Betrayer

  “Out of reach and unassailable. But not incapable of Filing with the Guild.”

  “His man’chi is to Tabini-aiji, and he has a strong association with the aiji-dowager and with me. He will place those interests foremost. I know him very well, nandi, and I am sure that he will decline to pursue a feud that undermines a peaceful settlement on this coast, not out of weakness but because he is a practical man.”

  The hand lifted. Machigi leaned his jaw against his fist. “Go on, paidhi. Give me more of your specifics. How would you perform this wonder?”

  “First among necessities, nandi, a series of moves to stabilize the situation here with the negotiations: I have stated what I would ask—freedom to communicate. Simultaneously, I would ask the dowager’s support for your continuance as lord of Taisigi clan; the dowager and the aiji in Shejidan have already made encouraging moves in that regard, in canceling one Guild action against you and working to derail the other. And, felicitous third, I would secure from you a formal agreement of association with the aiji-dowager.”

  “All these airy promises do nothing for us.”

  “They do a great deal, nandi. I can fairly confidently predict that Tabini-aiji would restrain any move that might unbalance your negotiations with the aiji-dowager, once underway. Agreement with her would be a good arrangement for both sides, necessarily, understand, removing any approval from the legislature from the equation.”

  That got a little flicker of Machigi’s eyes.

  Bren continued: “Tabini-aiji is the one that directly controls atevi access to the station. The relationship between yourself and the aiji-dowager would urge his agreement to your access there—again, nothing the legislature has to approve. He can do it with the stroke of a pen. Certain things can be done to build confidence on both sides.”

  Machigi lifted a brow, a surprisingly boyish look.

  “You have a piratical bent, yourself, paidhi-aiji.”

  “The path with fewest rocks, nandi, is the fastest. And while the matter will be discussed in the legislature—nothing prevents that—the flow of trade will ease that debate. We prevent conflict—”

  “Meaning I would agree not to assassinate Lord Geigi and he would agree not to assassinate me.”

  “Nothing to excite comment. The less news that comes out of the arrangement at first, the faster we can move. Speed will alarm certain elements—on your side and the dowager’s, quite likely. But if we lose momentum on this, one can foresee there will be altogether too many participants in the decisions, and things will fly off in all directions. Controlled change is the purpose of my office, nandi. Nothing too fast or too slow and having everything in order and agreed before the news gets out is the best policy.”

  “So,” Machigi said, chin on hand. “If we were to proceed on this course you name, what would be your first desire? Not that I shall grant it, understand, but let us see where you would start.”

  “I have already started, nandi, by being sure the Guild does not blame you for the outrages in Najida. It remains for you to deal with your internal enemies.”

  “So we do the bloody work for you—and weaken our own territory.”

  “Within the Marid, nandi, you will have a far surer sense where to apply force—and justice. You are the authority here in the Marid. That is agreed.”

  A slow smile came to Machigi’s face, and this time it seemed less cold.

  “We shall see, nand’ paidhi. You will continue to be my guest, you and your aishid. Should you desire to dismiss the bus inconveniently blocking the public driveway and send Tabini’s agents elsewhere, they will have safe passage, so long as they do not get off the bus inside Taisigi land. You will have free access to phones at any hour. And you may have any material comfort and convenience you may wish. Cease to concern yourself about poisons. If we quarrel, you will know it well before suppertime. My cook has been strongly cautioned.”

  “One is gratified to know so, nandi. And may one ask one additional favor? Might I send my brother’s wife and the young Guildswoman back to Najida on the same bus?”

  A wave of Machigi’s hand. “Do as you please in that regard.”

  “One is personally grateful, nandi,” he said, and he meant it. “And maps. I shall need access to continental maps. I need place names.”

  “So. Go, give those orders, see the lady and her bodyguard off, and do as you please today. I wish my drive unobstructed and my land free of the aiji’s men. Request your maps of staff, make your notes. And then we shall talk again, nand’ paidi.”

