Ehiru sighed, abruptly weary. “I would have died young, yes. And perhaps that would have been best.”
Rabbaneh said nothing for a moment, though Ehiru felt the younger Gatherer’s eyes on him. When he felt Rabbaneh’s hand touch his shoulder, however, he brushed it off.
“Leave me this, Rabbaneh.”
“The grief devours you—”
“Then let it.” He turned away, unable to bear the look in his pathbrother’s eyes. Was that what tithebearers saw when they found themselves facing a Gatherer? Sympathy for the loss too great, the pain too unbearable? How did they stand such meaningless pity?
“I’m going back to the Hetawa,” he said. “In peace, Brother.”
Ehiru walked away before Rabbaneh could mouth a response, opting to hike the long route around the courtyard’s edges rather than a straight line through the lights and the crowd. A few revelers shared the shadows with him, some taking a break from socializing, some seeking a modicum of privacy for more intimate conversations. They did not speak and he gladly ignored them. If he had not recognized the Superior’s voice when he heard his name called, he would have ignored that, too.
Instead Ehiru stopped and restrained the urge to sigh as the other man approached from the torchlight, stumbling once in the dimness. Ehiru stepped forward and caught his elbow.
“Darkness is the realm of Gatherers and dreams, Superior. Not the Hetawa’s highest light.”
The Superior chuckled, nodding gratefully as he righted himself. “The Hetawa’s light would be you, Ehiru. I’m just a glorified clerk, and sometimes a gamesman.” He sighed, smile fading as his eyes adjusted and searched Ehiru’s face. “You’re upset about something.”
“Nothing important.”
“Devout men lie poorly.” Then the Superior’s face softened. “But in your case the truth is painful enough that I suppose you can be forgiven. Which makes me even more sorry to have to do this.”
“Do what?”
The Superior turned to gaze out at the crowd, which showed no signs of dissipating despite the lateness of the hour. It was thickest around the pavilion, where the Prince was visible on the steps, crouching to give a private good night to each of his children. A gaggle of strangers, black as shunha but dressed in foreign garments dyed shades of indigo, stood waiting nearby: Kisuati. The Prince’s gestures of affection might have been a minstrel’s show to judge by the avid way the strangers watched and commented to one another. Ehiru grimaced in bitter memory before the Superior’s next words pulled him rudely back to the present.
“You have a commission. Forgive me, Ehiru.”
For an instant Ehiru was too startled and angry to speak; he stared down at the Superior. “I desecrated a tithe only days ago.”
“I’m aware of that. Yet as Superior I must also remind you of the practical implications of your self-imposed penance. Una-une gave his Final Tithe three months ago. Nijiri won’t be ready ’til next season at least. I have asked Rabbaneh and Sonta-i to shoulder some of your duties given recent events and because you’ve taken on Nijiri, but it’s simply unfair to ask them to continue much longer. Two Gatherers cannot do the work of four.”
Ehiru flinched as guilt overlaid anger. Turning to gaze out at the crowd, he said, “I don’t mean to burden my brothers unduly. But you must understand… I doubt, Superior. I no longer feel Hananja’s mandate in my heart. I no longer know if…” He faltered, then forced himself to voice the fear that had been gnawing at his mind since the night of the Bromarte trader’s death. “I no longer know if I am fit, if I am worthy, to perform my duties.”
“Both Rabbaneh and Sonta-i have mishandled Gatherings, Ehiru—Sonta-i twice. Is your sin greater, or theirs lesser? Do you demand more of yourself than you expect of them?”
Yes. But he did not voice the thought lest he be accused of arrogance.
The Superior watched him expectantly. It was clear refusal would be unacceptable.
“As you wish, Superior,” Ehiru said at last, with a sigh. “I can only pray that this is Hananja’s wish as well. At least Nijiri will be pleased; he’s been plaguing me to go out for a fourday now.”
The Superior nodded and turned back to the crowd. His eyes roved for a moment before alighting on the steps around the pavilion. “The strangers there in grieving colors. They are Kisuati; they celebrate the Hamyan properly. Do you see them?”
Ehiru did. They stood higher on the steps now that the children had been taken away by the Prince’s wives and guardsmen. The Prince had resumed his place on the oxbow seat, his posture formal and the Aureole once again raised behind his head. Several of the strangers made a bow of supplication to him, but one woman amid the group remained tall and straight. The others bent around her like reeds to a bargepole.
“The woman.”
Ehiru frowned. “Women need no Gatherer’s assistance to reach Ina-Karekh—”
“In this case the commission is requested as a kindness, both to her and to the city. Her soul is corrupt, the supplicant says.”
“Has an Assay of Truth been performed?”
“Unnecessary. The supplicant is beyond question.”
Ehiru turned his head to stare at the Superior’s profile.
The Superior smiled at Ehiru’s skepticism, though Ehiru noted that the smile did not reach his eyes. “I did request proofs to support the charge of corruption. I was shown such proofs. But a formal assessment would take time and require a public record. In this case, that would cause greater harm.”
Ehiru’s frown deepened as suspicion flowered in his mind. “Who is she?”
“Her name is Sunandi. Jeh Kalawe in their nomenclature; a daughter out of the lineage of Kalawe, of sonha caste, in ours. She is the Voice of the Kisuati Protectorate, newly assigned to Gujaareh. The charge is that she has used her position to spy, to steal, and to corrupt Gujaareen officials. By her actions she foments unrest between Gujaareh and Kisua.”
“Our focus is spiritual, not political.” Ehiru folded his arms. “If the Sunset wants her killed, he has assassins for that.”
“And if the Protectorate declares war? The assassination of an ambassador would be a violation of the treaty between our lands. The whole city would suffer if they sent an army seeking redress. Where is the peace in that, Servant of Hananja?”
Long gone from my life, Ehiru thought bitterly.
“Would they not also declare war if she is found dead with my mark on her?” he asked. “Gathering is not their way.”
“They respect it as ours. Kisua honors Hananja too, even if they dilute their faith by worshipping other gods alongside Her. If this woman is Gathered, the Kisuati will be angry, no doubt—but not angry enough to declare war. That would enrage their own Hananjan sect and cause them no end of internal trouble.” The Superior turned to him. “I won’t pretend this isn’t political, Ehiru. But there remains a spiritual component to the matter. The woman has committed acts of theft, deception, and malice. If she were anything but an ambassador, how would you judge her?”
“… Corrupt.”
The Superior nodded as though he were still a Teacher, and Ehiru a particularly wise student. “As you said: our focus must be spiritual first and foremost.”
Ehiru sighed. “Her location?”
“Here in Yanya-iyan, of course. The ambassadorial wing, largest suite. Will you require maps?”
“No. I remember the way.”
“Will you be taking Nijiri? Palace guards draw swords first and ask questions later.”
“The better for him to learn the hazards of our path.” Ehiru turned to go, then paused. “I will carry out the commission tomorrow night.”
“So soon?”
“If she is as corrupt as you say,” Ehiru replied, “then for every day I delay, her soul grows more diseased. Shall I leave her to suffer longer?”
“No, of course not. In peace, then, Gatherer.”
Instead, Ehiru left in silence.