Northern Storm

Chapter Twelve

It’s no good.’ Dev’s voice thickened with frustration. ‘I can’t find her.’ He hunched over the water as he fought with the scrying spell. ‘I can’t even get the spell to hold

Finding his teeth aching, Kheda forced himself to unclench his jaw. He drummed his fingers on the far side of the vast grey marble bath raised in the middle of the floor. The swirls of the polished stone were copied in the smoky tiles of the floor. ‘Try the mirror again.’ He gestured towards the square of steel with its cracked lustre border, half-hidden behind a row of unguent jars painted with the same patterns of reef and sea that decorated the bath chamber’s walls.

‘There’s no hope of fire magic finding her inside Azazir’s influence,’ muttered Dev bitterly, his attention still fixed on the obstinately magic-free water. ‘And if we beat our heads against that truth much longer, we’ll be late for that banquet of yours. Do you want to be discovered at this because some lackey comes to find us?’

‘Would fresh water help?’ Kheda searched his wits for some constructive suggestion.

If we’ve lost this magewoman, where do we look for any help against this dragon?

‘Fresh water?’ Dev looked up with an ill-tempered scowl. ‘It’s not the water and it’s not me. I found Risala for you, didn’t I? You saw her enjoying her pleasure cruise. I told you, it’s Azazir’s—’

‘Hush.’ Kheda was certain he’d heard a footfall. ‘Someone’s coming.’

‘Announce yourself to your lord!’ Dev’s hand went to the scabbarded sword thrust through the sash of his black tunic and he slipped past Kheda to open the door with a jerk.

‘Do we need to be so formal, Kheda?’ A woman stood there looking at Dev, faint curiosity raising her brows.

‘Janne Daish.’ Kheda drew a short, sharp breath before waving her backwards and stalking through the door to the warlord’s private sitting room.

Janne retreated, stopped and wiggled her toes. ‘I do like these floors of wooden blocks,’ she remarked. ‘So much warmer and easier on the feet than tiles.’ She moved towards a thick silk carpet of palest blue piled high with soft sea-green cushions embroidered with clams and sea stars bordered by swaying sea grasses.

‘Through here, if you please, Janne Daish.’ Kheda waited in the arch between this inner chamber and the warlord’s anteroom where chests of ebony and ironwood stood in the corners between low tables set with alabaster vases bright with fresh flowers. There was a vivid white and gold carpet but no cushions for waiting visitors. He inclined his head, stopping well short of a bow. ‘To what do I owe this unexpected visit?’

Unexpected and unwelcome. What do you want?

She smiled with amiable tolerance for the edge in his voice as she strolled into the anteroom. ‘After everything Rekha said about how splendidly Itrac has restored these residences, I had to come and see for myself.’

‘Forgive me.’ Kheda smiled thinly. ‘I didn’t mean your visit to the domain. I meant your appearing here, in my apartments. You and Rekha seem to have become very casual about etiquette of late.’ Janne looked sharply at Dev, who was waiting in the archway to the inner chamber, head bowed, every measure the attentive slave. ‘You may leave us.’

‘My lord?’ Dev looked at Kheda, his Aldabreshin accent note perfect.

‘Wait outside.’ Kheda nodded. ‘You’re looking well,’ he continued neutrally as Dev obediently closed the outer door behind him. ‘And wholly first lady of Daish by virtue of being the warlord’s mother rather than his wife. You look ten years older than you did as my consort.’

‘It’s such a relief, for me and Birut.’ Janne smiled, untroubled. ‘You never did appreciate how much work it took to make you the envy of every other warlord, and me the despair of their wives.’ The grey in Janne Daish’s hair was no longer concealed by the crimson and indigo dyes she had been wont to use. Her long tresses were coiled into a crystal-studded net of plaited white silk held back behind her ears by a silver crescent headdress. The effect was subtly unflattering, revealing the years bluning her jawline and the wrinkled skin of her neck. No effort had been made to hide her years with cosmetics; she wore the minimum of frosted silver around her eyes, lips merely glossed with a purple the same shade as her gown. The high-necked dress of red-shot silk was cut to conceal, not to enhance, the charms of her voluptuous bosom. The wide white sash embroidered with red and purple flowers emphasised that her waist was thickened with child-bearing, while the full skirts hid her elegant legs. All the same, I would still embrace you, draw your head upon my shoulder. You were all the wife I ever wanted. And you know it.

‘I see you’re weary.’ Kheda regarded her with a hint of pity. ‘The voyage must have been tiring for a woman of your years.’

If you want to play the matriarch, let’s see how you like being treated as if you were twenty years my senior instead of merely nine.

‘I’m curious about your new body slave.’ Janne looked after Dev. ‘A barbarian, isn’t he? Were none of our neighbours willing to trade you a better trained slave after all you’d done for Chazen?’

What are you expecting me to tell you? That I dared not approach Redigal or Ritsem, Aedis or Sarem, for fear of them refusing to send a slave to a domain stained with magic? If only it were that simple.

‘He’s of barbarian stock.’ Kheda shrugged at the irrelevance. ‘I found him when I was searching for lore in the north.’

‘Is he zamorin or beardless by choice?’ Janne’s long sleeve fell back as she adjusted her headdress with fingers heavy with silver rings set with amethyst. ‘A lover of men?’ she elaborated unnecessarily. More violet stones circled her wrist.

