The Complete Ivory

by Doris Egan

  Jusik rolled the pen back and forth on the table. As he switched from his right hand to his left, I saw that the new hand was shaking. His voice was clear and direct, though; he said, "We may consider you've given me that option, like a gentleman, sir; now let's sit and talk, all of us."

  I was already sorry we'd come. At the same time I had a conflicting desire to see everything out in the open, to see what people would say about it; an Athenan desire.

  An Athenan desire with Ivoran consequences. Next time think about it a little longer, Theodora.

  We sat. There was a knock at the door.

  "Enter," said Jusik.

  It wasn't the steward. It was Auntie Jace, white-faced, and she scurried in as though she feared someone would stop her. She knelt and bowed to Jusik with an alacrity I could envy even at my age. "Lord Porath, I hope my service has been satisfactory—I've been with your family for sixteen years now—I've never thought of anyone else, never lived for anything else—"

  "Yes; yes." He softened his tone slightly. "Nobody has any complaint about you, Auntie. This matter doesn't concern you at all."

  "No, yes, I know—that is to say, I beg to be allowed to stay. Please, noble sir. I've never asked any personal favors before."

  Lord Porath looked as though he might debate that, but after a slight hesitation, he said, "Why not? Everyone else is here. Why pretend you can get the wine back in the bottle after it's been spilled? Sit down, Auntie, find yourself a seat."

  She took a place at once, at the far perimeter of the cushions, as though if she weren't noticed she couldn't be thrown out. Her bright, birdlike eyes went back and forth, taking us all in.

  "And now, gracious sir," said Jusik, turning to my husband, "perhaps you will enlarge on that topic we discussed during your Net call. The topic of my family's involvement in the death of my son."

  Eliana, Coalis, Leel Canerol, and Auntie Jace—four heads swiveled as one to stare at Ran.

  He cleared his throat. "Loden Broca, the actual agent who paid a hired sorcerer to dispose of Kade, is dead. But before he died, he went through the sorcerer's house in a search for incriminating evidence. Now, not many people knew where the sorcerer lived, or knew that the Cormal-lons had just been informed of the address. But Loden knew." He hesitated. "Coalis also knew."

  Coalis froze. But his father did not rise up, grab a whip, and beat him to death. Jusik merely raised an eyebrow. "Is this an accusation? A case of treason within my House is a serious charge, far more serious than murder."

  "Uh, not quite. You see, Eliana would also have known. At least, your two children seem fairly well informed of each other's activities." Those activities you are so carefully not included in, Lord Porath.

  Eliana went as white as her robe. "Father," she began, horrified.

  "Shush, Eli. Let's allow the gentleman to finish."

  Ran inclined his head to acknowledge this courtesy. "The lady Eliana could very well have overheard Coalis' talk with… whoever informed him about the address."

  Jusik's gaze went to spear Coalis. His son said, "Stereth Tar'krim mentioned it to me."

  "I thought I told you not to keep company with that lowlife—" began his father. Jusik cut himself off. "But we'll discuss that later. I hope it will not be eclipsed by any worse matters you may be involved in."

  Coalis swallowed hard, but said nothing.

  I'd have felt a lot better if these things were being presented to a court of law on Athena rather than to the tender mercies of their natural parent.

  Ran said, "Theodora, perhaps you should take over here. You noted the relevant points for us."

  No, no, no… that's your job, Ran. The gazes all swung to me.

  "Uh," I said. My mind went totally blank.

  I felt Ran's hand touch mine beneath the folds of our outerrobes. "The IOUs," he prompted.

  "Yes. The IOUs." I swallowed. "I overheard Loden and his friend say that it was Loden's girlfriend who sent him to sweep up the evidence. Loden told me straight-out earlier that he'd had a fight with his girlfriend—at the time I thought he meant the tootsie in his lap, but—uh, in any case, from the timing, the argument could have been on that very matter. The IOUs. She was probably having trouble getting him to do the intelligent thing. Uh, she's probably somewhat brighter than Loden was." Like the majority of people in the capital. "But as soon as she got the address, she called him and told him to get out to the hut and burn the IOUs. And then she called and invited me to tah and cards so I'd be occupied for most of the day." The invitation didn't come till that morning, after Stereth's message.

