“You say man’chi has no choice. But if all the choices you are given—”
“It is still man’chi. It will not change.”
Feel it, sense it, know where it could go wrong . . . after all these years he thought he knew. He thought he was understanding the bond now, deeper than species, deeper than kinship, deep as any human attachment, with links to emotions all up and down the range of what atevi felt. No man’s land. No human’s land, that place. It was not love. It was an orientation. An emotional compass that defined everything.
“They have to die?” he asked.
“Most will,” Tano said. And Jago:
“The best of them will.”
He thought about that. The differences rarely hit him with that force these days. But what Jago had said settled into place like a last, jagged puzzle piece.
“In their man’chi, you are their worst enemy,” Jago said. “Humans are a particular target. Anyone who makes peace with humans is a target. They can have no peace with Tabini-aiji because of his association with you. They hold the dowager as a particular enemy, Lord Tatiseigi as her ally, Lord Geigi as a betrayer and you as the author of all evil—if you have not guessed that, Bren-ji. Never talk about approaching them to reason with the Shadow Guild. We would not permit it.”
What could one say? The author of all evil.
The catalyst for everything that had happened . . . down to this situation.
“Nothing that has happened would ever have happened with Wilson-paidhi,” Tano said. “You are responsible for what has happened, for the peace, for the station, for the cooperation of the kyo in the heavens, for the restoration of Tabini-aiji—things for which our man’chi is stronger.”
“I think the dowager, Lord Tatiseigi and Lord Geigi had most to do with those events.”
“There would have been no negotiation in the heavens,” Jago said. “The kyo might have come all the same, and destroyed us. And Deana Hanks as paidhi could not have stopped it.”
Deana Hanks. The paidhi the Mospheiran war party had put in to counter him. It had been a different world, when Gaylord Hanks had gotten elected to the Presidency and the Linguistics Department had sent Hanks’ daughter across the straits to deal with atevi.
If the Heritage Party on the one side and the Shadow Guild on the other had their way, there would be no cooperation, no exchange of ideas, no peace, and no sharing of the space station, never mind that the Ship parked up there had its own agenda, and would not negotiate with either side. And the kyo would not have cared.
He had done, at every point, what he had to do. In his own aishid’s man’chi, in the value of Tabini-aiji’s administration, in the occasionally unsettling events the dowager dragged him into—in all these things he had never doubted he was making choices, crazy as they were in human terms, that picked a way through to some more favorable outcome than the alternative. Whether it delivered them all to the best answer, he had no idea. Where he was now outright terrified him. What was going on, the threat to innocents on this side and the other of the Marid Sea appalled him. He was a linguist. A translator. And he was issuing orders at a level equivalent to the highest power on the planet.
But he did not think his aishid was wrong.
“So,” he said, “I do not think I have a better notion than the dowager or Tabini-aiji, regarding how to get peace in the Marid. I do not have an idea that will stop the Shadow Guild. I am uneasy that the dowager is not in charge of this, that it is down to the Guild—worse, that the situation in the city is in my hands. I feel I should do something or know something, but not knowing, I do not feel I should try to direct the Guild in dealing with the situation. More—I do not know whether Cenedi is on his own at the moment, making his own decisions, or carrying out her orders. I rely on Banichi. And Algini. And both of you. I have no grasp of our situation in the streets, except to hope we can prevent those people using Husai to break down the agreements.”
“There is one worse thing that could happen,” Jago said. “And that is for them to find you in their sights. If an offer comes, if you feel the urge to deal with these people—send us. And if you feel it would be too dangerous for us—do not go yourself.”
“One hears. One absolutely understands.”
“Because we will follow you,” Tano said, “if we cannot get in front of you. So do not surprise us.”
“I will not. I swear I will not.” He rubbed his eyes, trying to focus his thoughts. “What are our assets, nadiin-ji? We have the port blocked. We have the streets blocked. We have the broadcast station safe. Is there anything we can broadcast that might convince these people to spend their one asset to get themselves out of here? Will they take a trade of amnesty? And can I give it?”
“Cenedi would be the sticking-point,” Jago said. “Granted the dowager is sleeping, and not in charge, granted she will wake with the sun . . . he will likely not want to make that move without consulting.”
That touched on an underlying worry. “You think she is sleeping?”
“One would not swear she is not awake,” Tano said.
Directing Cenedi, and pretending not to, even to them? A subterfuge to cast it on the paidhi-aiji and forestall demands from the locals? Anything was possible.
Including, his deeper concern, that she had taken ill, or that Tabini had seized command of the situation and she was not acknowledging his orders. They had, damn it, an invasion of the Dojisigin in progress. Intervention from orbit. And Ilisidi left the paidhi-aiji in charge of the city while Tabini lit a fuse under it.
He was running on adrenaline at the moment. He had two bereft and anxious parents and a handful of lords including Machigi who were under pressure even to be in the same room, though Machigi, sitting nearby, had his arms folded and his chin down, possibly catching a little sleep.
Machigi had no direct involvement in the situation. Machigi was not in charge.
