by wide-set slanting eyes, and ears trimmed short into points. Two dogs of ferocious aspect braced long forepaws on the cage; the slaves cowered back, and every warrior in the Anasati honour guard surreptitiously touched his weapon.
'Magnificent,' Desio breathed, as the servant stepped in and looped the leashes through two jewel-studded collars.
The dogs flowed out of their prison with sinuous grace.
Massive of shoulder and jaw, and brindled in light tan and black, the creatures sprang over to the dock, then sat as regally as if they owned it.
'My Lord would be wise to stand back,' murmured Jiro.
Desio did so, too rapt to notice that an enemy had told him what to do. 'Magnificent,' he repeated, and he stared at amber eyes that were passionless in their canine ferocity as Tasaio's out on the archery field. Then, annoyed by the reminder of the cousin who had failed him, and made aware by Incomo's quiet hiss that he stood gawking like a farmer, Desio motioned for his honour guard and adviser to follow, and strode off toward the entrance to the great hall.
~What sort of hounds are those?' he asked as he crossed the hall and mounted his cushioned dais, his First Adviser a half-step behind.
'They are hunters without peer.' A gesture from Jiro, and the servant led the dogs to a safe corner, out of reach of passing servants, and set back from any doors. The animals sat, too poised for relaxation, their eyes restless and hungry.
By now, Incomo's headshakes had drawn notice. Desio understood that his eagerness set him at a disadvantage. As he sat down, he sniffed with intent to diminish. 'We have fine tracking dogs.'
Jiro rebutted him quietly. 'None like these, my Lord.
Perhaps when our conference is over I could offer a demonstration ?'
Desio brightened. 'Indeed, perhaps you should.' He sighed in restrained anticipation, then waved for his guest to choose a cushion. 'Come. Let us be refreshed.' Slaves rushed in with laden trays of food and drink. Keeping his bearing erect and proper, Desio resisted the urge to turn to look at the dogs, who were offering low, menacing growls to everyone that passed. At Desio's gesture, Irrilandi withdrew the Minwanabi honour guard a discreet distance away; Jiro's Strike Leader did the same, and across the vast chamber came more slaves with bowls and towels, to assist both nobles to wash.
One of the dogs whined. Jiro paid it no mind, but dipped his fingers in the scented water and held them out to be dried. 'You have an impressive home, my Lord. When I imagine this hall filled with grand entertainment, I deeply regret that I missed attending the Warlord's birthday celebration.'
Incomo froze, caught in the motion of sitting down at his master's right hand. He looked urgently at Desio, and by the hardness of the Lord's expression, knew that he need not take action; the reference to the event when Lady Mara had trapped the former Minwanabi Lord into dishonour and ritual suicide had not escaped his master's notice.
The vast hall was silent. Desio reached out and took a glass of fruit juice from the tray; that he eschewed stronger spirits showed his inner anger. He sipped, pointedly withholding permission to eat from his guest. No fascination with dogs could ease the Anasati's current danger. Desio was a powerful Lord, seated within his own hall; the silence would stretch to eternity before he stooped to ask what this upstart second son might wish.
Jiro let the stillness extend enough to show he was not cowed. With sudden brightness, he said, 'Splendid news from Dustari. Now the desert men and their allies are routed, the Empire shall enjoy peace on the southern border for many years to come.'
Desio flicked a glance to his First Adviser, who signalled a discreet warning. By his reference to allies, Jiro either guessed the desert men had acted under Minwanabi influence, or else the Anasati had spies as cleverly concealed as Mara's.
A dog whined; its attendant whispered frantic reprimand.
The Minwanabi Lord said nothing.
'Except for the fabled Acoma luck, this triumph would never have come to pass,'Jiro finished, then proved also that he could wait.
In leisurely fashion, Desio drained his glass. He listened to a few whispered words from his Adviser, then answered in faultless form. 'Any action undertaken in defence of the Empire is to be applauded. Or do you think otherwise?'
Jiro smiled without warmth. 'The duty of every ruler is to serve the Empire. Naturally.'