‘That’s a remarkably impertinent question, even for one who was once my wife.’ There was no warmth in Kheda’s voice. ‘And I owe you no answers, since you decided I was no longer wanted as your husband. I’ve questions of my own, mind you. What brings you here fnstead of Rekha? What are you looking for, besides pearls to conceal how scant the Daish harvest has been?’

You wear amethysts to calm anger and promote humility, so you’re serious about whatever negotiations brought you here. The heavenly Amethyst rides in the arc of honour and status, along with the Hoe that is the symbol of a man’s hard work in service of the domain, whatever his rank. Do you expect me to keep calm, to put my duty as Chazen warlord above my own feelings?

Now it was Janne who shrugged. ‘You can’t blame me for being curious about that voyage, not when it brought such changes to all of our lives.’

Kheda ignored the barb. ‘He belonged to a trader in the central domains. I needed someone to help me sail a boat south. Dev was willing to trade his service for a place in my household.’

‘When he didn’t even know you had a household to return to, much less a domain,’ Janne observed, sceptical. ‘What did this trader want in return?’

‘That’s between me and him.’ Kheda realised that Janne’s own faithful shadow was nowhere to be seen. ‘Where’s Birut?’

You don’t want him privy to this conversation. Why might that be?

‘He’s spending some time with Itrac’s Jevin,’ Janne replied easily. ‘I don’t want to see her embarrassed when more demanding guests visit—the Aedis wives, for instance. The boy’s willing but Rekha said he lacks the experience to be serving a first wife. Birut will show him a few things.’

‘You chose Jevin for Itrac,’ Kheda recalled, ‘when we already knew she was the only Chazen wife still living.’

‘We suspected,’ Janne corrected him. ‘We didn’t know for certain that Sekni was dead.’ She held his gaze, eyes dark and impenetrable, her face expressionless even without the concealment of cosmetics. ‘One acts differently when one only suspects, rather than knowing something beyond all doubt. The most important thing was having her guarded, so that no one like Ulla Safar could force her into marriage and claim this domain along with her body’ She paused. ‘So much has happened since then, and so much that was unforeseen.’

‘Foretelling is a warlord’s prerogative,’ said Kheda sharply. ‘You’d better not be interfering with Sirket’s interpretations of the omens.’

‘I do not interfere,’ retorted Janne, piqued. ‘I offer support. I strive for the domain’s good above all else, in the light of whatever Sirket reacts in the earthly or heavenly compasses.’

‘As I strive to see the best path for Chazen, since Daish is closed to me now.’ Kheda pictured the charts of the shifting constellations and heavenly jewels that he’d been drawing all afternoon.

The Spear’s in the arc of marriage now, token of male potency and call to arms, along with the Ruby, talisman for courage. Is that a warning for me, when the heavenly Pearl that is a symbol of Daish rides with the Winged Snake that is symbol of male and female intertwined? They are in the arc where the Emerald talisman of peace and growth presides over omens of good health and a peaceful future. What am Ito make of that?

‘I had so hoped to see Chazen prosper.’ Janne sounded deeply regretful, tracing the silver-edged flowers embroidered on her sleeve with one long-nailed finger. But ill luck seems to stalk this domain.’

‘I take it you’re referring to this dragon?’ challenged Kheda.

Janne took a sudden pace closer, lifting her face towards him, eyes hard, her voice low. ‘Such a portent of evil and coming less than a year after those wild men wrought havoc with their savage sorcery. See what you started, when you brought whatever magic it was you found in the north to defeat the invaders. Did your father teach you nothing? Did you think your actions, alone of all men, wouldn’t have consequences to echo through the days and years to come? You were never so foolish as ruler of Daish, not until you were touched by the corruption of magic. I wish you’d never sailed to Chazen’s aid when the beacons first told of his misfortunes. I hate to think what calamity will befall you next, or these hapless people, all on your account.’

‘At least you made sure none of this misfortune can fall on Daish,’ interrupted Kheda sarcastically, ‘refusing to let Sirket relinquish rule to me, driving me out as you did. You were never a fool, Janne, so why are you talking like one now? What would have become of Daish if I hadn’t found such lore and sailed south with it? Do you think Chazen Saril would have halted the wild men? Don’t you see they’d have swept north to plunder Daish as well?’ He shook his head vehemently. No, Janne, I don’t regret anything I have done. Can you say the same? You saw that Chazen Saril was destroyed by grief and fear but you didn’t help him. You decided to put his life to trial instead. Do you wonder if it was his death in Daish waters that’s blighted your pearl harvest?’

‘I have no doubts that I was right to put Chazen Saril to the ultimate trial,’ Janne said resolutely, folding her arms. ‘I wagered my own life as well as his and yours.’

‘And we’re still standing, so you must have been right?’ Kheda waved an airy hand. ‘I wouldn’t be so confident in your interpretations, Janne. This dragon is an evil, granted, but for the present it’s eating as many of those savages still hiding out in the western isles as it can find. That’s doing Chazen no harm. Would you like to see the dispatches from our triremes confirming that? As for Chazen’s better fortunes,

I think it’s all to their good that I’ve mastered my unreasoning fear of magic and sent an envoy to the north to find out all about this new foe. That barbarian slave of mine recalls tales of such beasts being defeated in the far north. That’s another stroke of luck, isn’t it? You can take some comfort in the fact that my rule will protect Chazen better than Saril’s would have done in the present circumstances.’