He, however, was. And he had to find something that would reassure the kidnappers that a deal could be made for a live young woman, unharmed. The sooner he could open that possibility . . . the better. Better to let a handful of scoundrels out of the city if it meant he could get Husai back alive.
He could send a search door to door if they could only have some hint—besides the likelihood the kidnappers had intended to board the freighters in the harbor—where in the city they might have hidden.
Not too far away from the residency, possibly, since the streets were blocked. But he had no way to figure that angle. It was a Guild problem. Dealing with the Shadow Guild in any form was chancy, and his aishid was right. Recklessness now could make matters far worse.
The relay network had reported the kidnapping to the Guild force sitting out there on the borderland, and possibly there was some communication Cenedi had with the navy ship now dominating the harbor. Not even a rowboat would move out there. And their enemy might not realize how fast and far they could communicate, or what they could see.
The lingering difficulty was that none of them here at the very center of the trouble had had that much sleep yesterday night and now they were deep into another night. There was tea to lend them energy. Bindanda and Jeladi and a small corps of cleared and verified house staff kept up a supply of safe sandwiches, and meanwhile had done a little examination of the electrical panels—there were several—and reported they had cobbled together a lock on the master switch, the sole key in their possession, and an alarm that would advise them of tampering.
Across the wide hall, exhausted civilians found sleep in chairs or on the floor, and Guild caught naps as they could, a skill Bren greatly envied. Lord Bregani and Musai maintained their own vigil, napping occasionally in sheer exhaustion, but only in snatches, and not many of those.
Quiet continued, low voices of Guild reporting to officers. They had planned to let the lords disperse to their own apartments and to have normalcy restored, but
the kidnapping had changed that. No one was permitted into the side halls, and missions to and from the kitchens were all escorted. They had made one grievous mistake. They did not court another.
And still there was no word, with the night deep about the city and utter silence prevailing. Reports came in of scattered arrests, mostly of people trying to check on businesses and shops, detained, interviewed, and escorted home as it became feasible.
Bren finally managed a catnap, and waked to Jago’s hand on his arm.
“Nomari is back, Bren-ji.”
God. “Of his own accord?”
“He approached a patrol. He claims he can extract Husai.”
That brought him fully awake. “Where?”
“He is being escorted in right now. His aishid has been notified. They are coming in from the streets.”
18
The big doors opened, admitting Banichi and Algini, and, indeed, Nomari, who looked as if he had taken a fall in the street, or more than one. There was a bleeding scrape on his chin, there was blood on his coat, and his queue was only a memory of a braid: hair hung loose about his shoulders.
Bren gathered himself up, stiff from sitting, and Jago and Tano were right beside him. Murai stood up, and Bregani with her. Machigi rose. So did Machigi’s plainclothes aishid. Others across the room roused, one waking another.
Nomari gave a bow to Bren, with Banichi and Algini behind him.
“So?” Bren asked.
“She is still in the city,” Nomari said, looking past him to Bregani and Murai. “At least—I know people who have an idea where she is.”
“Where?” Bren asked.
“These people,” Nomari said, “do not want to be known. But they see how the tide is running, and they want assurances. I have told them . . . I have said. . . . Nand’ paidhi, I have made promises I cannot keep. But I have told certain people . . . assured them . . . that if they can recover your daughter, nandiin, and if they can protect her and bring her here . . . Lord Bregani . . . and the dowager . . . may overlook past problems.”
“Who are these people?” Bregani asked.
“Just . . . people. Clanless, some.”
“Smugglers. Dare one guess, smugglers, thieves . . .”
“All those things, nandi. But they know the city and the port. Not all are Senjini.”
Machigi edged closer and stood listening, arms folded.
“Where is she?” Bregani asked. “Give us a place, nadi!”
“They did not tell me. But they know everything that moves in the region. I have promised rewards, nandiin. I took it on myself. I had to. I said there would be amnesty for all crimes . . . for her rescuers. For anything they have done in the past.”
Not every lord of the aishidi’tat would bargain with criminals. Not in the north. Not among the Ragi. But this was the south, the Marid, where Guild had meant only the Shadow Guild, and anything went.
“Do it,” Murai said faintly, and Bregani clasped her hand.
“Whatever they can do,” Bregani said fervently, “let them do. If only they can get her back safely, I will agree.”
“Let me go back to them,” Nomari said.
Banichi looked at Bren. “Nandi?”
“Yes,” Bren said.
“Do not follow me,” Nomari said. “Nandi, promise me. They will not take that well. It would be dangerous for everyone.”
“Banichi,” Bren said. It needed a Guild decision. It was that fine line between civil authority, and Guild expertise.
“We will appoint a place,” Banichi said, “where they may bring her, unharmed, and walk away safely.”
“Tell them,” Bregani said, “if they want to claim that amnesty, best they walk here, tonight, and claim it. They will walk away free.”
Banichi nodded solemnly. “A fair proposal. You will have escort to the point you contacted us, nadi, and the escort will wait for you. Go from there and tell them the conditions. The Guild will support Lord Bregani’s amnesty.”
