by Ada Haynes
Lyrian sulked for a moment, playing with the document Ekbeth had given him a moment ago. “I want a bodyguard from Kse’Annilis. No way that I’m going to meet your clients without one. The ones we have here are just not good enough.”
Ekbeth nodded. “Very good point. I’ll ask Kalem to arrange it. Now, about those bank accounts…”
Lyrian looked at the paper. “I’ll see what I can do. What do you expect to find there, anyway, Ekbeth?”
Ekbeth was glad for the change of topic. “Kimiel had started asking me a lot of questions about the finance world, in her final weeks. At the time, I just thought she was pretending to be interested in my work.”
“Was she asking about something in particular?”
Ekbeth nodded. “OPE’s, loans and things like that.”
That certainly surprised Lyrian. “You think she was considering taking over a business?”
“She told me she had money to invest, and we both know how true that was. So I gave her a friend’s contact. I called him this morning. He was quite open about what they intended to do. She was trying to get a shareholder seat on the board of Kellerman’s company.”
Lyrian shook his head. “Ara! Did she have any idea who she was playing with? She might have been a criminal, but she was a neophyte as far as complex financial transactions are concerned. The sharks would have eaten her alive!”
Ekbeth nodded. “And maybe that’s exactly what happened, Lyrian.”
“Oh! I see. I certainly don’t miss her, Ekbeth—sorry to say it. The woman was a bitch, no matter what you felt for her. I still hear her voice in my sleep—in nightmares.”
Lyrian had told him this a few times before. Ekbeth could not blame him for his reaction. Lyrian had suffered at Kimiel’s hand. It did not help Ekbeth in dealing with his loss, though. He left his chair, while pointing at the paper on the desk.
Lyrian grumbled, “Why did she need so many accounts?”
“Watanabe believes in spreading the risks. She’s apparently accumulated quite a lot of money between her association with him and her husband’s work—money none of them was using, till quite recently. Find those transactions for me.”
Then he left the room.
65
Sarah-Lysliana had been right. Living with a newborn baby and her nurse in a hotel, albeit a luxury one and a very large suite, was indeed not such a good idea. Judikali was crying a lot, and, if no one had been complaining so far, he personally was starting to find it hugely embarrassing. Hence his efforts to find a suitable house as soon as possible.
He had no idea why the baby cried so much. She only stopped when he was touching her. Taking her in his arms transformed her from a little red shrew into the most angelic baby in the world. As soon as he put her back in the cradle, or handed her back to her nurse, she immediately started wailing again.
The nurse had a perfect explanation for his daughter’s attitude. “You are her universe, right now, Ekbeth. She only feels safe with you.”
“I understand, but I can’t be with her like this all the time, Annabel.”
“She’ll get over it with time. She’ll get used to me and others. Some people suggest to let the baby cry to accelerate the process. I’m sorry, I don’t like the idea.”
“Neither do I, but there must be something we can do.”
“Well, we could try those little baby carriers. It would at least free your arms.”
It was a good idea as long as he was staying on this Side and not visiting customers, but, as that had to happen more often than not, the nurse’s idea was not practical. He had no intention, either, of taking the baby to the Valley, but he just could not leave Judikali behind like this, for what would be at the very least a few hours.
He suddenly thought of something. He had never been really impressed by the mothering instincts of the As’mir women. They tended to spend more time comparing the beauty of their offspring, or choosing clothes, than really taking care of them. Still, they were mothers and had to know some tricks, like how to put a baby to sleep, and so on.
He walked back to his desk and took out a piece of paper. The women were going to laugh behind his back, and gloat for hours about his inadequacy. For sure. Hopefully, they would also be willing to answer him, eventually.
He wrote a note and sent it to the Valley, to his great-great-grandmother Keremli. She was probably the best option, even though her own attempt at motherhood had been disastrous. Then he returned his attention to the nurse. She had not blinked when the paper had disappeared in front of her. Good for her! His staff had probably warned her about his strange habits.