‘What have you learned about this dragon?’ Janne demanded.

‘That’s Chazen business and none of Daish’s concern.’ Kheda smiled.

‘You don’t think we’re entitled to worry that the beast will come north?’ queried Janne with mock surprise. ‘When you tell me these wild men would have done just that without your boldness in suborning whatever magic brought them down? Don’t lecture me about shameful deeds, Kheda.’ She turned away to walk slowly around the anteroom, ostensibly studying the ebony and iron-wood corner chests. You could always tell when I was shading the truth, but that was when I seldom lied to you and trusted you with my life. Let’s see how much that has changed along with everything else.

Kheda deliberately smiled more broadly when Janne’s path brought her around to face him once more. ‘I’ll tell you this much: we already know how to contain it, once it has rid us of the savages. We’re seeking a way to kill it. I imagine that’ll be expiation enough to satisfy all our neighbours that the wild men’s magic has been cleansed from Chazen. Blood has always been the ultimate purification for such evil. Who’s to say this dragon isn’t to lead to better things for Chazen in the long run?’

‘You think you can kill it?’ Janne asked, honestly incredulous.

“ You certainly didn’t expect to hear this, did you? What were you expecting?

‘As I said, unforeseen good still follows on from my voyage to the northern domains.’ Kheda leaned back against the wall, hands folded behind him. ‘That slave, Dev, tells of barbarians killing dragons in the unbroken lands. You must have heard that a poet came south with me last year? She’s seeking out such lore.’ He gestured towards the unseen north. ‘We expect her back around the breaking of the rains. The storms can wash the beast’s blood into the seas and Chazen will be set fair for a new beginning.’

‘Yes, I’d heard some poet girl was deep in your confidences. What does Itrac make of that?’ Janne asked with sweet spitefulness. She took a moment, pretending to consider the silver cranes engraved on an alabaster vase. ‘I imagine your poet will find that word of this dragon has gone before her, though. Ill news flies faster than the fleetest courier dove.’

‘And so?’ Kheda prompted coolly. Janne raised her finely shaped eyebrows, disingenuous. Whoever has that lore will look to trade it to best advantage. We both know that.’

‘Then you will be pleased to hear that Chazen is celebrating an abundant pearl harvest,’ Kheda responded blithely. ‘Which is more than merely fortunate—it’s a significant omen; a positive token that we will restore this domain to its former peace and happiness.’

‘And you’re seeking to trade pearls for gems.’ Janne nodded approval. ‘A wise precaution, when you don’t know who you’ll be trading with for this lore. There are always some who prefer jewels. Pearls have their vulnerabilities, not least their finite life.’

/ know that serene smile of old, Janne. You think you’ve got the upper hand here.

‘We’re looking to trade for many things.’ Kheda fashioned a puzzled look. ‘Metals, finished wares of all kinds ‘

‘But you need gems most of all, for some overriding necessity.’ Janne laced her hands together, studying her scarlet nail polish. ‘I paid my compliments to Itrac Chazen before I came looking for you, naturally. The girl seemed very anxious to set out her negotiating position.’

Leaving you confident that you’ll get everything you want from such an inexperienced girl. A confidence that’s hardly misplaced, let’s be honest.

‘It’s hardly polite for us to discuss your trades with

Chazen in Itrac’s absence. In fact,’ Kheda continued, harsher, ‘it’s hardly appropriate for you to be visiting me in my private chambers before my lady wife and I have welcomed you to our domain with fitting ceremony. You make us look ill-mannered, Janne Daish.’

‘Shall we stop these games?’ Janne folded her arms again, amethyst bracelets rattling. ‘Itrac isn’t up to playing against me—or Rekha, come to that—and well you know it. This isn’t about pots and pans and cloth to cover your people’s nakedness. You need gems, presumably to pay off whatever barbarian has this lore you seek to kill this dragon. I don’t suppose those northerners have the wit to appreciate the true value of pearls.’

She looked at him, face unforgiving. ‘You’re playing the same dangerous game as before, aren’t you? You’ve done it once and you seem to have got away with it. All the same, you don’t want anyone enquiring too closely into just where you might be getting this lore, or whatever it might be that you’re contemplating using against the beast. You certainly don’t want anyone suspecting that you might suborn sorcery against it, not when there are still questions whispered about your unexpected victory against those invaders last year. Not everyone’s convinced by your tale of secret herbs and spices stupefying the savages’ wizards so that you, your slave and your poet could bring them down with poisoned arrows. Don’t worry,’ she assured him pleasantly, ‘I keep my own counsel on all that happened, on all that you admitted to me.’

‘Because all that I did, I did as Daish and you’d be condemned along with me if the truth were known,’ Kheda inten-upted. You’ll continue to keep silent, will you? Just as long as we hand over an abundance of pearls in exchange for some meagre gleanings from the Daish treasury? If you don’t want to play games, Janne, don’t try threatening me.’

‘You misunderstand me, Kheda.’ She looked hurt. Don’t blame me if your guilt pricks you.’

