‘Indeed,’ Kheda agreed, his face a neutral mask.
Because what little wealth this devastated domain could salvage has been traded for pretty tiles, costly marbles and whitewash to cover the smoke stains. And men and women have been taken from trying to rebuild their pitiful homes to bring shiploads of clean sand to cover the blood on the beaches.
But how could they believe themselves secure or have any confidence in their future if they did not have their warlord and his lady displaying the pride and honour of the domain in their luxurious home and their lavish household? What other domains would deign to trade with Chazen if all we had to offer was a pauper’s hovel?
He glanced across to one of the anchorages cut into the reef to accommodate any deep-keeled ship visiting this restored seat of Chazen power. A great galley wallowed between sturdy hawsers secured to wooden piles driven deep into the coral. Oars were shipped in their ports on the middle of the three roomy decks, rowers doubtless now resting in the vast cargo holds beneath. Varka gulls wheeled around the tops of the three permanent masts that were always ready to take advantage of any wind that might aid the toiling oarsmen in their voyages between the domains.
My shoulders ache just at the recollection of taking an oar on such a vessel.
‘One of yours?’ Dev asked Kheda as he studied the galley with interest. ‘Daish’s, I mean.’ Kheda chewed his lip. ‘It’s the Sun Bird. Rekha Daish’s favourite ship.’
Her favourite sun birds are the roseate kind barely bigger than the thumb-sized myrtali flowers they feed from. That’s the only gardening Rekha does, cultivating the bushes to attract them. Tiny birds, so dainty and quick, and she names a lumbering hulk for them. Why did she do that?
‘So every man aboard will be loyal to her, with all their hopes of profit tight in her manicured hand.’ Dev regarded the deserted deck of the galley with something perilously close to a scowl.
No Daish islander ever lost out following Rekha’s lead on what to trade and where,’ commented Kheda. ‘And plenty of warlords’ wives reckon they’ve done well if their ledgers come out even when they’ve concluded a deal with her. You can count the number of those coming out ahead of her over the course of a year on the fingers of one hand.’
‘I don’t see Itrac being one of them,’ Dev murmured under his breath.
No, nor do I, but I don’t see Rekha coming here just for trade, not at the very start of the year when everyone should be close to home and family, to share in the celebrations and debate the auguries of such an auspicious day.
Sirket mill be taking the auguries alone this year. I hope they are favourable for you, my son.
‘She’s brought her own triremes, I see.’ Dev squinted at the lithe vessels with their upcurved sterns and prows anchored in the open water of the lagoon.
‘We can hardly take offence at that,’ said Kheda reluctantly. ‘Chazen waters haven’t been overly safe of late.’
Is that why Rekha’s here, rather than Janne Daish? Second wife rather than first wouldn’t be quite suck an ominous loss, Though the loss of Rekha’s acumen would be a grievous blow to Daish. What is she seeking that she reckons worth the risk of this voyage? What has she brought here in those capacious holds and what might she be looking to take away in them’!
The Mist Dove lurched gently as the trireme eased into her berth and those rowers taking a rest from their oars to act as the sail crew hurried to secure the mooring ropes.
‘So what’s the plan when we’re ashore?’ Dev watched islanders ashore throw ropes to enable the trireme’s crew to haul a floating walkway alongside.
‘I’ll go and read the immediate auguries from the obser—
vatory while you see what Itrac’s come up with by way of suitable finery for me.’ Kheda nodded at the modest tower rising three storeys high beyond a low pavilion set alone on the most easterly islet. He grimaced. ‘Then I will greet my present lady wife and we’ll discuss how best to deal with my former spouse.’
‘Do you think there’ll be a cat-fight for your favours?’ Dev chuckled unsympathetically. ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t rather sail straight for the western isles and some open, honest warfare?’
‘Just keep your mouth shut and your eyes open,’ said Kheda brusquely.
I’d gag you if I thought I could get away with it. You may make a convincing enough show as a body slave when it comes to fetching and carrying and exploiting all the feuds and affiances of a household but you’re not going to be much use in these skirmishes, barbarian. I can’t send you to practise your sword skills with Rekha’s slave; Andit would know you for a fraud before you’d even drawn your blades. So there’s no chance of discreet backhand communications to temper what might be said in public for reasons of dignity or deception.
Will Itrac be inclined to share whatever she might learn through her Jevin’s not-so-casual conversations? Though he’s as green as she is, both of them out of their depth when it comes to dealing with a seasoned traveller like Rekha. What wouldn’t I give for just one slave as astute and experienced as Telouet? ‘My thanks once again, Shipmaster Shaiam, to you and all your crew. Now, my final order is that you celebrate your new year with all the feasting and merriment that this place can offer you!’ Kheda waved towards a long sand bar in the midst of the anchorage where bonfires and torches were being lit. The pipers from a handful of ships were already playing for a circle of girls dancing between trestle tables being stacked high with platters of meat and steaming cook pots. As the Mist Dove’s crew turned to the prospect with an approving cheer, the warlord vaulted over the trireme’s stern rail without further ceremony.
Dev hit the planks behind him with a solid thump and a jingle of chain mail. ‘I don’t know about you, my lord,’ he said fervently, but I will be truly glad to get out of this armour.’
‘Indeed.’ Kheda strode on ahead to solid ground, taking a fork in the path of raked sand that led towards the observatory tower. Maidservants were coming the other way, all clothed in simple white dresses with embroidery echoing the patterns of the reef fish or the brilliant birds twittering in the trees and shrubs. One carried a basket laden with green leaves wrapped around tiny blue flower spikes, the next a bushel of yellow zera shoots, black earth still clinging to their red roots.
As the girls bowed and withdrew to the sides of the path, Kheda smiled at them. ‘We’ll be greeting the year’s new stars with a fine feast, I see.’
‘Absolutely, my lord,’ one replied, the girls dipping in demure obeisance.
Two men behind hesitated. They carried a turtle between them in a plaited rope sling, its scaled flippers tied tight to the brown and grey shell as long as a man’s leg.
‘We’ll go around you.’ Kheda raised a hand and suited his actions to his words before the turtle hunters could demur. Off the path the ground was sandy, sparse grass soft beneath his feet.
‘Turtle meat’s such a rare luxury in the north,’ Dev observed wryly. ‘I never thought to tire of it, but if you could find a sack of pearls for a side of beef, I’d be truly grateful.’
Kheda spared him a glance as they crossed the swaying walkway to the next small island. ‘I wouldn’t mind a decent-sized deer to roast.’
But I’ll look ver carefully for the snare that comes with it if Rekha offers me one.
Clusters of palm saplings surrounded the pavilion on the furthest island, each one sheltering carefully tended seedlings of red cane and vizail. Servants and slaves hovered on the steps, smiles ingratiating, all dressed alike in cerulean blue, trousers and tunics spotless. Gold and silver clasps shone brightly at wrists and ankles and the men all had hair and beards neatly trimmed and dressed with oil. The women wore fresh flowers woven into their braids or tucked behind turtleshell combs holding flowing black locks away from their round, smiling faces.
Itrac’s doing her best to show Rekha Daish that we of Chazen are no paupers.