"One is dazed, Bren-ji, simply dazed. One thinks of things on the planet proceeding slowly, but the changes I see have been astonishing."

"Not all to the good, one fears. We have been very fortunate in the aiji-dowager's presence. One cannot estimate what might have happened here at Najida were it not for the reinforcement her visit entailed. Our enemy's plans would have been quite adequate to have disposed of either or both of us-without her fortunate intervention. Is the dowager ready for us, nadiin-ji?" he asked his bodyguard, and Banichi nodded in the affirmative. "Then we shall go to her for a start. Have you need of anything, Geigi-ji?"

"We are perfectly prepared," Geigi answered him.

"Excellent," he said, and Banichi and Jago led the way to the dowager's door and knocked. Cenedi, no great surprise, opened it for them.

"The dowager is expecting you, nandiin-ji," Cenedi said, and that often-sober face lighted with an honest smile for Geigi. "Welcome, nandi."

"Indeed, indeed, Cenedi-ji," Geigi said. "You know my senior guard: Haiji and Cajami."

"One knows and welcomes them," Cenedi said, and made room for them to pass, all of them, inside.

Which was a fair complement of Guild, besides Antaro and Jegari, who stood quietly in the far corner.

The dowager had the fire going in the fireplace, and had her chair there. Cajeiri sat with her, and got up immediately to bow and offer his hand to his great-grandmother, in lieu of her cane, since she elected to stand to meet an old ally-an honor she paid to very few.

She took her cane in hand to walk forward to midroom to meet them, stopped there, leaning on the cane, nodded deeply and said, "One is pleased to see you, Geigi-ji. How are the legs?"

"Oh, holding me up, 'Sidi-ji. They are, still. But the far horizons all are flat! It is so strangely disconcerting."

"One is sure your eye will adjust in a day or two," she said. "Come, sit with us. Will you take tea?"

The dowager became the hostess in whatever house she lodged, a matter of rank and custom, and Bren needed not even signal his own staff-Ramaso had come into the room, and Ramaso had quite naturally anticipated the order. They had scarcely found their seats near the fire-Cajeiri moved to the farthest, to make room for Geigi next to his great-grandmother- when the servants came in bearing enough tea for the purpose.

The talk then was all of the journey, the rush to make space on the shuttle-several commercial loads would be a week late, and probably all that the human companies knew of reasons was that the highest-ranking atevi lord had taken a yen to visit his estate, with no hint of the urgency involved. Secrecy had been invoked, and the four captains on the station were in Geigi's confidence, but the information did not go much lower than that.

"One wishes it truly were a whim that brings this visit," Geigi said over their second round of tea. "One wishes, indeed, that I had made this visit while my sister was still alive."

"One cannot mend the past," Ilisidi said sternly. "And you never got along with her, Geigi-ji. Remember it accurately."

"Well, true, true, 'Sidi-ji, we fought. And a good part of our disagreement was her perpetual doting on that boy. One knew, one knew when news came that she had died, that the estate would be in trouble, but there was nothing I could do from the station. If I had used the very first opportunity after the shuttles were flying again to come down here-"

"That graceless brat's associates would have assassinated you on your very doorstep," the dowager said bluntly, "as they likely assassinated your sister, one regrets to say. We do not at all wish you had come down here before now. What we do do regret, in the general scarcity of good intelligence-that scoundrel Murini having utterly disrupted the Guild's networks-is that my own information was just as lacking as my grandson's. Cenedi." regret, in the general scarcity of good intelligence-that scoundrel Murini having utterly disrupted the Guild's networks-is that my own information was just as lacking as my grandson's. Cenedi."

"Nandi?" Cenedi answered.

"You have taken an unacceptable blame for the paidhi's situation and my great-grandson's near calamity-when the fault lies in the Guild itself, in its concentration on the central clans since the Troubles. That That is how our very competent security received bad information. 'Is the district quiet?' One is certain my Cenedi asked that question of Guild headquarters, as he would ask of any district. And what answer did you get, Nedi-ji?" is how our very competent security received bad information. 'Is the district quiet?' One is certain my Cenedi asked that question of Guild headquarters, as he would ask of any district. And what answer did you get, Nedi-ji?"