‘What guilt?’ he retorted. ‘I showed Ritsem Caid and Aedis Harl the concoction that we used against the savage mages. I still keep the remains of it in my physic chest. I explained how I learned the secret from Shek Kul in the north, under his seal of secrecy. No one can deny that the northernmost domains have been plagued by wizards from the unbroken lands in the past. It’s not so difficult to believe that they would have found some way to defend themselves. The wild wizards’ bodies were found pierced with arrows and they were most assuredly poisoned.’

‘What set them all fighting among themselves so conveniently?’ countered Janne angrily. ‘So that you and these unattested northerners could pick them off?’

No one knows,’ Kheda shot back at her. ‘And who’s to tell, since they’re all dead? You could spread your suspicions that I somehow inveigled a barbarian mage into their midst, Janne, but you’ve no hope of prooving it since his body was burned to ash with the rest of them. The only way you can condemn me is by admitting your own foreknowledge, with all the grief that would bring down on Daish. No, Janne, your threats are empty and you know it.’

Just as long as you don’t get suspicious about Dev. I really must keep him away from you and Birut. ‘What about this poet of yours?’ Janne challenged. ‘What does she know?’

Nothing, and if she comes to any harm at Daish hands, you’ll regret it for as long as you live.’ Kheda took a pace towards Janne and she saw something in his face that made her shrink back, coming up hard against an ironwood chest. ‘You’re right. Let’s stop these games. What brings you here, so anxious to trade for our pearls, so anxious you’re not even prepared to leave it to Rekha?’

‘I thought I’d do Itrac the honour of dealing with her, first wife to first wife,’ Janne shot back. ‘I thought I’d do this domain the favour of showing all the others that we Daish women consider that the danger of magic has faded. That has to be worth a good deal to you.’

‘That stinks worse than ten-day-old fish.’ Kheda laughed with open disbelief. ‘Rekha must be busy placating Moth Redigal. That’s it, isn’t it? Moth must be agitating for her share in your pearl harvest by now.’ He took another step and leaned over Janne. ‘Every day you delay, the greater the risk that the truth will come out, that everyone will find out that the Daish reefs are barren this year.’

‘Have you told Itrac about the deal with Moth?’ Janne thrust at his chest with a forceful hand. ‘You’ve no qualms about betraying Daish trade secrets to your new wife?’

‘I must do my best for Chazen.’ Kheda allowed himself to be pushed back. You laid that duty upon me.’

‘You seem to forget you’ve a dragon stalking your isles,’ retorted Janne. ‘What will you do for Chazen if I refuse to take your pearls for these gems you’re so anxious to have? You need gems for barbarian lore, or for some barbarian mage you’re relying on to rid you of the beast. Don’t deny it,’ she concluded with malicious satisfaction.

‘I think the dragon’s presence strengthens my hand.’ Kheda smiled cruelly. ‘I told you we can contain it. I’ll share one Chazen secret with you, Janne, for old times’ sake. We can do more than contain it. We know how to lure it from place to place. Why else do you think I’m so confident that we can kill it when we choose?’ He stepped forward to look down on Janne again, this time resisting her attempt to push him away. We could lure it to Daish waters if we felt so inclined.’

‘You wouldn’t!’ Janne stared up at him, aghast.

‘If we don’t have the gems to trade for the lore we need to kill it?’ Kheda leaned forward, his weight resting on his hands, which were set flat on the chest on either side of Janne. What would we have to lose? If I’m to see Chazen lost, after all the pains I’ve suffered for this domain, I’ll take Daish down with me.’

Can I convince you of that? Can I convince you that I hate you so much now that I’d forget my love for my children and my duty to all the innocent people of Daish?

‘Then I want a better price than a few sacks of pearls,’ Janne hissed, ‘if you’re so convinced you can cleanse yourself of all suspicion and free this domain from all taint of magic with the shedding of this dragon’s blood.’ Her breath came fast and shallow.

‘Offer me terms,’ Kheda invited with cold precision.

‘Itrac was very eager to convince me that she is happy in this marriage, that your future will soon be secured in a child.’ Janne stood up, forcing Kheda away. The vase with the silver cranes toppled over to fall and crack into pieces on the floor, the sound startlingly loud within the enclosed space. They both ignored it.

Janne took a pace forward, coming so close that her gown brushed Kheda’s tunic. ‘Too eager. You still haven’t touched her, have you, Kheda? Don’t try lying to me. I know you too well. I know the look in a woman’s eyes when she’s remembering a night in your arms. I don’t see it in Itrac’s face. And I know your taste in women and your scruples. She’s barely older than our eldest daughter and you were never some monster like Ulla Safar to violate hairless girls. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.’ She paused for a moment, eyes closed.

‘So, Kheda, that’s my price. Don’t touch Itrac. Don’t take any acknowledged concubines either. I don’t know if this gossip about you and that poet girl is true—she’s barely older than Itrac after all. I don’t care. Leave her well alone or use your physic chest to make sure she never quickens with a child. Don’t leave the responsibility to her because folly or ambition will win her over some day. If you want Daish gems to save Chazen, then you make sure there’s no child born to this domain. I want only Daish blood to have any claim on Chazen when you die.’

‘Should I beware of any food from your hands, in case you decide to see if that day’s to come sooner rather than later?’ Kheda compelled himself to hold his ground, even though he could feel the taut warmth of Janne’s breasts through the thin layers of silk separating them. Why do you want Daish to claim Chazen, when you’ve condemned us all as tainted with magic?’

