but there's no question he's conducting an investigation."

"He's the one who gave you over to the Khai in the first place, isn't

he, Otah-cha?" Lamara said in his ruined voice.

"He's also the one who took a knife in the gut," Sinja said.

"Can we say why he's looking?" Otah asked. "What would he do if he

discovered the truth? Report it to the utkhaiem? Or only the Daikvo?"

"I can't say," Shojen said. "I know what he's doing, not what he's

thinking."

"We can say this," Amiit said, his expression dour and serious. "As it

stands, there's no one in the city who'll think you innocent, Otah-cha.

If you're found in Machi, you'll be killed. And whoever sticks the first

knife in will use it as grounds that he should he Khai. The only

protection you'll have is obscurity."

"No armsmen?" Otah asked.

"Not enough," Amiit said. "First, they'd only draw attention to you, and

second, there aren't enough guards in the city to protect you if the

utkhaiem get your scent in their noses."

"But that's true wherever he is," Lamara said. "If they find out he's

alive on a desolate rock in the middle of the sea, they'll send men to

kill him. He's murdered the Khai!"

"Then best to keep him where he won't be found," Amiit said. There was

an impatience in his tone that told Otah this debate had been going on

long before he'd come in the room. Tempers were fraying, and even Amiit

Foss's deep patience was wearing thin. He felt Kiyan's eyes on him, and

looked up to meet her gaze. Her half-smile carried more meaning than

half a hand's debate. They will never agree and you may as we//practice

giving orders now-if itgoes well, you'll be doing it for the rest of

your life and I'm sorry, love.

Otah felt a warmth in his chest, felt the panic and distress relax like

a stiff muscle rubbed in hot oils. Lamara and Amiit were talking over

each other, each making points and suggestions it was clear they'd made

before. Otah coughed, but they paid him no attention. He looked from

one, flushed, grim face to the other, sighed, and slapped his palm on

the table hard enough to make the wine bowls rattle. The room went

silent, surprised eyes turning to him.

"I believe, gentlemen, that I understand the issues at hand," Utah said.

"I appreciate Amiit-cha's concern for my safety, but the time for

caution has passed."

"It's a vice," Sinja agreed, grinning.

"Next time, you can give me your advice without cracking my ribs," Utah

said. "Lamara-cha, I thank you for the offer of the tunnels to work

from, and I accept it. We'll leave tonight."

"Otah-cha, I don't think you've...," Amiit began, his hands held out in

an appeal, but Otah only shook his head. Amiit frowned deeply, and then,

to Otah's surprise, smiled and took a pose of acceptance.

"Shojen-cha," Utah said. "I need to know what Maati is thinking. What

he's found, what he intends, whether he's hoping to save me or destroy

me. Both arc possible, and everything we do will he different depending

on his stance."

"I appreciate that," Shojen said, "but I don't know how I'd discover it.

It isn't as though he confides in me. Or in anyone else that I can tell."

Utah rubbed his fingertips across the rough wood of the table,

considering that. He felt their eyes on him, pressing him for a

decision. This one, at least, was simple enough. He knew what had to be

done.

"Bring him to me," he said. "Once we've set ourselves up and we're sure

of the place, bring him there. I'll speak with him."

"That's a mistake," Sinja said.

"Then it's the mistake I'm making," Otah said. "How long before we can

be ready to leave?"

"We can have all the things we need on a cart by sundown," Amiit said.

"That would put us in Machi just after the half-candle. We could be in

the tunnels and tucked as safely away as we're likely to manage by dawn.

But there are going to be some people in the streets, even then."

"Get flowers. Decorate the cart as if we're preparing for the wedding,"

Otah said. "Then even if they think it odd to see us, they'll have a

story to tell themselves."

"I'll collect the poet whenever you like," Shojen said, his confident

voice undermined by the nervous way he fingered his rings.

"Also tomorrow. And Lamara-cha, I'll want reports from your man at the

council as soon as there's word to be had."

"As you say," Lamara said.

Otah moved his hands into a pose of thanks, then stood.

"Unless there's more to be said, I'm going to sleep now. I'm not sure

when I'll have the chance again. Any of you who aren't involved in

preparations for the move might consider doing the same."

They murmured their agreement, and the meeting ended, but when later

Otah lay in the cot, one arm thrown over his eyes to blot out the light,

he was certain he could no more sleep than fly. He was wrong. Sleep came

easily, and he didn't hear the old leather hinges creak when Kiyan

entered the room. It was her voice that pulled him into awareness.

"It's a mistake I'm making?'That's quite the way to lead men."

He stretched. His ribs still hurt, and worse, they'd stiffened.

"Was it too harsh, do you think?"

Kiyan pushed the netting aside and sat next to him, her hand seeking his.

"If Sinja-eha's that delicate, he's in the wrong line of work," she

said. "He may think you're wrong, but if you'd turned back because he

told you to, you'd have lost part of his respect. You did fine, love.

Better than fine. I think you've made Amiit a very happy man."

"How so?"

"You've become the Khai Machi. Oh, I know, it's not done yet, but out

there just then? You weren't speaking like a junior courier or an east

islands fisherman."

Otah sighed. Her face was calm and smooth. He brought her hand to his

lips and kissed her wrist.

"I suppose not," he said. "I didn't want this, you know. The wayhouse

would have been enough."

"I'm sure the gods will take that into consideration," she said.

"They're usually so good about giving us the lives we expect."

Otah chuckled. Kiyan let herself be pulled down slowly, until she lay

beside him, her body against his own. Otah's hand strayed to her belly,

caressing the tiny life growing inside her. Kiyan raised her eyebrows