Intruder

“If I were that intelligent,” Machigi said glumly, “I could think of another answer.”

“ Youwill shape the Marid, nandi. You will influence the Guild in dealings with other clans. You will influence the succession in those clans. The Guild will accept advice. Make your choices well disposed to you. And agreeable.”

“Of the good will of Dausigi and Sungeni, one has no doubt, at present,” Machigi said. “The doubtful thing is to keep that good will, with the things you propose.”

“Use the Guild, nandi. Wrap it around you. In this one thing, you must benorthern. Everything else is adjustable. You have to stay alive, or everything falls back to chaos.”

A short, sharp laugh. “Paidhi, it is decent advice.”

“Tell me: with your knowledge, nandi—what would you advise the north now, about the succession in the northern Marid? Is the Guild moving in the right direction?”

“One is less concerned for the new lord in Senji: Bridai is old, and quiet. He will cause no trouble to me, and if the Guild is truly capable of being persuaded, I can steer his choice of a successor. Thenthere is Dojisigi. And Mujita.”

One hardly liked to hear that assessment, but one already knew it. Hisintercession had saved the man, perhaps his daughter. A child. A child as humans reckoned it. But not necessarily so.

“Mujita is a fool—but his daughter, Tiajo, is dangerous. One has come to know that child all too well, and her father will be lucky if he dies of old age. Nand’ Gediri thinks Ishould marry the girl and set an heir in place over Dojisigi. But I’ll not have her serving mytea. Or teaching any of mysuccessors.”

“Again, —” he began.

“—advise the Guild.” Machigi concluded, and leaned back. “So. They guard her. They guard me. Who prevails.”

“She will have to deserve the man’chi offered her. To the death. That is not so easily done, by a person of bad character.”

“She is an attractive little baggage. She would use that gift to the utmost.”

“The Guild does not train fools,” Bren said. “If she is what you say, she must convince the Guild she is the better ruler, or take her aishid down with her to ruin. And one suspects in her instance, the Guild may frustrate her inclinations and withdraw support entirely—which would not be a comfortable situation for her orher father.”

“What was the Guild’s position when they replaced Tabini-aiji? One is curious. One is quitecurious.

Blunt question. Very blunt question. And maybe a test of honesty.

“What is not widely stated, but what I do know—and in confidence, nandi—there was a coup, with bloodletting, inside the Guild, shortly before there was one inside the aishidi’tat. There was a countercoup, when the will of the people put Tabini-aiji back in power, and those we now call the renegades fled south, a number at first and then a slow trickle of those less exposed. A handful of those of ill intent came into Shejidan from outside, to use force; and force ultimately resettled the matter at Tabini-aiji’s return. It is unfortunate that Dojisigi sheltered these people. It cost them and everyone else. But you may now have confidence that the trouble has solved itself and that the Guild in Shejidan has declared man’chi to Tabini-aiji.”

“You say so.”

“One has great confidence in the persons who assured me so.”

“And who are they?”

“One is constrained from saying, nandi, but one does believe them.”

“Nand’ paidhi,” Machigi said. “You are one of the most curiously honestindividuals I have met, yet you represent two of the most devious alive! I am very reluctant to let you go. You will become corrupted by them.”

Bren gave a little bow of the head. “I shall be the same. I shall never forget our recent association, nandi, and I shall try to find a mutually agreeable course, fair to you and fair to the aiji-dowager. Standing between is my value in a situation.”

“Dispense with subtlety and give me your best advice. What would you advise in the next number of days?”

“Dispatch the representative to Shejidan as soon as possible—there will be curiosity from all Guilds, once they know the Assassins’ Guild has achieved agreement. Sign with the Merchants’ Guild first; they are reasonable people with a reasonable objective. Transport will have a standard agreement. Be cautious with the Messengers’ Guild, and read their agreement carefully. Bargain hard with them, and ask the Merchants’ Guild if you distrust a clause—they will give you an honest answer. Sign the agreement with the aiji-dowager, and move on all convenient programs. Immediately loose rumors of a great trading venture contingent on that agreement.”

“And then?”

“Simutaneously be ready to send representatives to the East to set up a trade office on the coast; and outfit an expedition by sea. Within the Marid, establish clinics in key places: that will immediately see benefits to the people. Sign with the Academicians and establish a small school in Tanaja with high prestige and technical assistance from the Engineers’, the Messengers’, and the Physicians’ Guilds; concentrating first on those three disciplines and having a relationship with those Guilds. Erect windmills for power in the villages, not neglecting Senji and Dojisigi. The Engineers’ Guild will assist at your request, and Shejidan will assist you in that effort with materials and technology. The Messengers will provide broadcast radio for every village, each village to have at least one receiver, and let that network inform the villages for you. Speak to the people on a fixed schedule and inform them on progress and new programs and how to access them. Rumors in the Marid will then become scarcer than fact. Once people see benefits from change, their opinions will become more favorable—not universally, but with medical care and more prosperity, they will be more favorable. And thatwill secure your future.”

Machigi laughed softly. “Paidhi, you have it all laid out in your head, do you not?”

“One has thought about it, nandi. One has thought about it incessantly, in a desire to have the most benefit the fastest. That is what will make this work.”

“I shall miss you, paidhi, indeed. My ministers have no sense of humor.”

“I shall, I hope, see you again, nandi. I am more than willing to bridge gaps for you and to convey messages in, one hopes, a delicate way.”

“I have gifts for you,” Machigi said, “on which I have labored personally.” Machigi drew two small cylinders from his pocket, and offered it to him. “Use these as you see fit.”

“Shall I open them?”

“One is a polite letter for the aiji-dowager, which you only need deliver, and the other is reading for your journey.” Machigi stood up. The guest was obliged to do the same. The meeting was over. “I shall bid you farewell now, paidhi. The requested items will be aboard your bus by now. Staff will have carried your belongings down, and your small army of Guild will, I am told, be going back to Najida, to keep it safe from—whomever. I shall see you soon in Shejidan, nand’ paidhi.”

Bren slipped the two cylinders into his own pocket and bowed. “One will look forward to that meeting, nandi, not alone officially.”

“Flattery.”

“Yet true.” A second bow. “Baji-naji, nandi, we shall do this.”

He was done—sooner than he had expected, as well. The meeting could have gone far longer, or taken days, had the discussion gone wrong.

But it had not. They were both satisfied.

And it was time to get the hell out of the district and let the Marid take care of the Marid for a while without his interference rousing controversy.

He gathered his aishid, Tano and Algini conveniently arriving on the main floor with their own luggage and three servants carrying the rest. No expressions changed. No expressions betrayed any satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the proceedings. His bodyguard was on strictly formal behavior, communicating with short-range, and if there was any authority on the premises besides Lord Machigi—such as a local Guild officer—none appeared to wish them good travel.