‘Don’t you want to see a better future for Chazen?’ Janne’s eyes didn’t move from his face. ‘Sirket’s posterity will be untouched by magic. You’re not, of your own deliberate choice, and neither is Itrac, innocent victim though she’s been in all this. You could secure an untainted future ruler for this domain and free all the domains hereabouts from the fear that echoes of your actions may yet cause disaster in years to come. I want to see Daish free of that burden.’

‘And I would be leaving my son an inheritance to make him the equal of the most powerful lords in these reaches. You know exactly how to tempt me, Janne.’ Kheda still refused to retreat. ‘I might be more convinced if you hadn’t baulked at any action that would have tied Daish to lands so tainted with magic last year. You wouldn’t see Itrac protected by a tactical marriage to Sirket.’

He looked at her with cold contempt. ‘I see your principles aren’t so strong when your pearl harvest fails. You really are desperate to get your hands on the Chazen reefs, aren’t you? You tried to tempt me with Rekha and the children and when that failed, you’ve come to play a harder game. Can I expect to find you slipping into my apartments tonight, to offer ease for my hardness? What’s happened to the Daish reefs? A plague of black prickle-stars eating corals and oysters alike?’

‘You’re telling me that this dragon’s blood will purify this domain.’ Janne stood still, rigid, face upturned to him. ‘If I’m wagering that’s true and that you’ll do what you’re boasting and kill the beast, if I’m staking Daish gems on your word, and Daish’s safety from the creature, I want a worthwhile return.’

‘You still think you’re in a position to dictate terms?’ Kheda prodded Janne’s chest with a hard finger. ‘I’ll tell you what you’ll get and, more importantly, what you won’t get. You’ll get sufficient pearls to conceal the bareness of the Daish reefs for this year and this year alone. You won’t get me scorning Itrac for you or Rekha and having you stake a claim on Chazen through Sirket or any other of my children. On the other hand, you won’t get every boat spreading whispered speculation around every domain within reach about just what the dire omen of the pearl-harvest failure could mean for Daish Sirket’s rule.’

Because I wouldn’t do that to my son. But this is something I’m not going to forgive in a hurry, Janne; you’re fomenting such antagonism between our domains that I cannot offer him the least advice.

Kheda took a breath to cool his anger. ‘In return, I will get sufficient choice gems from the Daish treasury to suit my purposes—and don’t forget, I know exactly what’s in those treasuries, so I’ll tell you exactly which jewels I want. Then you won’t see the dragon plundering those Daish islands that lie nearest to Chazen, so that all our neighbours’ galleys start shunning your waters as well as ours, since they’re stained with magic. As for the future, we’ll let the consequences of all our actions play themselves out. We’ll see just who’s vindicated by omens and events.’

‘Yes, we will. Who knows what the stars to come will reveal.’ Janne whirled around and walked towards the door, the silk of her gown swishing angrily. ‘Are we agreed?’ Kheda demanded harshly. ‘Pearls for gems?’

Janne halted, not looking back at him. ‘And this conversation never happened.’

‘I’ll send Dev to Birut with a list of the gems I require,’ Kheda called as she wrenched the door open and stormed through it. Janne made no response.

‘She didn’t look any too pleased.’ Dev came in from the corridor wearing a crooked smile. ‘Quiet!’ As Kheda walked back into the warlord’s private sitting room, a blur of green and scarlet beyond the high windows caught his eye.

A flurry of fig-thieves erupted from a spread of rustlenut trees on the distant heights that loomed beyond the forbidding outer wall of the fortress. Kheda shaded his eyes with a hand to see a yellow-banded eagle slice through the hysterical flock. Then a second eagle appeared, sending the little birds darting this way and that in terror. The first predator swooped low, wheeling and disappearing into the topmost branches of the copper-leafed trees. Then the second reappeared seemingly out of nowhere to scatter the fig-thieves again. Each eagle flapped its mighty wings and rose high into the air with a plump corpse in its talons.

Kheda caught his breath as a third eagle darted out of a stand of ironwood trees barely visible against the shadows of the high ground. It looked as if it would fly straight into the lower of the original pair, only veering away at the very last second. The startled eagle tumbled ungainly through the air, letting go of its prize. The attacker was ready, stooping to catch the lifeless fig-thief before vanishing into the dark-green gloom. The bereft eagle flapped disconsolately after its mate, venting its rage in a harsh scream. A thread of that mournful, angry cry floated through the air to brush Kheda’s ear. ‘What is it?’ demanded Dev.

‘An omen,’ Kheda said slowly, ‘in the arc of the sky where one looks for portents for the self. What are the stars in that reach of the sky?’ he mused, speaking more to himself than to Dev. ‘It’s the Bowl, still hidden below the horizon, though. Token of shared food and drink, so of mutual support and faithfulness.’

‘Which means what?’ Dev persisted. ‘For you or for

Chazen?’

‘The eagle is a warlord’s symbol,’ Kheda said slowly.

‘So are you the one robbed or the opportunist snatching advantage?’ asked Dev, idly amused. ‘My lord?’ An apologetic knock at the outer door startled warlord and barbarian alike.

‘Tasu?’ Kheda whirled around. ‘There were three eagles, a pair and one other. Three always signifies a potent omen, that much we can be sure of—usually notice of something entirely unexpected, according to my father. What do you have to add?’

