Peacemaker

Jase took a deep breath. “You’re not taking stupid chances, are you?”

“I have no intention of it. But my aishid is going in, for reasons they explained, so it’s down to me. I’m the only official who’s in any degree expendable. I can get through a certain door that needs to be opened, that otherwise would cost lives. My credentials can do it. And if the people in charge try to stop me—we’ve got all the legal grounds we need for what happens next. Which will either go as we hope—or not. Say that having you for backup and knowing they can’t strike at our backs, so to speak, will make me a lot happier this evening. If the aiji and his household are safe—they can’t win.”

“Whatever I can do—yes. No question. But understand—if things blow up down here, I’m under orders from Sabin to get myself and the kids back to the spaceport.”

“Exactly what we want you to do. And take Tabini-aiji, the aiji-dowager, and Lord Tatiseigi with you.”

“Are they going to agree to that?”

“I’m going to arrange it at least with Tabini, and I hope he can move the other two. In whatever happens—these are the people to trust.” He held up three fingers. “Those three.” A fourth. “Geigi.” The thumb. “My brother Toby. Any Guild working for the three. Or for Geigi. My brother’s partner Barb: she understands security and secrecy, she’s loyal to him and she’d carry a message, but she’s a bit scattered.”

“Understood.”

“If you come under threat, don’t waste time wondering if you should go. Go. Take everyone you can, the aiji, the aiji-dowager, Cajeiri, the guests, and anyone they insist on taking, and get down to the train station. That’s the most direct route. There’s a danger of someone blocking the tracks, but agents of ours are going to take control of the Transportation office in the Bujavid and try to keep that track clear for you. If at any point you are blocked, stay with the train, defend your position, and trust the dowager’s people to identify anybody showing up with alternative transport. However you can, get everybody to the spaceport, shut the gates and trust no one from the outside of that fence. If for some reason you can’t reach the spaceport—get to the Taibeni and the Atageini or the dowager’s fortress in Malguri as a place to stay: but those are survival scenarios. The goal is, as soon as possible, get everybody up onto the station, link up with Lord Geigi, and sort it all out from there. Do not let the dowager or the aiji convince you to stand and fight. If you need another paidhi, consider my brother Toby. Clans that can help you: Dur, for sea transport; Taibeni, for hiding; and Atageini, for political fights. Beyond that—you do the pla

“You’re not to get yourself killed, Bren. I really want you to avoid that.”

“I really intend to.”

Jase drew a deep breath. “Understood. I’ll do it, Bren. Me, Kaplan, and Polano—we’ll do what we have to. Any help we can give you. I know Geigi’s the same.”

“This one, this one is something worth the risk. We’re going in to rescue the law. The Assassins’ Guild is the law, and it’s had something wrong in its gut for a long, long time.”

“Can you fix it?” Jase asked. Outsider’s question, clear and cold and honest, and for just one beat of his heart Bren asked that question of himself.

Then he thought of his bodyguard.

“Yes,” he said. “Yes, we can fix it. There’s enough of us.”

“Four of you,” Jase objected, then, atevi-fashion: “Five.”

“A little more than that. I don’t know all the plan. They’re still working it out. But we’re going in to open those doors all the way to the i

“Rely on me,” Jase said. “Concentrate on yourself. Here will get taken care of.”

 · · ·

There were, after that, letters and authorizations to write. In case.

To Cajeiri he wrote: Place yourself and your guests inside Jase-aiji’s protection and obey his orders without question. He will be protecting those of you in the Bujavid. I am going into this with good hope of success, but should you be reading this letter, something untoward has happened, there is a threat to you and your guests, and your great-grandmother and your father and Jase-aiji will protect you and Lord Tatiseigi by wise actions. You are an excellent young gentleman. Apply yourself to become an excellent and wise aiji, when that day comes. I am glad to take this action for your long life and success.

To Toby: Brother, if you’ve gotten this letter, things have gone wrong on the mainland and very likely I’m not on the scene any longer. Contact Geigi. Don’t come to the mainland until you’re sure it’s safe, and until Geigi and Jase agree it’s a good idea. If things I arranged went well, Tabini and the aiji-dowager and the heir will be on the station in safety. If not, they will be in places you can guess. Get into communication with them. Tell the President to avoid any provocation of the mainland and consult closely with Lord Geigi. Do what you can to keep the world safe. I love you, brother. And I rely on you. You don’t have the command of the language I do, but you’ve got the understanding. I’ve told Jase that when he has to pass the torch, you’re it. Trust Ilisidi, trust Geigi, trust Tatiseigi, Dur, and you know the rest of the names. Take good care of Cajeiri. He’s the future. You and Barb—stay safe as you can.

To Tabini: One regrets very much, aiji-ma, that I was not able to come back. Rely on Jase-aiji and on Lord Geigi. I have arranged everything to get you and your household to safety and for you to accomplish the defeat of your enemies, the restoration of the Guilds, and the preservation of the aishidi’tat with as little loss of life as possible. I have absolute confidence in your leadership of the aishidi’tat, and I say freely that you have been the great leader that I have hoped for.

God, he hoped that letter never had to be delivered while he was living. Tabini’s ego was large enough.

Rely on my brother-of-the-same-parents, Toby. Rely on all the ship-aijiin, who view you as a very valuable and trustworthy ally; and especially rely on Jase-aiji—he is a good ally, a human who will not change sides, and an authority with great power in the heavens. Do not, however, trust Yolanda-paidhi: she has changed.

Believe that you have earned the confidence and good will of humans and atevi alike. Rely on your grandmother and on her allies. She has always favored you and your son above all other answers for the world.

To Ilisidi:

If you are reading this at least my own part of it has not gone well. I am therefore doubly glad and honored to have replaced you in this venture, and regret only missing the actions you will take next, which I hope will be initially down the paths to safety and power that I have spent these last hours securing for you.

Rely on Jase-aiji, on Geigi, on Lord Tatiseigi, my brother Toby, and know that I have watched over you in these last hours. Thank you for many actions which you know and which I will not mention. If any of my aishid survive, take them to your service, as I also hope you will look favorably on my staff on station and my major domo and my senior staff once you return to the world.

To you and to your great-grandson I leave my estate at Najida, and I also put Najida Peninsula and its people in your care.

To Geigi:

I have undertaken a mission against enemies of the aiji. Please take care of those closest to me, guard those I would guard, and remember me as someone who wished atevi and humans to live in peace. I have every confidence you will find a path between the ship-aijiin and the Mospheirans, between humans and atevi, and from the old ways into the new. I have complete confidence in your management of affairs in the heavens. I believe you will bring about a good solution, and I only regret that I must leave you with so much yet to do.