Betrayer

by C. J. Cherryh

  “Speak your mind, paidhi. We invite it. We long for plain argument.”

  “You know that the Guild that came back from Murini’s regime is tending out of control.”

  “This theory of yours!”

  “You assumed control lay in Senji or Dojisigi. But say it does not. Say control lies within the renegade Guild itself, and you are not contesting your accustomed rivals. Say it is not a Senji operation this boy has disturbed, and you have, since the events preceding my arrival, begun to suspect the nature of this base. It is no longer your neighbors you have to deal with, aiji-ma. Another enemy has targeted the Taisigin Marid, on a schedule hastened by my presence on the coast. And why? Because they can manage the leadership of the Senji and the Dojisigi. But you are far too intelligent, too active in administration, and too little inclined to take orders from anyone.”

  Machigi gazed at him, hard-faced but not out of control of his temper. “Go on, paidhi, and cease to flatter me. I am immune.”

  “It is, I think, fact, not flattery. Did the aiji-dowager approach your neighbors? No.”

  “Did she approach me, uninfluenced by the Guild in Shejidan ? I think not, paidhi! Their deliberation was calculated to force us to negotiation. And the aiji-dowager, equal to her reputation for high-handed intervention in government, has stepped in.”

  Shocking thought. And entirely possible. He gave a little bow. “If your theory is true, aiji-ma, still, it is a better offer than that the Guild itself is giving you. Their offer would simply be a diversion—to prevent you cooperating with Guild from any other district.”

  “Oh, you are fast, to be so ignorant as you claim.”

  “One is conversant with your situation, aiji-ma, and what you propose as the dowager’s motive is an interesting interpretation.”

  “Which makes every offer you have made us a lie!”

  “Not a lie, aiji-ma. Not even empty. The task she set me was to come here, assess the situation, and make proposals to ensure your safety, since the aiji-dowager will not be made an instrument of anybody else’s policy. You understand her reputation correctly. She will seek her own advantage. I am personally aware of the solution she proposed for the west coast and its troubles long before I was born, a solution the legislature declined. I have proposed it again in a configuration of alliances over which the legislature has no power, and which in my own opinion is likely to please her and serve you. More, I propose a context for that alliance that makes political and economic sense because I see a leader capable of carrying it out. Am I guilty of extravagance? Perhaps, but I have captured the aiji-dowager’s interest in an outcome that will accomplish everything she originally proposed for a political solution and that will go a long way toward dealing with inequities between districts in the East, which I know has long been a concern of hers. Far from betraying your interests, aiji-ma, I have handed you a possibility unavailable to your predecessors and to your neighbors, and if the action of a random boy has disturbed a dangerous situation in your district, one offers personal regret, but it does not indicate a plot against you, not from the aiji-dowager’s side. The situation is precarious because your enemies number more than your traditional rivals, and one fears there will be bloodshed, but not of the aiji-dowager’s planning. Association with her is your best course.”

  Machigi’s eyes flickered, following every point. “And your arrival on the west coast, paidhi, so swiftly followed by hers, was at whose instigation?”

  “In truth,” he said, “the Farai’s. They possess my apartment. Lord Tatiseigi of the Atageini, who had lent me his apartment, decided to come to Shejidan for the legislative season, and for his convenience, I took a vacation on the coast. The aiji’s son decided to pay me a visit, and in consequence, the aiji-dowager turned her plane about in midair and came to deal with her great-grandson. It was quite a ridiculous set of circumstances, entirely unrelated to anything now proposed.”

  “So it was an accident,” Machigi said, a muscle jumping in his jaw.

  “It was absolutely an accident, nothing plotted, nothing planned.”

  “This is likely a Guild question,” Machigi said.

  “If it is, aiji-ma, it is beyond my scope.”

  Machigi sat glowering, showing, in the rate of his breathing, agitation. Bren sat absolutely still, watching every tick, every cloud that scudded through those golden eyes, for a weather forecast.

  And Machigi looked up, and past him, to the left corner of the room.

  Where Algini stood.

  Bren’s heart leaped. He slowed his breathing. Tried to give no outward sign at all.

  “The assassinations in the Township were excessive,” Machigi muttered. “And your first hypothesis is correct: I did not approve. We are both, paidhi, within a chain of fortuity and accident.”

  So was he right? Right in the whole chain of logic? He fought to keep his own demeanor icy calm, but he feared he was readable. Machigi’s face was grim, then showed a curious—of all things—amusement.

  “You think you understand us. Yet you fear you do not.”

  “I apply such wisdom as I have to questions difficult to ask—and I am aware I may be mistaken.”

  “You are too well informed to be mistaken, paidhi.” The fist arrived under Machigi’s chin, a prop. “Well, my wise paidhi, let me inform you. This random boy has created a shooting incident between my watchers and something with which we have maintained an uneasy quiet. We, who have generally preserved the Taisigin Marid from the intrusion of this element, have now appeared directly to challenge it. The chain of fortuity and accident has added one more link. Suppose we take your word that this is not intended, and not a Guild operation. We have citizens at risk. We have the likelihood that what this boy has disturbed will be reinforced and that Senji in particular will take extreme measures to assure any conflict takes place in our territory—with the help of the Dojisigi.”

