"Nand' paidhi, Banichi wishes you to know that lord Badissuni is in the company this evening."

Badissuni, Bren thought, looking at the thin, grim-faced lord who broke into a pasted smile as a servant offered him a drink, then coasted up to the lords and ladies around the dining table. Conversation there staggered, took note, and lurched forward valiantly.

Algini had gone, doubtless on some business known only to security. The business in the Marid had just walked in, had a drink, and smiled its way around the table with the occasional flat, wary glance atevi gave to the novelty of humans.

"What's the trouble-in-the-house?" Jase asked in a low voice, and this time the noun was entirely appropriate.

"Badissuni, from the peninsula. Messenger to Tabini. Don't Don't get involved with him." The doorway electronics, he was sure, contained a metal detector of some kind. His mind was busy adding up Badissuni as a guest while the relatives of the man Badissuni was serving (and wished to kill: dead before autumn, Banichi had said) were guesting in the house of the lady Direiso, who was Tatiseigi's ally last year when Tatiseigi was plotting against Tabini - who was back on the kitchen tour with Tatiseigi and Damiri looking for contraband in the vegetable bins, G.o.d save them. get involved with him." The doorway electronics, he was sure, contained a metal detector of some kind. His mind was busy adding up Badissuni as a guest while the relatives of the man Badissuni was serving (and wished to kill: dead before autumn, Banichi had said) were guesting in the house of the lady Direiso, who was Tatiseigi's ally last year when Tatiseigi was plotting against Tabini - who was back on the kitchen tour with Tatiseigi and Damiri looking for contraband in the vegetable bins, G.o.d save them.

Badissuni smiled at everyone but him and Jase: the smile was still there, but it went rigid and unpleasant when his gaze fell on either of them, and Bren avoided staring back. Jase was staring - and he moved between Jase and the view of trouble.

"Don't look at him, nadi. You invite trouble."

"He doesn't like us here."

"No," Bren said. "He doesn't like us anywhere anywhere."

Jago appeared from the doorway and definitely kept a watch on the situation. Cenedi had gone back to keep an eye on the dowager and no doubt to pa.s.s a message, but Jago tracked them, and eased up next to him.

"That is Badissuni, Bren-ji. Don't come close to him."

"Is he armed, nadi?"

"No one brings weapons past the door save the three authorized security present: the aiji's, the aiji-dowager's, and lord Tatiseigi's, one a.s.sures you, nadi."

Which counted his own among the aiji's and Saidin technically among Tatiseigi's, to be sure.

"Danger?" Jase asked.

"Be careful, nadi," Jago said to him. "Only be careful. He is an invited guest."

"Who invited him, nadi?" Bren asked.

"The aiji," Jago said - Jago who'd wished for the contract on that lordling's life, and who'd already occupied a rooftop vantage in the Hagrani estate. Jago was, he was sure, armed; and that coat surely concealed body armor. "Don't stand near him, nadiin-ji."

"Nadiin." Madam Saidin appeared and spoke in a clear voice. "The host suggests the party adjourn to the breakfast room."

They lingered with Jago, letting the lords and ladies exit, Badissuni among them. The party left a table of serving platters mostly down to crumbs by now, and a clutter of abandoned gla.s.ses which the servants hastened to gather up on trays.

"What's happening?" Jase asked.

"Just be calm," Bren said, and they drifted in the wake of the others toward the restored rooms, which rapidly filled shoulder to shoulder with guests admiring the lilies, praising the workmanship, gossiping about the event last year which had necessitated the repairs. There was applause, and lights glared as cameras pretended to be un.o.btrusive, creating the effect of sunlight across the lilies and the blinded guests. Security was tense in that moment, and Naidiri himself, chief of Tabini's security, set himself in their path path and moved the traveling cameras definitively out of the room. and moved the traveling cameras definitively out of the room.

The camera lights went out. Music began, a simple duet of pipes played by two of the servants, who were quite good at it. Talk buzzed above the music and grew animated.

The two humans found refuge against the restored frieze and simply listened to the conversation, as Tati-seigi and two other provincial lords discussed the menu, and Tatiseigi looked at least marginally cheerful, except the looks he threw Badissuni.

"Doing all right?" Bren asked.

"I think," Jase said. He looked tired, and it was was tiring to keep up with a high-speed translation problem. Jase had gone into it on the edge of his nerves. tiring to keep up with a high-speed translation problem. Jase had gone into it on the edge of his nerves.

"So tell me," Ilisidi said, coasting up, one of the few atevi present not too much taller than a human, "how do you find life on Earth? Different than the ship, nand' paidhi?"

Jase cast him a desperate look.

"Answer," Bren said. "Nand' dowager, I did tell him be careful with his language."

"Different," Jase said. "Thank you, nand' dowager."

"Vastly improved," Ilsidi said, leaning on her stick, creating a small s.p.a.ce around them by her presence. "The last time I saw you, you and those two human women were boarding a plane for Shejidan, and they were bound for the island. How are are they faring, nand' paidhi?" they faring, nand' paidhi?"

"I hear from my companion from the ship, nand' dowager. She fares well, thank you."

