One Land, One Duke

by Emerson, Ru

  "The market,” Dahven said finally. “You said new taxes and regulations; what, specifically?"

  "I'll have copies of the relevant papers made for you, it will take a little while, but in the meantime I've eaten nothing yet today and you doubtless had only what they bring around to prisoners: filling but not exactly enjoyable. I'll have something brought—bread, cheese, fruit? Perhaps some wine?"

  "Sounds wonderful,” Jennifer said. “Perhaps more coffee?"

  * * * *

  Chris had been watching people come into Evany's garden since ten o'clock by his watch; it was now noon and he was starting to get nervous. Enardi had gone to give his statement at the big clerk's building, but he'd promised to come back and pass on anything he'd been able to learn.

  There was no word yet about Jen, Dahven or Edrith. Robyn, who looked as though she hadn't slept much, sat next to Aletto, who didn't look much better. Lack of sleep due to nerves, worrying about missing parties, Chris thought, rather than—than what all those old guys like Evany were kidding them about. Tee hee, giggle, get it, get it? he thought in disgust. Wonder where Evany got his kids?

  Lialla was nervy, too, but she'd apparently managed to sleep. Chris decided what he needed was to find out how she worked that Thread she'd used on Ernie, see if he couldn't do it himself. Sounded better than sleeping pills.

  Gyrdan had showed up somewhere just before noon, and gone straight to Aletto; he now sat cross-legged on the ground next to his Duke, a long, handwritten list in one hand, apparently running through who was going with them, what he had in mind for plans. Chris wandered by at one point to hear him say something about taking two routes at the vee just south of the pass, but at this point had enough on his mind that he couldn't find the least interest in his first real shot at military planning from the inside.

  There were several men with Gyrdan—plain-clad, capable-looking guys. Chris glanced them over, was aware of thoughtful, interested looks in turn. None of them looked at him the way some of Evany's friends did, though. More like they were deciding whether he'd be useful in a tight spot, maybe even figuring it was possible he would.

  Edrith came shouldering across the crowded patio then, and Chris forgot about Gyrdan, Evany, everyone and everything else. Edrith gripped his shoulders, let Chris throw a bear hug around him in turn. “Hey, guy, I wasn't gone that long!"

  "Yeah,” Chris said. He swallowed, looked past his friend's shoulder. “You aren't alone, are you?"

  "Only cause they got asked to lunch with the big shots, and no one asks servants—"

  "Servants? What—you? Says who?” Chris demanded rudely.

  Edrith laughed. “It sounded better than drinking companion and sometime thief. They asked, I said that, they accepted it. As far as I know. I didn't rate an opportunity to meet the Emperor's heir at all, but they say he's quite unimpressive, dresses no better than I do and more interested in papers and books than anything else."

  "You gotta watch out for those paper-pushers,” Chris warned him cheerfully. “Jen's having lunch with—whatsisname? Afronsan?"

  "Well—she and Dahven are waiting for some kind of clearance, or some papers or something, I didn't get that exactly straight. So the guard who walked me out said they were eating cheese and grapes in Afronsan's private chambers. Ernie went in, I saw him near the doors, talking to another of the city guards, the ones that came after us yesterday? They let me talk to him for a moment, he has to sign something once they create the copies, and the city guard said he may as well wait for the nera-Thukar and his advocate."

  "He said—wait.” Christ tugged at his hair. “He called Dahven that? Nera-Thukar? Like they really believe he's supposed to be heir instead of his jerk brothers?"

  "Well,” Edrith replied cautiously, “the guard said that. It might have been habit, you know, from when Dahmec was still alive.” He gripped Chris's shoulders again. “I honestly wasn't certain I'd come out of that building alive. I can't tell you how glad I am to see you again."

  "Hey. They can't kill people like you."

  "Yeah. It would be, like, totally wrong. You know?” Edrith grinned, looked across the courtyard. “They said I missed the ceremony last night. Aletto actually persuaded your mother?"

  "Caught her in a weak moment. Everybody's giving them a real bad time about spending the night in Evany's spare bedroom."