The old man advanced through the anteroom. ‘Could you see which birds were cock and which were hen, my lord?’

No,’ said Kheda slowly, ‘which could have been significant. Was that some wiser female robbing an inexperienced younger sister? Can we expect Janne’s rapaciousness to defeat Itrac?’

‘What were the little birds?’ wondered Dev mischievously. ‘Aren’t they all part of this?’

‘My father always said there’s unlooked-for wisdom in chance words.’ Kheda stared at him. ‘You may be right, for all you’re an ignorant barbarian.’

‘That’s me.’ Dev grinned.

Tasu coughed uncertainly at this exchange. ‘Fig-thieves are no innocents, my lord. They’re pests with their incessant sneaking into storehouses and granaries and they foul whatever they don’t plunder. Little short of fire scares them off,’ he concluded thoughtfully. ‘Do you suppose they signify the invaders?’ Kheda wondered. ‘Am I the yellow-banded eagle throwing them all into confusion?’

‘Or is that the dragon?’ asked Dev slyly. ‘Or if you’re the first bird, is it your present wife or your former who’s flying off with a plump dinner?’

‘You’re not really helping.’ Kheda warned Dev off with a scowl.

Or is that more unlooked-for wisdom in an ignorant mouth?

‘This might be some kind of warning.’ Tasu frowned. ‘Such noisy birds carry their alarm to the whole forest. None of those eagles will hunt successfully in these woods today.’

‘Perhaps the eagle is the dragon,’ Kheda said slowly. ‘It’s certainly spreading alarm among the wild men, according to the Mist Dove’s dispatches.’

‘Is there anything in the night skies to make sense of such an omen, my lord?’ Tasu asked humbly.

‘The Diamond, the warlord’s talisman, is sharing the sky with the Sea Serpent, token of unseen forces at work. There’s a warning there but it counsels self-sufficiency as well,’ Kheda mused. ‘And both are in the heavenly arc where one looks for omens for siblings and anyone close through friendship rather than blood.’

Itrac may not he a true wife to me but she must count as close as a sister in this so-called marriage of ours.

‘Is there anything significant in direct opposition?’ prompted Tasu.

‘The Opal,’ Kheda said briefly, ‘which unlocks emotion and rides in the arc of travel and ambition, along with the Sailfish whose self-assured boldness can so easily slip into exaggeration. Maybe that’s why Janne Daish has journeyed here so confident that she’ll secure all she wants,’ he said sourly.

‘What exactly has any of that to do with eagles?’ Dev wondered with spurious innocence. ‘And forgive me, my lord, but we’re supposed to be going to dine with my lady Itrac and our guest from Daish.’

‘Indeed,’ said Kheda heavily. ‘And what a delightful prospect that is.’ He turned to Tasu. ‘What brought you here? Have any more courier doves arrived?’

No, my lord,’ the old man said apologetically. ‘Though I did check right before I came to see you. It’s just I found something about sharks. You said you were curious about their lore, what with the omen—’

‘Yes,’ said Kheda, diverted. ‘What have you found?’

‘There’s this.’ Tasu took a heavy book bound with red-tooled black leather from under his arm and opened it. ‘In an otherwise positive context, a shark can be an encouragement to perseverance.’ He tapped smoothly flowing writing below a detailed portrayal of all manner of sharks. ‘You see, there are sharks, many of them, that must keep swimming otherwise they drown.’ He frowned. ‘Which is a curious fate for a fish. I’m sorry, my lord, it’s not much but it’s all I found. A shark can be a sign that you must just keep on going, keep doing all you can.’

‘Otherwise we’re all sunk,’ said Dev quietly. ‘There might just be something in that.’

Kheda looked at him. We’re doing all we can, aren’t we? I certainly trust Risala to keep going north at best speed.’

‘I’m sure we’re all doing everything we can,’ said Dev meaningfully, ‘whether or not we can see each other doing it.’

‘I’ll bid you good evening, my lord.’ Tasu shut his book with a brisk clap. ‘I wouldn’t want to intrude further.’

‘You’re not and thank you.’ Kheda grinned. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Good night, my lord.’ Tasu withdrew with a low bow. What now?’ asked Dev tersely. Kheda jerked his head towards the bath chamber. ‘Try ^again:

The wizard groaned and turned but another knock on the outer door halted him. He went to open it instead.

‘My lord.’ Beyau was twisting his warrior’s hands together with some considerable emotion.

‘I take it we’re ready to offer Janne a dinner to equal any Daish could present?’ Kheda shot Dev a wry look ‘We’ll keep the conversation strictly limited to the food and the seasonings. Itrac will follow my lead there.’

‘It’ll be a splendid meal, my lord, but it’ll just be you and my lady Itrac who will enjoy it.’ Beyau couldn’t keep the indignation out of his voice. ‘My lady Janne Daish has just sent word that she wishes to dine alone in her suite tonight.’

‘Daish courtesy is certainly lessened of late,’ said Kheda with sudden irritation. Then he smiled with patently false sympathy. ‘The exertions of the voyage must have caught up with her. She’s neither as young as she was nor as tireless as she thinks she still is. Make sure our household offers every comfort that a woman of her years might welcome.’

‘I can think of a few suitable things, my lord.’ Beyau chuckled before schooling his face into proper immobility. ‘So where will you dine, my lord?’