“Did you have time to look at that property in Dietikon, Annabel?”
The nurse was a bit flustered when she answered, “Ekbeth, really, I told you I would follow you wherever you decide to live. As long as it’s in the neighborhood, of course. My family would not survive it if I had to move to China, or even France.”
He smiled. “Agreed. But did you have a look at it? I want your opinion as a professional nurse.”
She nodded, blushing a bit. “It’s certainly different from your previous house, Ekbeth! Far less modern. We’ll have to do something about the stairs when Judikali starts to walk, but it’s actually quite baby-safe, I would say.”
“Good! Then I’m going to call the real estate agent and make an offer on it.”
Judikali woke up at that moment from her nap in his left arm, and opened her mouth widely. Not to wail, it was just a yawn. Ekbeth smiled. Yes, that daughter of his was a little tyrant, but she certainly had stolen his heart. He knew he would go through hell for her. No matter how little she was.
He suddenly chuckled. He had never promised such a thing to any woman before! Certainly not to her mother.
Annabel got on her feet. “She does have a perfect sense of timing—right on the spot for her meal! I’ll prepare the bottle.”
He was cuddling his little girl, when a piece of paper appeared on the desk in front on him. That was fast! Keremli must have known the answer…
He opened the note. Sadly it was not a reply to his request but a notification that the High Council was to meet in the next hour, and that, this time, all the Akeneires’elin were expected to attend.
He looked at his daughter. “Okay, we just have time to feed you properly. Then I’ll be off, for hopefully a very short time. You’re going to be a brave girl with Annabel, Judikali. You have to promise daddy!”
She just stared at him, calmly.
*
He was the last one to enter the High Council room. He bowed politely and walked to his seat.
The collapse had brought its changes here, too. He could not remember the last time three Akeneires’elin had been replaced all at once. Perhaps he should not have felt so, but he was glad he was no longer the youngest member of the council. Compared to the young As’leandra Na Liathe, who was quietly talking with her neighbor, he felt ancient. She could not be more than thirty.
As’leandra na Liathe cast a curious glance at him when she saw him enter. The others were not so polite. “That baby is not welcome at the Council, Ekbeth!”
He had been expecting that reaction, and calmly returned the Na Ghorm’s glare.
“It was that or not coming. She’s not reacting well to my absence, Keryl. I left my accommodation for ten minutes before Nukri transferred me here, and—Ara!—was she loud! Actually you should feel quite honored by her presence as you are the first to see her, even before the Na Duibhnes.”
The Na Ghorm grumbled, but the only other woman present in the room besides As’leandra was smiling. “Babies can be such little monsters sometimes. My firstborn certainly required all my attention in the first months. I’m glad I was not the Akeneires’eli of the Na Saoilcheachs then. I say, let her have her mind for once.”
The rest of the group nodded their agreement, if reluctantly. Ekbeth relaxed a bit.
The doors were closed.
Traditionally, when the Aramalinyia was not
attending the Council, the Na Liathe opened the session.
The Aramalinyia seat was ominously empty at the end of the table.
As’leandra Na Liathe sat rigidly in her chair, as if her height could compensate for her lack of years. Ekbeth repressed a smile. He was no better than the others. He should know better than to judge aptitude on the number of years.
She suddenly looked at him, and he would have sworn her eyes were twinkling. He was certain she was reading his thoughts. It was quite annoying.
She ignored him.
“Akeneires’elin! The servants of our Aramalinyia have summoned the High Council. I’ll let their representative speak. Leli?”
A woman, recognizable from her white clothing as an Ara servant, approached the table of the Council with all the arrogance Ekbeth was used to from the women dedicated to the Goddess.
Arrogance well matched around this table.
The Na Ghorm smirked. “So, Ara’s made a choice at last?”
The servant raised a brow and superbly ignored the old man.
“Time is nothing to our Goddess. If we had to wait a century for another Aramalinyia, who are we to argue against it?”
