Conspirator

Fracture, of the atevi way of life. Fracture of the associationsc fracture of the social structure.

Chaos. And reacting on micro-information, only partof the informationc and the other side reacting, and this side reactingc

Disaster. Therewas his argument. It wasc

A slight rap at the door, a servant signaling entry, possibly to see if he wanted more tea.

It was Ramaso himself.

“A phone call has arrived, nandi,” Ramaso said, his aged face much in earnest. “The aiji’s staff requests you to speak to the aiji.”

God. Thatcouldn’t be good news. He got up and went immediately to the phone on the study desk.

“This is the paidhi-aiji,” he said, and on the other end:

“ One moment, nandi.”

Then, deeply and distinctly: “ Bren-paidhi?”

“Aiji-ma,” he said. His pulse was up. He controlled his breathing with a mindful effort.

“ My son,” the aiji began, “ is on a train headed for the coast.”

Breath stopped. He wasn’t sure what to say, or what change of the aiji’s plans this represented. But he knew Cajeiri, and five would get you ten—

“Have you sent him, aiji-ma?”

“ We have not,” Tabini said, understandably hot. “ He left in the night, on a freight train, changed at the north Shejidan station for a westbound freight, he and his two associates, and they are quite clearly on their way to visityou, nandi. The aiji-dowager has ordered her plane to turn around in mid-flight. Our staffs are in an uproar— justifiably.”

He was aghast. The danger, the chance just of accident, let alone the boy’s exposure to the aiji’s enemies—

“One will meet the train, aiji-ma, and personally escort him back.”

A pause. A lengthy pause. “ You have guests under your roof. We shall send an escort.” A sigh. “ If you can intercept him, likely we can persuade his great-grandmother to resume her trip to Malguri. Can you bear with my son for five days?”

Tabini could get people there far faster than that—could fly them out to meet that train, if need be. Could stop that train with a phone call and have the local constabulary pick up his son. Tabini was giving the young rascal a little extra rein—and likely his plan to get Ilisidi safely settled back in Malguri before the legislative session drew her attention would be easier if he could tell the dowager that the boy was going to be absent. But that five daysc

Conflicted directly with his scheduled visit to Lord Baiji. That could be adjusted. But it was socially difficult.

“One would certainly do so, aiji-ma,” he said. “But shall I treat this as a proper visit?”

“ Yes,” came the exasperated answer. “ If the paidhi is pleased to have one more guest.”

“Then may one ask, with trepidation under the circumstances, aiji-ma, that he remain with us seven days. There are local commitments I have already made for the fifth day, a visit to a neighbor that I ca

“ If the paidhi is so patient as to accommodate my son, yes, do so. Seven days. But speak to him, paidhi-ji, speak to him very strongly. Perhaps you can make him understand the hazards he runs in such reckless ventures.”

“One absolutely understands, aiji-ma.” He added, on an afterthought: “Aiji-ma, one hopes nothing I personally said to him can possibly be construed as—”

“ Encouragement? Paidhi-ji, the presence of Guild at the doors did not dissuade him! The presence of the aiji-dowager did not dissuade him! Gods less fortunate! My certain displeasure did not dissuade him! We have no doubt this thought sprang full-formed from his own mind, and he used his great-grandmother’s activities for a screen to his operations. What can anyone do? Seven days, restraining my son? You have my condolences, paidhi-ji!”

“Aiji-ma, I will at least keep him safe until the escort arrives to take him home.”

“ Do so, paidhi-ji! Perhaps a little country exercise will purge the energy from him. Faultless for a whole month and now this! He is far too clever for his own good.”

“I shall do my utmost, aiji-ma.”

“ Brave paidhi,” Tabini said. “ The train is the noon freight from Tolabi. Fortune attend you.” Which said, Tabini hung up.

Bren set the receiver carefully back in the cradle and looked at his anxious major domo.

“We shall be meeting the noon freight,” he said, “since the aiji’s son has decided to visit us, in company with his young escort. He will be here seven days. The two escorts are youths in their teens, brother and sister, both in Guild training.”

“Nandi.” A bow, a deep bow, with not a word of question. He had as well a

A freight train. There was no possible claim, within the staff, that it was a visit originally sanctioned and arranged by the aiji.

“The young gentleman is resourceful and determined,” Bren said, “and we shall do our utmost to keep him entertained and out of trouble. One promised him a fishing trip, once. One believes he has come to ask us to fulfill that promise. See that the boat is ready.”

Keeping the young rascal out at sea could guarantee at least things on land were safe for a day or so. Toby and Barb were at their best, in their own element. He could deal with both problems.

Then he rememberedc

“Have you already dispatched the message to nand’ Baiji?”

Comprehension dawned in the old man’s eyes. “Regretfully, yes, nandi, one has done so.”

“By all means, and no fault at all. Well, we shall manage both things. We have time enough for me to keep my commitment to Lord Baiji, if you can keep the young gentleman and his companions safely contained. And—”

The door opened without ceremony. Toby and Barb walked in together.

“I guess we’re way too late for breakfast,” Toby said.

“Certainly in time for lunch,” he said, attempting brisk good cheer, “in a very little while.” Work was clearly impossible this morning. He addressed Ramaso, in Ragi, “I shall be meeting the noon freight personally, nadi-ji. Is there possibly time for Saba to manage lunch for us?”

Ramaso looked at the clock on the wall, and gave a little bow. “Easily. Easily, nandi. Shall I inform your bodyguard regarding the other matter?”

“Do so, nadi-ji,” he said, and mustered a bright smile for Toby and Barb. “Well, lunch fairly quickly, as seems. I have to make a run to the train station at noon. Would you care for a cup of tea? I’d intended to take you out to the grounds for a tour today, but it’s not that long ’til lunch, I’ll imagine, and things are not ru

“Tea’s welcome,” Toby said, and he and Barb found adjacent chairs. Bren gave a last instruction to Ramaso to send in hot tea and folded up his work before he sat down.

“What’s the project you’re on?” Toby asked.

“Upcoming legislature,” he said. “A little speechmaking. Did you sleep well?”

“Having the floor quiet is odd,” Barb said. “It rained last night. And thundered. We’ve spent so long on the boat. I keep thinking—it’s thundering: we have to wake up and check the weather.”

Bren gave a little laugh and sat down. “Well, please don’t develop bad habits! I can at least assure you this place won’t sink. And we may be taking a little fishing trip, likely an overnight, out into the strait. Cajeiri is arriving.”

“ He’scoming?” Toby asked. “I don’t recall you said that you had a state visitor. Maybe we shouldn’t be here.”

“No, no,” he said, “it’s rather unexpected, and you’re perfectly welcome here. You’re a useful distraction, in fact: he’ll be delighted to practice his command of Mosphei’ on you, and he’ll be full of questions. I hope you don’t mind.”