  Edrith shrugged. “Not everyone, I'd wager. The old people, like Evany. They think that's funny.” He lowered his voice. “D'you like that guy—even trust him?"

  Chris lowered his in turn. “Frankly? Honestly? No. Not as far as I could spit him."

  "Yeah, me too. Boy, did you see his daughter, though?"

  Chris punched him. “Which one, Roisan? She's about your mental age.” Edrith laughed.

  "Yeah, well, I won't fight you for the other one; I don't want to go through Evany. She winked at me when I came in,” he added in a confiding voice.

  "Hey, she winked at me last night,” Chris replied stiffly. He grinned then. “Maybe she's got a tic, you think?"

  "Knows she's safe,” Edrith growled. “You know—look all you want, dudes, just don't touch, Daddy wouldn't like it."

  Chris sighed. “They make ‘em like that here, too, eh?"

  "Believe it,” Edrith said. “You know?"

  * * * *

  Edrith went over to give Robyn a hug of congratulations and passed on his news; she looked much less drawn and harassed after that, and Chris knew at once when she slipped the word on to Aletto. The nera-Duke suddenly was relaxed, smiling. Chris got Lialla's attention and told her. Lialla's shoulders sagged and her eyes closed; Chris caught her in case, but she straightened at once.

  "I couldn't think how they'd believe those awful twins, how Shesseran could get away with holding a full noble—but all the same."

  "All the same,” Chris echoed. “I'll be a lot happier when they walk in here, but I feel pretty good right now."

  * * * *

  The party atmosphere had faded a little late in the afternoon; many of Evany's friends had left, though Gyrdan was still over talking to Aletto and Chris had struck up an acquaintance with a couple of the younger men who'd come with him. Edrith was off with one of Evany's sons and two of Grydan's men, describing staff-fighting by the way he was moving his arms. Jennifer and Dahven came through the patio door arm in arm, almost unnoticed at first, until Enardi called out Chris's name.

  Robyn was on her feet at once, arms around her sister's neck. Jennifer hugged back, hard, then tapped her arm. “Hey, Birdy, can't breathe. You look just fine; married life agreeing with you?"

  "Smart mouth, kiddo,” Robyn retorted; there were tears in her eyes and her voice. “Didn't think some of these people would ever let up.” She shrugged rather helplessly. “Wasn't much else to do, was there? He was convinced I was heading back to set up shop with Caro Ellaway, and I couldn't just sleep with him."

  "Says you,” Jennifer replied quietly. “And since when?"

  Robyn shrugged again, but managed a smile. “Well—since I ran out of pills about five weeks ago."

  "Mmmm—gotcha. There are alternatives, you know—"

  "Hey, girl, I taught you that stuff, remember? Would you really ask a man to wear one of those? If you had any? Jennifer? Why are you laughing?"

  "Later. A lot later. He's looking for you, and I need to talk to Lialla."

  Aletto was deep in conversation with Dahven, who was relating a truncated version of the hearing; Gyrdan sat between them and a little back, listening. “The bottom line, Aletto, is that they—Afronsan, actually—know full well you're here, but are choosing to ignore the fact. I don't know from anything Afronsan said whether that's because Jadek has said enough to warrant an Emperor's writ, whether Jadek has set one or threatened to; did Carolan have any other relatives?"

  "None close—none who'd care what happened to Carolan, so long as they got his title and estates."

  "Well, Afronsan made it pretty clear that he doesn't want to hear your name
at all. I got the impression that you could file a petition of your own, and that it would probably sit on Shesseran's stack of unsigned petitions for the next two years, and you'd be stuck here.

  "He also seems aware that I was on my way north with you; he's suggested that I keep to plan while his office hauls my brothers over the hot sands—"

  "What can he do to them?” Aletto demanded. “After all, they're in—"

  "He's not letting the will be proved, to begin with.” Dahven grinned wickedly. “He's launching an investigation into illegal market control and unauthorized taxes, and until further notice, Sikkre's on gold standard.” Aletto considered this in some confusion, shook his head. “Whatever goods they trade for outside of Sikkre, other than a personal deal between merchants, of course—anything my brothers wish to buy, they pay for at once, in gold. No credit, no currency. Afronsan says there's precedent from a long time ago for such an action; my brothers will be—somewhat distraught."