A slight bow of Cenedi's head. "That there was no hint of trouble in the district, aiji-ma."

"And when Banichi asked?"

"The same," Banichi answered, with the same slight bow, "aiji-ma."

"And when we we asked my grandson's office if there was a difficulty regarding Kajiminda?" asked my grandson's office if there was a difficulty regarding Kajiminda?"

"The same," Cenedi said.

"So," Ilisidi said definitively. "You see the state of affairs. Do not take the word of either the Guild or or my grandson's office." Click went the dowager's teacup onto the marble side table. "Well, indeed. There is blame to go around including to my grandson, who went off to Taiben while the Kadagidi were plotting their coup in the first place: it saved his life, however, and Damiri-daja's. Baji-naji, we in this room are all alive when our enemies wish us dead. That is a cheerful point, is it not?" my grandson's office." Click went the dowager's teacup onto the marble side table. "Well, indeed. There is blame to go around including to my grandson, who went off to Taiben while the Kadagidi were plotting their coup in the first place: it saved his life, however, and Damiri-daja's. Baji-naji, we in this room are all alive when our enemies wish us dead. That is a cheerful point, is it not?"

"Indubitably," Geigi said firmly.

"So, well, Geigi-ji, and in consequence, we are holding your nephew, to whom we refuse any title or courtesy. We reserve all such titles and honors for you, whom we greatly esteem. And we damn him to our great displeasure. We We are settled on the fate of Kajiminda, understand. And on the fate of your nephew. Will you hear it?" are settled on the fate of Kajiminda, understand. And on the fate of your nephew. Will you hear it?"

"We shall certainly hear it, aiji-ma."

"You yourself, esteemed ally, will be of greatest use where you have been. And we should not reward you for your service by settling Kajiminda estate on any other person, and we will not support such a notion should it ever be made. Kajiminda should remain in Maschi hands, tied to the aishidi'tat. The treaty is valuable, particularly now. You will, however, cede the seaward end of the peninsula to your Edi neighbors, as I shall ask the same of Najida."

"Readily, aiji-ma," Bren said. "One anticipated such a request."

"The same, yes," Geigi said, "but I am getting older, and with this disaster, I have no successor, aiji-ma. You know my disposition. Even in my own clan-"

An impatient tap of the cane. "Oh, pish, with that boy, you had had no successor! And we shall find you better prospects. What is old and tested under adversity should not be yielded up to a momentary situation. no successor! And we shall find you better prospects. What is old and tested under adversity should not be yielded up to a momentary situation. Our Our disposition of your misbehaving nephew is direct to that point. His marrying began this crisis. His marrying can settle it. disposition of your misbehaving nephew is direct to that point. His marrying began this crisis. His marrying can settle it. We We have a girl in mind, a strong-minded have a girl in mind, a strong-minded Eastern Eastern girl, of a family girl, of a family we we approve. Ardija clan." approve. Ardija clan."

"Ardija," Geigi echoed in some surprise. Bren had not heard the name in that context either. Ardija was a neighbor of the dowager's own Malguri holdings, a tiny clan, but one with historic ties to the dowager's line.

"We know the young lady well, a strong-minded young woman, well-bred and intelligent. The East would be salutary for your nephew and keep him out of trouble until there is a child. After that contract produces a child, we care little where he lives, so long as Ardija clan has the upbringing of the offspring, who may spend some time under your tutelage on the station or at Kajiminda when he-or she-reaches an appropriate age. Maschi clan will get its heir out of a politically advantageous line."

Geigi listened through all of this and finally drew a deep breath. "You have spent considerable thought on this, 'Sidi-ji. Your solution, an Eastern tie, will shake Maschi clan to the roots."

"Do not be modest. It will shake the aishidi'tat itself, linking the west coast with the East. Your Maschi clan has occupied a delicate position, poised between the Marid and the west coast. They were dutiful enough, and they have paid all courtesies to my grandson on his resumption of power. But we have remarked their curious silence regarding your nephew's flirtation with the Marid. Not a word of warning came from them-and we assume they were surely not ignorant of the situation. Or should not have been."

