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.’