and Alina merged empires—”
“Perhaps you are correct, but this is not what I want.”
Mika sat back and lifted his hands. “What do you want then? For five years, we have played with Ivan, sabotaging him while you sneak around with Tatyana. She cannot publicly be your wife without losing the trust of her clan, so that leaves you a hundred years to cool your heels? Knyaz, this is not acceptable.”
Ludmila narrowed her eyes on Oleg. “You said Mika’s suggestion wasn’t what you want.” She pointed at him. “That means you know what you do want.”
“Of course I do.” Oleg stretched out his legs, warming his feet by the now blazing fire.
“So?” Oksana leaned forward. “What is it?”
Oleg shrugged. “I want what I deserve. My empire and my wife. I want everything. And that is what I will have.”