"And nand' Hanks?"

Nand' Hanks, h.e.l.l. Ilisidi never never used honorifics for Deana Hanks. Bren's heart rate kicked up a notch and weariness with the noise went sailing on a sea of adrenaline. used honorifics for Deana Hanks. Bren's heart rate kicked up a notch and weariness with the noise went sailing on a sea of adrenaline.

"I don't hear from nand' Hanks, nand' dowager."

"Does your companion?"

"Aiji-ma." Bren took a deep breath. "How do you find the lilies?"

Ilisidi broke into a grin. "I was wondering how to get you off to yourself, Bren-ji." She snagged his arm and drew him aside, and he could only go, trusting Jase to the security watching both of them.

"Neighbors will talk, aiji-ma."

"Become a scandal with me." She leaned on his arm and directed their steps toward the windows. "Ah, the city air. You should come back to Malguri."

"I wish that I could, aiji-ma."

"I think, if the schedule permits it, I shall invite the astronomer emeritus for a weekend at midsummer. That That should prove interesting, don't you think?" should prove interesting, don't you think?"

"The last I saw they were shooting at strangers, aiji-ma."

"They need need new ideas. I would delight to have you at the gathering, nadi. Do consider it. Malguri in summer. Boating on the lake. - You should," the dowager added, with a wicked grin, "bring this nice young man. He has possibilities." new ideas. I would delight to have you at the gathering, nadi. Do consider it. Malguri in summer. Boating on the lake. - You should," the dowager added, with a wicked grin, "bring this nice young man. He has possibilities."

"Should I a.s.sist a rival to attain your interest, aiji-ma? I am devastated."

"Oh, but one hears that you you have favored a certain member of your own household, nand' paidhi. Should I not take offense?" have favored a certain member of your own household, nand' paidhi. Should I not take offense?"

He was appalled. Did she mean Barb, perhaps, or - G.o.d help him - Jago?

Dangerous territory. He was never never certain whether Ilisidi's romantic fantasies were a joke, or just a hazardous degree serious. certain whether Ilisidi's romantic fantasies were a joke, or just a hazardous degree serious.

"Aiji-ma. No one could possibly rival you. I've so missed our breakfasts together."

Ilisidi laughed and squeezed his arm. "Flatterer. I shall steal you away alone to Malguri in a lightning raid and simply not return you to my unappreciative grandson at all." Curtains billowed around them, and Ilisidi's face went grave. "So would Mospheira lock you away. Beware Beware that woman." that woman."

"Hanks?"

"Hanks!" It had as well be an oath. "I warn you, beware her."

"1 do. I do very much. - May I dare a question, aiji-ma? Should I also beware the lord of the Atageini?"

"Presumptuous, Bren-ji."

"I am very aware, aiji-ma. But I have never known you to lie to me."

"I've loaded your arms with lies, nadi! When in our dealings have there not been lies?"

"When I have relied on you for advice, aiji-ma. When I have truly cast myself on the truth inside your mazes you have never never left me lost, aiji-ma." left me lost, aiji-ma."

"Oh, you thief of a woman's better sense! Flatterer, I say!"

"Wise woman, I say, aiji-ma, and cast myself utterly on your tolerance. Should I beware the lord of the Atageini?"

"Beware Direiso. As he he must. As that scared fool Badissuni must." must. As that scared fool Badissuni must."

"I entirely understand that."

"Wise man man. Would that Tatiseigi Tatiseigi did." did."

He almosfthrew into the mix a similar and equally urgept^question about lord Geigi's current relations with Direiso, and with Tatiseigi, and instantly thought better of it. Geigi had ridden beside Ilisidi to the rescue, after Ilisidi had repeatedly and forcefully called Geigi a fool. He believed that in her riddling reply about Tatiseigi needing to beware of Direiso, Ilisidi had just told him the unriddling truth on three points: that something was going on, that Tatiseigi was still uncertain in his man'chi, that Direiso was very much a problem.

But regarding the matter of Geigi's relation to Ilisidi, Geigi might be a fish best left below the surface of that political water, where he could swim and conduct his affairs unseen.

It was Direiso on whose affairs Ilisidi might have information she was willing to share with him. In specific, she had signaled she would talk about Hanks, but he prepared a question, a simple, But what of of Direiso and Tatiseigi - skirting around the fact of the departed Saigimi's wife's relationship to Geigi Direiso and Tatiseigi - skirting around the fact of the departed Saigimi's wife's relationship to Geigi and and to Direiso. to Direiso.

Badissuni and Tatiseigi were at the moment in converse, the topic of which seemed grim and urgent.

"Nand' paidhi," a servant came to him to say, and placed a note in his hand.

A male human on the phone, it said. Something wrong with his mother, was all he could think; and his face might have gone a shade paler. He might have looked as blank and stunned as he felt for a moment, blindsided out of a totally different universe.

CHAPTER 14.

"DIFFICULTY?" Ilisidi said to him.

