to do, carefully ate half of the rice, then returned the bowl. Its curve rested in her cupped hands, the weight of her future not so very heavy when measured in rice.
The other women had eaten and gotten up to laugh and talk with friends. Here no clans showered them with flower petals or set out a betrothal feast for the village. The Qin had no such customs, and the women had no family nearby to carry out the proper rites.
She could be the wife of an important man. She could expect to live in a substantial house, exert considerable influence over the settlement as it grew, and raise her children to positions of prominence.
Beyond the council benches, Mai smiled sadly. A few more soldiers had come, curious to see their chief catch himself a wife, but Jagi turned to walk away. A boy dashed up from the settlement, carrying an eating bowl covered with a warming lid. He said something to Jagi, then looked beyond the young soldier to see Avisha and Chief Tuvi sitting together. It was Jerad, of course, staring at her with a look of such accusation as he tugged on Jagi's sleeve to move him to Avisha. Jagi refused to budge.
Chief Tuvi followed her gaze with his own. 'He's a good lad, is Jagi. If he can work his way up through the ranks, then he has a hope of getting what he wants.'
But not before. Not if a man wielding more influence wanted it instead.
She thought of her father, braiding cord and rope day after day, year after year, investing the humble labor with something akin to prayer because he cared that his work itself be an offering.
She set the bowl down on the bench without eating.
Voices murmured, startled and speculating. Has the pretty clan-less girl turned down the chief? Impossible!
She hadn't thought the Qin could look surprised at anything. The chief's eyes widened as he looked at the bowl, her empty hands, and her face, which she knew was flaming. What if he was angry?
But he shrugged in good part, rose with the faintest of smiles, and left, scratching his chin as if trying to figure out where he had gone wrong.
Tears bloomed. She choked down a sob, felt it lodge in her heart. Was she simply too afraid to go through with it?
She had to cling to the one thing she knew: her father had been a good man, a gentle man, a kind man. He had treated her mother well. They had been fond of each other. He had treated Nallo with the same kindness, and even Nallo had found a bud of kindness in herself, not much of one, but her surly nature had tempered in the house, only to surface again in its full fury after his horrible death.
'Vish?' Jerad cantered up, all gangly legs and arms. Aui! He was growing! He shoved the covered bowl of rice into her hands, and snatched the half empty one off the bench. 'I knew you weren't that stupid!'
He bolted back to Jagi. Without really stopping, Jerad grabbed the man's sleeve and yanked, and tugged, and pulled, while the soldier stood blinking like he'd been blinded by the sun and could not quite make out what was going on right in front of his eyes.
Someone laughed.
Abruptly, Jagi shook free of Jerad, took two steps, then thrust the riding whip into the boy's hand and strode the rest of the way. Not smiling, not today. He plopped heavily down on the bench next to Avisha. He seemed about to say something, but then he let out all his breath as he fixed his gaze on the distant mountains. He was blushing.
The bowl of rice Jerad had given her was still warm, because he had been thoughtful enough to bring it covered. Just as her father would have. She laid the cover aside and handed the bowl to Jagi, because if a man sat on the bench next to a woman, the woman had to offer.
Hands trembling, he carefully ate half, and gave the bowl back into her hands.
Any man might eat, but to seal the agreement, the woman must finish the rice.
Chief Tuvi had an important position. Jagi did not; he ranked among the youngest and least experienced of the Qin soldiers.
Chaji — before his awful death — had been the best-looking of the Qin, since he looked more like the Hundred folk than his comrades. The scars of a childhood disease pocked Jagi's round face; he could not be called a handsome man, but he had nice eyes and a sweet smile.
Keshad, of course, had a bold, bright, intense spirit. Having met him, she would never forget him. Did she regret that he was never meant for her?
Jagi shifted nervously on the bench, and looked at her. Not accusingly, but questioningly, as if to say: What will happen now?
After all, a kind man is best.
She raised the bowl, and ate the rest of the rice.
48
The Qin had set up their main militia training compound outside the city of Olossi, separate from the camps in the Barrens and at Storos-on-the-water. For Joss, the journey from Argent Hall to the substantial military camp was an easy one, up on a thermal and a long, long glide down. The local militiamen standing guard at the gates waved him through. The Qin guards allowed him entry past the inner palisade to the captain's office, a raised platform built of planks and covered by a canvas roof. Its inner and outer walls were tied up in a configuration that let through light and air while concealing the innermost chamber. Rather like the man himself, Joss reflected as he navigated the brief maze.
Anji was seated at a low writing desk with paper unrolled on the slanting desk, one hand holding the missive open while he mouthed words.
As Joss entered, Anji looked up and smiled. 'Sit, my friend. Let me finish, if you will. I have received a letter from my wife.'
'Are yon reading?'
'Is that so surprising?'
'Not in one of the Lantern's hierophants. Mai can write?'
'She can tally an accounts books. As for writing, I believe she may be learning the temple script. However, it is Priya who has written this to her dictation.'
'Priya? The slave?'
'She was a priest before she was taken captive. She is an educated woman.' His gaze drifted back to the page, and he smiled absently as if he could hear Mai's voice through the words. 'Heh. That pretty girl Mai took in. It seems Chief Tuvi attempted to marry her, but she turned him down and chose one of the tailmen instead.'
'A good-looking one? The young are enamored of looks.'
Anji glanced up. 'Not only the young.'
'I'm hit!' Joss staggered, a hand clapped over his heart.
Anji laughed. 'Sit. Since you came yourself, your message must be important. Let me just…' His voice trailed off as his gaze tracked lines from top to bottom. The smile drifted back.
Joss settled himself on one of the pillows. With Mai in the distant Barrens, he thought it likely that Anji had himself chosen the elegant furnishings: masterfully painted silk wall scrolls depicting lush green stands of pipe- brush, embroidered gold silk pillows, five vases filled with yellow and white flowers. The stubby legs of the desk had been lathed by a master into smooth curves. Was Anji's weakness that he loved beauty too well, starting with his wife? Hard to say. Certainly any man might stumble in the face of beauty, and desire yet more comforts. It was possible, and yet Mai herself possessed other qualities that made her formidable. Anji slept, it seemed, on a simple pallet on the floor, and a single ebony chest sufficed to hold his possessions.
'As news comes in that men in the Barrens settlement are finding wives, the men stationed here and at other postings become anxious, although I have given permission for a few to — how do you say it — sit on the bench. Have you ever married?'
Joss shrugged uncomfortably. 'It always seemed I was too occupied with reeve's work.'
Anji rolled up the letter and set it aside. 'What news?'
Joss mentally scrambled back through thoughts of his mother and aunties inquiring in their gently persistent
