'No,' said Mai.
Her breathing caught in her chest as she fought to expel the fury that rose like a haze. All she could feel was the pressure of the carpet's dense weave pressing up against her bare soles, and the faintly oily taste of air flavored by flames that consumed the reservoirs of lamps.
Voices rose angrily outside. The curtain was swept aside, and Anji strode into the room.
'Hu! Hot in here.'
His voice pretended at evenness, but he was furious: his boots were still on, his gloves were still on. He never came into their
intimate chamber dressed for riding; he had far better manners than that. He was tapping his riding whip against his thigh as though better that than a vicious slash across the face.
'I received a message, Honored Mother, saying you had urgent trouble that warranted my immediate attention. Yet when I went up to the house, I was told to cool my heels while you were roused. Time passed as I waited with obedient patience. At length, I realized I had been outflanked. Now I am here.'
Mai wanted desperately to call him over, to flaunt him standing beside her, supporting her, protecting the baby, but she did not move or speak. To call so obviously for his aid in front of his mother would betray weakness, and that of all things she refused to show.
'I am ready to depart,' said his mother without the slightest hint of discomfort. 'Yet if you will, might an attendant guide me to a private corner for I have some necessary business I must urgently complete before the walk back up to the house. If you will be so kind, Son.'
Besides Mai, there were only two other females in the chamber, Priya with her disapproving frown and Sheyshi in the corner.
'You,' said Anji's mother, pointing at Sheyshi.
Priya said, 'Mistress, I will go-'
'I am not useless!' cried Sheyshi indignantly. 'This way, verea.'
'To a slave such as you,' snapped Anji's mother, 'I am addressed as 'Most High.''
'Sheyshi is not a slave,' said Mai.
But Sheyshi picked up a lamp and scuttled outside. Once both women were outside on the porch, Sheyshi shut the doors behind them.
Mai heard her speak in her clumsy way, 'Here is the waste bucket, Most High.'
'Not here, you stupid girl! A place with some privacy!'
Off they clattered into the depths of the inner courtyard.
'Out,' said Anji to his mother's slaves, and they retreated so quickly Mai would have laughed, if she could have laughed. Chief Tuvi came in, looking as disheveled as if he'd been sleeping. Anji marked Priya and O'eki. 'Tomorrow I depart by eagle for Olossi. The ships with the oil of naya and the new cohort of Qin soldiers will follow. As for you, plum blossom, my heart, my own, you will go to Merciful Valley. It is the only place I can know you will be safe from the dagger, or from poison. These are the preferred
methods of the women's palace in Sirniaka. It's like a sport for these women. They have nothing else to do.'
'She said that she would never harm Atani-'
'Of course my mother would never harm my son. You'll take Miravia.'
'Keshad should go with O'eki back to Olossi to see to the business.'
'That's fine. You only need your personal attendants. Chief Tuvi and your usual guards. Reeve Miyara and Siras — a few others — can fly in supplies. I'll assign a specific group, and the chief will have standing orders to kill anyone else who attempts to land. You will see no one until I have returned.'
'But, Anji-'
'I can only fight one war at a time.'
'Will you marry the emperor's sister?'
'You are my wife.'
'Are you only saying that because you're angry at your mother?'
'No.'
Chief Tuvi snorted, raising his gaze to the ceiling.
Anji shrugged. 'Perhaps.'
'Wouldn't it be prudent to seal a contract with your cousins?' Mai said. 'To marry their sister?'
'I must fight this war in the north. And since I must fight, I must know you are safe. The rest can be discussed afterward.'
Footsteps stamped outside. The distinctive sound of a slap, hand meeting cheek, cracked. One of the doors was wrenched sideways to slam against the frame. Sheyshi stood sniveling on the steps, a hand on her reddening cheek where the old bitch had struck her.
'What a stupid girl!' said Anji's mother as she swept in. 'What useless doors!' She did not look at Mai. 'You will escort me to my dwelling place, Son.'
'I will let you make your own way within the considerable security of your impressive entourage to my wife's house in which you are temporarily lodged. If you must entertain yourself, I suggest you set yourself to discovering the extent and competence of the spies set in this town by the Hieros who sits in authority over the temple of the Merciless One. Surely you can outwit an elderly priestess from a land as provincial as you must believe this place to be.'
He pushed the curtain aside with the riding whip and gestured.
Head held high, his mother departed from the chamber; he followed her out.
Mai's face was burning, as if the scorching heat of Anji's tone had scalded her as well. It was better to move than to think. 'Sheyshi, come inside. Here's some water to wash your face. Was she quite rude to you?' She wrung out a linen cloth and offered it to Sheyshi, even dabbed her cheeks as she sniffled.
'I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble, Mistress.'
'Do not cry, Sheyshi. There is kama juice in the kitchens.'
The curtain stirred. Anji had returned, this time without boots.
'Sheyshi,' said Priya. 'Let's go to the kitchens. Come along.'
The chamber cleared, leaving Mai with Anji.
He had the ability to stand still, not restless at all; his self-control was impressive and a bit disconcerting. Had he ever worshiped at Ushara's temple? Somehow she could not see him relaxing in a garden that belonged to someone else. Probably she was just being naive.
'What are yoit thinking, Mai?' he asked in a low voice. 'There is a piece of you that you always hold apart.'
She licked dry lips, thinking of his mother's words.
Sheh! She would not let that woman's poison do harm!
'Tomorrow you will ride to war because you must, and I will hide, because you say I must.'
'Mai-'
'I do not object to your concern. Atani and I will go, as you wish, to keep you easy in your heart so you can think only of the battle you must win.' She approached him, and it was odd to note how he reacted with each step bringing her closer: his breathing quickened, his body tensed, he began to cant toward her. But he let her come to him. 'Because you must win this battle. So.'
She rested her palms against his chest and gazed into his eyes, which were measuring her, as always.
'Mai-'
She touched a finger to his lips, silencing him.
He might die. So might anyone die. No one could draw breath as they woke in the morning knowing for sure they would still be alive at day's end.
You could only know you were alive now, in this moment.
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