Ekbeth had to smile, but he was probably the only one amused by the reprimand. The others were too stiff in their seats now, a sure sign they were all irritated.
He had to admit that not having an Aramalinyia was an inconvenience. Her servants were still celebrating the daily prayers in the temple, but for the rest, pretty much all the important decisions were blocked because Ara’s voice was not there to validate them.
The plans for rebuilding the city, for example. The Aramalinyia was also Ara’s voice to dispense justice as a last resort. On a less dramatic note, she was the one to perform the naming ceremony, and the weddings.
They could not wait a century.
Even the servant knew that. Almost four months had been a long enough delay.
Ekbeth was as curious as the others to hear the news.
When an Aramalinyia died, and the Goddess had not made the successor’s choice obvious, as in Kimiel’s case, it was customary for all the As’mirin women to throw a stone with their name on it into the Lake. Then, the community had to wait until one of those stones came out of the water.
“My sisters and I have walked the Lake edge every morning, as is the tradition. Only this morning did we find the Goddess’s answer. This is Ara’s choice.”
The servant put a simple stone on the table before her. A stone with a deeply carved inscription on it. This was a bit unusual. Normally the women only wrote their name with some paint. He was nearer to the stone, so he bent over to read it. He looked at the servant with puzzlement.
Impossible. He had to be mistaken. The servant looked calmly back at him. “I know, Akeneires’el of the Na Duibhnes. I must admit we are as puzzled as you are. My sisters and I have consulted the archives. We could not find a similar case in our whole history.”
All regards were now turned to him. Nukri na Liom finally asked, “Whose name is on the stone, Ekbeth?”
“Kimiel’s.”
Everyone gasped.
“What kind of joke is this? You told us she was dead, Ekbeth! Have you been lying to us?”
Ekbeth tried to remain calm, but he glared at the Na Ghorm. “She is dead! You were there when we cremated her body at the Temple.”
The Na Ghorm returned the glare.
“Gentlemen! You will behave in the Council!”
As’leandra na Liathe was looking grimly at the Na Ghorm. “Enough. Now, Leli, we are facing a little mystery. You are certain that stone was not outcast from the water before this morning?”
The servant nodded firmly. “As I said, Akeneires’elin, this is an unprecedented situation. The Goddess has never made such a choice before. We discussed the situation with my sisters before asking the Council to meet. We have no answers yet. Except that maybe someone placed the stone for us to find. Someone other than the Goddess.”
Ekbeth was the center of attention again. Thankfully, As’leandra came to his rescue.
“Interesting theory, Leli. We can of course ask the As’mirin. But we also have to consider the following. What if the stone is not lying? What if Kimiel is still alive, somewhere?”
She paused. A bit too long.
The Na Ghorm exploded. “So, she is alive! The Na Duibhne is lying to us all! And you are covering for him! You, the McLean, and you, the Na Liathe! Even the Na Saoilcheach! The filthy whore is alive!”
Suddenly, the whole room was in uproar. The only ones who were still seated were Ekbeth, who was trying to protect his little girl from the turmoil around them, Nukri na Liom, who could not stand, anyway, since his accident, the Aramalinyia’s servant, Leli, and As’leandra na Liathe.
As’leandra looked with annoyance at the scene for a moment, then, when it became clear to her that it could go on for hours, she just said one word: “Sit.”
Ekbeth sensed it. They all sensed it. She was playing with their minds. Imposing her will. Suddenly, the room was very, very quiet. And they all obeyed her. It was a bit frightening how easily she could manipulate them.
Nukri na Liom raised a hand. “I’ve just tried to Call Kimiel Keh Niriel the past five minutes, without any results.”
As’leandra shook her head. “Does not prove anything. There can be plenty of explanations for you not being able to Call her.”
