Excited that his assessment matched hers, Mara nodded. 'The Emperor's appearance would endorse Almecho's acts, effectively undermining the High Council for the span of this Warlord's rule.'
In a rapport that only deepened with time's passage, mistress and Spy Master contemplated possible ramifications Much would occur in Kentosani besides games and celebrations. Those families who seized the initiative would not hang back at home. The Warlord might become dictator for life, but he could not live forever. Sooner or later the Great Game would resume.
Arakasi tensed as the patches of sunlight on his knees fell into sudden shadow. Kevin's approach had gone unnoticed until he stood, holding Ayaki on his shoulders, looming over the mat where Mara held her conference.
'My Lady,' the Midkemian said formally, 'the heir to your title is hungry.'
Gladdened by the distraction, Mara smiled. To Arakasi she said, 'Speak with Nacoya and Keyoke and make ready to leave tomorrow. You shall travel to Kentosani with the servants and slaves sent ahead to prepare our city house and our apartment in the Imperial Palace.
Confirm all the resident staff's loyalty. We dare not assume all plotting will be directed at the Warlord.'
Well satisfied with his assignment, Arakasi rose, made his bow, and departed. When the Lady still lingered in serious thought, Kevin broke her abstracted mood. 'Are we going somewhere?'
Mara met his blue eyes with a look too deep to interpret. 'The Warlord has announced a major celebration to honour the Emperor. We leave for the Holy City next week.'
Her news was met with equanimity, even by the volatile Ayaki. In the months since her return from Dustari, life had settled back to routine; Mara had acceded to Kevin's wish to ease the Midkemians' lot; and with better food and housing, new blankets, and a lighter work schedule, Patrick's impatience had subsided. But the schism remained between Kevin and his fellow countrymen; pretending otherwise would not heal it. While escape was not mentioned, freedom was never far from the other captives' thoughts; they might not press, but they knew that Kevin visited only out of duty. He would never join them as long as he shared Mara's bed.
Ayaki kicked at his mount. Jarred from uncomfortable reflection, Kevin gave a feigned cry of pain. 'Someone is hungry. I think I had best hurry the young Lord to the kitchen so he may plunder the larder.'
Mara laughed and gave leave. Kevin reached up, grappled Ayaki by the wrists, and swung him down to his feet, then swatted him on the backside. The future Lord of the Acoma shouted another battle cry and charged toward the shade of the estate house. As Kevin raced after with no more sense of decorum, the Lady of the Acoma shook her head. 'Nacoya hates it when those two eat in the kitchen,' she said to no one.
The birds in the treetops returned to their interrupted song. Mara let her mind wander. Weary of the pressures of leadership, she had lately given thought to reviving Hokanu's interest. The Shinzawai had shored up their weakened stock in the council by rejoining Almecho's Alliance for War, making a Shinzawai-Acoma union yet more desirable. The radicals in the Party for Progress made enough noise about social change in the council for the Blue Wheel Party's errant behaviour to pass without comment, but Mara sensed something larger was afoot.
At the least, she could use the excuse to probe Hokanu for information.
Bothered that her interest should shift so quickly from romance to politics, Mara sighed.
'My Lady?' Nacoya appeared in the doorway, regarding her mistress with concern. 'Is something amiss?'
Mara waved the old woman to the mat Arakasi had vacated. 'I grow . . . tired, Nacoya.'
Slowly, painful with her years, Nacoya knelt. The rampages of Ayaki and Kevin were forgotten as she took Mara's fingers in her own, grown daily more gnarled with infirmity. 'Daughter, what weighs down your heart so?'
Mara pulled away from Nacoya's hold. As one of-her ever present servants arrived to remove Arakasi's refreshment tray, she took a dried bread crust and tossed it into the path.
Two small birds swooped down to peck after the crumbs.
'Just this moment I was considering paying court to the Lord of the Shinzawai, for Hokanu, thinking a consort might ease my burdens. But then I found myself wanting to take the excuse to wrest information on the affairs of the Blue Wheel Party. This saddens me, Nacoya, because Hokanu is too fine a man to