Laldasa (40 page)

“Your puppet-masters play the big game, don't they?” asked Kareen.

Adivaram's glare quashed her curiosity. “That is absolutely none of your business, and if you know what's good for you, you'll keep it that way.”

“I don't care who they are,” said Ashur Badan from the doorway behind his partner. “What are they going to do?”

“They are thinking,” said Adivaram. “We should all pray their thought bears fruit.”

oOo

Duran Prakash stared at the kinetically moving palette of one of his spectacular collection of light paintings, but failed to enjoy the display.

“A.N.,” he said. “Damn! It was right there for me to see, but I was so drunk with that Sarojin witch, I missed it.”

“What are you babbling about?” asked his companion.

“At the Mesha Fest when I went through that girl's wardrobe, there was an insulsuit hidden among the whispwear. It was well-worn and had the initials ‘A.N.' on the breast. The girl's name being ‘Ana,' I simply assumed the last letter had been torn away.”

Nigudha Bhrasta gazed at him steadily, eyes dark with acid. “You never mentioned this insulsuit before. Didn't you think it significant?”

“I ... I ... ”

Bhrasta shook his head and laughed. “Damn you to Niraya Hell, Prakash! Are you so besotted with Melantha Sarojin that you didn't even think to question the presence of such a garment in the wardrobe of a Sarojin clanswoman?”

“She's Avasan. Avasans wear insulsuits.”

“The working classes wear insulsuits. Miners wear insulsuits. Did it never occur to you that a Rani would not?” Bhrasta couched the question in a light purring tone that made Duran Prakash sweat.

“But she-she has a raicree! I saw it when she greeted the Deva Radha.”

“Avasans don't have cree. Unless they've been made das. I should think you would know that. You purport to be our legal expert.”

Prakash flushed. “My area of expertise is corporate law. I never had occasion to study caste law.”

“No doubt you were too busy studying the Bogar to have the time ... or the energy. Sometimes you disgust me, Duran. Indulging in such unsavory and pagan practices.”

“It didn't disgust you when you thought my mastery of the Bogar was an asset. It's an asset that's availed you and the Consortium very well, my friend. Or have you forgotten how useful it's been in my dealings with the Rani Sarojin?”

Bhrasta seated himself. “Is the Rani now of the opinion that her precious son's injuries were the result of his prying into the other matter?”

Prakash nodded, forcing himself to relax back into his chair. His temper had come close to being uncorked and that, with this man, would have been disastrous. Friends they might be, but he was still an employee. He had not to forget that ... though it rankled.

“I arranged for Adivaram to interrupt our dinner the other night with his concern for the young mahesa,” he said.

“Then she's of no further concern to us.”

Prakash smiled. “She is of concern to me. I am now her lover.”

His companion seemed less than impressed. “How important you make it sound. Lovers! Next I suppose you'll tell me you've attained surata with her, as well.”

“Isn't that the point of it all?”

Bhrasta regarded him with renewed interest. “Have you attained it, then—the Bliss?”

“Yes. Why should you care?”

“I don't, but we have a mutual friend who is also most interested in these ... mystical quests and chimeras. He'll be delighted to hear you were finally able to achieve your ... heart's desire. Unfortunate that you will no longer be able to grant the Rani that level of attention.”

“What?” Prakash nearly held his breath.

“You will no longer pursue intimacy with Melantha Sarojin. At least not until things are under control.”

“You can't ... order me-“

“I certainly can. I just did. You are lust-drunk around that woman. Stay out of her bed and keep her out of yours until we are in control of this situation. Now, let's get down to business—how are we going to lure the Rohina out of the Sarojin Palace?”

“Hasn't it occurred to you,” said Prakash, forcing his voice to remain even, “that the Rani may be useful to us in that endeavor? If she thought the woman was dangerous to her son, she might drive her out of the Palace for us. My relationship with her gives me a distinct advantage when it comes to credibility.”

He leaned forward across the desk, his fist clenched as if around a jewel. “She cried in my arms that night. She bared her soul to me.”

“And then her body, eh?”

Prakash sat back abruptly. “You have the soul of a purchasing clerk. The point is she trusts me. No man has made love to her since Bhaktasu Sarojin. No man but me!”

There was a long moment of silence during which Duran Prakash watched the darkly thoughtful face, waiting to know the effectiveness of his ploy.

At last Bhrasta spoke. “Tell her you have proof the woman is an impostor. Tell her the woman is an AGIM agent sent to gather information and sway the Sarojin vote. Tell her the woman is being investigated by the Inner Circle. That ought to put a different complexion on their ‘invitation' to testify.”

Prakash nodded. “I guarantee you, she will be only too eager to get the ‘Rani Sadira' out of her house. She has no love for the woman, believe me.”

“I believe you. But, in the event that the Rani's disaffection for her isn't effective, we need to have a contingency plan. Perhaps Anala Nadim's fascination with rescuing her fellow Avasans can be made to serve.”

“Shall I contact Adivaram at the dalali?” asked Prakash, nodding toward the vicom.

“By all means. His devious mind should be able to concoct a suitable plan.”

Prakash smiled, relaxing again. “I'm sure. Though I doubt it will be necessary.”

“As long as it results in me getting my hands on that Nadim woman, I don't care whose idea it is.”

oOo

It was an odd-looking entourage that parted the morning crowds at Bazaar. The old-fashioned covered palanquin was richly ornamented and draped with the Sarojin blood and flame. Borne by four men, it rocked down the main sward, preceded by Nathu Rai Jaya Sarojin and his steward, Ravidas, and surrounded on all sides by the shimmering music of the hundreds of tiny bells woven into its glittering valance.