  "Father," said Eliana.

  He held up his hand. "Continue, gracious lady."

  "Well, we don't have any hard evidence." And this isn't a court of law.

  He said, "Are you saying my daughter would profit by her brother's death? Frankly, I can't even see how Broca would come out ahead."

  I looked at Coalis, who went blank. What a family. Evidently Jusik still didn't know about Kade's profession. I said, slowly, "I believe Kade was good enough to lend Loden some money."

  Jusik snorted. "I fail to see where he got it from, if he did. Look around you; you see how we live."

  Coalis spoke up, in self-defense. "Father, Kade did mention something to me about loaning some money to a security guard."

  Jusik looked at him in surprise. He didn't ask why Kade had shared this information with his brother, and not his father; apparently he was used to being left out of his family's information loop. He scared them too much. "Very well, son, I take your word for it. But this still doesn't give Eliana any motive." He smiled at his daughter. "Her life is as pleasant as those who love her can make it. She would not profit by alteration."

  Right. I said nothing. Jusik waited, then said, "Gracious lady? You see my point. I prefer to believe that you and your husband have simply not thought this through logically, rather than that you harbor some grudge against my House. Although there are those who might feel that, after half-destroying my family through one death, you seek to put the survivors in disarray—"

  "We think they were lovers," I said.

  He pulled up short. "I beg your pardon?"

  "Loden and Eliana. In bed. Lovers." —What word didn't you understand? —Shut up. Jusik was turning a fascinating shade of violet.

  "First of all," he began, forcing the words past some obstruction in his throat, "my daughter is constantly chaperoned, by not one but two respectable women. She would have no opportunity for the kind of behavior you describe. Though considering the sort of society you must be accustomed to, I suppose it's understandable you would not grasp that."

  "Noble sir… it's been brought forcefully home to me, very recently, that elegant young ladies with constant chap-erones can find opportunities for gaining worldly experience should they wish to. At least, the intelligent and discreet among them can; and I think Eliana is fairly intelligent, and fairly discreet." Her dark eyes were fastened on me. I forced myself to look at Jusik, so I could continue talking normally. "In the case of your daughter, the connivance of at least one of her chaperones is all that would be necessary. All we really need is the opportunity for the two to meet and get to know each other. Loden was here often enough, your House employed the Mercia group before— and I have reason to believe that Loden was very… well-equipped when it came to attracting women. I'm sure the options presented by an alliance with a young lady of the Six Families wouldn't escape even him. He would have gone out of his way with your daughter."

  He would have, too. The more I thought about it, the more I couldn't imagine him not going out of his way. It seemed so obvious, in hindsight. Self-interest was the only thing that got Loden's intellect racing.

  Jusik's neck was still the color of a summer sunset. He growled, "Meeting and exchanging a few words, as youngsters will, is hardly the same thing as being lovers. The only door in this house is on the entrance to this very room; the opportunity simply did not exist."

  "Oh, I'm sure
there were a number of chances. The very night I had the honor of staying with you in this house," I'd almost called it "The Night of Cats."

  "I spent the early morning hours asleep on the chaise on your central porch. Auntie Jace was very unhappy to see me there. At the time, I thought she was overly touchy, but I realize now that she didn't want me to be so close to the entrance when she returned from having collected Eliana from the gatehouse. Where she had most likely spent the night with Loden Broca."

  Auntie cried, "A disgusting lie! And only what one could expect from a barbarian! Lord Porath, you're too generous with these people, letting them into your house—"

  "Auntie, please. I take it you deny these charges."

  "I certainly do! I wasn't even near the gatehouse!" I said, "I saw you well down the length of the garden, heading that way. What else is in that direction?"

  "I don't recall going there, but if I did it was only to offer a cup of tah to whoever was on duty!"

  "You weren't carrying any tah with you."

  "I would have sent a kitchenmaid! Lord Porath, won't you protect me from this slander?"

