Voices of Chaos (20 page)

"It's all right," Magdalena said slowly. Her eyes moved from one to the other, flicked toward Alexis, who had come up next to Khyriz. "I'm sorry about your ear."

"But surely your medical-techs can deal with something so ... basic, can't they?" Alexis asked.

Khyriz spoke very softly against his cousin's other ear, then gave him a little shove. "Go ahead, up to my rooms, Zhik, I'll come shortly." Zhik gestured cautious bows to each of the women, turned, and walked unsteadily from the room. Alexis turned to watch him go, her brow puckered. "Poor cousin,"

Khyriz murmured once the outer door clicked into place behind the young noble. "You know his father is Zhenu. The
zhez
has no patience with pain; when Zhik was bitten, his father ordered him to pinch the ear to stop the bleeding, and not to whine. My cousin has never seen a medical tech for the injury, the Iron Duke wouldn't allow it.'' He looked from

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Magdalena's shocked eyes to Alexis's set mouth. "Apologies that I have upset both of you. I will go tend to my poor cousin, I have an oil that stops the pain." He glanced toward the outside door, back again. "Alexis, I will speak with my father today, without fail."

"Do that," Alexis said flatly. Her voice softened as Khyriz gave her a wary, sidelong look, his whiskers twitching. "I'm not angry with you, my friend," she added. "Just with... things."

Khyriz nodded, human style. "I understand. I will try to make my father understand." He touched the backs of both hands to Magdalena's wrists, gave Alexis a neat human bow, turned, and left.

There was a long silence in the room after the door closed behind him.

Magdalena finally cleared her throat. "I thought the full moons were five or six days away?"

She'd meant for Alexis to laugh. The interrelator grinned at her. "Well, today's been weird enough so far, hasn't it?" She looked up as Rohf came in with a basket containing four mugs and a dew-beaded jug of rih, and sweetened bread-fingers, gestured thanks to the servant as she took the basket, then settled two large bolsters against her back, her feet dangling over the pit. "Magdalena?"

The translator's eyes still looked worried. "I'll make that call down to the clerk's office first. Save me something, all right?"

"I'll try. But getting angry makes me hungry."

Middle night: Both moons, nearly full, sailed high in the night sky, blotting out all but the brightest stars and the station. Khyriz glanced down the table in the family eating-room: His mother and sisters sat at the far end, stitching on one of their endless hangings. Much nearer sat his father and, unexpectedly, his middle brother. Khedan normally ate a very sparse
zhner
alone, or with two of the Prelate's high-ranking priests-- nobles his own age.

Khedan was talking again; Khyriz kept his expression polite. This middle brother didn't converse, he delivered polemics. He'd spoken brusquely earlier about greeting the CLS team,

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and he was coming back to the subject once more, ignoring his father's attempts to maintain peace over food. "After I greeted the alien females--"

The Emperor interrupted him. "Khedan, those are uncouth words, not acceptable to your rank. The proper forms of address are Interrelator and Translator."

Khedan's eartips flicked. "This is private, Father. I know how to speak politely when I must."

"A thing forgotten in one place can be forgotten in another," the Emperor replied evenly. "And I will not have rude speech in this chamber, whatever is done elsewhere." For some reason, this seemed to enrage Khedan, who shoved aside his half-eaten dish of roasted sea-curls, got to his feet, and gestured a sharp, "One who is unwell and would leave before finishing his food." The Emperor's whiskers flicked in exasperation as he gave the assent. Khedan stormed out. At the far end of the room, the Empress glanced at the closing door, then met her mate's eyes briefly before she turned back to her needlework. The elder male's gaze shifted to his youngest son, then.

"Father," Khyriz finally murmured. He wasn't certain what else to say.

"I do wish Khedan would take vows and leave the household in peace,"

Khezahn said. "He is not happy halfway between, and neither are the rest of us." He lapsed into silence, lifted a sea-curl from his own plate between hand-carved wooden pincers, and ate the little sea-snail absently. Khyriz chose one of the dipping sauces at random, but set his curl down uneaten as his father looked at him again. "Your message mentioned a difficulty with the CLS, Khyriz. I thought our meeting with them went very well. They were anxious to begin at once, of course, but..." His voice faded.