  Aletto let his head fall back and he roared with laughter. When he sat back straight, there were tears on his face. “He actually did that? To your brothers? Distraught?"

  Dahven's grin widened. “Perhaps a little. A final matter, though: Afronsan says that since I will probably be in a position to come into Sikkre once my previous appointments are done—of which he knows nothing, of course—he has decided to send a handpicked guard along with me."

  "He—” Aletto shook his head. “I'm sorry, Dahven, that must make sense but I'm not understanding it."

  "Leaving out the spaces between lines? I agree, it's rather like learning a new language at first. He's sending observers, men who will join with Gyrdan as well as a pair of clerks loyal to him, personally. With the intention that whatever my brothers or your uncle set against us from the moment we leave Podhru, he'll have proof beyond a statement. Of course, I believe he's interested in seeing how you deal with your uncle—"

  Aletto let his eyes close. “Gods,” he whispered.

  "But wouldn't you rather have his men there, when you go into Duke's Fort? So that should Jadek somehow speak out, or men loyal to him later say that you did or said a certain thing, they can put the rumor where it belongs?"

  Aletto considered this in silence for a moment, finally and rather reluctantly nodded. “I suppose. If all else, they'll keep me honest to what I told that man south of Sikkre. That I'd talk only, that I wasn't bringing violence."

  "Removal of the wrong sort of temptation,” Dahven agreed cheerfully. “Never a bad idea, particularly now.” He came partway up and looked around Evany's expansive walled garden. “The man's done quite well for himself, hasn't he? I should find my advocate and properly thank her for saving my throat. As well as wine, to drink your health.” He gripped Robyn's hands and pulled her toward him so he could kiss her cheek. “He's a very nice fellow; I'm very pleased for you."

  * * * *

  Jennifer and Lialla were in a quiet corner on the far side of the pool, by themselves, where Jennifer could fill Lialla in on developments. “He's sending his own men with us, ostensibly to keep Dahven safe."

  "Really to watch and report,” Lialla said shrewdly.

  "Just so. He offered to make one of the clerks he sends a magician, one who's had experience in dealing with Triads. I thought perhaps I should consult with you before agreeing to that."

  "I—why?"

  "Because it might interfere with your Wielding; I don't know, and the best way to find out seemed to be to ask you. Or because you might know something about that. Whether, say, it would put your mother or Merrida in any danger, as Thread-Wielders—would something that stopped a Triad perhaps rebound on them?"

  Lialla shook her head almost at once. “I don't know that. What do you think?"

  "I don't know, either, quite frankly. I personally don't want anyone around who might interfere with what I do, or might find fault with my style of Wielding and be able to stop me. I don't know that they could; I don't know that they couldn't."

  "If we don't take that kind of help,” Lialla warned darkly, “then it's only you and me—"

  "No, it's all of us. And any charms we can get Edrith or Enardi—any of those kids from Bez, actually—to pick up for us.” She folded her arms and waited. Lialla nodded.

  "Then—all right. No outside magic. It would make me nervous, too; I'm having enough difficulty as it is."

  "You're not,” Jennifer assured her firmly. “Think about what you did with Enardi—"

  "Think about your arm,” Lialla said. Jennifer shook her head, unbuttoned the cuff of her chambray shirt and shoved the sleeve up past her elbow.

  "I'm thinking about it. All right, I did the cosmetic work, so it doesn't look like hell. You put it back together for me when I couldn't even figure out which way was up—when I was too out of it, in fact, to be embarrassed at being in the middle of that room in my underwear."

  Lialla laughed at that. “Your underwear,” she scoffed cheerfully. “It was as much covering as those things you wore when we ran!"

  "It's different, trust me. Oh, no,” Jennifer said in sudden despair.

  "Oh, no? Oh, no—what?"

  "Turn around and look; you'll see."

