The next player could proceed according to those first three rules, or could invent another rule. The rules and rule changes were never communicated except by the nature of the play. The rules and rule changes must be deduced from the actions of those who invented the rules. Even that which constituted "winning" changed from one minute to the next.
The most successful tactic was to understand all of the rules up until your turn, and then invent a rule or criterion of winning that negated the regulatory advantages invented by the previous players.
By the time the play came around to Lita there was an impossible tangle of rules, stated, implied, most of them invisible. And then Lita would win the game by stating:
"I win."
A student would always protest. "Jetah, you cannot win. The structure of rules that has been built does not allow it."
"It most certainly does allow it. The rule I have invented is that when the play comes to my turn, I win."
"But, Jetah, the first player could have done the same. Any of us could have done it."
"Yes, but I did-it first."
The green lights in her head died and became a warm, soft blackness. And there was a voice. It was Baadek’s. "Joanne Nicole, it is time for the night repast."
She sat in wonder for a moment at the things she had seen. She stood up, made her way to the meditation room door and opened it. "Baadek?"
"I am here." The voice was very close. "When you use the meditation room in the future, should you not want to be disturbed, close the outside entrance to your apartment."
"Thank you. What is in the meditation room that allowed me to see the things that I saw?"
"Only your own mind. The design of the room is an ancient one, conducive to looking at oneself."
"The lights, the green lights were so real."
"Usually the lights are blue-for Dracs."
Nicole began feeling her way toward the corridor, but Baadek’s hand stopped her. "What is the matter, Baadek?"
"Understand, Joanne Nicole, that I have no love for humans."
"Who asked you to?"
There was a brief silence. "As an individual, I feel an obligation toward you. Be very careful at the night repast. Tora Soam’s guests tonight include five Talman masters and a human. I cannot even guess at their roles, nor yours."
"Baadek, why this warning, from one who has no love for humans?"
For just a moment, the Drac seemed to laugh. "I am no student of convoluted rules and gaming, Joanne Nicole. I am a simple creature of loyalty. Because of my loyalty to the Tora estate, I look upon myself as the protector of Tora Kia. Tora Kia has my loyalty. Because of your cooperation in this protection, my loyalty is extended to you as well-to a degree."
She paused. "Baadek, I appreciate your warning, but I do not understand. What are you warning me about?"
"It is hard for me to see. But I would not want you to betray yourself-the things that you value. I think that tonight you will be in an excellent position to do just that."
After walking the many twists and turns of the corridors, Baadek and Nicole entered a series of connected chambers that were sufficiently large that their footsteps and words caused echoes. It was in one of those chambers that she heard voices and smelled rich cooking. It was there that Tora Soam met them.
"Does the night find you well, Joanne Nicole?"
"Yes, it does."
"Excellent." Tora Soam paused and Nicole heard its robes move. "And, as I promised you, here is your surprise."
More footsteps. "Hi, Major."
"Benbo?" Nicole reached out her hands. "Benbo?"
"Right here, Major." A pair of hands touched her shoulders.
Some great knotted thing inside of her dissolved, making her legs limp. Benbo quickly grabbed her arms to keep her from falling to the stone floor.
Tora Soam’s voice came very close, an edge of concern in it.
"Joanne Nicole, are you ill?" Its voice changed direction. "She is just released from the Chirn Kovah."
Benbo spoke. "I think she is well, Ovjetah. It is just that we have gone through much together, and that it has been a long time since we met last."
"How are you? Damn it, Benbo, how in the hell are you?"
"Fine, Major. Just fine."
The direction of his voice changed. "Ovjetah. she will recover in a moment. May we be alone?"
"Certainly, Amos Benbo. Please use those couches over there."
Benbo led her across the chamber and lowered her into a deep, soft couch.
She felt him sit on the couch beside her. Again Tora Soam spoke: "Joanne Nicole, the next part of your surprise waits with my other guests. He is Leonid Mitzak."
"Mitzak. It sounds like old home week."
"I… am not certain I understand; but would you like me to send him out here?"
"No, Tora Soam. I would like to be alone with Benbo for a while. Can you have Baadek call us when the repast is ready?"
"Of course. Until then. Come, Baadek."
Their footsteps left the chamber. She turned toward Benbo. "Amos, why are you here?"
Benbo laughed. "It sure beats the hell out of me. When I was snagged on Ditaar, I was busy making like a firebug. Right now, I am the special guest of Ovjetah Tora Soam, the grand poobah hisself-itself." His voice became very quiet. "Major… your eyes…"
Nicole shook her head. "I’m temporarily blind. It’s all right. What happened to you after the attack?"
"I put you in a safe place-or thought I did-then I ran back to the V’Butaan field to check up on the troops. Do you know about them?"
She nodded. "Mitzak told me."
"Major, what in hell is going on here?"
"I don’t know. I’ve been the ward of Tora Soam since V’Butaan, from all I can tell. What that means, or why it’s so, I don’t know. What about you?"
"I was picked up, brought here, and dropped by a couple of characters that it didn’t look too smart to argue with. Beyond that, I don’t know."
Baadek’s voice called from a distance. "The night repast is prepared and ready. Will you join the company?"
Nicole pushed herself up from the couch. "Thank you, Baadek. We will be there in a moment."
Benbo was standing, and Nicole pulled him close and whispered, "You wanted to know what’s going on here. I don’t know, but I’ve been warned about this dinner party. You keep your trap shut unless you are asked a direct question, and then be very careful how you answer. Tora Soam’s Drac guests are all Talman Masters-" The hint of a thought crossed Nicole’s mind. Flowers. The slight odor of flowers.
"What is it, Major?"
Nicole shook her head. "Nothing. Just remember that every word you speak gives information to them."
Nicole was seated on one part of a long circular couch; Benbo to her right. On Benbo’s other side sat Leonid Mitzak. Far to her right sat Tora Soam, and directly across from her were the five Talman Masters. In the center of the couch arrangement were the dishes of food. Tora Soam began the rituaclass="underline" "This is the bitter weed we eat to remember the Madah. Never shall we return."
Nicole heard the Talman Masters take up grain from the center table, and then replace it. Tora Soam continued: "For the second repast, we eat fruit and say: This is the fruit of the Irrveden, for which the Mavedah fought."
Everyone picked up the strange bulbs and tubers that the Dracs called fruit. Benbo handed Nicole hers, and her jaws ached as her eyes watered at the acid taste of the raw plant. "For the third repast, we eat nothing, for this is the legacy of Mijii who burned its people rather than submit to the rule of the Mavedah."