Passers-by assumed that the old Rani, Mina, rode within, but it was Anala Nadim who sat in the canopied box.

The palanquin came to rest at a wagon decorated with the smiling Sun. Outside, Ravi announced that the Rani Sarojin would have her stars and stones read. A girl's voice answered lightly and with laughter that she'd rather read his stones instead.

Jaya took Ana's arm and helped her from the box, murmuring to her as he would to his Jivinta. She saw the bright-tented kiosk and the wagon behind, with its smiling portrait of Mitras, and her heart leapt in her chest. It was all she could do not to not to straighten her body and run to the wagon, but the bent and frail do not run. So she gritted her teeth and dug her fingers into Jaya's forearm and prayed for patience.

At last she was up the stairs and within the confines of Lila's wagon, which were dominated by the two tall men who stood in the center of the long, narrow room.

Ana straightened, at last, and threw back her hood. “Father!”

Her father and brother both embraced her at once, enveloping her completely in the warmth of their greeting. After moments of tears and endearments, they pulled apart.

“You are wonderful to look at, Ana,” said Rokh Nadim, then offered his hand to Jaya. “Thank you, Nathu Rai, for taking such good care of my daughter, and for returning her to me safely.”

Ana glanced up at her father. His eyes were on Jaya's face, reading it. For his part, Jaya clasped the offered hand in a firm grip.

“You wish Ana to go into hiding with you then, Nadimsama?”

Ana held her breath.

“That would only increase her danger. No, I have at my disposal a small vessel lent to me by friends. In it, Ana may return to Avasa and the safety of our family compound.”

Ana stared at him; her heart seemingly still in her breast. “I can go home? Now?”

He nodded. “You may go home. If you wish. Mata says I must tell you she misses you terribly,” he added, “and that she's afraid for you.”

“And I for her. It's been so hard not knowing what's happening at home. Not seeing you and Mata; not even knowing where you are.”

Rokh Nadim nodded. “All that can be over now. You can go home.”

She listened carefully to the words—weighed the tone and the force of them. She felt as if there was a shaft plummet where her heart should be.

“If I go home, who will look for the others? The Lost Ones?”

“I will,” said Jaya. “I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to find them.”

Ana protested. “You endanger your life—“

“Some things are worth endangering one's life.”

She tried to read his face, to penetrate his eyes. Yes, she thought, some things are.

She turned her eyes back to her father. “I can't go home, Father. I have testimony to give before the Inner Circle about the attack on the Nathu Rai.”

“Is that necessary?” asked her brother.

“Bala, it is necessary that I be willing to do what I can in these circumstances. Jaya has made great sacrifices for me—for us. I, too, must be willing to sacrifice. This isn't something I can run away from.”

“I can give my own testimony before the Nine,” Jaya said. “My word is worth a good deal in Kasi.”

Ana fidgeted. The rich layers of clothing she wore suddenly felt claustrophobic and binding.

“The Rani knows who I am, Jaya. She threatened to tell Prakash. If she does, your word is worth nothing.”

Jaya stared at her, his face frozen and expressionless. “How?” he asked. “How does she know?”

Ana made an impatient gesture. “Someone warned her about your involvement with the missing Avasans. He happened to mention we have no cree.” She raised her hand. “I do.”

Bala made a hissing sound and turned his face away. Their father closed his eyes and whispered something too softly to be heard.

“But, that wouldn't tell her-“ Jaya began.

“She asked me who I was,” said Ana. “I couldn't lie to her. And I can't lie now.” She turned to her father. “Father, I'm not going home. I have to stay in Kasi and testify. I have to tell the Inner Circle who I am.”

After a moment of inscrutable study of his daughter's face, Rokh Nadim smiled and laid a large hand on her shoulder. “Yes,” he said, “I think that would be best.”

She looked up at him, still troubled. “I won't compromise you?”

“No, Ana. You won't compromise me. You've made a good decision. The Circle must hear what you have to say.”

“I think, sama,” said Jaya, “that they also must hear what you have to say.”

Nadim tilted his head to one side and looked nowhere in particular. “Oh, they will. I promise you, they will.”

oOo

She found him waiting in the Court Parlor, pacing the room and looking distraught. She paused in the doorway to watch him. He pretended not to see her, but continued his fretful pacing until she spoke.

“Duran! This is a surprise! I didn't expect to see you.”

Nor, he wagered, did she expect the fervid embrace she found herself enveloped in.

“Melantha,” he whispered against her cheek, “I had to see you.”

She pulled away from him and studied his anxious face. “Why? Whatever is wrong? You look like your world is about to collapse.”

“It's not my world I'm worried about, Lalasa. It's yours.”

Melantha laughed. “Mine? What are you talking about?”

He led her to her throne and seated her in it, still holding her hand. “I'm talking about that girl your son has brought into your house. She's not what she seems to be, Melantha. She's an impostor.”

“An impostor!” Melantha stood and moved away, putting her back to him. “What do you mean?”

“She's not the Rani Sadira. She's an agent of AGIM, sent here to gather information and sway your son's vote. Or, barring that, to compromise his position.”

Melantha paused by the central hearth to run a manicured fingernail along its polished surface. “What an incredible story! How did you get this information?”

“My intelligence network uncovered it. I know it's stunning, but it's true. Their meeting at that Hotel was no coincidence. It was a set up—conceived by AGIM to throw them together.”

Melantha turned her head, watching him from the corner of her eye. “Are you sure of that?”