  He looked thoughtful. Her sudden change of course in mid-story had not been to her benefit. But he merely said, "Lady Theodora, you saw my daughter return to the house that morning?"

  "No. I was asleep by then."

  "Then you have no proof of this fantasy."

  "Perhaps not. But it would be interesting to use your influence to get a look at the Mercian group's log for that night. I'll bet Loden Broca was in the gatehouse."

  A silence descended on the group with that suggestion. Finally Lord Porath said, "I will do so. Eliana, have you anything to say?"

  Her face lifted, paler than the creamy color young ladies who aspire to fragile flowerdom generally paint there. "I rely on your protection, Father."

  He glanced at Leel Canerol, who said slowly, "While your daughter was with me, she did nothing that you would find inappropriate."

  A careful choice of words. How much did the lanky fighter know?

  Jusik glanced at Auntie Jace again, causing her to actually flinch. He was about to speak when he stopped and shook his head. An indulgent smile forced its way over his lips. "No. This is simply out of character. My child is sheltered, young, exposed to only the best and most proper things. It's simply inconceivable that she could be involved in anything of this sort. I'm sorry. For one thing, she wouldn't have the vaguest idea what to do—even if the thought of murder could enter her head, which I can't believe."

  Ran said, "She's fairly experienced for her age." I turned to him in surprise. Ran had spent a couple of hours on the Net just before we came over, and I'd had no chance to ask him about it, but I hadn't been expecting any great surprises.

  He went on, "My gracious wife informed me that a couple of confederates, whom Loden didn't recognize, were asked to make an apparent attempt on his life in a gambling hall. A show for our benefit, to drive home his role as victim. Not a bad idea, in fact; I don't doubt it was his lover's, and she showed the good sense not to warn Loden in advance." He actually smiled. "She couldn't know we would have a bodyguard, or that he would involve himself so enthusiastically." The smile disappeared. "The confederates were well-dressed and wore jewelry beyond what most people in the capital could afford to own. The lady Theodora has a scholarly mind; her description of a bracelet was quite exact." He paused for emphasis. "It belongs to Kas Sakri, a well-known player of the game of murder within the Six Families. No doubt they were doing a favor for— an ally? An opponent? A fellow player, at any rate."

  Jusik had the appearance of a man who's dodged too many flying missiles. He said, "My son Coalis was briefly involved in that nonsense when he was younger. I put a stop to it. Son, have you been—"

  "I haven't, Father, I swear!"

  "He hasn't," agreed Ran. "I made inquiries. But EHana is a well-known novice player."

  "Females simply do not play!" Jusik thundered.

  "She's acted as an accomplice in the murder scenarios of at least two friends. It's true, I haven't yet discovered a game where she was the chief player. But heaven knows she must have observed enough."

  Jusik was silent. Ran said, "All this can be easily checked."

  Coalis spoke up. "Father, even if it's true, it doesn't mean—"

  The paternal glare swiveled toward him. "How much do you know about this?"

  "Me?" The voice was a squeak. "Nothing, sir! Nothing at all."

  "I doubt he knew about the murder, anyway," put in Ran helpfully.

  Jusik turned to Auntie Jace, who looked as though an anxiety attack was not far away. He said, "Auntie, I've relied on your discretion for years. You haven't failed me. I must warn you, if you've been involved in any twilight dealings now, you'd best say so; for I promise you, if I find out later the tiniest part of this is true, there'll be no mercy for you."

  His tone of voice was scary even to me. It must have been much worse for someone dependent on his good will. She looked horrified.

  "No mercy whatsoever," he added.

  She began to make a wheezing sound, as though she were trying to get air. She started to rock back and forth, gasping.

  "Auntie's not well," said Eliana, accusingly. "These two have made her ill, Father." She crossed to Auntie Jace's pillow and put her arms around her chaperone's shoulders. "Let me get her to her room—"

  "Stand away, Eliana," said her father.

  Looking startled, she let go. "Get hold of yourself, Auntie," said Jusik sternly. "Breathe slowly. Slowly. In and out. There now, just calm down, and if you have anything to say—say it now."

