Western Shore ac-3

by Juliet E. McKenna

  'I will be inviting Moni Redigal to extend her visit here.' Itrac twirled the coral and smiled at Olkai as the baby cooed.

  'I don't want you asking too much of yourself—' Kheda began.

  'We won't allow her to tire herself out, my lord.' Jevin spoke up from his place by the door.

  Kheda looked at the nursemaids and saw all three were united in determined agreement.

  'Satisfied?' Itrac queried dryly. She nodded at the green silkstone box Kheda had put on the table. 'What's that?'

  'Gifts for our daughters from the island of Gisaire.' He showed Itrac the pendants.

  'They're lovely.' Itrac smiled with delight before snapping her fingers on sudden recollection. 'Jevin, where's that offering from Sechel?'

  'Here, my lady.' The slave retrieved an unassuming roll of cloth tucked away behind an alabaster vase holding dried afital grasses.

  Kheda was startled to see a wholly different material wrapped within the cotton. 'Is that cloth of pearl?'

  'A length for each of your daughters, my lord.' The slave proudly displayed the shimmering fabric wrought of countless small pearls, each one pierced and invisibly woven together with fine links of silver wire.

  'So the Chazen folk that Janne Daish's people sheltered as they fled north from the invaders brought valuable craft

  secrets back with them.' Kheda smiled down at Sekni so that Itrac wouldn't see a qualm on his face.

  What will it mean for your future, little one, if fanne Daish becomes Chazen's outright enemy? Because I find I am bound more surely to your future with every passing day, and to your sister's. While your mother seems to need me less and less now she has you two to fill her days and her heart.

  The baby stared back, dark eyes solemn. Then her gaze fixed on the carved pendant dangling from Kheda's lingers and she charmed him with her pink, toothless smile.

  'I suppose I will owe her some recompense—' The warning cadence of a signal horn beyond the lagoon interrupted Itrac.

  Kheda got to his feet with relief mixed with apprehension. 'That must be the Ulla ships.'

  'Put that somewhere out of sight.' Itrac gestured to Jevin to roll up the priceless gift in its concealing cotton and beckoned to the nursemaids. 'Take Olkai and Sekni hack to their own apartment. It's too hot to take them into the sun.'

  'You're coming with me?' Kheda was a little surprised.

  'I am.' There was no sign of any weariness in Itrac as she handed her babies to their doting nurses. 'We'll begin as we mean to go on and that means not giving Ulla Safar or his wives any reason to think we're not wholly prepared to meet them.' She kissed each tiny girl and stood patiently while Jevin repaired some invisible smudge to her lips with a deft finger. 'I wonder what gift they will be offering our daughters.'

  Kheda offered Itrac his arm. 'That will certainly be a significant sign.'

  Never mind the empty symbolism of the gift; I'll want to read the intent behind it. I still don't know why Ulla Safar

  tried to have me killed. Custom forbids such open questions, especially when he took such pains to be sure he could deny all knowledge of the assault. I can't complain. That same custom is what keeps the other warlords in these reaches from asking me outright why I fled that chaotic night and left everyone thinking I was dead. But they want to know. Risala's web of informers hears their questions whispered on all the trading beaches.

  The warlord and lady walked out onto the raked path. The confusion of boats in the lagoon had cleared to leave a broad-beamed galley picking a careful path between the outcrops of coral. The square-rigged ochre sails on the three masts were furled in heavy swags and the vessel was in the hands of the oarsmen toiling unseen on her middle deck. The lithe Chazen triremes that had escorted the galley wheeled around in a flurry of foam and headed back out to deeper water.

  'The Yellow Serpent should return from the eastern sea lanes tomorrow.' Itrac glanced over her shoulder to Jevin, following a pace behind. 'Bring me the shipmaster's messages as soon as they're anchored.'

  'Yes, my lady.' The slave bowed obediently.

  My lady Itrac Chazen follows the tides of opinion these days as skilfully as her sister-wife Olkai ever did.

  A chill struck Kheda as he saw that a single-masted boat with a triangular sail had slipped between the two triremes. As the lesser vessel dutifully dipped the pennant signifying its right to travel these waters, he saw a golden-haired figure at the distant tiller. A cold grip tightened around his heart.

  What is Velindre doing sailing theReteul.? Where's Risala?

