Machigi, being quite young, had not been that in touch with history.
The Ragi dominance over the aishidi’tat, however, was right at the core of resentments in Machigi’s local universe.
Ilisidi had been double-crossed by Ragi connivance? True. And it set Ilisidi and the Marid curiously on the same side of the fence in that regard. He watched Machigi weighing that bit of history, which was perhaps new to his thinking.
“An interesting perspective,” Machigi commented finally. He did not stop frowning.
And meanwhile the paidhi-aiji had had the most uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach regarding what he had just said—that it could be exactly the aiji-dowager’s game, and not only in the Marid.
Power. Ilisidi had come within an ace of being aiji twice in her life, once after the death of her husband, Tabini’s grandfather, and again at the death of her son, Tabini’s father. She had come so close, in fact, that suspicion had attached to her in those two deaths—not to mention to Tabini, in the latter instance. Atevi suspected foul play by default, in any change in parties in power—
But in that case, suspicion had perhaps been justified. And maybe she was getting back to old business. Kingmaking, in this case, spotting a likely candidate and making a move to bring him under her influence.
Machigi was capable of utter ruthlessness. Give him more power, and the difficulty was going to be in keeping Machigi in his bottle. In the same way Ilisidi had always been dangerous . . . so was this young man.
But Ilisidi had been around a long, long time. And Machigi w as young. The potential in that relationship was frightening. And Machigi had better count his change in the transaction.
The silence went on a few more heartbeats. Then Machigi shifted in his chair, folded his hands across his middle, and gave a very guarded smile.
“You come up with all this structure of air and wishes, all because the dowager concludes some of my neighbors in the Marid would like to see me dead.”
“If you were dead, nandi, it would even disadvantage your neighbors, though they may not see it that way now. The Marid needs a strong, single leader or it falls apart in internal conflict. But it is quite clear to me, and I think to the dowager, and perhaps to her grandson, that chaos in this region at this time would in no wise benefit them.”
“So we are now favored as trusted allies?”
“If there were no Marid, nandi, there would be worse problems for the aishidi’tat. Humans have a saying: Nature abhors a vacuum. Peace first. Then profit. With freedom of the seas—and space—there will be profit.”
Machigi lifted a hand in a throwaway gesture. “Of course. And my own relations with the western coast? Lord Geigi in particular will not be my ally.”
That was fairly direct.
“His sister’s death is the most grievous matter. Are we unjust to suspect it?”
“Not unjust.”
“May one be even more blunt, nandi, and ask, in fact, about the kidnapping of an Edi child and the mining of the Kajiminda road—whether, despite your not having been responsible, you were knowledgable?”
“Would it actually matter to the aiji-dowager, paidhi-aiji?”
“Frankly, no, nandi. If we achieve peace, that question becomes irrelevant—unless the answer is no.”
Machigi’s eyes had flickered through the convolutions of that statement—until the last. Then the grim smile came back.
“The answer is no,” Machigi said. “We were surprised at the news. We are attempting to discover who did plan it, and Tabini-aiji will not have to trouble himself to deal with it.”
One yes, one no. The odds Machigi was dealing in the truth—rose.
“May one then relay to the dowager that she was entirely right?”
“Let her worry,” Machigi said. “When you next speak to her, you officially speak under our man’chi. Is that not your duty?”
Speak under our man’chi. Hell! Speak as Machigi’s representative ? He’d
The Ragi dominance over the aishidi’tat, however, was right at the core of resentments in Machigi’s local universe.
Ilisidi had been double-crossed by Ragi connivance? True. And it set Ilisidi and the Marid curiously on the same side of the fence in that regard. He watched Machigi weighing that bit of history, which was perhaps new to his thinking.
“An interesting perspective,” Machigi commented finally. He did not stop frowning.
And meanwhile the paidhi-aiji had had the most uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach regarding what he had just said—that it could be exactly the aiji-dowager’s game, and not only in the Marid.
Power. Ilisidi had come within an ace of being aiji twice in her life, once after the death of her husband, Tabini’s grandfather, and again at the death of her son, Tabini’s father. She had come so close, in fact, that suspicion had attached to her in those two deaths—not to mention to Tabini, in the latter instance. Atevi suspected foul play by default, in any change in parties in power—
But in that case, suspicion had perhaps been justified. And maybe she was getting back to old business. Kingmaking, in this case, spotting a likely candidate and making a move to bring him under her influence.
Machigi was capable of utter ruthlessness. Give him more power, and the difficulty was going to be in keeping Machigi in his bottle. In the same way Ilisidi had always been dangerous . . . so was this young man.
But Ilisidi had been around a long, long time. And Machigi w as young. The potential in that relationship was frightening. And Machigi had better count his change in the transaction.
The silence went on a few more heartbeats. Then Machigi shifted in his chair, folded his hands across his middle, and gave a very guarded smile.
“You come up with all this structure of air and wishes, all because the dowager concludes some of my neighbors in the Marid would like to see me dead.”
“If you were dead, nandi, it would even disadvantage your neighbors, though they may not see it that way now. The Marid needs a strong, single leader or it falls apart in internal conflict. But it is quite clear to me, and I think to the dowager, and perhaps to her grandson, that chaos in this region at this time would in no wise benefit them.”
“So we are now favored as trusted allies?”
“If there were no Marid, nandi, there would be worse problems for the aishidi’tat. Humans have a saying: Nature abhors a vacuum. Peace first. Then profit. With freedom of the seas—and space—there will be profit.”
Machigi lifted a hand in a throwaway gesture. “Of course. And my own relations with the western coast? Lord Geigi in particular will not be my ally.”
That was fairly direct.
“His sister’s death is the most grievous matter. Are we unjust to suspect it?”
“Not unjust.”
“May one be even more blunt, nandi, and ask, in fact, about the kidnapping of an Edi child and the mining of the Kajiminda road—whether, despite your not having been responsible, you were knowledgable?”
“Would it actually matter to the aiji-dowager, paidhi-aiji?”
“Frankly, no, nandi. If we achieve peace, that question becomes irrelevant—unless the answer is no.”
Machigi’s eyes had flickered through the convolutions of that statement—until the last. Then the grim smile came back.
“The answer is no,” Machigi said. “We were surprised at the news. We are attempting to discover who did plan it, and Tabini-aiji will not have to trouble himself to deal with it.”
One yes, one no. The odds Machigi was dealing in the truth—rose.
“May one then relay to the dowager that she was entirely right?”
“Let her worry,” Machigi said. “When you next speak to her, you officially speak under our man’chi. Is that not your duty?”
Speak under our man’chi. Hell! Speak as Machigi’s representative ? He’d
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