“So will the dowager,” Bren said. Nomari had promised it with no authority. He set the dowager’s seal on it by saying so, and took the responsibility, for good or ill.
“Nandiin.” Nomari bowed again. “I shall tell them. Thank you.”
“Escort him down,” Banichi said to Algini, and Algini waved a hand toward the doors. With a small bow, Nomari took a proper leave, escorted by Algini, but Banichi stayed a moment.
“We will meet these people, nandi,” Banichi said to Bregani, “and we will honor that promise. Lord Machigi. Your opinion of this man might be of value.”
“I am not informed,” Machigi said. “I do not know who he is dealing with. I do not know where he went, but I doubt it was to the elite of Koperna; and I would not be surprised if some of his contacts have intimate knowledge of the Shadow Guild.” A nod, a courtesy to Bregani and Murai. “But he may well have what he says. One does not believe, nandi, that he would have offered to go again if he had thought there was no good hope. If he had thought that, we would never have seen him again. I do not see him sacrificing himself as bait in a trap, and he does know sources in this city.”
“One appreciates your assurance,” Bregani said quietly, ignoring any irony in the statement. “Thank you, nandi.”
“I shall go down,” Banichi said to Bren. “Jago. Notify Cenedi. Ask him to stand fast.”
“Yes,” Jago said.
Banichi left. Bren turned toward his own table, to resume waiting, and hope, now, that Nomari was not playing against the peace.
But Machigi was standing in his way. And he asked, very quietly, “Did you urge Nomari to this, nandi?”
“No,” Machigi said, likewise low-voiced. “Neither his disappearance nor his choice of allies is my doing.”
“I apologize, nandi, but you have had experience of him we have not. And I am not questioning your intentions or your honor, only Nomari’s . . . in which you are our only source of information.”
“Lord Bregani could answer with more authority regarding criminal elements in Senjin, but if I can guess, likely a man named Paigiti is involved, or will be at some level. If given a clean bill once, and adequately compensated, who knows? The old man might decide to hand his business on and retire. There would be no shortage of takers.”
“Shadow Guild?” The logic of the Marid was from time to time distressing. And clearly Machigi knew a name he did not.
“A network for hire,” Machigi said. “Local logistics the Shadow Guild could use to facilitate their operation. If those people, the actual kidnappers, have run beyond reach of his network, then finding her will be less easy. But they will know. In fact—they may have supplied information or assistance to the kidnappers themselves, but it may be convenient not to ask that question. In Bregani’s redirection of man’chi, even thieves and extortionists have new considerations. They will be seeking their own advantage. They will realize that the relationship of Senjin to the world is changing. An offer of amnesty could be particularly good currency tonight.”
He had known about the function of the criminal network in Machigi’s own dealings, a factor which had made him uneasy in dealing with Machigi. It seemed increasingly likely he was going to have to rethink the entire notion of criminal, where it concerned the Marid.
Machigi’s former agent taking to old routes, old contacts in this instance—now projected a situation in which enlisting kidnappers and extortionists became a sane course of action.
* * *
• • •
A busload of equipment announced its arrival. Bren, trying to rest, was aware of it. In the lengthy watch, in the night, lights were lowered somewhat, and with practicality above protocol, Tano and Jago occupied adjacent chairs, arms folded, heads down. Bregani and Murai rested, similarly, their bodyguard slept. Guild all over the hall rested in a quiet so deep one could hear the bus engine
outside the walls. And still there was no word from below, no word from the streets. The city had swallowed up Nomari, and there was no report.
Then Jago moved suddenly, and lifted the new communicator to her ear and unfolded to her feet.
“The dowager is here,” Jago said, as Tano moved, startling other units to move, and catching Bregani’s and Murai’s attention.
“She is in the building?” Bren asked.
“She is downstairs, with Cenedi. Cenedi and Casimi are taking command. Nawari is left in charge aboard the train. She is insisting on climbing the stairs. Cenedi is insisting on the freight lift in the kitchens. She will not have it.”
God, that was Ilisidi. Alive, upright, and insisting on doing things her way, the old-fashioned way.
“The dowager is here?” Bregani asked, from a little distance away.
“Apparently, nandi. Lord Machigi?”
Machigi also had lifted his head, arms still folded.
“Advise Lord Bregani, nadiin-ji,” Bren said. “And the rest of us.” They were not the only individuals whom the dowager should not find napping, even in the middle of the night. Not that she would demand it, but that the Guild units would want notice.
The double doors at the rear opened. The lights came up abruptly to full, someone attending that matter as, all across the hall, Guildsmen were getting to their feet.
A small, dark figure appeared in the doorway, a woman of small stature, cane in hand, with three units for a bodyguard and Cenedi’s distinctive silver-haired presence right behind her. Her bodyguards carried rifles, and spread out as they entered, protective surveillance. The precision of that move and the carpet-muffled punctuation of the dreaded cane held the whole room frozen.
Waiting.
For him, Bren realized in the next heartbeat.
For temporary authority to wake up and officially give way to her authority. Bren walked into the clear spot they maintained for a ragged center aisle and bowed slightly.
Divergence Page 30
