I shall keep safe our Connu Keep.
Grendis had kept Connu, kept it until the survivors of kamliss Pranoth had left their native land forever and scattered in service to the lords of another continent, as if they were no better than bearni...
Tegestu’s hand tightened at the bitter memory; Grendis looked up sharply, then reached out to touch his temple with cool fingers.
“Peace,” she said. “Peace. The world rolls on its path, and you are not required to make it so. Peace.”
He accepted the touch, closing his eyes, felt the warmth of the tea lulling him. Feeling Grendis’ touch, hearing the bohau and tedec playing in intricate duet, sensing the warmth of his animals and scenting the fragrance of the tea, it was possible to think himself back at Connu Keep, its round towers perched above the blue harbor and the walled town, all now occupied by strangers... Grendis’ hand caressed his long, white, intricately-curled hair.
Savor the pleasure while it lasts, he thought drowsily; abdicate for a few minutes the demands of responsibility. Seek hostu; seek peace, a glimpse of vail. I shall ward your back from danger, Grendis had promised; she had kept the promise, kept it for over fifty years, and with that he had more than reason enough to be content.
CHAPTER 2
The welldrani — “elders,” the term used to describe anyone, old or young, who sat on the aldran, the council that ruled the Brodaini families in Arrandal — had filed into their places, sitting in disciplined silence of the low stools that surrounded the polished, mosaic central table. Tegestu, armored once more, his badges of rank and clan blazoned on his surcoat, waited in an anteroom, receiving a briefing from Cascan, the head of his cambrani, his corps of spies.
Cascan was a young man for his position, in his mid-forties only, having risen in rank as he had demonstrated his ability to penetrate the alien labyrinths of the new continent; he was small and slight, quick, with an actor’s plastic face and a versatile, mimic’s voice. He belonged to kamliss Tosta, one of the smaller clans, that had attached itself to Tegestu’s exiles for its own safety. As a small kamliss, Tosta had depended on espionage and cunning rather than military power, and since the emigration from their homeland, their training programs, both in spying and in countering spies, had proved most useful. Tegestu had rarely found Cascan’s estimates to be wrong.
“Our inquiries upriver show that the refugee situation is worsening,” Cascan said. “I have received information that Baron Wollas of Cavasto will send a deputation to the Denorru-Deissin asking them to use their influence to end the war, or at least to help settle the refugees elsewhere. Other lords may join in the request; in the event of refusal they may ask for Brodaini to assist in the keeping of order.”
Tegestu nodded. “And the situation in Arrandal?”
“The fleet is still on alert, bro-demmin,” said Cascan. “There is heightened security at the city gates, allegedly because of an influx of illegal refugees. A new battalion of bearni have been moved into the citadel. The situation seems to be easing somewhat: orders to discontinue the patrolling on the streets and canals were given two hours ago.” Two hours: that would have been in response to Tegestu’s answer to Necias. Good: the Abeissu was trying to keep things from exploding.
“Our people have been given orders not to leave the keep on missions not absolutely necessary, and when they leave to travel in pairs,” Cascan continued, “if there is any attempt to recall outlying garrisons of bearni to increase the forces in the city, our pickets on the roads will let us know of it. Garrisons on the islands are another problem; our marine pickets are limited in resource, and it is possible for an island garrison to sail into sight of our keep before we’d see it.”
“That should be corrected, ban-demmin,” Tegestu said. Cascan bowed hastily.
“Aye, bro-demmin. Boats can be purchased or rented, but the lords of the city will know of it.”
“Buy boats through some of your agents that have been posing as locals, or as recent immigrants,” Tegestu said. “We may risk exposing some of our men, but anything threatening our security is vital; we must know where those island garrisons are.”
“Aye, bro-demmin.”
There was an uneasy silence: it was clear from his tone that Cascan did not relish risking his agents. Tegestu spoke.
“News from Neda-Calacas?” he asked. “Has anything changed? Any sign that Tastis is moving?”
“All reports indicate only that he is securing his own position as master of the cities and sending out messengers to the other cities of the Elva. We do not know what these messages contain, but we’re certain that Necias received one this afternoon.”
“Doubtless,” said Tegestu, “Necias will inform me of what he wishes us to know at our meeting tomorrow. Is it possible, ban-demmin Cascan, that you can inform me of all the rest tomorrow morning?”
Cascan’s eyes flickered in the dim lamplight. There was hesitation in his voice. “Frankly, bro-demmin, there is not enough time. Success is possible, even likely; but if exposure or capture resulted, there could be embarrassment.”
“Yes-s,” Tegestu said, frowning. Considering the situation, one of his agents unmasked or even captured might prove too great a provocation. “I agree with you, ban-demmin,” he said, to Cascan’s evident relief. “Your judgment is sound.”
“Many thanks, bro-demmin.” Cascan bowed.
“All of these matters can safely be brought before the aldran,” Tegestu said. “If that is all, ban-demmin, we may proceed to the council.”
Cascan frowned. “Bro-demmin, there is another matter,” he said. “It may be trivial; I don’t know whether it is even a matter worthy of your notice.”
Tegestu looked at him impatiently. “Speak, ban-demmin.”
“Bro-demmin, we have under surveillance a woman encountered on a river barge heading from Cavasto to Arrandal. She — “ He frowned, shaking his head. “This is what does not make sense. She claims to be a conjuror from Khensin, but her accent is not Khemsinla — we asked a Khemsinla to listen to her speech to make sure, and he confirms she is not a countrywoman. She speaks Gostu, also with an accent hard to place. She carries no weapons, but on the barge she killed a man, a thief trying to loot her cabin, and disabled another, apparently barehanded.”
Tegestu absorbed the information impassively. “If she were a spy,” he said, “she would know better than to kill a man, or to speak Gostu within hearing of our people. It would have been easy enough to raise an outcry on the barge and catch the thieves that way. Unless...” Tegestu hesitated while the mental mosaic resolved itself, then continued. “Unless the thieves discovered something she was unwilling to allow anyone else to see, and she was forced to kill hastily.”
“Beg pardon, bro-demmin, but why didn’t she kill both of them?” Cascan said. “It seems to have been well within her powers.”
Tegestu received this logical objection with a scowl of chagrin. “Of course, of course,” he muttered. “You were right to bring this to me. I don’t think we need to bring the matter before the aldran just yet. In the meantime keep her under surveillance, and I think it might be best if her baggage were searched. She might be what she says; perhaps it’s merely a matter of a pair of incompetent thieves and a lucky blow. But there’s too great a chance she is a provocateur sent by Tastis to take any chances. Has she been observed making any contacts?”
“Many. During the five days she’s been in the city, she’s purchased a street performer’s license and entertains daily in the public squares and markets.” Cascan smiled admiringly. “Her performance is quite remarkable; she’s well on her way to becoming a sensation. I’ve seen her myself, and it’s certainly unlike anything this city has ever seen. Naturally,” he said, nodding, “she’s had casual contact with hundreds. She’s accepted a few offers to perform privately in the palaces of the deissin, and we have no way of knowing what information would have been exchanged there.”