She looked around her. “I think we have to be a bit more open-minded about this, Akeneires’elin. Yes, we’ve all seen her dead body. Yet, Kimiel Keh Niriel may be alive. Stranger things have happened before, but you may not know this as few of you ever bother to read the Chronicles. She may be alive. Somewhere. And, I have to stress that point, no one was aware of this before this Council, Keryl na Ghorm. Ekbeth is grieving his partner and he certainly has done his best to solve her murder in the meantime. So no need to point fingers at anyone. We just have to find her.”
Then she looked sternly at the Na Ghorm. “And I strongly advise you to remember you’re talking of the Aramalinyia next time you call Kimiel a filthy whore, Akeneires’el! The Goddess might take offense, if Kimiel doesn’t herself.”
66
Ekbeth was still getting over the news when he came back to his hotel suite. He called Annabel and handed Judikali and her new toy over to her.
“My, she’s not crying!”
Ekbeth absently nodded. Then he realized the nurse was right. Well, that was at least one of his problems solved.
“Indeed! I was a bit skeptical when my aunt told me to try it, but apparently she was right. Just place the doll next to her when she starts crying. It should do the trick.”
Annabel looked at the rag doll with a bit of skepticism. “That’s it? A doll?”
“Ah! But a very special doll! I first put it under my clothes. It now wears my smell. I will have to do this a few times again, I suppose, but as you can see, it seems to work!”
He was certainly glad he had met his aunt before the Council had started. He had just had time to grab the doll she offered and place it on his stomach before running to the High Council meeting room.
Annabel smiled. “That was a very clever idea of your aunt, indeed. Now, Miss, let’s do a bit more testing. It’s time for your meal and your bath. See you later, Ekbeth!”
Annabel had just left the room when Sarah-Lysliana appeared in the middle of it.
Ekbeth hushed her before she could speak. Signaled her to go to the lobby downstairs.
He met her at the bar. “Good day to you, Sally!”
She did not look as if it was a good day for her. Her hair was going in all directions, and her clothes were stained with a suspicious yellow liquid. A smelly one at that. She certainly seemed out of place in this luxury environment.
She noticed his expression, and smiled. “I was just having a try at making cheese when Andrew told me the news, Ekbeth. I had to talk to you! Why couldn’t we speak in the room? Was it because of Judikali? Was she sleeping
?”
“No. Because of her nurse. She would have heard you— she had only just left the room.”
Sarah-Lysliana shook her head. “You will have to explain things to her, Ekbeth! And soon. I expect you’re going to have a lot of visitors in the coming hours. Is it true then? Kimiel is alive?”
“As’leandra seemed convinced!”
Sarah-Lysliana made a face. “Damn! I was so pleased with that memory stone! I suppose I’ll have to take it away before Kimiel sees it!”
Ekbeth could not help it. He laughed. She grinned a bit sheepishly. “I know. Sorry. It must have been a shock for you, and all I think of is that stupid stone!”
“It’s fine, really. Thanks for being here, Sally! I needed to laugh!”
She took his hand. “You’re welcome. So, what’s the plan?”
He shook his head. “I have no plans. I’m still getting over the news. I held her dead body in my arms at least twice, Sally. I lit her cremation fire myself. How is this possible?”
“We’ll probably discover a logical explanation in the end.”
Ekbeth laughed again, shaking his head. “Logical explanation? Sally, we are talking of Kimiel here!”
She grinned. “Right. I almost forgot.”
“But you are right, Sarah-Lysliana. There must be some explanation.”
As’leandra appeared quietly behind him.
Damn!
“Don’t worry, Ekbeth! I was careful to enter the building in a proper human way. And look, human clothes and hidden hair. All checked!”
He realized she was indeed blending nicely into the surroundings. He offered her a seat. He was not surprised when Kalem, Najeb and Lyrian joined them soon after. He sighed. “Wait for me here. I think we would be better off going to Watanabe’s place and discussing this with everyone concerned. Can you let him know we are coming, Najeb? In the meantime, I’ll warn Annabel I am going to another meeting.”
*
