THE

"You were a stubborn girl," Maati said.

"You've changed your mind," Eiah said. "You've lost all your books. All

the grammars and histories and records of the andat that have come

before. They're gone. All the poets gone but you and perhaps Cehmai. And

in the history of the Empire, the Second Empire, the Khaiem, the one

thing you know is that a woman has never been a poet. So perhaps, if

women think differently enough from men, the bindings they create will

succeed, even with nothing but your own memory to draw from."

"Who told you? Otah?"

"I know my father had letters from you," Eiah said. "I don't know what

was in them. He didn't tell me."

"A women's grammar," Maati said. "We're building a women's gram„ mar.

Eiah took the bowl from his hands and put it on the floor with a

clatter. Outside, a gust of wind shrilled past the shack. Smoke bellied

out from the fire, rising into the air, thi

looked at her, the pleasure was gone from his eyes.

"It's the best hope," Maati said. "It's the only way to ... undo what's

been done."

"You can't do this, Maati-kya," Eiah said, her voice gentle.

Maati started to his feet. The stool he'd sat on clattered to the floor.

Eiah pulled back from his accusing finger.

"Don't you tell that to me, Eiah," Maati said, biting at the words. "I

know he doesn't approve. I asked his help. Eight years ago, I risked my

life by sending to him, asking the Emperor of this pisspot empire for

help. And what did he say? No. Let the world be the world, he said. He

doesn't see what it is out here. He doesn't see the pain and the ache

and the suffering. So don't you tell we what to do. Every girl I've

lost, it's his fault. Every time we try and fall short, it's because

we're sneaking around in warehouses and low towns. Meeting in secret

like criminals-"

"Maati-kya-"

"I can do this," the old poet continued, a fleck of white foam at the

corner of his mouth. "I have to. I have to retrieve my error. I have to

fix what I broke. I know I'm hated. I know what the world's become

because of me. But these girls are dedicated and smart and willing to

die if that's what's called for. Willing to die. How can you and your

great and glorious father tell me that I'm wrong to try?"

"I didn't say you shouldn't try," Eiah said. "I said you can't do it.

Not alone."

Maati's mouth worked for a moment. His fingertip traced an arc down to

the fire grate as the anger left him. Confusion washed through his

expression, his shoulders sagging and his chest sinking in. He reminded

Eiah of a puppet with its strings fouled. She rose and took his hand as

she had the dead woman's.

"I haven't come here on my father's business," Eiah said. "I've come to

help."

"Oh," Maati said. A tentative smile found its way to his lips. "Well. I

... that is ..."

He frowned viciously and wiped at his eyes with one hand. Eiah stepped

forward and put her arms around him. His clothes smelled rank and

unwashed; his flesh was soft, his skin papery. When he returned her

embrace, she would not have traded the moment for anything.

1

It was the fifth month of the Emperor's self-imposed exile. The day had

been filled, as always, with meetings and conversations and

appreciations of artistic tableaux. Otah had retired early, claiming a

headache rather than face another banquet of heavy, overspiced Galtic food.

The night birds in the garden below his window sang unfamiliar songs.

The perfume of the wide, pale flowers was equal parts sweetness and

pepper. The rooms of his suite were hung with heavy Galtic tapestries,

knotwork soldiers slaughtering one another in memory of some battle of

which Otah had never heard.

It was, coincidentally, the sixty-third a

hadn't chosen to make it known; the High Council might have staged some

further celebration, and he had had a bellyful of celebrations. In that

day, he had been called upon to admire a gold- and jewel-encrusted

clockwork whose religious significance was obscure to him; he had moved

in slow procession down the narrow streets and through the grand halls

with their awkward, blocky architecture and their strange, smoky

incense; he had spoken to two members of the High Council to no

observable effect. At this moment, he could be sitting with them again,

making the same points, suffering the same deflections. Instead, he

watched the thin clouds pass across the crescent moon.

He had become accustomed to feeling alone. It was true that with a word

or a gesture he could summon his counselors or singing slaves, scholars

or priests. Another night, he might have, if only in hope that this time

it would be different; that the company would do something more than

remind him how little comfort it provided. Instead, he went to the

ornate writing desk and took what solace he could.

Kiyan-kya-

I have done what I said I would do. I have come to our old

enemies, I have pled my case and pled and pled and pled, and

now I suppose I'll plead some more. The full council is set

to make their vote in a week's time. I know I shouldgo out

anddo more, but I swear that I've spoken to everyone in this

city twice over, and tonight, I'd rather be herewith you. I

miss you.

They tell we that all widowers suffer this sense q f being

halved, and they tell me it fades. It hasn't faded. I

suspect age changes the nature of time. Four years may be an

epoch for young men, to me it's hardly the space between one

breath and the next. I want you to be here to tell me your

thoughts on the matter. I want you here. I want you back.

I've had word from Danat and Sinja. They seem to be ru

the cities effectively enough in my absence, but apart from

our essentialproblem, there are a thousand other threats.

Pirates have raided Chaburi-Tan, and there are stories of

armed companies from Eddensea and the Westlands exacting

tolls on the roads outside the winter cities. The trading

houses are bleeding money badly; no one indentures

themselves as an apprentice anymore. Artisans are having to

pay for workers. Even seafront laborers are commanding wages

higher than anything I made as a courier. The high families

of the utkhaiem are watching their coffers drain like a

holed bladder. It makes them restless. I have had two

separate petitions to allow forced indenture for what they

call "critical labor. " I haven't given an answer. When Igo

home, I suppose I'll have to.

Otah paused, the tip of his pen touching the brick of ink. Something