"This has indeed crossed my mind, aiji-ma."

"Then we agree on that suspicion."

"One cannot say with any certainty. I have no current knowledge of my own clan, embarrassing as it is to say so. First my long absence, then the year without communication with the world at all, and all the changes since..."

"Do not apologize. It was incumbent on them them to approach you. Let them feel the weight of your hand, Geigi-ji. We greatly suspect the quality of their leadership and we suspect the head of Maschi clan of doing much what your nephew has done, neither joining the Marid in its schemes nor reporting them to my grandson. If you wish to know the to approach you. Let them feel the weight of your hand, Geigi-ji. We greatly suspect the quality of their leadership and we suspect the head of Maschi clan of doing much what your nephew has done, neither joining the Marid in its schemes nor reporting them to my grandson. If you wish to know the real real fault that allowed your scoundrel of a nephew to continue his flirtations with the Marid, look to the failure of Pairuti of Maschi clan to be forthcoming to my grandson." fault that allowed your scoundrel of a nephew to continue his flirtations with the Marid, look to the failure of Pairuti of Maschi clan to be forthcoming to my grandson."

That was news. So communication in the southwest had broken down in a major way. The old web of information had not totally reintegrated after Tabini's return to power. That was a fact. Maschi clan leadership sat poised between the Marid and the coast, supposedly communicating with the capital. And had Tabini been getting was news. So communication in the southwest had broken down in a major way. The old web of information had not totally reintegrated after Tabini's return to power. That was a fact. Maschi clan leadership sat poised between the Marid and the coast, supposedly communicating with the capital. And had Tabini been getting no no alarms from them? alarms from them?

A thump of the cane on the floor punctuated the dowager's assessment. "The aishidi'tat has never never solved its problems in this district. Your leadership, Geigi-ji, your personal efforts, brought peace and laid the foundations for an association on this coast. And the world may have urgently needed your talents on the station, where you have done remarkable things for us all; but with your departure to that effort-a keystone fell out of the association here. Your own clan has grown weak, at best, and we fear, at worst, quite as much as your nephew, Maschi clan has been playing both sides of the recent civil disturbance." solved its problems in this district. Your leadership, Geigi-ji, your personal efforts, brought peace and laid the foundations for an association on this coast. And the world may have urgently needed your talents on the station, where you have done remarkable things for us all; but with your departure to that effort-a keystone fell out of the association here. Your own clan has grown weak, at best, and we fear, at worst, quite as much as your nephew, Maschi clan has been playing both sides of the recent civil disturbance."

My God, Bren thought, and two and three pieces of the situation clicked into place. Not just the nephew. The clan clan seat... poised physically between Kajiminda and Marid territory. seat... poised physically between Kajiminda and Marid territory.

"One is appalled," Geigi said somberly. "Their communications to me have been routine."

"So have their communications to my grandson in the capital. It does not say those communications have been truthful."

"Aiji-ma!"

"Pish, Geigi-ji. Where is 'Sidi-ji?"

"'Sidi-ji, forgive me. But one is-appalled, entirely. Thunderstruck. Embarrassed, extremely. Pairuti-before the Troubles, he was a dull fellow. He collected sisui sisui figures. That is absolutely the only distinction he had. He kept meticulous books. He-" figures. That is absolutely the only distinction he had. He kept meticulous books. He-"

"-is absolutely dutiful in attending court sessions, for both Murini and and my grandson, of course. Whoever has been in power, yes, Pairuti has been obedient and attended court. But his proximity to the Marid during such uneasy times has required more talents than collecting porcelain miniatures. And what troubles me, Geigi-ji, is that he has my grandson, of course. Whoever has been in power, yes, Pairuti has been obedient and attended court. But his proximity to the Marid during such uneasy times has required more talents than collecting porcelain miniatures. And what troubles me, Geigi-ji, is that he has not not distinguished himself lately in providing information. Cenedi-ji?" distinguished himself lately in providing information. Cenedi-ji?"

