Ship of Destiny

Ronica and Keffria exchanged awkward glances. The Companion stood quite straight, a tiny formal smile on her composed features. Ronica ventured to say softly, "I do not see how the official tidings concern the Vestrit family."

Keffria took a breath. "Apparently Malta had negotiated with the Satrap. The Vestrit family will represent the interests of the Satrapy in Jamaillia. The a

A heartbeat of silence followed her words. Then Keffria shook her head. "I ca

"My hands are full, with the smaller properties. I am not a young woman, Keffria, and the past few years have been hard on me. The money sounds wonderful. But what is the sense of devoting myself to another's interests, to earn money that must immediately be spent to rectify my neglect of our own properties?"

"Selden is far too young, and much too preoccupied with his own interests. Malta will be a wedded woman almost as soon as she returns. Besides, the dragon has already claimed her services. Wintrow has carved his own niche in the world." Keffria quickly eliminated her children. She looked at her mother with a question. "Althea?"

"Oh, please," her mother sighed. "If she ca

"Trell's family is the problem." Keffria defended her sister. "Brashen insisted he would claim her hand in the Concourse, but they disputed his right. Disowned, he is not a Trader anymore. Or so they assert." Keffria shook her head at their pigheadedness. "It is his father. I think, given time, that his mother could bring him around. Young Cerwin was certainly willing enough to welcome him back to family and fold. There is gossip he is seeing a Tattooed girl, much to his parents' dismay. Perhaps he would welcome an ally in breaking free from his father's iron hand. Brashen and Althea had so little time in port; perhaps when they return, he can change his father's mind. If his pride will let him try again."

"Enough," Ronica replied quietly. They would not discuss this before the Companion.

"I am sure they will reach some solution," Companion Serilla observed. "I must be going, I have so much-"

"What will you do?" Keffria asked her in a low voice.

Serilla did not answer immediately. Then she shrugged. "It will soon be public anyway. All will know what Keffria has been too kind to speak aloud. Cosgo has exiled me here." She took a breath. "He maintains that I was false to my vows, and perhaps involved with the conspiracy." She clenched her jaws. Then she said with an effort, "I know Cosgo. Someone must take the blame. I am the scapegoat. He must have one, and all others have negotiated forgiveness."

"But you were never truly a part of it!" Keffria exclaimed, horrified.

"In politics, appearance matters far more than truth. The Satrap's authority was challenged and his life threatened. There is substantial evidence that I challenged his authority, for my own ends." An odd smile passed over her face. "In truth, I defied him. He ca

"What will you do now?" Ronica asked.

"I have no real choice. He abandons me with neither funds nor authority. I stay on in Bingtown as a pe

A smile twisted Ronica's lips. "All the best Bingtown families began just that way," she pointed out. "You are an educated woman. Bingtown is on the mend. If you ca

"Restart's niece is turning me out of his house," Serilla revealed abruptly.

"You should have moved out of there long ago," Ronica replied acerbically. "You never had the right to live there in the first place." With an effort, she turned aside from that old battle. It no longer mattered. "Have you found a place to live?"

It was like springing a trap. "I came to you." She looked from one to the other. "I could help you in many ways."

Ronica's eyes widened, then narrowed suspiciously. "On what terms?" she demanded.

Serilla's stiffness fell away from her and Keffria felt she saw the real woman for the first time. The light of challenge shone in her eyes. "An exchange of knowledge and expertise. I came here, gambling that I would hear what you have just said. That you ca

Keffria crossed her arms on her chest. Had she been maneuvered? "I'm listening," she said quietly.

"Delegate," Serilla said quietly. "Pass the task to me, to administer in your name. For years, I studied Bingtown's relationship to Jamaillia. Obviously, that knowledge encompasses Jamaillia's relationship to Bingtown. I can fairly represent Jamaillia's interests in Bingtown." Her eyes traveled again from Keffria to Ronica and back again. Was she trying to decide where the true power resided? "And at the money he has offered, you can well afford to hire me to do so."

"Somehow I doubt that such an arrangement would please the Satrap."

"And as Bingtown Traders, that has been a prime concern for you? Pleasing the Satrap?" Serilla asked acidly.

"In these changing times, maintaining cordial relations will be more important," Keffria replied thoughtfully. Her thoughts flew. If she refused this opportunity, who else would the Satrap appoint? Was this her opportunity to retain control of the situation? At least with Serilla, they were dealing with someone they knew. And respected, however grudgingly that respect had been won. She could not deny the woman's expertise. She knew Bingtown's history better than most of Bingtown did.

"Must he know?" Serilla asked. An edge of desperation had crept into her voice. Then she suddenly stood straighter. "No," she a

Keffria looked at her mother. Her mother gave a small shake of her head. "It is not my decision," she deferred.

"Ten satrapes a month promised is not ten satrapes in hand," Keffria mused. "I fear that in this I trust the Satrap as little as ever. Yet with or without his funds, I think the Bingtown Council can benefit from Serilla's continued advice regarding Jamaillia. If the Satrap does not honor this offer he sends because he is displeased with my advisor, that will say to me that he does not fully acknowledge Bingtown's right to regulate its own affairs. And I will tell him so.

"Then I will advise the Bingtown Council to hire Serilla. To advise us specifically on dealing with Jamaillia." She gave the former Companion a level look. "Selden's room is empty. You are welcome to it. I will warn you, however, that there are two conditions demanded for living here."

"And those are?" Serilla prompted.

Keffria laughed. "A high tolerance for fish. And a disregard for furniture."