route. But this was no social visit, and instead of her customary small gift, the servant who followed her escort carried a slate that listed all of the Acoma cash assets.
She had not attempted to bargain with a cho-ja Queen since her negotiation for the hive that had settled permanently on her estates. Now that she had need, she had no clue as to how she would be received, particularly on the heels of the news that two thirds of the new silk shipment had been lost to Minwanabi attack. The sweat on Mara's hands went from cold to hot No past experience in her memory foretold how the Queen would react.
The corridor widened into the antechamber before the throne room; too late now to turn back, Mara reflected, as the cho-ja worker who escorted her small party rushed ahead to announce her presence. Mara continued on, into the warm vastness of the Queen's cavern, lit day and night under the blue-violet light cast by cho-ja globes suspended from brackets set in the massive vaults of stone ceiling. Like an island surrounded by polished floor, a pile of cushions awaited her, with a low table bearing cups and a steaming pot of chocha. Yet Mara did not step forward to sit and take refreshment and exchange gossip, as was usual. Instead she performed the bow one ruler of equal rank might make before another to the enormous presence of the cho-ja Queen, who reared up in massive height, attended by a scurry of workers. Her midsection was surrounded by screens, behind which the breeders and rirari laboured continually over the eggs that ensured the continuity of the hive.
Well accustomed to such activity by now, Mara felt no need to stare. She straightened from her bow, alerted by the cant of the Queen's head that the cho-ja ruler was aware something grave was afoot. Mara composed herself. 'Ruling Lady of the hive, I regret to inform you that trouble has been visited upon the Acoma by its enemy, House Minwanabi.'
Here Mara paused, waiting out of courtesy for some sign from the Queen to continue.
Except for the bustle of the breeding attendants, which never ceased, there came no move within the chamber Ranks of warriors and workers might march past in the corridor beyond the antechamber, but those who squatted on their forelimbs in the Queen's presence remained as still' as statues.
Given not the slightest wave of a forelimb in reassure'
Mara faced the hive's Queen. The next sentences required all of her courage to speak.
'Great Queen, the Emperor's High Council requires a 1' of four companies of warriors from the Acoma, to clef' the Empire's borders in Dustari. If the estate here is not to left stripped of its protection I can muster only three human companies to be sent across the ocean. It is my hope therefore, that you will consider a bargain, to breed an additional company of warriors to fulfil the High Councils command.'
The Queen remained still. Breath held, Mara waited fighting to keep her own poise. Out of the corner of her e she noted her Strike Leader's tension, and his cho-ja counterpart motionlessly squatting.
At last the Queen twitched a forelimb. 'Who will be outfitting this company, Mara of Acoma?'
The Lady expelled a long-pent breath and tried not to shiver with the relief that her request had not been regarded as impertinence. 'My treasury would bear the cost, noble Queen, if it please you to grant my request.'
The Queen tilted her massive head, her mandibles working gently to and fro. 'I will grant your request for sufficient remuneration,' she said, and the discussion broke down into what, to Mara's ear, seemed remarkably like a haggling match between merchants. ~
The Queen's demands were steep. But Jican had instilled in her a fine appreciation for the value of things, and Mara was a quick study. She seemed to sense which demands were non-negotiable and which were outright exorbitant and;expected to be rejected. In the end, she settled for an amalgamation of coin and goods that equalled a worth about a third higher than what she would have paid to hire mercenaries; which was probably fair, since the cho-ja company would answer only to her, would not be infiltrated with spies or suborned by enemies, and would not flee the field at first sign of possible defeat.
Her needra herds would be depleted for perhaps the next three seasons by when she would be forced to sell to meet the