  It was not an incursion of thousands Machigi was talking about: it was a Guild-style operation, highly skilled individuals spreading out to remove key individuals, conduct sabotage of communications and resources. Most of all—to remove individuals. Machigi. His loyal guard. His staff. His unscheduled guest. And any lord backing Machigi.

  Total collapse of the Taisigi authority and all their allied lords. A coup in the South.

  “The Guild will by no means allow it.”

  The fist went down hard against the chair arm. “You say! You say your services are at my disposal.”

  “They are, aiji-ma.”

  “Then what do you propose?”

  That took more than a heartbeat to assemble. And Machigi’s patience with the situation was understandably on the wane.

  “Access to a phone line.”

  “Let me advise you what your bodyguard will advise you. Phone lines between here and Shejidan run through Senji territory.”

  It was old thinking. And there were things neither the Messengers’ Guild nor the Assassins’ Guild in Shejidan had not made public.

  “One can manage if you will give us access. Lord Geigi can reach the station.”

  “Ah. So now Geigi will become our ally. We are little encouraged to believe this.”

  “Aiji-ma. For me and for the aiji-dowager he will—”

  “You say!” A second slam of the fist against the chair arm. “No, paidhi. We shall play this out for the audience we choose, under terms we choose. First of all, yes, call Tabini-aiji. Tell him we have a problem. Tell him loose the Guild. Then call his grandmother—and inform her what you have done.”

  Damn, Bren thought.

  They had none of the resources they would have had even in Najida, and no access to the gear Geigi carried quietly about his person. And he was less moved to trust Machigi’s motives than he had been yesterday.

  He said, quietly, thinking—stall. Consult with Algini. And: Damn it, his bodyguard has told him what Algini is. Possibly more than I know on that issue. “One will do one’s best, and no, aiji-ma, one does not set out to
fail—but let me think on this. Grant me half an hour to arrange my information.”

  A hesitation. Then, to his vast relief: “Granted.” And not to his relief: “But I shall stay here.”

  11

  It was hard to get up and be bright in the morning, but when one had just scored a number of good marks with mani, one had to keep performing for a while or see the score dive below previous low levels. Cajeiri had learned that fact aboard the ship. Mani was suspicious of sudden changes.

  And after doing an adult’s job and getting Barb-daja back—well, he had not personally gotten Barb-daja back, but at least things had turned out well, involving being able to talk to her and translate for nand’ Toby, so at least the glow of success settled on him—he figured he had to continue on good behavior.

  For a start, he had to put on his better clothes for breakfast with mani. It was the first such breakfast he had attended in days, but he figured to invite himself, knowing the hour mani would be up.

  So he dressed, with Jegari’s help, and heard from Jegari that Veijico had been very polite to both him and his sister. She had expressed her hopes to fit in and just gone straight to bed last night, which was good, too.

  If he could just stay awake this morning, and bring mani into a good mood . . .

  But then came a knock at the bedroom door, which was a warning, and a moment later Antaro put her head in. “Nandi! The bus is coming back. They say Lord Geigi is aboard, but nand’ Bren is still not! Veijico-nadi has gone out into the hall trying to find out.”

  Right at breakfast. And from Targai, over in Maschi territory and near the Marid. Cenedi had immediately sent the bus back to be near Tanaja, ready there if nand’ Bren needed it in a hurry. But apparently it had turned right around again and brought back Lord Geigi instead.

  So something this morning was not going well.

  “We shall be at the door,” Cajeiri said. That was where the news would be, that was certain, news about the situation that was surrounding Najida and threatening all of them; and Cajeiri did not intend to be left ignorant again.

  It was not a simple matter, to call Tabini-aiji, personally, in the first place. From a phone in the heart of Tanaja, it took the local operator talking to security and then to the Bujavid operators in Shejidan, then operators talking to Tabini-aiji’s majordomo and his bodyguards.

  It involved also Tano and Jago coming out from the rear of the suite and taking station with Banichi and Algini, all of his guard now visible and engaged, and doing their part to verify for this and that person, yes, it was the paidhi-aiji himself, yes, he was calling from Tanaja, under Lord Machigi’s auspices, and he wished to speak to the aiji personally.

  And doubtless the delay in getting to Tabini both let Tabini have a cup of tea or two and let Tabini’s office set up and trace the call to be sure it was coming from where it said it was . . . from all the persons apt to be listening in, it was a wonder if one side could hear the other.

  Bet that Tabini’s bodyguards would get every bit of information they could at the other end. They would also note every tap along the way, from here to Senji and God knew where—that went without saying.

  But once they had Tabini’s senior bodyguard on the line, Banichi talked to him personally, said several words of no sense whatsoever, and then handed the phone on to Bren.

  During all of this Machigi sat and had tea—Tano’s management—by the fireside.

  Machigi had run out of tea by the time they got through to Tabini.

  And Machigi sat listening while Bren took the phone, standing right next to him.

  “Aiji-ma?”

  “Paidhi-aiji. One finds you, we hear, in uncommon circumstances. ”

  “Aiji-ma, Lord Machigi has invoked the ancient rule of negotiation. At this moment one must inform you I represent him.”

