“Korval perfectly comprehends Mizel's natural wish to guard the well-being of one of its precious children. Further, it is Korval's wish, as of course it is Mizel's, that there be no coercion or threat brought to any of the principals of these talks. Pilot Caylon will therefore remove from Jelaza Kazone—”
“No,” she whispered, her fingers tightening on his, but he went on as if he had not heard her.
“She will remove from Jelaza Kazone, to Trealla Fantrol. If that discomforts Mizel, then to Glavda Empri. If yo'Lanna finds no favor with Mizel, then Pilot Caylon will go to Healer Hall in Chonselta City, remanded to the specific care of Master Healer Kestra. In no case will Pilot Caylon be a prisoner, held to her rooms, or forbidden to have visitors. She will be free to go about her business, honoring her appointments and her social engagements as an adult and fully responsible person.”
“I will see it done, your lordship.”
“Thank you, Mr. dea'Gauss,” Daav murmured. “Aelliana?”
“The price of a nadelm,” she murmured. “It's blood money. For Ran Eld.”
There was a startled silence. Mr. dea'Gauss spoke first.
“Are you certain, my lady? It was told to me that Mizel named you as nadelm.”
“She did not,” Aelliana said, daring to take her hands away from Daav's and approaching the table.
Daav slipped a hand under her elbow and helped her regain her seat before taking his own. He and the accountant shared a troubled glance.
“If—that is a dangerous precedent,” Mr. dea'Gauss said slowly. “It imperils the future negotiations of all, and muddles the lines between restitution made in Balance of a death, and the price paid to adopt a member of one clan into the ranks of another. As a Master of the Accountants Guild, I—forgive me, your lordship—I cannot allow that precedent to be set.”
“I understand entirely, Mr. dea'Gauss, and I would not ask it of you.” Daav sighed.
“Thank you, your lordship.” He sighed, and leaned back in his chair, pushing the notepad aside.
“Mizel's qe'andra allows me to know that Mizel will deal in earnest when Korval's good intentions are shown.”
Aelliana swallowed. “I must remove from our house before Mizel will begin to talk?”
“That is the essence, my lady.”
Aelliana closed her eyes.
“What do they have to gain?” she whispered.
Mr. dea'Gauss cleared his throat.
“If I may venture a guess . . . I believe that it may be that news of the attachment between yourself and his lordship has come to Mizel's ears.”
“They hope that separation will disorder us,” Daav said. “Thus we will not negotiate as well or as carefully as we should, and Mizel will achieve an advantage.”
Mr. dea'Gauss inclined his head. “That is my belief, yes.”
“Well, then.” Daav put his hand over hers on the table. “We depend upon you to keep us careful, Mr. dea'Gauss, and to guard us from all harm.”
Back | Next
Contents
Liaden 11 - Mouse and Dragon
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The guest is sacrosanct. The welfare and comfort of the guest will be first among the priorities of the House, for so long as the guest shall bide.
—Excerpted from the Liaden Code of Proper Conduct
Of course, Mizel had chosen the Healers. Aelliana supposed she ought to be relieved, that they had chosen at all.
She flew The Luck to Chonselta solo, and even on so short a lift bitterly felt the lack of his calm, solid presence in the other chair. But it would not have done, Mizel's further condition being that she should have no congress with Daav yos'Phelium. If they were chance met, as say, at Kareen yos'Phelium's formal gather, some weeks from now, they were to bow with appropriate courtesy and separate themselves as quickly as possible.
And it would not have been any easier, Aelliana thought, sealing The Luck and walking down the gantry with her bag over one shoulder, to leave him at Chonselta Port than it had been to leave him—at home.
“Three days, at most,” he had murmured into her hair, as they embraced for what she would not think of as the last time. “Now that this is begun, it should end quickly. I'll wager you'll be back home well before Kareen's gather, and will not have the occasion to impose upon Lady yo'Lanna after all.”
Aelliana smiled slightly as she came to the ground and walked on in the direction of the main thoroughfare. Lady yo'Lanna had immediately fallen in with the suggestion that Aelliana's dress be delivered to Glavda Empri, with Eyla dea'Lorn, too. Aelliana would then take herself there for dressing. “For,” Daav had said, with great common sense, “you would not want to crush your skirts in the pilot's chair.”
She came out of the yard into a side street. Ahead, the sign for a taxi stand glowed gently against the afternoon light.