  She gasped some more, then cried, "It wasn't my fault, Lord Porath! I tried to talk her out of it!" Gasp, gasp. "But she's all grown up now, she won't listen to me!" Gasp, gasp. "No, she has a defensive chaperone now! What can I do to make her behave? I have no authority! I'm just, I'm just a retainer!" She burst into tears, her gasps becoming louder. "I brought her up, and now I'm nobody!" She buried her face in her hands. "You can't blame me. It's not fair!"

  Eliana's lips were pursed, and a disgusted look was on her face; her neck was angled back, as though to put more distance between her and Auntie. She gazed at her chaper-one with a kind of fascinated repulsion. Finally she turned toward her father.

  Jusik's face had lost all expression. "Speak, daughter. Speak now. If the Mercian log confirms that Broca was in the gatehouse—"

  "No doubt it will," she said. "But this one—" She cocked a head toward Auntie Jace—"is showing her usual backbone. She pushed and prodded and encouraged all the way. If I believed the sordid version these people tell, I'd think Loden bribed her to introduce us, that's how enthusiastic she was. Full of stories about court ladies and secret lovers—"

  Auntie Jace started to wail. Clearly she would've denied it if she were still capable of speech.

  "You admit to treason against your House," Jusik said tiredly.

  "What treason?" she inquired with scorn. "Loden and I were married.''''

  Ran and I looked at each other, startled.

  She said, "I acted for the House of Broca. We all know that legally, when a woman marries, her obligation passes to her new family."

  Jusik seemed just as surprised. He addressed Auntie: "Is this true?"

  She nodded vigorously, her head still buried, her shoulders shaking.

  "Great bumbling gods! When did you have time to exchange the marriage cakes? How long did you know this piece of garbage, anyway?"

  "I won't listen to you talk about my husband that way."

  "House of Broca, indeed! Who ever heard of the Brocas? A two-kembit guard, who had to borrow money from— wait a minute! Did Kade know you two were married?"

  "Of course not. Why would he have wanted me to marry Shikron if he knew?"

  Jusik paid no attention to this flippant contradiction on the part of his daughter. He said, "Did Coalis know?"

  Coalis looked up, guilty knowledge blazoned across his face. "Certainly not!"<
br />
  She said, quietly, "I never told Coalis. I never told anybody."

  I could imagine Leel Canerol breathing a sigh of relief at that. It's not only his offspring that a First Ranked of the Six Families has the right to kill.

  Jusik said, grasping for understanding, "I can't believe you would help to kill your own brother to settle a debt for this guardsman trash—"

  "I had to stop the marriage arrangements," she said defiantly. Under her breath, I heard her add, "and Kade was no great piece of work, either."

  Truthfully, I liked her for that addition. Naked honesty has always excited my admiration, apparently even in owning up to hatred and murder. What splendid self-possession for an eighteen-year-old, I thought. And what a pathetic view of her unworthy husband, what eighteen-year-old dreams of romance. Court ladies. Oh, gods protect us.

  In a way I envied her, though. I'd had no romantic illusions at all at eighteen; the ones I had now had bloomed late, and took constant watering. If I'd never met Ran, I doubted I would have had them at all.

  Jusik said, heavily, "So be it."

  Coalis leaned forward, looking alarmed. "Just a minute, Father. We probably don't have the whole story—"

  "Be silent." Coalis subsided, his eyes scared. So much for our na' telleth monk, removed from caring. Jusik said, "For the death of your brother, the First Son of our House—"

  He hesitated. Eliana still knelt in the center, not far from Auntie Jace, with her back straight and her head raised. A Guinevere at the tribunal. And not an Arthur or Lancelot in sight.

  "—You say you are no longer of Porath. So be it. Leave here now, never come back. Don't stop in your room for clothes or jewelry—"

  "Father, please," said Coalis. "She can't live! She can't possibly live! How will she survive?"

  "She's of the 'House of Broca,' " he said coldly. "Let the Brocas care for her. If they choose to. And if she can find them."

  Eliana stood up, trembling slightly, from fear or anger or both. She still displayed that self-possession drilled into her from childhood: The discipline of a warrior on the inside, to make a fragile flower…