Cenedi said, "Nandiin, a query to Shejidan has not not produced any but routine, formal communications of a mundane nature from Lord Pairuti to the aiji since his return. Guild communications are equally sterile, reporting everything in the district tranquil, and the district prosperous throughout. There is produced any but routine, formal communications of a mundane nature from Lord Pairuti to the aiji since his return. Guild communications are equally sterile, reporting everything in the district tranquil, and the district prosperous throughout. There is no no fluctuation in the provincial tax records, be it Murini or Tabini-aiji in Shejidan." fluctuation in the provincial tax records, be it Murini or Tabini-aiji in Shejidan."

"One would expect something more of disturbance," Ilisidi said in a low voice. "Considering the situation in this district of the province, which we we have turned up inside only a few days' residence, its mundane character becomes entirely damning." have turned up inside only a few days' residence, its mundane character becomes entirely damning."

"Gods," Geigi said. Geigi, the Rational Determinist, who relied on reason. "Gods. I know the tone of his letters, up and down. Pairuti discusses his acquisitions. His figurines. He offers his felicitations on whatever good fortune has attended, his sorrow for any ill-of course his willingness to be of service, when he is so remote he knows he will never be called upon in the least. I have dealt with him for years. He is the most boring man in the aishidi'tat."

"He surely called you on the station, once my grandson returned to power."

"He did. He did. Never an indication of Marid pressure on Sarini Province, no hint of the nest of Marid lurking in Separti. He offered condolences for my sister's death-he promised to look in on my nephew. I took it in the way of every promise from him, something one means very well, but one never intends to get around to... unless he should extend his travel a little on his way to the airport, for winter court. And one was all but certain he never would actually do it. Those are my correspondences with Pairuti. But his people thrive. He has been a decent administrator. His extravagances are all for his collections."

"And he has written faithfully to Tabini-aiji," Cenedi said. "Nothing suspicious at all-except we we know situations in know situations in this this district that the lord of the Maschi should have known." district that the lord of the Maschi should have known."

"The Edi did not inform him," Banichi said, "that we know. But he did not inform himself of the situation at Kajiminda and at Separti and Dalaigi? With whom is the man trading?"

"With whom, indeed?" Ilisidi muttered. "Is this the pattern of a man who keeps good books and succeeds in the markets? He was at at winter court, making excuses for your nephew, Geigi-ji. He was either ignorant, or complicitous in the situation here, nandi, forgive my bluntness." winter court, making excuses for your nephew, Geigi-ji. He was either ignorant, or complicitous in the situation here, nandi, forgive my bluntness."

Damn, Bren said to himself. He hated surprises. And surely surely the lord of Maschi clan had not been under suspicion when he came here: he could not- the lord of Maschi clan had not been under suspicion when he came here: he could not- Not until the paidhi-aiji encountered the local situation and stirred up a nest of trouble, which, in turn, proved the aiji's information had been lacking.

The dowager had applied directly to Shejidan for her information, been told wrong in a way that had nearly gotten them all killed, and now had narrowed down the logical source of misinformation inside the province.

Damned right the dowager had had her staff asking questions, direct ones, ever since Tabini's visit yesterday, when staff had met staff and information had passed-to her people, and to his. In Banichi's eye he caught an indefinable glint of expression. Banichi had had been on it, or at least Tano and Algini, left behind today, had been briefing themselves. been on it, or at least Tano and Algini, left behind today, had been briefing themselves.

"One had no idea," he murmured to Geigi, chagrined, "or one surely would have said something of it on the bus. I would personally have trusted trusted Pairuti." Pairuti."

"So would we all," Ilisidi said grimly. "So did did we all, until it came clear to us that if my grandson lacked facts, it might not be that he has failed to gather information from Sarini Province... but that those who should be advising him-have directly we all, until it came clear to us that if my grandson lacked facts, it might not be that he has failed to gather information from Sarini Province... but that those who should be advising him-have directly lied lied."

"One still-" Geigi said. "One still cannot entirely conclude..." A breath. "Did you come here suspecting this?"