  'Which galley is that?' Itrac was concentrating on the Ulla domain's ship making its way towards an anchorage cut into the reef.

  'The Velvet Fowl.' Kheda dragged his wits back to more

  immediate concerns and frowned. 'I'd have expected them (o bring more than one ship.'

  Is this some insult? What do we do if Ulla Safar is openly selling his face against us? Can I strengthen ties with Redigal and Ritsem sufficiently to blunt his hatred? I need to know whatever Risalas learned of the moods in Ulla waters. I certainly don't want Velindre within a day's sail of my new daughters.

  The Velvet Fowl wallowed, ungainly, as her helmsman turned her stern to the anchorage. Deep within the ship, the pipe that governed the oarsmen could be heard. As the Ulla rowers eased the high-sided vessel close to the piles driven solidly into the coral, Chazen men threw ropes up to the crew on deck. The Velvet Fowl came to rest against the floating walkway with barely a" crunch of the bulbous lenders of woven sailer straw. Ridu immediately led a double column of Chazen swordsmen to line the landing stage with glittering steel as the fat-bellied vessel was securely tied to the dock.

  'My lord.' Itrac looked expectantly at him.

  Kheda was trying to see past the vast bulk but the Reteul had vanished as the comings and goings across the lagoon resumed. He forced a smile. 'My lady.'

  Arm in arm, they walked down the raked path and onto the immaculately swept planks of the dock. A knot of richly dressed women were descending the stair-like ladders fixed on either side of the great galley's stern. Their nervous expressions were at odds with their finery as they turned to curtsey to a grotesquely fat man making his ponderous way down to the landing stage. A sizeable contingent of armoured men waited up on deck, blank-faced as they surveyed the Chazen warriors.

  'Ulla Safar.' Kheda bowed, not acknowledging the unusual number of visiting swordsmen with so much as a glance.

  'Chazen Kheda, thank you for inviting us to your domain.' Ulla Safar's courtesy was perfunctory. Sweating profusely, he mopped his brow and long black beard with a white silken kerchief before tucking it into the heavy silver belt girdling his golden tunic. The fabric was richly embroidered with the dusky velvet fowl for which his galley was named. His sleeveless overmantle was finest transparent gossamer embroidered with the fire creeper such birds wove into their bowers deep in the forests cloaking the massive central island of the Ulla domain.

  'You and yours are most welcome, my lord,' Kheda assured him with pleasure.

  Safar looked suspiciously at him. His pale yellow-brown eyes were veined with red and half-hidden in the folds of fat disfiguring a once-handsome face. 'My wives are delighted to congratulate you on your safe delivery from the trials of childbed, my lady.' He spared the gaggle of women fawning around him a cursory gesture as he turned to Itrac. His smile turned to an open leer as he took in her decolletage. 'You're looking well, my dear.'

  Look all you like, you fat lecher, but lay a finger on my wife and jf Jevin will cut off your hand.

  'Indeed.' Mirrel Ulla advanced hastily, hands outstretched, silver and onyx bracelets bright against her ebony skin. Her brittle smile didn't reach eyes as blank and secretive as the dark gems studding the silver collar she wore. 'We are so glad to see you so obviously recovered.'

  Kheda bowed and made sure his eyes didn't stray to Mirre'ss generous bosom, seductively displayed by a dress of fine silvery gauze.

  That gown's more suited to a b
oudoir than a boat. What game are you playing now? Shall I let slip that I wouldn 't let my least-valued slave soil himself satisfying your lusts?

  'I have my household to thank for that,' Itrac replied with nicely calculated ruefulness. She turned to indicate a long roof. 'You will have the turtleshell pavilion—'

  Chay Ulla stepped forward. 'We trust your new daughters are consolation for all the bereavements you've borne so bravely these past few years.'

  Kheda cut her off smoothly. 'The new year reminds us above all else that life must go on, my lady.'

  Spiteful as always, Chay, but clumsier than you 're wont to be and you 're looking daggers at Mirrel, not Itrac.

  Itrac's composure was unshaken. 'Those gone from us are never wholly lost, not while we honour their memories.'

  'Indeed.' Dark-brown eyes clouded, Chay's smile took on the same fixity as Mirrel's. She twisted an unconscious linger among the ropes of striped golden agates hanging to her waist. The Ulla domain's second lady was taller (ban her sister-wife, her skin a warm brown against the gold silk of tunic and trousers that flattered her long bones uid solid build.

