Necias stared at Hamila in astonishment, then anger. What in blazes had Tegestu asked him that night? He could not remember exact words — but no doubt Tegestu would be able to quote the conversation verbatim, the skinny old schemer! Tegestu would not have to lie, he did not doubt; he would have been clever enough to word his request such that Necias didn’t realize what favor he was granting. Necias slammed his meaty hand down on the chair arm. “Tegestu did not make the nature of his request clear!” he blurted.
“General Hamila is certain the lord Tegestu would not make that kind of mistake,” Campas replied smoothly. No doubt, Necias thought, he hadn’t, the cunning old white-haired bastard. And no witnesses to the conversation, either.
“The lord Tegestu is certain that you would never break hostu — that would be to create disharmony — by ignoring the bonds of nartil — that’s obligation, Abeissu — between a lord and his subjects,” Campas went on. “He is confident you would wish nothing but harmony between his people and yourself.”
“If he wishes harmony, he will leave the city immediately,” Necias said flatly. “As his lord, I order it. I will occupy the city with my own troops.”
He saw Campas hesitate, and then the poet turned back to Necias, looking troubled. “Are you positive you want to give that order, Abeissu?” he asked. “I think that’s what Tegestu is getting at with all this talk about nartil. As it stands now, the Brodaini are obligated to you, both as their lord and because they believe you’ve given them the city. If they think they’ve got a right to the city, and you order them out,” Campas said, “that would be the act of a bad lord. It would break nartil, and that would serve as an excuse for Tegestu’s people to declare all treaties void. They’d have the city for their own, and you wouldn’t have any hold over them at all.”
Necias felt fury bubbling up his spine. “What’s the point of being their overlord if they don’t obey my orders?” he demanded. “Why not have it out in the open right now, if it’s to be war?”
“They say they’re willing to fight Tastis for you,” Campas said. “That’s one hold you’ve got over them. And another is their dependents back in the city, and out in the country and island garrisons. They’re your hostages, tens of thousands of them, and you’re controlling the lines of communication between them.”
Necias looked down at his hands, which always betrayed him, and saw they were gripping the chair arms with fury, the knuckles white. He relaxed them. Think! he demanded of himself. Campas was a bright boy; perhaps he knew what he was saying.
“Very well,” Necias said. “Tell the lord general that Tegestu and I will disagree on this, and that I will issue a formal statement later, with which I hope the lord Tegestu will agree.”
The answer was swift. “General Hamila agrees.” No doubt he does, Necias thought. It’s to no one’s advantage but Tegestu’s... unless I can use it to buy a little time.
“Tell the general,” he went on, “that the Abessu-Denorru and the Denorru-Deissin of Arrandal will be certain to look after the welfare of such of lord Tegestu’s people as are still remaining in our lands and the lands of our allies.”
“General Hamila hopes that it may be arranged for these people to be moved safely to Calacas as soon as possible.’’
Sometime after I take my trip to the Third Moon, Necias thought fiercely. “We will discuss this at another time,” he said.
This time the answer was not as swift. “General Hamila will agree, but hopes the time will be soon,” Campas translated. Necias looked deliberately at Hamila and allowed himself a slow, predatory smile, catching a brief flash of uncertainty in return. I’ve got your people, you murdering bastard, Necias thought. Most of them are right in the old quarter of Arrandal, and many of the rest are on islands where they can’t get away. You may have Calacas in the end, but your dependents will pay for it dearly, of that you may be certain.
Hamila leaned forward to speak to the translator again. “General Hamila,” Campas reported, “begs that he be permitted to continue his message from lord Tegestu.”
“Very well.”
“Lord Tegestu reports that the city has been seized, but that it is far from secure.” Campas opened his mouth to speak on, but Necias spoke quickly.
“Tell him that if control of the city is uncertain I will send city troops to assist lord Tegestu in securing it.”
The answer was quick. “General Hamila says,” Campas reported, “that the city troops will not be necessary.”
“Say it will do them good. They are tired of sitting in their lines and doing nothing.”
“General Hamila says it would only cause confusion.”
“No doubt it would,” Necias murmured, and leaned back in his chair with a frown. He caught himself tapping his rings on the arm of his chair and ceased at once. Campas wisely did not translate his remark.
“Lord Tegestu says that as the city has not been secured,” the message continued, “it would not be wise for yourself to enter the city at present, as there is danger from spies, murderers, and an unruly population.”
Necias nodded. He had no intention of going into the city, not as long as Tegestu controlled it alone.
“Thank the lord Tegestu for his concern,” Necias said.
Hamila bowed in reply, then continued his message. “Lord Tegestu wishes to suggest that the army be united with that of General Handipas, before the city of Neda, so as to surround the rebels.”
“I will consult with Marshal Palastinas,” Necias replied. “It will, of course, be necessary to maintain a force on this bank of the river, to prevent any rebels from escaping the lord Tegestu’s forces in the city.”
“My lord does not believe that will be necessary.”
“I believe it will,” Necias said. “The lord Tegestu admits the city is not secure, and a blockade will be necessary to prevent any of Tastis’ sympathizers from moving in or out. Particularly if they hope to profit from the war by moving supplies into the city.”
Hamila listened to Campas’ translation with a face of stone. There was a moment’s silence in which Necias looked at Hamila again with the ghost of a smile, and then the Brodainu turned to Campas and spoke.
“Lord Tegestu believes that Tastis may have suffered a terrible blow,” he said. “He may have suffered such a loss of prestige that his aldran may force him to negotiate a peace. Lord Tegestu wonders if he may approach Tastis with a message on your behalf.”
Oho! Necias thought. Here we see it. Tegestu hopes to stand between Tastis and the Elva with the intention of playing us off against one another, forcing us to make concessions, seeing who will give him the best settlement. We’ll see about that, my boy, he thought.
“Tell him that the Abeissu will consider the lord Tegestu’s kind offer, but will probably wish to conduct his own negotiations with the rebels,” he said. He watched the effect of the translation sink into Hamila, the eyes deepening, the mouth turning down; and Necias exulted. Two, he thought, can play at this. Tegestu may find that he is not, after all, the balance of power; he may be in the scales with the rest of us.
Time, he thought, I’ll have to play for time. The forces from the other Elva cities will arrive after the autumn storms, and then I’ll be able to squeeze them both. In the meantime, I believe I know just how I’ll handle the Elva ambassadors.
Hamila, scowling now, bowed and repeated Tegestu’s thanks and praises for allowing him possession of the city; and Necias repeated his belief that Tegestu was in error. Hamila asked if Necias had any messages to carry back to Tegestu, and Necias replied that he had none at present, but would soon.