and listened to conversations between important people, quarrels between servants, and romantic exchanges between secret lovers. She knew all the gossip of the city - and the truth as well.
Reaching the wooden door, Imi listened for voices then pushed through. She hurried to the pipe she knew came from the king’s audience chamber and pressed her ear to the opening.
“... of the benefits of trade. The art I see here in this room, the jewelry you wear, tell me you have talented artisans here. These artisans could make goods to sell outside Borra. In exchange you might enjoy some of the luxuries of my people, like the beautiful cloth produced in Genria that sparkles like stars, or the bright red firestones of Toren.”
The voice was a woman’s and was strangely accented. She spoke slowly and haltingly, as though searching for and considering every word. Imi caught her breath at the description of sparkling cloth and burning stones. They sounded marvellous, and she hoped her father would buy some.
“There is also a world of spices, herbs and exotic foods that you might like to try, and I know there are people in the north who would pay a fortune for the opportunity to try new flavors and produce from Borra. Do not think we have only luxuries to trade. My people have many cures effective in treating all kinds of diseases, and I would not be surprised to discover that you have cures we have never encountered. There is much that we could exchange, Lord.”
“Yes, we have.” Imi felt her heartbeat quicken as she heard her father’s voice. “It is a fair speech you make, but we have heard it before. Landwalkers once came here claiming that they wished only to trade with us. They stole from us instead, taking sacred objects from this very room. We hunted them down and retrieved our property, and swore never to trust landwalkers again. Why should we break that vow and trust you?”
“I understand your anger and caution,” the woman said. “I would do the same if I had been betrayed in such a manner. I would urge you to retain that caution if you were to open your doors to traders. They are not always the most honest of people. But I am no trader. I am a high priestess of the gods. One of the five chosen to represent them in this world. I cannot stop duplicity in this world any more than you can, but I can work to prevent it, or make certain it is punished. An alliance with us would include an agreement of mutual defense. We would help you protect your lands from invaders, if you would agree to help us in return.”
“What help could we possibly offer you, a sorceress of great strength, in command of great armies of landwalkers?”
“Whatever help you could give, Lord,” she answered calmly. “The Siyee have just made such an agreement with us. They may not be large or strong in body, but there are many ways they can help us.”
Silence followed. Imi could hear her father clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, as he always did when thinking hard.
“If you are what you say you are,” he said suddenly, “then you should be able to summon Huan now. Do that, so that I may ask her if you speak the truth.”
The woman made a small noise like a smothered laugh. “I may be one of her representatives, but that doesn’t give me the right to order a god around.” She paused, and her voice became so quiet that Imi could barely hear her. “I have spoken to her of your people recently, however. She said this was for you to decide. She would not interfere.”
Another silence followed.
“You know this already, don’t you?” she added in a tone of mild surprise.
“The goddess has said as much to our priests,” the king admitted. “We are to decide this ourselves. I see it as a sign that she trusts my judgment.”
“It would appear so,” the woman agreed.
“My judgment is this: I do not know enough about you, landwalker. I see no reason why we should risk our lives for the sake of a few trinkets. Your offer of protection is tempting, as I’m sure you know it is, but how can you defend us when you live on the other side of the continent?”
“We will find these raiders and deal with them,” the woman replied. “Any other threat can be tackled by ships sent from Porin.”
“They would never get here in time. Next you’ll suggest mooring a ship here. Then you’ll want to start a settlement for the crew. That is unacceptable.”
“I understand. An alternative will be found. If we discuss this—”
“No.” Imi recognized the stubborn hardness that came into her father’s voice when he had made a decision. She frowned, disappointed. It had sounded so exciting, all this talk of trade. Surely the easiest way to get rid of the raiders was to pay someone else to do it.
“Imi!”
She jumped at the voice. It was Teiti’s, and it was not coming from within the pipe. It was coming from the hole in the cupboard. Her teacher had returned. Imi’s heart skipped. The only reason Imi could hear the woman was because she had left the carving - the door to the hole - open! If Teiti discovered the hole, Imi’s visits to the pipe room would end.
Imi dived into the cupboard. She closed the door behind her, then climbed into the hole. The wooden door was harder to close; she had grown a bit lately and there wasn’t much room to reach back and close the latch.
Crawling forward as fast as she could, she stopped just within the hole and looked out. Teiti was in the next room, roaming about. As the woman looked under a chair, Imi choked back a laugh. Teiti thought she was hiding.
“Imi, this is naughty. Come out now!”
The woman started toward the bedroom. Imi froze, then, as Teiti paused to look inside a cupboard, quickly reached out and pulled the carving back over the hole.
She listened as Teiti roamed around the bedroom, her voice all trembly. Imi frowned. Was Teiti angry? Or just upset? The voice faded as her teacher returned to the main room. Then Imi heard a quiet snuffling sound. She flushed with guilt. Teiti was crying!
Pushing aside the carving, she slid out of the hole as quietly as she could, then carefully bolted the carving back in place, before running into the other room.
“I’m sorry, Teiti,” she cried.
The woman looked up, then gasped with relief.
“Imi! That was not funny!”
It wasn’t hard to look guilty. Teiti might be a strict teacher, but she could also be fun and generous. Imi liked to play tricks on her friends, but only to make them laugh. She didn’t want to hurt anybody.
“This must be serious,” she said.
Teiti wiped her eyes and smiled. “Yes. There’s a landwalker in the palace. I don’t how she got here, or why, but we’d better stay put in case there’s trouble.” Teiti paused and frowned. “Not that I think you’re in any danger, Princess. She doesn’t even know about you, so I think you’re quite safe.”
Imi thought about the woman she’d overheard talking to her father. A sorceress and priestess of the gods, who wanted the Elai and her people to be allies - which was another word for friends. She didn’t sound like someone to fear.
Imi nodded. “I think so, too, Teiti.”
The moon was a cheerful grin of white. When Tryss had first seen it, he could not help thinking how it was a good omen. Now, several hours later, the pale crescent seemed more like a mocking smile.
“I don’t believe it. He’s pacing. Calm, serious Tryss is pacing.”
Tryss jumped at the voice. “Sreil!” he whispered. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” the older boy said. “It just took a little longer to cut through the wall than I thought.”
Two figures emerged from the shadows, their footsteps dulled by the snow. Moonlight lit both faces, but
