“You never fail me, Rani-ji. We hope the meeting with the kyo will be a peaceful discussion, that it will not take us away from the world for long, and that human problems on the station will not intrude on the kyo matter, but I shall be inventing my responses as I go. I have no good map of either situation. I am composing a list of those staff going with me. I shall be very glad to rely on the household on the station. I have every confidence in them. But I ask, Rani-ji, have you any desire to make the trip up—not necessarily to resume your post there, but to stand by me personally and handle small emergencies? Seating is limited. Very few staff can go. I can swear at least, a solemn promise, that I will bring you down with me and back to this apartment as soon as the emergency is over, but I cannot say when the emergency will end.”
Narani bowed. “If I do not go, nandi, I shall worry about you every hour.”
“We would have communication from here to there. You could advise me from here.”
“And one is certain there will be very tight security, nandi, that cuts us off from knowing what we most want to know at the moment we would most wish to know it. One earnestly wishes to go.”
“Jeladi would wish to go, too, do you think?”
“He will, nandi. I am very sure of it.”
“Who else would go?”
“Asicho. Asicho would say so instantly, nandi. And Bindanda, one believes.”
Asicho had tended Jago’s wardrobe needs on the ship, a point of modesty which in no wise bothered Jago, he suspected, but it was a convenience.
And Bindanda was already on the list.
“Tell them individually, Rani-ji, that I need to speak to them.”
“Indeed, nandi.”
“One considers, perhaps, Supani and Koharu might fill your post and Jeladi’s, until you return.”
“An excellent choice, nandi. Jeladi and I, rather than displacing any of the household up there, might fill their posts quite comfortably, if you will.”
That was exactly what he had thought. He nodded. “Absolutely. And as to the content of my wardrobe, I leave it entirely to you, Rani-ji. Utmost court dress, for some meetings. You know my needs, you know the customs restrictions, you know the environment and the requirements, which already relieves my mind of a list of burdens. Do everything discreetly as touches the outside world: the fewer staff that know any details of timing, the less chance someone will slip. For public distribution, I shall maintain the same story: that I am traveling to Najida to see my brother and help him repair his boat from storm damage.”
“Entirely understood, nandi.”
“Thank you, Rani-ji.”
“Nandi.” With a composed little bow, Narani left on his business.
And with Narani fully informed and on a mission, he could stop worrying about household details.
Now it came down to a letter that had to be very carefully phrased—and transmitted in highest security.
He was accustomed to compose on paper, with a quill and inkpot. But this one was going by different means. He set his computer up onto the desk, and opened it.
Bren, Paidhi-aiji,
To Geigi, Lord of Kajiminda, Station-aiji—
There were half a dozen other titles. He keystroked them in, and wrote:
The porcelain with the fishing boats has been located, nandi, and will be returned to your collection in fifteen days.
Translation: the kyo are here: we have fifteen days.
Might you find time, nandi, to invite Jase-aiji and the heir’s recent guests for a very extensive debriefing on their recent visit? I hope you will be able to extend your hospitality to them over several days. It would delight them.
Translation: get the kids into your section and hold them there, because of circumstances you can imagine.
You may reliably use Jase-aiji as an intermediary. He will know how to observe human custom in the invitation. Please add him to your guest list.
Translation: work with Jase. Don’t do anything to upset the parents. Get as many to safety as you can.
The kyo visit was going to upset everybody, human and atevi—and Louis Baynes Braddock wouldn’t hesitate to use that fact.
Braddock and Tillington would take extreme positions, and the result might be outright violence. Arresting Braddock in advance might be a good idea, but they had to get Tillington out first.
The ship could take the children and their parents aboard if push came to shove. The captains might be reluctant to take that step and create an issue with the Reunioners—but so might the youngsters’ association with Cajeiri create an issue with Tabini-aiji should Braddock or Tillington attempt to use them politically. Delaying too long in protecting those kids, who now had an official relationship to the atevi court, could blow a minor difficulty up into a major and distracting problem.
The ship had territory it could seal off unto itself. Geigi held territory that was fairly well sealed.
And Geigi could always claim convenient ignorance of human custom.
That was one vital letter done, waiting to be sent.
The next letter—
Toby. Frozen Dessert, as his code name was, when he was an agent for the Mospheiran government. Toby’s service to Mospheira being much more current than his own, Toby very likely had codes and accesses he didn’t have, these days, with no need to rely on couriered messages. He hoped so. He fervently hoped so.
Brother, our aunt Margaret’s headed for a visit, and I’m trying to arrange things. Didn’t know about this in advance. I’m sorry.
Translation: the kyo are here, brother. We’ve been surprised and I’ve got to deal with it.
So sorry about the damage to the boat. Please ask Ramaso for anything you need and enjoy the hospitality of the estate, so repairs can get underway. I’m sending you one of my personal staff who speaks Mosphei’.
I hope you can extend your stay. I’ve got your official permission. And as soon as I clear up Aunt Margaret’s problem I’ll be on my way to Najida myself.
Translation: you’re fine where you are. I’ve got to deal with the kyo. The aiji knows you’re there and it’s all right for you to stay a prolonged time.
Toby was his backup, of humans who knew enough Ragi to put two sentences together. There were people at the University who could manage, but nobody who’d actually dealt with the language in the field. Toby had. Toby could do it. Toby docked on the coast of the mainland and ready to assist Tabini and Shawn with direct communication was the best situation he could ask for.
Love you, brother. Love to Barb.
That last line didn’t need interpretation.
He printed out and put that letter into a plain steel Messengers’ cylinder. That was going out via numerical transliteration, as an ordinary telegram. That was the cover story, and if spies intercepted parts of it, that was what they could have. It was all the word Toby would have until a courier could get there with a physical message.
Toby would be keeping all options open until he got further instructions—and he’d be expecting that couriered letter, no question.
Quill and paper, then, and a second letter to Toby.
And this letter—this further request of Toby required a change of plans, a request he didn’t want to make—but he couldn’t do two jobs, couldn’t handle a fight with Tillington and Braddock and prepare a mission to meet the kyo. The Reunioners weren’t going to be calmer or easier to reason with when the news got out the kyo were coming in. And they couldn’t have two leaders up there pouring fuel on the fire.
Obviously I can’t make it to Najida. I’m headed upstairs in five days, and I need you to get a message to Shawn, speed of the essence, but not outweighing security. He doesn’t know what’s happened.