"We did not." She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "We shall cease to amaze you, nand' paidhi. We sent to Shejidan last night, in the dark hours. We called our household staff at that unsavory time of night. We asked certain questions, and this morning while you, nand' paidhi, were otherwise occupied with estate business, my staff in Shejidan was busy phoning certain offices and locating records. While you were at the airport, your staff and mine received their report, a complete lack lack of extraordinary information in the court record of missives from Lord Pairuti. He reports the sad death of your sister, Geigi-ji, and the accession of your nephew, to whom he says he has written offering assistance. He reports everything quiet in the province, and reports, at court, the restoration of trade. He provides exquisitely balanced books for the whole district. Nothing is the matter. Which is exactly the thought that interrupted our sleep last night. The prospect that someone of Maschi clan might call on us in Lord Geigi's sojourn here, or worse, with our Lord Geigi understaffed at Kajiminda, suddenly occurred to us, of extraordinary information in the court record of missives from Lord Pairuti. He reports the sad death of your sister, Geigi-ji, and the accession of your nephew, to whom he says he has written offering assistance. He reports everything quiet in the province, and reports, at court, the restoration of trade. He provides exquisitely balanced books for the whole district. Nothing is the matter. Which is exactly the thought that interrupted our sleep last night. The prospect that someone of Maschi clan might call on us in Lord Geigi's sojourn here, or worse, with our Lord Geigi understaffed at Kajiminda, suddenly occurred to us, hence hence my calls to Shejidan, which I assure you were deeply coded. We used the night hours and this morning to ask a range of unpleasant questions-and to notify my grandson, who- my calls to Shejidan, which I assure you were deeply coded. We used the night hours and this morning to ask a range of unpleasant questions-and to notify my grandson, who-if he had asked such questions immediately instead of assuming the vector of attack on us had been entirely southerly, out of Separti Township-would have turned this up. As it is, he has deployed his forces southward. The Marid infestation south of here may be a mere decoration. A deliberate distraction." A waggle of the fingers. "Of course we could be wrong. But we rarely are." he had asked such questions immediately instead of assuming the vector of attack on us had been entirely southerly, out of Separti Township-would have turned this up. As it is, he has deployed his forces southward. The Marid infestation south of here may be a mere decoration. A deliberate distraction." A waggle of the fingers. "Of course we could be wrong. But we rarely are."

"One is appalled," Bren said. "One is utterly appalled, aiji-ma."

"Ha. So you agree." The ancient eyes that had seen a good deal of treachery in a lifetime sparked fire. "And we shall not sit here inert."

"'Sidi-ji," Geigi said. "'Sidi-ji. What can one say to this?"

"That you will take action, Geigi-ji. That you have been a long time removed from this arena, and your presence here as lord of Sarini Province can only be salutary."

"One had planned to return to the station, but-"

"Oh, you shall. You must. You have done far too well in that position. Considering the situation we face, with foreigners apt to arrive, we need you there. But certain things need your attention."

"Absolutely, aiji-ma. Whatever one can do-"

"If my grandson steps in and takes action, it is another heavy-handed Ragi seizure-such an unhappy history on this coast. If the Guild does-the same. Things here are delicate. You appreciate it in unique ways. And coming at proof may not be easy. Lord Pairuti may have destroyed records..."

Geigi held up a finger. "May have. But I would wager not, aiji-ma. Not that man. His disposition is compulsive-a passion for details. He will have them. And I can get them. I shall need to take back Kajiminda with some dispatch. Clearly, so doing, I shall need to interview certain of my own clan. Which makes my calling on Pairuti obligatory. He will expect it. He will be in a dither to hide the records, but he will not destroy them, not that man."

Go there? Good God.

"We are understaffed, Geigi-ji," Bren protested.

"We have taken measures in that direction, nandiin," Ilisidi said smugly. "We will have have force at our disposal-granted my grandson understands our position. He will force at our disposal-granted my grandson understands our position. He will not not permit Lord Geigi to come to grief. He may fuss about the situation. But he will move to protect the treaty that binds the coast to the aishidi'tat... and you, Geigi-ji, are its living embodiment. He permit Lord Geigi to come to grief. He may fuss about the situation. But he will move to protect the treaty that binds the coast to the aishidi'tat... and you, Geigi-ji, are its living embodiment. He will will move." move."