  What's going on? Chay's lost weight since we last had the dubious pleasure of Ulla company, and her slave's best efforts with the cosmetic brushes haven't hidden whatever strain is carving those new lines around her eyes.

  Kheda let his gaze slide to the nameless huddle of lesser wives and concubines behind Ulla Safar and caught glimpses of open apprehension. The women's body slaves were uniformly blank-faced, though Ulla Safar's massively muscled attendant glowered beneath the rim of his ruby-encrusted helm.

  'It is certainly a time to look to the future.' Ulla Safar smiled sweetly at Itrac before turning a look of honeyed malice on his own women.

  If Safar's malevolence is focused on his own household, does that mean the rest of us will escape it? Will Jevin catch

  hints dropped by the Ulla wives' body slaves? But he's bound to Itrac and besides, he won't be looking for things I need to know as warlord.

  'You must be tired after your voyage and the heat of the day is upon us,' Kheda said artlessly. 'My steward will show your retinue to your accommodations, if you would care to take some refreshment with my lady and myself.' He waved a hand to summon Beyau from the Chazen servants waiting beyond Ridu's honour guard.

  'My thanks.' Ulla Safar thrust his broad hands into his belt, spurning Chay and Mirrel who had both reached out fruitlessly to claim his arm.

  A signal horn sounded out beyond the reef and Beyau looked askance at Kheda. 'That's the Redigal ships, my lord.'

  'Then we must wait to greet our friend Coron.' Suddenly jovial, Ulla Safar turned around with an alacrity belying his bulk. 'I can suffer the sun for a little longer.' He turned an unexpected sneer on his wives. 'You all make yourselves scarce, and make yourselves presentable before you shame me any further.'

  'Show our guests to their accommodations.' Kheda nodded at Beyau. The steward was frozen with astonishment at the Ulla warlord's overt discourtesy to his women.

  'At once, my lord.' Beyau bowed low and departed with ill-concealed relief. The Ulla wives hurried after him like whipped children.

  Ridu caught Kheda's eye with a discreetly questioning look. The warlord answered with a minute jerk of his head and a contingent of the honour guard on the quay peeled off to follow the Ulla retinue. The rest waited for the Ulla warriors to disembark and an equal number detached themselves to escort the visitors to their temporary barracks.

  'I wonder which of Redigal Coron's wives will be accompanying him.' Kheda offered his arm to Itrac before smiling at Ulla Safar and leading the way towards the next anchorage along the reef where Chazen men were waiting, ready for the rapidly approaching Redigal galley. The two warlords strolled along the planks with every appearance of amity, Itrac gliding between them. Ridu and the remaining Chazen swordsmen followed behind. Kheda noted Ulla Safar mopping his brow again.

  I know it's hot but you're sweating more than I'd expect and if Chay has lost weight, you've gained it, my lord slug. Your body slave was watching your wives' slaves with more mistrust than Ridu was. How many discarded concubines has that faithful brute beaten to death for you?

  The remaining Chazen honour guard drew up with a rattle of armour to receive the new arrivals, the thud of their feet making the landing stage tremble. Everyone stood in silence as the galley drew closer.

  The Redigal warlord was standing by the stern rails, broad-shouldered and long-legged, a head taller than any other man on deck. While Coron was Kheda's elder by nearly ten years, hair and beard now more grey than black, his dark skin gleamed with health. He moved with the vigour of a man in his prime as he came down the stern ladder as soon as the ropes were secure.

  'Chazen Kheda, we're delighted to join you in reading this new year's auspices.' He held out both hands, topaz and amethysts shining around his wrists and in his rings.

  Kheda matched Coron's firm grip. 'You honour us with vour presence.'

  'My dear!' Moni Redigal slipped past her lord and embraced Itrac with due consideration for the finery they both wore. The silk of her gown was precisely the shade of her husband's topaz, the colour flattering a complexion paler than any Kheda had ever seen other than on a

  barbarian slave. Sparkling filigree adorned her wrists and the tight curls of her distinctive russet hair. Her necklace was a web of gold dotted with garnets and diamonds.

