Reivan smiled. “Good. I was hoping we’d see her again before we returned home. Even if just to make sure she’s safe and well.”
“We know she’s safe and well.”
“Yes, but I can’t read minds.”
“Don’t you believe me?”
Reivan chuckled. “Of course I do. But that’s not like seeing it for myself. It’s like someone telling you something tastes good, but not tasting it yourself.”
Imenja looked at Reivan sideways. “Like bulfish?”
Reivan decided she didn’t need to answer that. She nodded toward the beach.
“Is the king there?”
“Yes.”
“What does he make of all this?”
“He’s still suspicious of us, but he can see advantages. He’s pleased with himself for gaining the restrictions he wanted, too. And he’s both proud and a little scared of Imi.”
“Scared?”
“Yes. Her adventures have changed her. It’s hard for him to accept that his little girl came back all grown up. He’s the sort of man who doesn’t like change.” She paused. “There’s another with him. A priestess. She is wondering if the king will change the treaty in the way she suggested.”
“How?”
Imenja smiled. “She fears the Elai will be seduced by our gods, so she wants him to forbid us from teaching their ways.”
“What will you do?”
Imenja didn’t reply. The captain was approaching. He told Imenja the boat was ready. The Second Voice nodded and looked at Reivan.
“Do you have everything?”
In reply, Reivan lifted the oilskin bag she had packed with parchment, ink and various scribing tools.
“Then let’s go and make a little history.”
They climbed down into the boat. As soon as they had settled the crew began to row. Nobody spoke. When the hull scraped against sand the men jumped out and hauled the boat from the waves. Imenja and Reivan stepped out. The crew waited by the boat as they strode toward the Elai.
As on their previous meeting with him, the king stood within a ring of warriors. Imi waited beside him and an old woman stood at his other side. The stranger wore gold jewellery and fine clothes, and Reivan might have mistaken her for a queen if she hadn’t known Imi’s mother was dead. No, this must be the priestess. Another man stood a few steps behind the king. At his feet were two slabs of stone.
“Greetings, King Ais, ruler of Borra,” Imenja said.
“Welcome, Imenja, Second Voice,” the king replied.
Imenja turned to Imi. “Greetings, Princess Imi. How are you settling into your home and life again?”
Imi smiled. “Well, Second Voice.”
Imenja glanced at Reivan and smiled. “That is good. Now, shall we discuss the terms of our treaty?” she asked of the king.
He nodded. Reivan listened carefully as they began to examine the issues of warfare and trade. As they decided how to word each part of the treaty she wrote notes on small pieces of parchment with a gray stick. Each point was considered carefully and it took some time before the subject of religion came up.
“My people are content to follow Huan,” the king told them. “But we also understand that the new can be seductive, and that even small religious disagreements among a people can cause strife. I must also ask that you do not attempt to convert any Elai, neither by endeavoring to teach the ways of your gods, nor by granting any request for such lessons.”
“My people will keep their practices to themselves,” Imenja assured him.
Reivan managed to stop herself glancing at Imenja in surprise. She touched the pendant around her neck.
:If you agree to that, Nekaun will not see much value in this treaty.
:No, but he will see, in time, that the more forbidden something is, the more certain individuals will want it.
“I have my own restriction to place on this treaty,” Imenja said aloud.
The king’s eyebrows rose. “Yes?”
“Certain of my people at home have expressed concern that your people might seek to rob traders, either by waiting until raiders have attacked merchant ships before attacking the raiders themselves, or by attacking traders directly. I have assured them that you will not, but they want your promise on this.”
“They have my word that any of my warriors found to be indulging in such practices will be punished.”
Imenja bowed her head in acknowledgment. “Change ‘warrior’ to ‘Elai’ and specify the punishment and they will be satisfied. And also note that, if we discover your people have begun preying upon non-raiders in this manner, this treaty will be considered broken by my people.”