‘I certainly don’t want to miss out on such a feast even if Janne Daish is so weary.’ Kheda glanced in the direction of the various wives’ apartments. ‘And everyone’s had a long and busy day, so I see no need to have the whole household dancing attendance on me and Itrac. We’ll eat in my private audience chamber, with just our own slaves to wait onus. Let the kitchens know; I’ll tell Itrac. Dev, you tidy up in here and then help set things out for the meal.’

‘Yes, my lord,’ the barbarian replied stolidly.

‘Of course, my lord.’ Beyau bowed low before turning to go.

Then all the servants and the slaves who aren’t waiting on us can eat their food hot from the kitchens, instead of waiting for we exalted three to tire of the plenty and allow them the cooling leavings. That should win me some goodwill, and that never goes amiss.

Kheda walked through the corridors and courtyards, nodding to acknowledge the servants and slaves busy with the constant care of the residence. Garden servants in workaday cotton were removing faded blooms from the splendid arrays of flowers or sweeping the spotless tiles with rustling palm-frond brooms. Inner-household slaves protected their silk sleeves with long, soft cotton gloves as they polished finger marks from gleaming brassware and adjusted painted hangings showing vistas of all the differing isles of the domain.

He knocked on the door to Itrac’s private sitting room. Jevin opened it. ‘My lord.’ He bowed and looked past Kheda for Dev. ‘You’re alone?’

‘Dev’s arranging my private audience chamber for our meal.’ Kheda entered the room. ‘It seems Janne Daish finds herself too weary to dine with us. I see no point in the two of us rattling around the banqueting hall.’

‘As you wish, my lord.’ Itrac stood in the middle of the room, wearing a shimmering gold gown cut close to flatter her slenderness. Kheda noted both anger and apprehension in her eyes, and with her paler skin, he could see the hint of a blush underlaying the rose powder on her cheekbones. Her gold-painted lips were pressed tightly together. ‘Or we can dine in the banqueting hall if you’d rather,’ he offered. ‘What?’ Itrac looked at him, momentarily confused. No, I’d rather it was just the two of us. As you say, it’s been a long day. And I’ve had about all I can stomach of Janne,’ she added in a sudden rush of anger. ‘She’s been walking in and out of my rooms ever since she arrived, as if she were mistress here. She won’t take a hint, from me or the servants, and that slave of hers is deaf to anything Jevin says to him. She kept reminiscing about how informal we’d all been when Olkai and Sekni were here.’

‘You should have sent word to me.’ Kheda saw Itrac flinch at his harsh tone. No, I’m not cross with you, just with her discourtesy. But why didn’t you send word? I thought we agreed we’d meet her together.’

‘I didn’t know how to get rid of her without being insulting. It seemed silly to make a fuss, when she was being all sweetness and sympathy and offering compliments on how well I’m managing the domain.’ Itrac bit her lip, twisting her long, gold-tipped fingers among the graduated strings of yellow lustre pearls that reached to her waist. ‘Then I realised she was treating me like a little girl who’s been out in the sun too long. And she kept reminding me that Olkai and Sekni are dead and gone, even though she was saying how proud they would be of me.’

Indignation rose above the tremor in her voice as she went on. ‘And now, after we’ve disrupted the entire household to try to provide a fitting banquet, when she was the one setting us all awry by arriving early, she says she’s too tired to join us!’

I used to admire her manoeuvrings, when they were to further Daish interests. It’s not so amusing to be on the receiving end of such manipulations.

‘So now she’s got you wound to such a pitch that you’ll be awake half the night fretting or fuming and she’ll have the advantage of you in the morning when it comes to negotiating your trades,’ Kheda pointed out. ‘Let’s not fall into that trap. Let’s just commiserate with her weariness and do all we can to make her comfortable. She’ll thank us profusely, at the same time letting slip some hint that we’re falling short of perfect hospitality—which, of course, she forgives, after all we’ve been through. Which we will, of course, ignore.’

‘And what if she sprearls tales of our inadequate welcome to the other domains?’ Itrac twisted one of the thick gold rings she wore on every finger.

Kheda paused for a moment’s thought. ‘I think you might share your concerns that she’s become sadly exacting in her old age. We’re sorry for her, seeing how her insecurity must be gnawing at her. As soon as Sirket marries, after all, she will lose all her status and need to find another home.’

He realised he was pacing back and forth across the room and stopped abruptly.

‘I don’t think anyone will believe that janne’s going senile,’ Itrac said, subdued. ‘She already knows we want to trade pearls for gems. I wasn’t intending to talk trade at all, not till tomorrow, but she kept coming in chatting about this and that. She was telling me what we needed and how she would help and if T hadn’t said no and told jevin to escort her back to her rooms, she’d have probably set sail tonight to put everything in hand as if I’d agreed to it all.’ She looked at Kheda, beseeching. ‘That must be why she’s feeling so insulted.’

‘That’s why she’s withdrawn, now she realises she’s underestimated you,’ Kheda convected. ‘I think you’ll find she’s more inclined to treat you as an equal tomon-ow. Anyway, it’s me who insulted her.’

