“I think it a real possibility, mekt-hakkikt.” While hani captains and Tully sat and listened to this; while kifish hands rested near weapons and the two stsho retreated into a small, soiled ball, glad to be forgotten. Her heart beat to the point of hurting. Her stomach ached and weakness came and went in tides. “I see one way Akkhtimakt could go from here. One path. Mahendo’sat occupy Tt’a’va’o; you have Meetpoint. Either you’ve got Kshshti or the mahendo’sat have, by now; or they’ll be headed there like chi to a hot spot; on that, I wouldn’t predict. The third path Akkhtimakt assuredly has, open all the way behind him.” Do you see, sister captains, do you see yet what we’re dealing with, what we’re trying to do? For godssakes don’t twitch, don’t distract this kif, don’t make a slip.
“Kkkkt. One path. Yes. Why do you think I’ve favored you as I have? That area of space which lies like a peninsula amid a gulf without jump points. That unfortunate circumstance which has made hani isolate. And kept them pinned between that gulf and mahen ambitions. Do you understand me, hunter Pyanfar? Do you know now why I have given you so much?”
“Hani space.” The pain was back in her chest. She found breathing difficult. “A pocket in which Akkhtimakt can be contained. Uncrossable space on two sides, unfriendly mahendo’sat on the third, yourself on the narrow fourth.”
“Mahendo’sat will be quite busy. I want Akkhtimakt kept busy. I know you have self-interest in that. Do you recall our debate on self-interest?”
“I have one there. Yes. A considerable interest.”
“Name what you need.”
So easy? My gods. So easy. “These captains. All these in my company. Their ships.”
“Do you include Aja Jin?”
Gods, gods. Be calm, Pyanfar. Don’t lose it all. Don’t let the voice wobble. Her nose was running. She sniffed and tried to focus. Ignored the itch. “I wouldn’t put Jik to a choice between you and Goldtooth. Not twice. With me he’s got clear reason to cooperate. With me he’ll be fighting something that’s clearly his enemy, and a threat to that whole border. Self-interest. He won’t bolt and go home till he knows hani aren’t going to collapse. I know the mahendo’sat, and everything he’s done is perfectly reasonable. So is his going with us now. You want hani ships to fight against Akkhtimakt, they will, and a lot safer with Aja Jin’s guns with us.”
“Kkkkt. Merchants. Against hunters. I will give you reliable ships of my own. They will give you that chance.”
“And Jik, mekt-hakkikt. I’m going to have to make a show of power with both the mahendo’sat and the han: call it hani psychology, call it sfik, but it works that way. You need no ornaments. I do, to prove what I’ve got. I need Jik and Aja Jin: I need my human; I need your ships-” All right, I accept them. Worry about my motives, bastard.
Sikkukkut’s jaw lifted ominously. And sank again. Dark eyes glittered in the sodium-light, beneath the hood.
“Skku of mine, you look to make yourself a hakkikt.”
“I look to hold hani space, mekt-hakkikt. I’m securing my agreements.”
There was profound silence. Her heart beat hard, every thump a pain in her chest; her limbs went cold and hot and the edges of the room went in and out of focus around the one darkness that was the kif; and life or death, then and there, if the kif took suspicion, if one of the hani captains reached her tolerance, if someone moved or sneezed, they could all die.
And worlds would.
O gods, O gods of my mothers, gods greater and lesser, littlest and far away, gods of my world-hear an old reprobate: can you move a kif . . . even a little bit?
“Kkkkt. Take all you have named. Dispose of Keia as you will. On his ship or in your hands. Now. Go. You are dismissed, skku-hakkikt.”
She drew in a breath; a second one. Not skku-hakkiktu but skku-hakkikt. Not vassal of mine but vassal-prince. Her heart beat and skipped. Then she gulped air, grabbed the insect-leg of the chair and thrust herself to her feet. “Up,” she said. “Move. The hakkikt’s order, gods rot it, don’t sit and think about it!”