"They can be polite also," Khyriz replied gently, and gave him a terse recounting of Alexis's message. The Emperor looked worried when he finished.

"But... Khyriz, you know the problems with allowing them free access to ...

everything."

"I know of the raid on Zhenu's lands, to begin. No one has claimed responsibility?"

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"Fifty dead, more missing, an entire
parth
of Zhenu's land and its village burned? No one would dare claim such a deed. The Zhez is in a rage!"

The rebels must be very good,
Khyriz thought,
to evade the Iron Duke, and
his legions of guards.
Amazingly good, to attack without the Duke knowing about it beforehand--the noble's spies were among the best money could purchase.

Still, they're spies and guards, not gods.
Fortunately so. There were beings alive this night because of that fact. But he didn't dare think about them--not here. "The women wish only to journey to Ebba for now," he said finally. His father hissed faintly.

"Khyriz, I know they cannot understand. But if they have free access of the city ... if they spoke with certain factions, or learned of Asha ..."

Khyriz let his ears flick back and remain low as he murmured, "Father, the outsiders already know of Asha." Silence. He kept his eyes averted and went on. "The Heeyoons saw two on-station when they first came to us; they were wearing small vid-devices, and so everyone knows of Asha, out there.

At the Academy, I was asked about them; faced with vid, I couldn't deny they exist." He glanced up briefly: His father was staring at him. "Apologies. But such a lie would have achieved nothing, save my immediate expulsion."

"You told them--?"

"The backup lie; that they are pets. The two the Heeyoons saw were in the offices of the Master of Station."

"Zhenu's cousin. And Zhenu said nothing of this to me."

"Zhenu's cousin answers to Zhenu, who knows you do not condone such...

pets. The CLS knows of Asha and so do these women." He gestured submissively and let his ears go flat. "Apologies, Father. An unranked son does not engage in such matters. Or... or instruct his Emperor. But when you deal with the outsiders, I am your best expert."

"Yes." The word had no emotion he could recognize. "Then tell me what you see of this situation, and what course you suggest, Khyriz."

More than he'd ever have dared hope.
This is your father, not just Emperor;
an Arekkhi of sense and compassion,
he

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reminded himself as he passed on Alexis's message. "The interrelator was not in a mood to be put off, Father."

"I understand."

Khyriz gestured assent and cautiously went on: He had never lied to his father before. But, as the humans said, there was a first time for everything.

"If the first Heeyoons had been told, 'Leave us alone, we want no part of you,' the Arekkhi would have been allowed isolation. But since we openly took their trade and technology and new goods in exchange for recognition and trade--world status by the CLS, since documents have been signed--we cannot now say, 'Bring your side of the bargain in full, but let us choose ours.' The CLS will assume all the wrong reasons for this; if the team leaves the planet in anger, the trading group on-station will also leave, very soon.

We will lose the new jump-station. There might even be an ... investigation,"

he added quietly.

"Investigation?" Khezahn's whiskers quivered.

"Because we must be hiding truly terrible secrets, and this would include a downtrodden underclass--a slave class. There would be terrible shame attached to such an investigation. Would even the Prelate welcome
that!"

Silence. "Father, apologies, let me suggest... an alternative. A report on the human women by the news-vid tomorrow. Limited to Ebba, if you choose.''

For now.
"And then, the morning after, if I were to take them to Ebba, for a meeting with my clothing designer, Fahara... and if they were permitted to speak freely with Arekkhi whenever they chose ... Well, that would certainly help. I assume that the Master of City keeps the same number of marshals, who could instruct the people who might come into contact with the women, how to behave. Or vid-messages could be sent to the households."

"That can be managed."

"Suggest that to your Council, and suggest that I pilot the flitter. I have one of the older, more wind-resistant ones."

"Zhenu will never agree to that, and his allies could override me, Khyriz.

Remember that Zhenu still seeks a way to bring in the trade that will make him rich enough to take over all Arekkhi space and yet avoid any

entanglements with the outsiders themselves."