‘How?’ Itrac asked, wide-eyed. ‘Firstly for her discourtesy in coming to my private apartments before we’d publicly received her.’ Kheda hesi—

tated. ‘And she thinks she can get all the pearls she wants from us because we’re so desperate to pay some barbarian for tales of how to kill the beast. I’ve put her right on that, never fear. Hold out for a fair trade and she’ll back down, trust me.’ He took one of Itrac’s gold-ringed hands and gave it an encouraging squeeze. ‘Because if she starts making trouble for us, we can start making trouble for her. Remember, she really doesn’t want anyone knowing just how poor the Daish pearl harvest has been, not officially.’

‘I don’t know how to say things like that, not without making an open threat.’ Itrac looked at him anxiously. ‘Olkai always used to deal with that kind of thing.’

‘Just do your best, Kheda encouraged. ‘It’s not as if there will be wives from other domains whispering behind their hands as they gauge your skills.’

‘I suppose not,’ Itrac allowed, with an inelegant grimace. ‘Jevin, leave us,’ she said abruptly. ‘Go and see if Dev needs any help.’

What do we do if the boy comes upon him working magic?

Kheda realised there was nothing he was going to be able to do about it. Itrac plainly had something pressing to say to him, holding tightly to his hand when he would have withdrawn it.

‘Janne seemed most concerned that I shouldn’t ask too much of myself as Chazen’s only wife.’ Itrac swallowed, looking down at her feet. ‘She was sure you’d have more sense than to look to father a child in such troubled times. She said everyone knew that I’d chosen Saril for love and that this marriage is only a safeguard for me. She said your taste had never really run to virgins, that you’d left Sain to come to you in her own time, since that was also purely a marriage of alliance. She said Olkai would have told me the same, if she’d lived.’

‘While she tried to persuade me that I should scorn you and allow one of my children by Daish to claim Chazen,’ Kheda inten-upted. ‘Janne’s very good at dripping honeyed poison into unwilling ears. I wonder she didn’t hint at some inadequacy in the marriage bed on my part, that you’d not be missing much.’

He realised Itrac was pulling away, rebuffed by his churlishness. He took both her hands in his and leaned forward to kiss her scented cheek ‘I told her to mind Daish business while we minded Chazen’s, the two of us, as we see fit, in our own time, without her interference or anyone else’s.’

Itrac turned her head to meet his kiss with her soft lips, her eyes closing on the diamond glint of a tear beneath her lashes. ‘I think I’m ready to be a proper wife to you, Kheda,’ she breathed. ‘And Janne can go ‘

A loud knock at the door startled the two of them apart. ‘My lord?’ It was Dev. ‘Your dinner’s ready, my lord.’ He bowed to Itrac. ‘My lady.’

‘I’ll be along in a moment.’ Itrac slipped away into her dressing room. ‘Don’t wait.’

Kheda looked at Dev, who was grinning broadly in the doorway. ‘What’s amusing you?’ he asked finally as they reached the corridor leading to his personal apartments.

‘Jevin tells me I’ll be sleeping out in the corridor tonight.’ The wizard smirked lasciviously at Kheda’s side.

‘Finally decided to exercise your rights there, have you?’

‘I haven’t decided.’ Kheda scowled. ‘Though it seems

Itrac has. I’m wondering how Janne will read it—’

‘What was Tasu saying about shark omens?’ Dev silenced him with a backhanded slap to the chest. ‘You should stop looking over your shoulder and up at the skies and all around the compass and just do what’s in front of you. Or who’s in front of you,’ he amended with a lewd chuckle. ‘You’ve every right to take Itrac in any way you want. You’ve had that right for half a year now and, Saedrin save us, your stones must ache like you’ve caught them in a vice. What more is there to think about? Itrac’s a choice piece. Or isn’t she quite what you fancy? So close your eyes and imagine she’s Risala.’ Kheda halted and shoved Dev hard against the wall, knotting a hand in his tunic. ‘Shut your foul, ignorant barbarian mouth—’

‘You could do with something to ease your tension, sure as curses,’ Dev continued, entirely at his ease. ‘And as it happens, I think this household and the whole domain would be usefully reassured to see their warlord throwing a rope to their lady at long last. Come to that, I think she might benefit from a little firm reassurance herself. She’ll certainly be fit for nothing in the morning if you turn her down tonight, now she’s got her nerve up. That bitch Janne will see it in an instant and take all the advantage she can, you know that.’

‘You know—’ Kheda broke off, unable to deny the unpalatable truths in Dev’s words.

‘I’m a faithful slave who is supposed to give you honest advice,’ the barbarian said viciously. ‘So listen when I give it. You’ve been saying how we need keep everything sailing along on a nice even keel till Risala and the Green Turtle get back, and that’s not going to be any time soon. This is no time for you to rock the boat. Now get your hands off me before I break your face,’ he concluded in an undertone. ‘My lord?’ Beyau appeared further up the corridor, his voice uncertain.

Kheda let go of Dev and stepped back. ‘We’re just coming.’

‘Our lord and lady only require their personal slaves.’ Dev looked past him to Beyau.

‘That’s right.’ Kheda forced a smile. ‘The rest of you can take some time for yourselves.’ He walked slowly back towards the open door where the tempting scents of a sumptuous dinner sought to draw him on.

So I’m cornered, with no option but enjoying an intimate dinner with every delicacy and beautiful, willing Itrac as the final dish. When I’d rather be sharing dried meats and stale water on some crowded trading beach with Risala, with no more than the chance of just talking with her.

So much for a warlord’s absolute power.