  'Elio, Hinai, it's so good to see you.' Itrac's smile took in Redigal Coron's other wives, resplendent respectively in emerald and sapphire silk and jewellery. Both were pretty rather than beautiful, with the long black hair, warm brown complexion and light-boned build common among the seafaring islanders of the Archipelago's southern reaches.

  'And you, my dear.' Elio held out her hands to take Itrac's with evident affection.

  You all look a great deal happier than Ulla Safar and his wretched women.

  'Chazen Kheda, you'll remember my son and heir, Redigal Litai.' Redigal Coron beckoned to a youth who was making a creditable effort at matching the poise of his elders.

  'Now of an age of discretion.' Kheda smiled warmly at the boy.

  He was born halfa year before Mesil, so he's into his fifteenth year. Does Mesil have a beard shadowing his jaw now too?

  'Ready to begin learning how to rule wisely and well.' Coron laid an encouraging hand on his son's shoulder.

  Ulla Safar cleared his throat with a hint of displeasure at being overlooked thus far. 'It's good to see you, Coron.'

  'Ulla Safar.' The curtness of Coron's tone and the briefness of his bow were equally insulting. 'You haven't brought Ulla Orhan to share this joyous occasion?'

  'My son is indisposed.' Safar bit off the words, sensuous lips thinning.

  'I am sorry to hear it.' Itrac stepped into the awkward moment with a tranquil smile. 'Coron, our steward is attending to the Safar retinue. As soon as he's free, he'll

  make your people comfortable. In the meantime, shall we retire to my pavilion for refreshment?'

  'That would be most welcome.' For Itrac, Redigal Coron was all courtesy.

  Kheda took the opportunity to look beyond the warlord, his wives and their faithful slaves. Chazen servants were busily unloading all the chests and coffers that held everything necessary to keep the Redigal nobles richly dressed and perfectly groomed throughout their stay.

  But where are thezamorin who've attended Coron so assiduously since before his father died?

  Kheda realised that Ulla Safar was also looking for those plump, smooth-skinned counsellors. Unguarded anger twisted Safar's heavy features as he glanced at the tall, well-muscled slave at Coron's shoulder. Redigal Coron's man was watching the thick-bodied brute shadowing Safar warily.

  Coron has a new body slave and he's clean-shaven. Does that make him a lover of men or a castrate? Either way, he's certainly not another blunt-witted swordsman like those the faithfulzamorin counsellors always foisted on Coron and replaced so frequently. This day is full of pu
zzles.

  'I see you've only bought the one galley,' Ulla Safar commented brusquely.

  Kheda smiled deprecatingly at Coron. 'Chazen is a small domain, but we could have accommodated more than one of your ships.'

  'We set out with a second vessel.' The Redigal warlord shook his head with transparently spurious sorrow. 'It foundered as we crossed the deep channel north of Ocal.'

  'That's a tragedy, my lord.' Kheda allowed some of the shock he felt to show on his face.

  'Your family are all safe?' Wide-eyed, Itrac looked at the Redigal wives for confirmation.

  Moni Redigal nodded, unconcerned. 'We left the other children at home with our sister-wife Uva.'

  'We look forward to the day when our daughters can become friends with yours.' Hinai Redigal seemed equally untroubled by the calamity.

  'All your counsellors were lost?' Kheda took pains not to notice that Chazen's curious slaves and servants had given up any pretence of being busy about their duties.

  With these eager ears on every side, this news will travel the domains faster than froth on the tide. How will you want this omen read, Coron?

  'What of that galley's oarsmen?' Ulla Safar held Redigal Coron's eyes with a challenge just short of accusation.

  Coron looked levelly back. 'As soon as we saw the ship was in trouble, we sounded our signal horns. Boats from the closest islands took almost all of the mariners from the water.'

  'Yet none of your counsellors lived?' Itrac asked artlessly.

  'The stars and choices that had brought them to that day decreed otherwise.' Coron gave a perfunctory shake of his head.

  'A sad loss,' Kheda managed to say.

  If the mariners were all rescued, the Redigal islanders must have left thezamorin to drown. They wouldn't have done that unless they were forewarned. What can have driven Coron to rid himself of his lifelong counsellors so ruthlessly?

  'It's too hot out here.' Ulla Safar was mopping his brow again, the white silk kerchief obscuring his face. He lowered his kerchief and addressed Itrac with scant politeness. 'My lady, you offered us refreshment—'