  That, and the gesture, added up to dismissal. Now he had to get up. He tensed muscles and made the try. Twice. The second time he made it.

  And Banichi and Jago, across the room, had both broken impassivity but stopped themselves from any untoward move.

  “You should allow my physician to attend that.”

  “Bruises. Only bruises, nandi. Thank you, but my aishid’s attendance suffices.”

  “As you choose,” Machigi said with a wave of his hand.

  “Send and dispose, use the phones, ask staff for any comfort or service. Be at ease in my hospitality, nandi.”

  “Nandi,” he responded, with a parting bow, and walked toward the door. Banichi and Jago joined him, and he didn’t look back.

  3

  It was silence all the way back to the suite—Banichi and Jago were observing strictest formality, and they went escorted by two of Machigi’s bodyguard, despite Machigi’s assurances of freedom.

  They reached the rooms, closed the door behind them, and Bren let go a carefully held breath, as much breath as he had with the bandages and the heavy vest.

  Barb was on her feet to meet him. So was everybody else. But nobody spoke.

  “Is there any objection,” Bren asked Banichi and Jago then, “to taking advantage of the permissions granted?”

  A slight hesitation. “No,” Banichi said. “There is no objection.”

  Jago had reservations, perhaps—she had that look—but none tat she advanced, considering everything they said was under surveillance. She nodded agreement once, emphatically.

  His aishid, the four of them, would be the ones to die along with him—if he was wrong in his approach, or if the negotiations blew up in some reversal of intention. He apparently had the chance to get everybody else out of the Marid . . . assuming there was no deception involved.

  There could well be. He couldn’t know if he was dooming everybody on that bus.

  But if that was the case, he and his bodyguard were fairly well doomed, too, in the long run.

  They were given a chance to communicate with Najida—knowing everything they said would be recorded.

  But Machigi had encouraged the notion that the dowager was not that wrong in her assumptions. He had signaled willingness to consider the dowager’s offer—at least in theory. One could not take it for an absolute. It was, however, better than the alternative.

  “Barb,” he said, “whatever you’ve got to pack, pack.”

  “We’re leaving?” Barb exclaimed.

  “You’re leaving. I have work to do. Veijico.” He changed to Ragi. “You will go with Barb-daja down to the bus and go back to Targai, then on to Najida.”

  “Yes,” Veijico said, just that.

  “Bren,” Barb protested, “are you going to be all right here?”

  “I think so,” he said. “I’m not kidding, Barb. Right now, I want you to get together whatever you came with and go, this minute. Veijico, too. We’ve got a chance to get you out. Toby needs you. I promised I’d get you back.”

  Barb spread her hands. “This is what I’ve got to pack,” she said shakily. “I’m ready.”

  “Then advise staff, Tano-ji,” Bren said. “One has no idea whether they will let us go down to see them off, but let us get this moving. We shall send Tabini’s men back to Targai, and then the bus will pick up my domestic staff at Targai and take them and Barb-daja and Veijico on to Najida. Set that in motion, nadiin-ji, and whatever we need to
do, do it.”

  “Nandi,” Tano said, acknowledging the order, and Algini went past them to the hall outside, presumably to talk with the staff stationed to guard them.

  Bren decided a chair would be welcome, that one near the fire.

  But Barb intercepted him, linking her arm through his, hugging it tight. “Bren, are you sure you’re going to be safe?”

  He gave a little laugh. “I don’t think you could protect me if I weren’t. But you can get back to Toby. Once they tell you it’s safe to sail, you and Toby take that boat and get the hell back to Jackson.” That was their home port, over across the strait. “Tell him I love him.”

  “Don’t be giving me goodbye messages!” Barb turned around and was about to grab him around the ribs, but he fended her off at arms’ length, and she held onto his arms. “Bren!”

  “Shhsh.” He took a firm grip on hers and shook her gently.