  “Has he, now?” Tabini asked, and there was absolutely no need to warn Tabini every word was going to Machigi, in one way or another. “Advise him we expect your return in due course, in good health. ”

  “One is honored by your expression, aiji-ma. Lord Machigi has expressed interest in the gesture the aiji-dowager has made in sending me here.”

  “We are aware of these gestures and her opinion.”

  That shortened the list of items he had to cover.

  “Aiji-ma, there is a complication. May one explain further?”

  “Explain.” Cold. Quite disturbingly cold. Tabini wanted information, but there was no ready belief on the other side. And conveying the situation—

  “Understand that I have dismissed your force, which I brought here from Targai—”

  “We have had the report.”

  Probably an expert and detailed report—including one from Cenedi.

  “There has developed, suddenly, a strong threat to Lord Machigi from within the Marid. You will surely know.”

  “We would have an idea, indeed, nand’ paidhi.”

  “Lord Machigi would be gratified by your recognition of negotiations now in progress, aiji-ma.” A breath. “He is beside me as I speak. If you have any message for him, I will deliver it.”

  “Are you under duress, paidhi?”

  “No. I am not, aiji-ma. I say again, I am willingly representing Lord Machigi.”

  A pause. “Your safe return is a condition of the negotiations proceeding. You may tell him that.”

  “Tabini-aiji says—”

  “One has heard,” Machigi said, frowning. The phone, though quiet, was amply loud enough, one guessed, for Machigi’s hearing. Machigi snapped his fingers. “The problem.”

  “Lord Machigi says—”

  “Let Guild talk to Guild.”

  That was an actual offer—that his bodyguard could talk to Tabini’s. That was major. Bren looked at Machigi. And Machigi nodded, scarcely perceptibly.

  “Lord Machigi agrees to that, aiji-ma.”

  “Good,” Tabini said, and abruptly hung up.

  Click.

  “He has—”

  “We are aware,” Machigi said, grim-faced. A moment later he said, “Let Guild pursue it.”

  “Aiji-ma.” With respect. Machigi had agreed to Tabini’s proposition. Guild channels would exchange information, with coded assurances, and inform the lords on either side. “And you may be sure my bodyguard will talk to yours.”

  Machigi got up, headed for the door.

  And stopped.

  “I am posting a guard on this door,” Machigi said. “They will be my servants, my guards closest to you.”

  Increased security—considering the situation? Or was it diminished trust?

  “Aiji-ma.” Bren gave a slight bow of appreciation. Machigi nodded shortly, gathered his guard, and left.

  Bren gave a long, slow exhalation, then, as the door shut.

  He hadn’t had tea. He hadn’t had breakfast. His stomach was upset—matching Machigi’s, he was quite sure.

  He glanced at his bodyguard. Their expressions—impassive until that door shut, he was sure—had relaxed into grim concern.

  Algini threw a look at Banichi, Banichi looked at Algini and nodded.

  Algini immediately went over to the table and got a pad of paper and a pen from among the neatly stacked writing supplies and maps. He sat down, rapidly wrote, the whole room focused on him, then laid down the pen, rose, and brought it to Bren’s hand.

  It said,

  Nandi:

  Machigi’s bodyguard believes, consequent to the exposure of a renegade base last night, that a plot is now in operation to assassinate Lord Machigi. He is, with three elderly exceptions, the last of the Ardami bloodline. Two of them, my information states, are fools incapable of governing—but very apt to be figureheads.

  Machigi himself once believed agents of the Dojisigin Marid had infiltrated his operation at Kajiminda, but his aishid informs us that view has shifted overnight. Machigi now concurs with his bodyguard that Tori of Dojisigi is no longer in control of his district, from a period long predating Murini’s coup.<
br />
  Predating. Long predating. Hell! What did that mean?

  Guild sanctions and outlawry and the acceptance of the aiji’s filing against him were all screening a Guild operation to invade Taisigi territory, neutralize or remove Machigi with his guard. Guild would then have taken out renegade targets in the district, and then would use Taisigi land as a base to take out their establishment in the Dojisigin and Senjin Mari, and elsewhere.

  We provided a keyword in our transmission to Cenedi that reinstated Machigi’s guard. They agree that Machigi did support Murini’s rise to power—that position protected him after the Dojisigi had assassinated his predecessor. His bodyguard does not deny that. They maintain, however, that his entire aim was the west coast—which the renegades were content to allow—while they infiltrated that operaton.

  When Murini went down, however, everything changed. The renegade Guild saw the Marid as their safest refuge—and Machigi as a problem, because his guard is not in their affiliation. The renegades could not control them, and Machigi, as you have seen, nandi, is not easily ordered.

  Some of this we came in knowing. We were immediately approached by Machigi’s bodyguard, who wish to have strong assurances of Machigi’s survival if they come under central Guild direction.

  Burn this note after the others have read it. These are Guild matters of extreme delicacy, predeliberation matters which I am not supposed to have revealed.

  Good God, he thought, and passed the note to Banichi, who began to read it with an expressionless countenance.