"I won't have this talk!" cried Eliar, lurching back to the circle. "Never tell a man of my people that he has stirred his hand in the pot of slavery! Do you mean to insult me?"
"Cub, hold your tongue!" Calon grabbed hold of his arm, but Eliar shook him off.
"Enough." Anji stepped between the two men, and they both backed off. "Answer me a few questions, if you will, Eliar sen Haf Gi Ri." He grabbed a stick out of the fire and held it up. Flames licked down the wood. "On what fuel does the flame sup?"
"The wood," said Eliar, looking irritated. "What is the point of this?"
"And on what food did this wood grow?"
"On water and earth and sun. As any fool knows!"
"And water and earth and sun, where are they grown? What is their origin? Is it not the case that 'all things blossom out of the heart of the Hidden One'?"
"I beg you, accept my apologies," said Eliar in a stricken tone.
Anji tossed the stick on the fire. "No need. I studied the archives as part of my education at the palace school. Now I know who you are. Your people lived in the empire."
"Not my clan, but distant cousins out of other clans, yes. After our people crossed the ocean, some of the clans fetched up on the shores of the Sirni Empire. They were driven out because they would not make sacrifices at the temple of the false god."
"That's not quite how it is written in the histories of the palace."
Eliar had the grace to blush. "I suppose it would not be. I intend no offense."
"You can be sure I take none, as I am not a believer. But you're right. It was a long time ago, four generations. As it happens, the priests of Beltak had a lot to say about your people, as they have a lot to say in all their writings. But I never thought I would meet one of you. They called your people 'the servants of the Hidden One, an avatar of the Lord of Lords, King of Kings.' They claimed you lived half in light and half in shadow, and in the end the priests insisted that any of you who refused to perform the sacrifice at the temple depart from the empire or be put to death. It is written there were no executions, so I am minded to believe that the priests were merciful in your case."
Eliar nodded. "It is said in our lore that some among the clans betrayed our people and sacrificed to the false god in order to stay in the empire. But the rest came north into the Hundred to join their kinsmen. A few sailed farther north even than that, to the lands beyond."
"Many things were written," added Anji, "but I recall in particular that the priests of Beltak were outraged that among these 'servants of the Hidden One,' slavery was entirely outlawed in all ways and shapes, and in every manner. In the empire, clans and houses are required to provide slaves for service in the temples. This your people refused to do."
Eliar nodded. "It is against the will of the Hidden One that any should hold another's life in bondage, or aid in such a transaction."
"But what of their labor?" asked Calon. "Labor is separate from life, as it is written in the law of the Hundred. Still." He smiled as Eliar puffed up, ready to burst into a tirade. "This is a dispute for another time."
"Everyone keeps slaves," said Mai. "That's just how it is. How can anyone change that?" She looked at Priya, but Priya remained silent.
Anji looked at Eliar, and then at Mai. "These are desperate times. But tell me, Master Calon, how are we to manage this overthrow, since it will take longer than one night to plan and execute? If we don't depart in the morning, they'll guess something is amiss."
Calon took in a deep breath, and seemed to have breathed in a midge, because he set to coughing until Chief Tuvi slapped him on the back and dislodged the irritant from his throat.
"Eh. Gah. I thank you." He wiped his brow. He was sweating, although it wasn't hot any longer. "Misdirection. In the morning, ride west along West Spur, as if you mean to obey the council's order. After a day or two cut south into the Lending."
"The Lending?"
"The grasslands. The high plains land south of the Olo'o Sea. With good horses, and if you can hunt, you'll manage. It's a difficult time of year to find water, but the rains will come soon. We're almost to the turn of the new year. Out there, the Greater Houses won't be able to follow you, for despite the power they hold here in Olossi, they don't possess more than the town militia. I guarantee you that the militia won't march out into the Lending in pursuit. They've had trouble out there in the past, but if you're hospitable to the tribes and raise no sword against them, you'll be given free passage. Then you can await word, until we're ready to strike."
"A great risk, for uncertain gain," said Anji.
Priya's soft voice startled Mai, although the Qin did not seem surprised to hear her speak. "The Merciful One teaches that where a river cannot breach hard rock, it will find a softer path to go around."
"True enough," agreed Anji. "This may be the softer path." He gazed into the darkness toward the distant watch lights burning along the city wall, barely visible from their campfire. "But a dangerous one, despite that." He looked at each face illuminated in the circle of light thrown off by the fire before settling on Mai. "I cannot bring myself to allow you to ride out on such a perilous expedition."
Calon made a noise, a soft grunt of surprise and pleased assent.
Anji nodded at Calon. " Should we agree to your offer, that is. Such a plan would not only put my wife at risk, but her presence on military maneuvers put the rest of us at additional risk because we will need to take additional measures to protect her. Therefore, Master Eliar, I ask you, would you on your honor as a servant of the Hidden One give shelter to my wife? I will pay for her lodging at fair market value-"
"Impossible!" cried Eliar.
Mai stepped back, startled by his vehemence.
Even Anji looked surprised.
"Cub, what are you saying?" demanded Master Calon.
"I mean only-I pray you-" He was flustered. "She would bide with my family as our guest. We cannot take payment. It goes against the law of hospitality."
"Then you will have my undying gratitude," said Anji as smoothly as if these were the very words he had expected to hear. He turned to Mai. "Sending you with them is a risk we must take if we mean this venture to succeed. For one, you will seek to free Reeve Joss. Also, the coin will go with you. If something happens to me, you will have the resources to set up a business for yourself."
Eliar nodded. "My people will shelter her as one of our own. And do what is necessary to aid her, no matter what comes. I do make my oath on the heart of the Hidden One that she will suffer no harm nor will she be sold into bondage while in the shelter of our house, and that she will leave that shelter only upon your return, or of her own choice if she is widowed."
"So taken," said Anji.
"So taken," said Mai, but the words came roughly, and her eyes filled with tears. She had talked him into this, and now he would run the campaign according to his understanding of war even if it meant she was to be separated from him in this foreign land and sent to live with strangers. Yet it must be done. If you do it, don't be afraid.
Priya took her hand in her own.
"A shrewd bargain," said Master Calon. "So, Captain. Verea. Do we have a deal?"
Anji indicated Mai. It went against everything she had learned and lived in the marketplace to agree to any deal without negotiating for a better offer.
"Double the price. The balance to be paid if we succeed."
Eliar whistled.
Calon took the bait. "Impossible. We've already given you everything we have with us."