  “Shhsh. We’ll be fine. The reason I want you and Toby off the continent right now has less to do with what’s happening here in Tanaja than what’s likely to happen if this negotiation goes well. People opposed to it, some in this district, some maybe even up north, are likely to strike at any target they can find, and I don’t want them to find you and Toby available. You’re tolerably safe in Najida, but I don’t want you to get stuck on this side of the straits during a prolonged situation. All right? We’re talking about convenience.”

  “You’re lying through your teeth.”

  “Now, that’s unkind, Barb. I’m not. I’m telling you quite a bit of the truth, and I want you to convey it when you get back to Toby. You just take care of him. He’s doing all right, but he’ll do a lot better when you get there. Hear me?”

  A nod, damp-eyed.

  “Good,” he said, and set her back, with a look toward Tano.

  “We are clear to proceed, Bren-ji,” Tano said. “The staff has received a confirmation from their lord’s guard. We have informed house staff that two persons will be coming downstairs to the bus, and house guard has confirmed the bus is free to leave. Guild will come to the door and escort the lady downstairs.”

  He was not encouraged to go downstairs to see the bus off. He was not surprised at that. If he had become an asset in Machigi’s hands, Machigi was not going to wave temptation past armed personnel with man’chi to Tabini. It was not reasonable in his own mind that Tabini’s guard might assassinate him, but Machigi could know no such thing.

  “Veijico,” he said.

  “Nandi?” Instant, earnest attention—a vastly different young woman than before this situation.

  “I have requested the Taisigi to look for your brother, nadi. If I can secure his safe return, I shall do so.”

  A bow, a more than perfunctory bow. “Nandi.” And not a word else.

  A knock came at the door, and it opened. Servants were there, along with uniformed Guild. Things were moving uncommonly fast.

  “Barb,” he said, “this will be your escort. Veijico will translate and speak for you. Let her. You take care. Understood?”

  He was afraid for a second that Barb was going to throw her arms around him. But she came and put her hands on either side of his face and just looked at him.

  “Bren, please be careful!”

  “I’m the soul of caution. Give everybody my regards. And get moving. They won’t wait around.”

  He was unprepared for Barb to kiss him. She did, a quick kiss, and let go and went toward the door. Veijico moved with her.

  Barb looked back once, in the doorway. Then she left, and Jago shut the door.

  It was, on the one hand, a relief. On the other—

  He couldn’t worry about it. He couldn’t let his mind go down that track.

  And a man like Machigi—

  Was damned hard to read. He’d gained some freedom: Machigi was undoubtedly watching him, wondering what he would do with it, and he couldn’t misstep.

  It was also likely Machigi would tweak the situation to see how he reacted. But hopefully whatever Machigi did wouldn’t involve the bus. The situation in the driveway couldn’t go on for days and days—food and water, among other things, were limited—and for Barb and Veijico—

  Barb was no asset in an emotional situation. Not with atevi involved. She’d just proved that. He had around him now only those who were assets . . . those he least wanted to endanger, but that was the choice he had. He’d given Banichi orders to get out if he couldn’t salvage the situation. It was the most he could do for his bodyguard.

  Except worry. And he couldn’t afford to give way to that, either.

  They had just dismissed the one member of their party most likely to create an inadvertent situation with armed guards—that was Barb—and the young hothead most likely to try to be a hero—a word difficult even to express in Ragi, but Veijico’s inexperience had gotten them into this situation in the first place.

  They’d also, in Veijico, dismissed their food taster.

  Well, but that bus would get them to safety.

  Which was a major load off his mind.

  Machigi had promised him maps. He could look at the east coast, figure the possible assets, and make proposals. He could make phone calls . . . one of which could let him know the bus had gotten to safety.

  He heaved a sigh, which encountered the solid restriction of the vest.

  And he quietly unbuttoned his coat and shed it into Tano’s hands, then reached under his arm to unfasten the vest.

  “Bren-ji,” Jago chided him.

  “Just for here,” he said. “Only here.”

  Jago helped him off with it, and Tano had gone to his room and come back with one of his ordinary coats, an informal one of plain blue cloth. He put that light garment on with a sigh of relief. It was cooler, it was lighter, it left him only the compression bandage, and that relief went a long way toward clearing his head. The painkiller still had him a little under its influence—God, he hadn’t wanted to deal with Machigi with that in his system, but without it—he wasn’t worth that much either.