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"I know." The Prince considered. "Father, what about Zhik as a pilot? He can pilot the older flitter if the winds are still up, his own if not; he is an excellent pilot, and he trembles at his father's shadow. They may mistrust me; they will not doubt Zhik."

"Perhaps," the Emperor said, but then his eyes narrowed.

"But my son, this Fahara--I remember now; she has an Asha--a Voiceless!"

The Prince gestured assent. "So she has. But Fahara is cautious, and the Asha knows the rules of conduct--and when this Asha was sold to Fahara, the sellers reminded her that the fate of her remaining family rides on her actions. She will behave as a pet--or as a working beast." The Emperor's whiskers went flat very briefly. "Father, the women come from a world with clever working beasts. In two days, they see an Asha: It fetches, understands verbal and gesture commands. And they are told, "It is a pet." After a visit or two for clothing or fittings, they will react as we do under such circumstances: All Asha will be assumed to be a pet, or working animal."

Silence, which the Emperor finally broke. "Khyriz ... you make sense. Still, remember the Council wishes to distance you from the women. From the Prelate and Zhenu together, this is more order than request."

'I understand. But the women are my friends, fellows at an exclusive school together. They will think it strange and suspicious if I avoid them. They already find things strange and suspicious enough."

His father seemed amused by something he'd said. "I will summon Council early tomorrow.
Very
early," he added with a malicious tweak to his whiskers, and Khyriz remembered that the Iron Duke had only just come from a moon-season on his estates, half a world away. What Magdalena called "serious sleep debt."

"Father, thank you," he began. To his surprise, his father stroked his cheek, the way he'd done when his youngest son was still growing--and had done something extremely clever.

"Thank
you,
Khyriz." He shoved food aside and rose. "I must give some time to your mother. You?"

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"Apologies," Khyriz replied as he stood also. No usual word-games with his younger sisters tonight; he had matters to attend. "I need to return to my apartments."

"Go, then. I will send you a message tomorrow, once I have agreement from the Council for you. Say nothing until then."

"I will not." Khyriz sketched a brief gesture-bow, turned, and left the chamber.

It was late--Zhik might be asleep already. Unfortunate; it was vitally important that they talk, at once.

The youth wasn't asleep--he wasn't happy, either, once Khyriz got him settled in the talking-pit. He looked quite distressed by the time Khyriz finished speaking. "Cousin--I cannot do this. Look what I did only today when the Magdalena-she asked about pets!"

"So that was it," Khyriz replied. Zhik hadn't been able to even talk about it earlier. "Zhik, listen, please." Khyriz pressed the back of his hand against his cousin's arm. "I was among all those outsiders for two years: I had to tell them many things--they had vid from the very first visit so they knew much more than any of us thought. They have seen Asha ... as pets." Zhik's ears went flat and stayed down. "Zhik, I must have your help. The women will leave us for good otherwise, and so will the traders. My father will be able to persuade the nobles who back trade; we will only be able to sway your father if
you
pilot your flitter for us."

"He ... will order me to spy on you, Khyriz!" Zhik protested. "And on the women ... !"

"Yes. He knows you will do what he orders, and for that reason he will let the women into the city. The CLS will remain here. And if they do, Zhik, I swear to you on my blood that I will one day be able to reunite you with Ah-Naul."

"Because of the outsiders." Zhik considered this; his ears lifted slightly, then went flat again. "But I cannot lie to my father!"

"You will not have to. The women and I will not speak of compromising things; Father and the Master of City control the populace. But if need be, I can tell you the things to say

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to your father. He will assume your fear is caused by the outsiders."

"Some of it." Zhik was silent for a long time. Khyriz kept quiet with an effort and waited him out. "I owe you so much, Cousin," he said finally. "Ah-Naul--"

"No. Do not do this out of gratitude, or because you fear I will undo our bargain. Ah-Naul remains safe, no matter what you decide. Do this for yourself, for all Asha. For the good of all our kinds."

"And for this Magdalena-she," Zhik added softly. "You were right, Khyriz.

She did not seem alien to me, once we began to speak of dance. All those worlds, out there--so many things to see...." He was speaking to himself.