rippled through the air, disquiet hovered thickly there. T’Nethim existed, t’Nethim waited, in a city where he ought not to have come, in a house that was his enemy.
A piece of the yhia out of place, waiting.
Let us bid him go wait in some other house, Kurt almost suggested, but he was embarrassed to do it. Besides, it was to himself that t’Nethim was attached, his own heels the man of Indras dogged.
‘ A pounding came at the front door of Elas. They hurried out, taking weapons left by the doorway of the rhmei, and gave a nod of assent to t’Nethim’s questioning look. T’Nethim slipped the bar and opened the door.
A man and a woman were there in the light: Aimu, with Bel t’Osanef.
She folded her hands on her breast and bowed, and Kta bowed deeply to her. When she lifted her face she was crying, tears flooding over her face.
“Aimu,” said Kta. “Bel, welcome.”
“Am I truly?” Aimu asked. “My brother, I have waited so long this afternoon, so patiently, and you would not come to Irain.”
“Ei, Aimu, Aimu, you were my first thought in coming home-how not, my sister? You are all Kurt and I have left. How can you think I do not care?”
Aimu looked into his face and her hurt became a troubled expression, as if suddenly she read something in Kta that she feared, knowing him. “Dear my brother,” she said, “there is no woman in the house. Receive us as your guests and let me make this house home for you again.”
“It would be welcome,” he said. “It would be very welcome, my sister.”
She bowed a little and went her way into the women’s part of the house. Kta looked back to Bel, hardly able to do otherwise, and the Sufaki’s eyes were full sober. They demanded an answer.
“Bel,” said Kta, “this house bids you welcome. Whether it is still a welcome you want to accept…”
“You can tell me that, Kta.”
“I am going to finish the quarrel between us and Tefur, Bel.” Kta then gave Lhe t’Nethim a direct look, so the Indras knew he was earnestly not wanted. Lhe retreated down the hall toward the darkness, still not daring the rhmei.
“He is a stranger,” said Bel. “Is he of the Isles?”
“He is Indras,” Kta admitted. “Forget him, Bel. Come into the rhmei. We will talk.”
“I will talk here,” said Bel. “I want to know what you are planning. Revenge on t’Tefur-in that I will gladly join you. I have a debt of blood there too. But why is the street still sealed? What is this silence in Irain? And why have you not come there?”
“Bel, do not press me like this. I will explain.”
“You have made some private agreement with the Indras forces. That is the only conclusion that makes sense. I want you to tell me that I am wrong. I want you to account for how you return with the fleet, for who this stranger is in Bias, for a great many things, Kta.”
“Bel, we were defeated. We have bought time.”
“How?”
“Bel, if you walk out of here now and rouse your people against us, you will be bloody-guilty. We lost the battle. The Methi Ylith will not destroy the city if we fulfill her conditions. Walk out of here if you choose, betray that confidence, and you will have lives of your people on your conscience.”
Bel paused with his hand on the door.
“What would you do to stop me?”
“I would let you go,” said Kta. “I would not stop you. But your people will die if they fight, and they will throw away everything we have tried to win for them. Ylith-methi will not destroy the Sufaki, Bel. We would never have agreed to that. I am struggling with her to win your freedom. I think I can, if the Sufaki themselves do not undo it all.”
Bel’s eyes were cold, a muscle slowly knotting in his jaw.
“You are surrendering,” he said at last. “Did you not tell me once how the Indras-descended would fight to the death before they would let Nephane fall? Are these your promises? Is this the value of your honor?”