Read: Tabini hadn't agreed to Ilisidi's demands. Tabini hadn't jumped to relocate his forces from Separti. He hadn't come rushing to Ilisidi's conclusion, perhaps, or he had something else going on that he wasn't happy to leave.

Which could mean there were complications.

Najida's perspective on the immediate threat, however, were different than Tabini's. If Pairuti was colluding with the Marid, Najida was staring up the barrel of a gun. Problems could come at them right down the airport road. Or arrive en masse by train.

And Tabini, mind, had just yesterday left his son and heir and and the aiji-dowager the aiji-dowager in in this position. this position.

Damn, he didn't like it when Tabini turned as inscrutable and ruthless as his grandmother. Especially when he and people he cared about were in the target zone. He had to get Toby and Barb out of the harbor, as early as possible. He'd like like to ship Cajeiri and his young company back to Shejidan... but that meant exposing the movement in Najida. They'd had their chance to get Cajeiri moved out-and his father had left him behind, perhaps-dared one even think it-as an intentional to ship Cajeiri and his young company back to Shejidan... but that meant exposing the movement in Najida. They'd had their chance to get Cajeiri moved out-and his father had left him behind, perhaps-dared one even think it-as an intentional proof proof of his lack of alarm? of his lack of alarm?

"We need the help of the Edi, aiji-ma," he said. "We need everything they can bring to bear."

"Oh, we shall have help," Ilisidi said with a small, tight smile. "And so much the better if the Edi will protect the grounds here, and protect us all. I have requested it. I have asked Ramaso to relay it to the Grandmother, and I have received assurances."

God, leave the house for a few hours and come back to war preparations.

"We shall deal with it, 'Sidi-ji." Geigi gave a little bow, distressed of countenance, but not about to retreat, no, not with that look. "I shall do everything in my power, aiji-ma, and your recommendations, allowing me to deal with this myself, are generous. And I shall want to speak to the Edi on your staff, with your kind permission."

"You certainly have Najida's full support, Geigi-ji," Bren said, "so far as lies in my hands."

"And I shall see my nephew." Geigi drew in a long, long breath. "The wretch. I will meet with him tomorrow after breakfast. Tell him I am here, Bren-ji; and let him stew tonight."

It had been interesting. Interesting was what Great-grandmother would call it. Cajeiri had been just very quiet and respectful, and heard all kinds of news about the neighbors, and scary hints that nand' Geigi was going to have a talk with his relatives inland.

The talk he meant to have with Baiji, down in the basement- that that was one Cajeiri very much wanted to hear. He was already thinking how to get in on that interview, even if he and his aishid just had to be casually walking through the downstairs- repeatedly. was one Cajeiri very much wanted to hear. He was already thinking how to get in on that interview, even if he and his aishid just had to be casually walking through the downstairs- repeatedly.

But he had been right in his approach. He and, he was sure, Jegari and Antaro, had sopped up a lot of what was going on with the seniors; and maybe Lucasi and Veijico had learned something useful, too-if Tano and Algini had been in a good mood.

So very quietly, after nand' Bren and nand' Geigi had left- Cajeiri paid his own little bow to Great-grandmother. "One is grateful, mani. One did learn."

"See you stay within the house, Great-grandson. And stay within call."

"Yes, mani." A second bow, a deep one, in leaving. "I shall."

What was going on outside mani's rooms was preparation for a formal dinner this evening, and nand' Toby and Barb-daja insisted they were coming up from the boat, which had security and staff running about-not mentioning the ongoing process of getting Lord Geigi fully installed in his suite, which had been the security office, and fed a light late lunch-everybody in the house had already eaten-to tide him over until supper.

And Lucasi and Veijico had been in the library with Tano and Algini-who might have let them hear all of it, he supposed- glum thought-or maybe not.

He gathered his aishid in his own apartment, himself sitting by his own fireplace and its comfortably warm embers. "Sit down," he said, "nadiin-ji." And they took the other chairs, all four of them.

"How much did you hear?" he asked Lucasi and Veijico. "And how much did you understand?"