‘Let’s look to the future, not to the past.’ Kheda led Itrac towards the bathing room. ‘And let’s not mark that tunic, or your head maid will scold me till the rains have come and gone again.’ Taking up a cotton cloth, he dipped one end in a ewer of fresh water and gently scrubbed her hands clean of the oily lotion. He refused to catch his own eye in the mirror above the washstand. ‘Now, which tunic do you think I should wear?’
Itrac dabbed the cloth at the corners of her eyes before following him back into the bedroom, her face a mask of hard-won calm once more. ‘The emerald with the golden embroidery.’ She opened Kheda’s jewel coffer. ‘That will go well enough with turtleshell.’
‘We can take it as an omen in our favour that this dragon doesn’t seek to plunder this domain’s riches.’ Kheda donned the tunic and accepted the bracelets she offered him.
‘We could.’ Itrac sounded doubtful. ‘Though I doubt that’s what Rekha Daish will be saying.’ Kheda settled a chain of carved turtleshell links on his hips. When did she sail north?’
‘Four days since. I got word of the dragon, that you were lost. I’m son-y, I shouldn’t have let her know but I was so shocked by the news.’ Hurt and chagrin coloured Itrac’s words equally. ‘She left straight away and took all her triremes with her.’
‘Rushing off like a startled fowl? And four days ago?’ Kheda shrugged. When I was already safely aboard the Yellow Serpent and on my way back here. That galley will take eight days to make the voyage back to the Daish residence. So let’s make sure Rekha arrives home to find a courier dove waiting for her, assuring her that I am alive and well and inviting thoughts on what this new puzzle might mean for Chazen and Daish alike. Do you suppose she’ll have made herself very foolish telling everyone I’m already dead?’
Do you understand my meaning? That as far as I am concerned, you stayed here level-headed and prudently waiting to learn the truth of the matter? That it was Rekha who took fright and fled?
Do we have Rekha to thank for the rumour that you were secluded because you’d lost a child? Doubtless she’d argue that was all she could think of to plausibly hide the truth. ‘I hope not, for her sake.’ Despite her words, the prospect evidently amused Itrac as she handed Kheda a collar of turtleshell plaques. ‘Perhaps she won’t be so hasty. You’ve been thought dead and confounded everyone before.’
‘She should know that, better than most,’ agreed Kheda lightly.
‘I don’t see why we want to invite Daish opinions on this matter.’ Itrac frowned as she studied Kheda’s appearance.
‘It’s only courteous; Daish will need to prepare if there’s any chance of Chazen boats fetching up on their shores again.’ Kheda grinned maliciously. ‘Besides, don’t forget how desperate Rekha is for pearls. I said I’d spread every jewel in Chazen in front of this dragon to keep it quiet. And I will, but only after I’ve drained Daish dry of all the stones it can spare and more besides. If Rekha Daish wants Chazen pearls to hide the disaster of their reefs’ harvest, she can trade weight for weight in gems.’
If that doesn’t convince everyone that my allegiance is now truly to Chazen, nothing will. What choice do I have? If this dragon isn’t dealt with, it’ll ravage Chazen and then move north. I have to do all I can to prevent that for Sirket’s sake, even if I have to plunder his domain to do it.
‘I was looking to trade the pearls for the means to rebuild. Stars above, we need so much.’ Itrac fell silent, her painted face contemplative. ‘But perhaps that’s why the harvest has been so abundant, to give us the means to evade this evil.’ She paused, eyes distant. ‘We don’t want Rekha to know why we need the gems. I don’t quite know what she would do with such news, but better to keep her ignorant if we can. She’ll do her best to find out what we do with the stones, though. Misdirecting her will take some cunning.’
‘Trade and all its intricacies are your prerogative, my lady of Chazen.’ Kheda took a pace towards the door. ‘And while you’re about your duties, I had better be about mine. I’ve been idle too long this morning.’
‘You were tired.’ Itrac took a sideways step to surprise him with a quick, hesitant kiss on his lips. ‘What will you be doing?’
‘Taking the omens first and foremost.’ Kheda jerked his head in the direction of the unseen observatory tower.
‘Then learning what news has come in from the Mist Dove and the rest of the triremes. I want to see the bird master as well, to find out what courier doves we’re holding from
Ritsem and Redigal. I’d better make sure all our allies know I am alive and well, never mind whatever hysterical news Rekha has spread. And I’ll see if there’s any useful lore in the Chazen library. We may know how to contain this menace, but the sooner this dragon is dead, the better.’
So I need Dev to bespeak that wizard woman of his as soon as possible. Everything else is just so much treading mater.
‘But your breakfast.. .’ Itrac looked towards the door.
‘Send Jevin to wake up Dev and have him bring food and drink to the observatory.’ Kheda grinned. ‘I must put my duty to the domain before my belly.’
Naturally, my husband,’ replied Itrac with amusement. Will you eat with me this evening?’ she asked hopefully. ‘I will, with pleasure.’ Kheda went into the hallway, ignoring the servants who froze as he appeared.
You’ll need to make time to bolster her nerve. Besides, Risala will be occupied elsewhere. Though we should discuss what verses she thinks would spread a little calm and stiffen resolve around the islands, and how we might get her discreet allies to prompt poets to recall them.
Other residence slaves were working in the shade of the pavilion’s northern face. Maidservants paused in their sewing and polishing, apprehensive faces turning to Kheda. A sturdy youth pulling a handcart stacked with bright brass water jars stopped by the steps, open—
mouthed but fearful to ask what might be about to befall them. Kheda nodded acknowledgements, his confident smile resolutely fixed, and strode out into the bright sun. As he took the path towards the observatory, he forced himself to slow his pace.
If I’m seen rushing about, these people will mistake purposeful haste for open alarm and we’ll have half of them fleeing before the day is out.
A white-haired islander was sweeping windblown sand and grass from the hard, trampled path.
Too old to be hauling sacks and barrels but too hale to accept an idle seat in the shade. There’s mettle in Chazen. A warlord should be proud to lead such people.
‘Glad to see you safely home, my lord.’ The old man stepped aside, leaning on his broom of palm fronds, the well-muscled arms of his youth wasted to wrinkled slackness. For all his courtesy, his leathery face was anxious as he gripped his broom with gnarled hands.
‘I’m glad to be here,’ said Kheda breezily.
‘My lord . . .’ There was pleading in the old servant’s voice.
‘Yes?’ The question died on Kheda’s tongue as he saw faces turned towards him all across the anchorage.
Have they all been waiting for sight of me? What are they looking for? Confirmation that there’s someone here to lead them to safety this time? Itrac can’t be the only one remembering how Chazen Saril fled those invaders to wash up in Daish waters, broken by his fears, unmanned.
Can’t they think back to their own tenor? Do they realise how much they were asking of him, that he fight magic with bare-handed ignorance?
Do they realise just what they’re asking of me? Would they ever truly want to know what answers I’m seeking?
The rowing boats ferrying the residence’s food and fuel from the isles edging the lagoon slowed as the islanders trailed their oars in the water, mouths open as they registered Kheda’s presence. The purposeful activity aboard the closest light trireme halted as bare-chested oarsmen hurried up from the rowing deck to line the unrailed sides and join the archers on the bow platform. The shipmaster and his steersman bowed low beneath the upswept arc of the stern as they saw Kheda look in their direction. Hails sounded further out across the water as the crews of great galleys anchored in deeper waters acknowledged their warlord.