  Had Algini come back in? He’d lost track. It stuck in his somewhat muzzy head that Algini hadn’t come back inside the suite.

  “Tea, Bren-ji?” Tano asked, and there was that chair by the fire and the little side table.

  “Yes,” he said. “For all of us. Thank you, Tano-ji.”

  Tano didn’t act as if anything was amiss. Maybe Algini had gone back to the rooms down the inside hall.

  He sat down, a little light-headed, and Jago fixed a pillow for his back. It was a situation of fair comfort, and Tano quietly made sufficient tea for the lot of them. The door opened without a knock, and Algini came back into the room, from the outside door. He spoke to Banichi, then left again.

  Maybe seeing to the bus’s departure. But nobody was saying anything. The business worried him—but there were listeners. He said nothing, just took the teacup when Tano brought it to him . . . and wished he knew what was going on.

  Maybe nothing. He let Tano and Banichi and Jago relax for a bit in the peace of a round of tea and contemplation. He tried to think peaceful thoughts. Tried to think about the maps he needed and whether to ask for them brought here, or whether he should request to go to the sunny map room or whatever library existed here—every stately home had a library.

  Algini stayed gone.

  He set his cup down. So did the others.

  “Since we are allowed phone contact,” he said, “if we can arrange a call to the dowager, nadiin-ji, that would probably be a good start. I also need maps of the region, of the west coast, and detailed maps of the East, including the coasts. If they can bring them here, excellent. If I have to go to the maps, that will be fine, too.”

  “Yes,” Jago said, and she got up and went to the door to talk to whatever servants were stationed with the guards.

  “I have a report to give to the dowager,” Bren said to Banichi and Tano in the meanwhile. “Tano-ji, Banichi may have told you that Lord Machigi has taken the position that I am
his mediator as well as the dowager’s—” He used the ancient word for the office, with all it implied. “So I shall eventually be conveying his position, so far as I know it, as his representative. As yet, I have no idea exactly what that position is, except that he has said that the dowager is generally correct in her perceptions.”

  Tano nodded—and probably already knew everything he had just said, unless the local Guild had been interfering with his aishid’s communications. He was stating things for their eavesdroppers, putting the slant on things he wanted. And he smiled somewhat grimly. “They will monitor what we say. Which is expected. And since our purpose here is exactly what we said it was, we have no reason to object. We can do very little until Lord Machigi tells us what he concludes, but I also have to advise the dowager what proposals I have made, so at least we can be accurate about her position. I have some hope this negotiation will work. There is absolutely nothing gained for anybody by another war. And a lot to be gained for the Taisigi in particular if we can work this out.”

  Solemn nods. They knew exactly what he was doing.

  And they knew their own business, which was to keep the situation as quiet as possible as long as possible, give no information away, and hope that even if every assumption the dowager had made was wrong, he could still talk sense to Machigi.

  The lord of the Taisigi, he told himself, was young but not stupid.

  That was the best asset they had.

  Jago came back in and closed the door. “They will bring a phone, nandi,” she said. “And the maps, with writing materials.”

  “Excellent,” he said.

  Algini also—finally!—came back into the room, from the hall, and cast a look at Tano, then came and picked up Bren’s teacup; when he set it down again, it weighted a piece of paper. A note.

  That ticked up the heart rate a bit. Bren quietly picked up the note and read it.

  Certain Guild disappeared from Shejidan in Murini’s fall. Most of these, outlawed by Guild decree, entered service in the Marid, from which they trusted they would not be extradited to face Guild inquiry. Not all such are reliably in Guild uniform, and some may have falsified identities. My own presence here is known. Your mission here directly threatens the lives of these outlaws, since if Lord Machigi associates with the dowager, their sanctuary is threatened. Lord Machigi’s bodyguard is aware and is taking measures as of this hour.