The witch smiled. “You are telling me with your Kaiel tongue that if the Kaiel win the game and we do not help you, then events will begin to go badly for us.”
With great formality, Joesai countered her thrust. “You are too familiar with the ways of the Mnankrei. Do not compare us. In all ways we are more generous. I make no threats. I cannot ask you to violate the ancient customs of Soebo established when the Kaiel were but worms. I promise only that no word of any help the Liethe give us shall ever be revealed by us.”
“The Death Oath?”
Joesai took his knife and opened a small wound in his finger. “The Death Oath is upon my whole clan.” That was as strong as he could make his contract. No Getan would lightly commit the gene pool of his entire clan. Treachery masked in honest words was never forgiven in the harsh courts of kalothi. He touched his blood to the crone’s tongue.
“Then I have a girl for you. The fee will be dismissed since this is a matter between priests. You will like her. The wench’s name is Comfort and she is mistress of High Wave Ogar tu’Ama who leads the opposition to the Central Watch of the Swift Wind.” The crone clapped her hands and a child Liethe appeared, listened and then slipped away.
Ho, already she has the grace, Joesai thought, remembering Hoemei’s Honey moving through the Palace as the hoiela moved upon the breeze.
“Please be corrected,” said the old one who could still ring the bell in a man’s soul. “We are not allied with the Mnankrei. We are allied with all priests who come from God’s Womb. We serve those who serve Geta.” She smiled and touched the small amulet he wore around his neck. “You have earned the heart of one Liethe. Who was she?”
“A dancer of the Prime Predictor.”
“She gave that to you when she knew your life was in danger.”
“My life has always been in the shadow of Death,” he grinned.
“You did not come here alone. Your friends will be hidden outside, watching.”
“If two lovely women leave the hive holding hands, one wearing a hat with hoiela wings, they will be assured of my safety and will await a second signal from me in twenty sun-heights.”
“It will be done. But you have a bizarre idea of the finery we possess!” Soul’s Bell escorted Joesai along a corridor with a hand that well knew how to hold a man’s arm. They met a tiny Liethe child, fortified by the beginnings of a large vocabulary, who was outraged at the presence of a male and hit at his knees with clenched fists. Other eyes watched them from hiding.
He was led to a room that was meant for no man. Its luxury was eccentric. Satin pillows, lit by an eerie mixture of sunlight and bioluminous glow, spilled on the floor overlooking the garden. A platinum globe-swing hung from the ceiling beside a torch rack and a bookcase. Dominating the corner was a great wardrobe made of pressed woven iron-reed, inlaid with a lustrous stone. The tapestries were of the finest oz-Numae weave depicting the faery world of the mythical forests of Scowlmoon.
Then Comfort emerged from across the garden, carrying a tray of o’ca porcelain. The snouts of the centerpiece steamed with the aroma of herb tea. There were sipping cups for warming the hands and spice cake. She set the tray on a small table and sank to her knees before him.
“How may I serve you,” she said to his feet.
Instead of asking her to rise he lowered himself onto a pillow beside her. The crone disappeared. Damn fool Liethe, he thought while he poured them both some tea, they never think a man can take care of himself. She let him serve her, gracefully accepting the unexpected. The face, the delicate body, was se-Tufi, like Honey, and that disturbed him. She wore a pink robe of knotty texture tied beneath her breasts, casually, and tiny red jewels in the corners of her eyes. She was dressed for seduction, not talk. Did that mean they were afraid of him?
“Good tea,” he said gruffly.
Humility broke a piece of cake and offered the morsel to his mouth.
“You look like someone I know,” he said.
Her blue eyes sparkled, black pupils and ruby jewels. “Did you love my sister?”
“For a moment.”
“The city is afraid,” she said, reverting to her serious manner.
“Of what?”
“Of you.”
“The Advance Court has done nothing.”
“That’s what makes you so frightening.”
“Then you, little one, must be the bravest of all the cowards of Soebo.” Some of Noe’s teasing ways had rubbed off on Joesai.
“Not yet as brave as you, for my actions still fall short of the foolhardy.”
“How might I reduce this fear?”
“Go away.”
He laughed the great laugh. “I would rather stroll down the Avenue of Temples and have children rush to bring me flowers and climb upon my shoulders.”
“With a face like yours?”
“I shall have to be content to terrorize the Temple of Raging Seas.”
She sighed. “You wish to free your men from the Temple. That is nearly impossible.”
“Ho! Notice that word nearly. It savors well upon the tongue. I will need maps of the Temple and of the surrounding buildings.”
“You will need more than that,” she replied scaldingly.
“The Mnankrei guard that evil place well, I hear.” He readied his surprise question. Noe had told him of the vile research into spreading death taking place in the Temple of Raging Seas and that the Liethe knew about it. How did one read an undecorated face? It was as innocent as a child’s. He finished his tea — and began. “What do you know of micro-life that visits the body’s house and kills the soul?”
“You speak of profane diseases such as pass among the insects?”
“Sacred disease,” he pressed.
“There have been rumors.”
He gave her no pause to orient. “Rumors?”
But she paused anyway. “I know nothing. I will go now and ask those who might.”
“Stay. I’m not sure I trust any other Liethe besides you.” He sensed he would get nothing from her.
“Then I won’t ask, but I know nothing. You suspect such abominations are being created in Soebo?”
“Yes.”
“You think great evil of the Mnankrei.”
“We are here to judge them fairly. First I plan to attack the Temple of Raging Seas.”
“It will have to be a job done in the dark as the burrowers eat wood. I need time to think and prepare. I will have a good plan for you by morning for your review. I am competent. Do you have two men, flexible in an emergency, quick to act?”
“Of course.”
“I cannot go with you. You may fail and die.”
“Do your schemes work?”
“Always. When executed by a woman.”
He liked the way she laughed at him. “Why should you be so helpful? Who is fed when the Kaiel are given charity?”
“I am the companion of the tu’Ama who has long fought the evil of the Swift Wind. They must be broken on the reefs. But Ama, just and steadfast as he is, lacks cunning as a leader. He may be broken if he does not receive help.”
“I’m a dangerous ally for this lover of yours.”
She delivered the o’ca cup to the small table with both fury and sadness. “You don’t even understand what I’m talking about! What can tu’Ama do? We know that! The Liethe are between crushing forces — the Kaiel and the Swift Wind. I am being thrown at you, at your feet, a gift, so that should you win your game there will be a Liethe with you to mellow your revenge. You surprised us by coming here. There has been much preparation to send me to your camp.”
“It is not likely that you would have been admitted.”
“But if I help you now?”
“No.”
“Then I will not risk my life to send you into the Temple for your friends!” she flared, rising.
“Ho! This is a bargain you are suggesting!” He laughed. “That is more like it! I shall have to reconsider. Let me sort this into boxes; in return for your aid you get to serve and flatter me.”