Shadowplay

"Rugan."

"Ah, yes. I remember when she was merely a priestess, but she had a head on her shoulders." She nodded. "Do the priests still come into the Hive every morning to collect the sacred honey?"

Qi

"And the Oracle?"

"Mudri, Mistress. She spoke to me once." But that was telling more than she needed to. Fortunately, Soryaza didn't seem to notice.

"Ah, Mudri, was it? Hands of Surigali, she was there when I was a girl and she was old then."

"They say she has outlived four autarchs."

"The gods bless her and keep her, then. One autarch was enough for me, and now I hear there's a new one who means even less good than his father."

Qi

survived-she, Qi

"Well, then, I believe your story, child," Soryaza said. "I will find work for you. You can sleep with the other girls, those who live here-some stay nights with their families. But you will work, I promise you! Harder than you've ever done. The Hive is a dream of paradise compared to the palace laundries."

"What about my… my brother?"

Soryaza regarded the boy sourly. He straightened up in an effort to look useful, even though from such a distance he could have no idea what was being discussed. "Is he clean? Does he have decent habits-or has he been allowed to run wild like most simpleminded children?"

"He's not simpleminded, Mistress, just mute. In truth, he's very clever, and he will work hard."

"Hmmmph. We'll see. I suppose I can find a few things for an able child to turn his hand to."

"You are very kind, Mistress Soryaza. Thank you so much. We won't give you any cause to regret…"

"I have regrets enough already," the laundry-mistress said. "More if you don't stop chattering. Go with Yazi-the one with the red arms, there. She's a southerner, too. She'll show you what to do." She turned to leave, then stopped and looked Qi

"I will, Mistress!"

"What's your name?"

Qi

"Nira!" she said. "Nira. My name is Nira."

"Your name must he 'addled, girl, if it takes you so long to remember. Go now, and I kid better not catch you standing around with your mouth hanging open-everyone works here."

"Thank you again, Mistress. You have done…"

But Soryaza had already turned her back on Qi

Axamis Dorza, sensing something wrong when no one responded to his greeting, came through the door with surprising delicacy for a big man. The captain seemed to have some idea of the pantomime Vo had prepared for him, but though he was obviously a clearheaded fellow and not to be underestimated, his eyes still grew wide when he saw the blood on the floor. When he in turn observed Dorza's heavily muscled arms, Vo took his blade back a few finger-widths from the boy's throat: he didn't want things happening too quickly. If he had to kill the boy he'd lose much of his lever¬age; if he had to kill Captain Dorza before he could be made to speak, the entire day's careful work would be wasted.

"What are you doing?" Axamis Dorza said hoarsely. "What do you want?"

"A few words. Some friendly conversation." Vo slowly moved the blade back until its needle-sharp tip touched the boy's convulsing throat. "So let us all move slowly. If you tell me what I need to know I will not harm the boy. Your son?"

"Nikos…" Dorza waved weakly. "Let him go. You ca

"Ah, but I can and do. I want him beside me while you answer my questions."

The captain's eyes darted away from his captive child, sca

Vo wanted to head off the next problem too-anything to keep the man calm as long as possible. Any moment now he would notice the body crumpled on the floor just behind the door. Better simply to tell him.

"I have bad news for you, Captain Dorza. Your wife is dead. She caught me by surprise. I did not know she was in the house. She was a brave one, it must be said. She tried to kill me with that club-a belaying pin, I think you sailors call it? So I had to kill her. I am sorry. I did not wish to do it but it is done, and… ah, ah, careful… if you let anger get the best of you the boy will die, too."

"Tedora…!" Dorza looked around frantically, at last saw the blood-soaked shape behind the door. "You… you demon!" he shouted at Vo. "Nushash burn you, I'll send you to hell!" His eyes, red with tears, widened again. "The other children…!"

"Are under the bed. They are safe." Daikonas Vo prodded gently with his long blade at the boy's gorge, eliciting a squeal of fear. "Now speak to me or this one dies, too. You carried a young woman on your ship. Some say she was Guard Captain Jeddin's mistress. Where is she now?"

"I'll break you…!"

"Where is she?" He pulled the boy's chin back until it seemed the skin of his throat, downy with his first beard, might part without even the touch of the blade.

"I don't know, curse you! She stayed here with us but I threw her out when I found out what she was!"

"Liar." He pinked the boy just enough to make a drop of blood grow, wobble, then slide down into the neck of his shirt.