  Lialla obediently turned, and clapped a hand over her mouth. Aletto, Robyn, Dahven and Gyrdan had gone away from the reflecting pool and were in shade where there were several hammocks, some rose bushes, a number of low, poufy seats. She heard Dahven's voice, a burst of laughter—Dahven drinking a toast, apparently, and probably one of the more raucous ones he'd picked up in Sikkre's taverns. The pile of cushions in full sun were now occupied by Evany's daughters. Edrith was sitting with his back against a thick-trunked tree a little distance away, in shade. Enardi perched on the side edge of the fountain, rhythmically slapping his thighs. Chris was moon-walking—backwards, of course—across the narrow edge, and rapping as he went. He stopped as Edrith called out a warning, scooped up the almost empty tray someone had set there and walked on back with it, balanced it on his head and executed a neat one-footed one-eighty so he could moon-walk in the other direction. Roisan jumped to her feet and came close to him, intently watching his feet. A giggle escaped Lialla's fingers.

  "He's got another one,” Jennifer said and shook her head. “I don't know how he does it."

  "No cause to worry,” Lialla replied, “They're all babies."

  "Like whatsername down there? In the blue? With the hair?"

  "Evany's first daughter. Chris has kept his hands off, even without Robyn's warning."

  "Boy, I hope so. She's a real little heartbreaker, isn't she?"

  "Flirt,” Lialla agreed. “What's he saying? I swear, he uses fewer Rhadazi words by the day!"

  "Some things don't translate,” Jennifer said after a moment.

  Chris stopped just short of the far corner, set the tray down on the other side, and executed a full one-and-a-half spin before going back into his rap. Enardi probably understood less of it than Lialla did, Jennifer thought judiciously, but he was enjoying the whole process enormously, and it occurred to her she was going to miss Fedthyr's cheerfully naive son.

  "This is singing?” Lialla demanded in a low voice.

  Jennifer grinned and nodded her head. “Yeah, this is singing."

  Chris looked up, glanced across the courtyard to make certain the rest of the company wasn't close enough to hear him, gave Jennifer a self-conscious grin and shifted into voice: “I'm the new D.J./with a brand new sound/and my rhymes aren't tight/but they're comin’ around./

  "Say I got no LP for my D.J./got no hi-tech at all, like back in L.A./got no fly girls, got no skateboard/no TV shows for when I get bored.” He shifted down the ledge at an alarming—to Jennifer, anyway—speed, elbows and knees everywhere, slowed once again at the far end. “My D.J. is Ernie/and he's financially hot/gonna stay and do the deal/for a market spot.” Roisan clapped her hands together in obvious delight; Enardi went red right to his hairline but the rhythm stayed constant. Chris went back down the ledge and came off it in
a tightly tucked front flip, only just getting his feet all the way under him before he landed among pillows. He straightened up grinning. “Hey,” he said mildly. “All right."

  "Kid,” Jennifer called over to him, “don't give the Advocate a heart attack, huh?"

  "Hey, it's cool, it's all soft here, and I used to do that off my skateboard."

  "You had a real emergency ward back then, too."

  "Sure, here I got an old geek with stinky goo, look at Ernie walking all over the place already, you know?” Jennifer sighed, and he shrugged. “I learned that in gym, did it on a trampoline for weeks until they'd let me do it on padding. From a wall that high, I don't even have to think about it, you know?"

  "That was nifty,” Roisan exclaimed in her high, carrying voice. “Do another!” Meriyas said nothing but she was smiling at him. Jennifer sighed, cast her eyes up.

  "Let me know if he finishes the next one on his head, will you?” she asked Lialla. “I can't watch.” Dahven had stepped back into the sun and was looking for her anyway. She glanced around for her handbag, decided it was fine where it was, and started along the gravel path to meet him.

  Chris's voice followed her. “Yo, the outland Advocate is my aunt Jen/she's tough with a bo and tougher with a pen/she got a boyfriend, a dude named Dahven/and I can't say if maybe she's havin'/"

  "Chris,” Jennifer spun around to yell over his next words, “wanna die young?"