Intruder

Similarly, his aishid found items, all cleaned and proper. They met in the hallway to compare notes, and indeed, everything they had left behind in the van on the road was here.

“A kind gesture,” Bren said, and his bodyguard avowed themselves uncommonly pleased and, for once, surprised.

Machigi’s servants arrived to help them dress for di

It felt a little chancy, having Machigi’s servants about, but there was not a single item with them this visit that they had to hold in secret—all of the sensitive items were already sent on to Shejidan.

And with the staff’s help, they were very quickly in order for a formal di

So downstairs he went with Banichi and Jago, this time into the dining hall, where he met, immediately, Gediri, the one minister he knew, the four other ministers he had just met, and relevant spouses, to whom he was introduced. There were, besides them, several notables, with spouses, to whom he was also introduced, all this quite properly accomplished before Machigi arrived. They were a table of twelve as they took their seats.

Twelve became felicitous thirteen as Machigi came in alone, filling the last chair. The mood was light over an excellent pastry, as Machigi chatted easily with the ministers and the other guests.

“The paidhi,” Machigi said, somewhat violating the no-business rule, “has brought us interesting proposals and, more, a signed intention of the aiji-dowager and several others of interest. We are well on track this evening to see this bargain completed.”

That definitely produced a happy mood at the table—not least in the paidhi-aiji. The advisors were not frowning. A decided plus.

It was small talk, then, chatter about impending weather, shipping to the Isles, the seasonal ban on hunting and the consequent rising price of the better fishcwhich happened to be the menu of the evening.

Then there was a quiet invitation to after-di

“So. We are down to the actual agreements,” Machigi said. “We are definitely to assume, nandi, that the dowager will return within the month?”

“Easily within the month, nandi,” Bren said.

“And you assure us that we shall be welcomed in the legislature.”

That was irony.

“You will meet some opposition, and I know who will lead it. But, nandi, I know this man quite well, an elderly gentleman, very, very traditional—a staunch ally if you can gain his approval. A respectful approach, a personal approach—that would be a good begi

“One closely associated with the aiji-dowager?”

“Indeed, nandi.”

“Tatiseigi.”

“Indeed. Lord Tatiseigi.”

“There is no dealing with him!”

“Yet you have things in common, nandi.”

“Do we? Enlighten us!”

“You are both patrons of the arts—you, from a region which produces extraordinary works in porcelain. He is a collector, a great admirer. And an expert. If anyone will be looking at the exhibition with a knowledgeable eye, it will be nand’ Tatiseigi. And his sense of kabiu is quite respected.”

A moment of silence. Machigi rested his chin on a crooked finger, ru

“It is an avenue of approach. I have a specific plan, nandi. Iam in a situation of personal debt to Lord Tatiseigi—who sheltered me during the Farai occupation of my apartment. Granted it was a favor to the aiji-dowager. But one is still indebted. He is head of a group that is most likely to oppose this agreement. And ifone, with great delicacy, chose just the right gift—”

“Porcelain.”

“—then opening a conversation on Marid imports andthe agreement with the aiji-dowager would be so much easier. Enlist him regarding trade with the Marid, in precisely this commoditycand we might sway his opinion on other matters, even in a face-to-face meeting.”

Machigi heard this, gave an almost silent snort, and took a sip of brandy. “Gods unfortunate, paidhi, you can put a fine gloss on the most amazing situations. You want my agents to scour up a second exhibition piece. A gift for this man.”

“At my expense, nandi. Though I have no shortage of funds, it should not be embarrassingly extravagant. I am not of his rank. And one wishes to keep these pieces attainable in trade.”

“Understated,” Machigi suggested with a circular wave of his hand.

“Of that nature, yes. Tasteful. And understated.”

“You are a scoundrel,paidhi-aiji. One would like to hear your description of a proposed assassination. We hope to bribethe head of the opposition.”

“We hope to adjust his view of the south, nandi. As I think will happen if he begins to concentrate on the cultural opportunities in the agreement.”

“Diri-ji, can you arrange it? Price will be no object. Quality is paramount. Deliver it with the other to the paidhi’s bus.”

“Yes,” Gediri said, making a note in a small book. “Would the paidhi wish to examine the items before they are crated?”

“One would by no means doubt the quality of your selection, nandi,” Bren said. “I shall utterly trust your choice, since the lord of the Marid entrusts the matter to you.”

“So we please the lord of the Atageini,” Machigi said with an airy gesture. “We cast our collective lives on the willingness of the aiji-dowager to turn up from her holiday in due season. We cast our reputations, nand’ paidhi, on yourpromise for an exchange of votes between us and the Edi. One had as soon expect the sun to rise in the west, but you have a gift for turning things on their head, so I should not wager on that event, either, if you had a finger in it. Now on what date, nand’ paidhi, may I expect the Guild to begin to obey my orders?”

Change of line. A very dangerous one. Fast thinking and, very carefully, no change in expression. “Again, nandi—”

“Upon signature on the line, do I take it? Or at some future date?”

“One ca

That drew at least a thoughtful stare from Lord Machigi, and attention from the others.

“One urges, once the master document is signed,” Bren said, venturing further, “that the Tasaigin Marid become signatory with allGuilds of the aishidi’tat. The same with the other Marid clans. If Dojisigi and Senji had accepted the Guilds before Murini’s coup, they would have gotten much better advice. If they had taken a proper cue from the Guild in Shejidan, nandiin, and understood that they were not gaining recruits, but harboring an outlaw splinter of the Guild, they would have asked for help and gotten it. But they were otherwise inclined. Which is why Lord Machigi—” He paid a little nod of respect toward Machigi, who sat stone-faced. “—is now in authority over the whole of the Marid. And why he will remain so.”