"Forgive me. It's a phone call from Mospheira. It can wait." He was watching Badissuni and Tatiseigi as they spoke briefly, then moved apart, Tatiseigi instantly surrounded by the curious and less restrained, and people gazing in speculative curiosity at Badissuni, whom - G.o.d! - Tabini snagged for a small exchange.

And his mother - dammit, he needed to know.

"Go, go, go," Ilisidi said, "attend your phone call. Come back to me. I'll gather the gossip. Your mind is clearly distracted." Ilisidi's face betrayed no concern whatsoever. But her tone of command, sharp and absolute, told him he'd slipped his facial control and let things through he would rather not have allowed to the surface.

But he wanted wanted the phone call. Ilisidi gave him leave. And might learn more than he could - or than she could with him attached. the phone call. Ilisidi gave him leave. And might learn more than he could - or than she could with him attached.

He cast a worried look around for Jase, who was quietly in the corner, talking to his security and having no difficulty. Jago was watching him, and he coasted past Jago on the way to the door. "A phone call's come from the island," he said. "I'm going to the office. I'll be right back."

"Yes," Jago said, and tailed him him as far as the door, when he'd been so bothered he hadn't even twigged to the possibility of a set-up to draw as far as the door, when he'd been so bothered he hadn't even twigged to the possibility of a set-up to draw him him to disaster. She stayed close, stationing herself in the hall as he went the short distance to the private office, at the door of which the servant stood. to disaster. She stayed close, stationing herself in the hall as he went the short distance to the private office, at the door of which the servant stood.

He went in and picked up the phone. "h.e.l.lo?" he said. "This is Bren Cameron."

"Bren, this is Toby." It was a tone of voice he almost didn't know. "I thought I'd better call thought I'd better call."

"d.a.m.n right you'd better call. How are you? How's Mother?"

A pause that said far too much. "Heart attack. Small one. How are you? "

It was better than his worst fears. His knees weren't doing so well. He sat down. "I'm doing fine. Tell her that. Listen. I want you to call Barb and have her call me."

"No. No! You get yourself home, Bren. You want your d.a.m.n business carried on get yourself home, Bren. You want your d.a.m.n business carried on, you come do it, and come do it, and you you come back and take care of the things you need to take care of! Stop asking your family to put up with this kind of c.r.a.p! Mama's having surgery this week. She wants come back and take care of the things you need to take care of! Stop asking your family to put up with this kind of c.r.a.p! Mama's having surgery this week. She wants you, you, Bren. She wants you to be here Bren. She wants you to be here."

"1 can't."

"I can't be up here in the city, either, but I'm doing it! I can't leave my house and my business, but I'm doing it! Jill can't answer the phone without lunatics hara.s.sing her! We've had to leave home and all come up here, and I can't let my family go down the street to the park! You know what put mama in the hospital, Bren can't be up here in the city, either, but I'm doing it! I can't leave my house and my business, but I'm doing it! Jill can't answer the phone without lunatics hara.s.sing her! We've had to leave home and all come up here, and I can't let my family go down the street to the park! You know what put mama in the hospital, Bren? You did. People throwing paint on her building, the landlord saying he wants her to move did. People throwing paint on her building, the landlord saying he wants her to move -" -"

He tried to think through the things he didn't want to hear to the things he had had to hear - while remembering agencies on both sides of the water were recording everything. "Toby. Call my office. Ask Shawn -" to hear - while remembering agencies on both sides of the water were recording everything. "Toby. Call my office. Ask Shawn -"

"I've done that! I can't get through! None of the numbers you've given me work any more, and I don't even know whether Shawn's in office this week, by what I'm hearing in the papers!"

"What's in the papers, Toby? They don't exactly -"

"No, no, no! I'm not doing your work for you! I'm your I'm not doing your work for you! I'm your brother, brother, not a clerk in the State Department! And I want you back here, Bren. I want you back here for not a clerk in the State Department! And I want you back here, Bren. I want you back here for mama! One week, one miserable week, week, that's all I want that's all I want!"

"I can't."

"The h.e.l.l you can't! Tell the aiji your mother could die, die, dammit, and she's asking for you! " dammit, and she's asking for you! "

"Toby -"

"Oh - - h.e.l.l, I forgot. You can't explain feelings, can you? They're not wired for it. Well h.e.l.l, I forgot. You can't explain feelings, can you? They're not wired for it. Well, what about you, Bren? Is it all the office, and nothing for your family Is it all the office, and nothing for your family?"

"Toby."

"I don't want your excuses, Bren. I've covered for you and covered for you and not told you the truth because it'd upset you. Well, now I'm telling you the truth, and mama's in danger of her life and I can't take my family home, and I'm scared to death they're going to burn my house down while I'm gone!"

"Just hang on, Toby. Just a little longer."

"I can't! I'm not willing to, dammit! I'm tired of trying to explain what the h.e.l.l you're doing! We can't explain it to ourselves ourselves anymore anymore - - how in how in h.e.l.l h.e.l.l do we make it make sense to the neighbors! " do we make it make sense to the neighbors! "

"You know d.a.m.n well what the score is, Toby. Don't hand me that. You know know what's going on in the government and what game they're playing." what's going on in the government and what game they're playing."