There was disturbance in their faces. They were not apparently accustomed to such directness. She sipped at her drink and three others did so by reflex.
“I know your difficulties here,” she said. “And I know other details, and I shall not confide in any until I am sure what other agency arranged that reception of my party at the port, thank you.”
“Sera,” said Dain senior, “Kontrin—the hives—the hives are beyond our influence, beyond our power to restrain. We apologise profoundly for the incidence, but it was a hive matter.”
She frowned darkly. This casting back of the Kontrin’s eternal answer for majat intrusions had, on the lips of a beta, suspicion of irony. For a moment she readjusted her estimate of ser Dain’s craft, and then, staring at his chin, which wobbled with anxiety, dismissed her suspicions of subtlety. “A hive matter. If so, ser, majat have come into possession of communications equipment-modified for their handling. Or how else would they have informed themselves? Tell me that, seri. How did they know we were coming?”
Dain made a helpless gesture. “The information was widespread.”
“Public broadcast?” The notion appalled her.
“ITAK general channels,” Dain answered faintly.
She waved her hand in disgust, dismissing the matter. “Trust that I shall find my own way and provide my own security. If you have any policy of allowing majat to walk freely in and out of ITAK agencies . . . revise it.”
“We have protested—”
“If majat object to being evicted, mention my name and invoke the Pact. If you can’t move them . . . Well, but you’ve let matters go too far, haven’t you? They’re all over the city ”
“They’ve done no harm. They—”
“If you will believe me, seri, hive matters and Kontrin affairs are better avoided. And while I remind myself of it . . . since you’re unaccustomed to the protocols of Kontrin presence . . . a bit of advice in self-protection. Houses have their differences. We all do. And if another Kontrin arrives here, your safest action is to inform me at once and stay neutral. Such a visitor would correctly assume that I have agents among you and that I have personal interests in protecting the world of Istra. A friend would of course treat you well—an enemy . . . if I were removed . . . could be very disruptive in his search for my agents, who would disrupt in their turn . . . You do see your hazard, seri. I don’t think Istra could easily bear that sort of thing.
“As for the benefits of my presence, you’ll see them very soon. You want licenses; I understand that some Kontrin somewhere has blocked all your appeals. I shall expect, in fact, that any opposition who turns up here will probably be that agency, do you see, Seri? I can grant those licenses. I’ve already begun to purchase . . . extravagantly . . items which will permit me to live in comfort and safety, of course to the aid of your tax balance and the security and prosperity of the company. Council on Cerdin hasn’t received your appeals; you’ve been cut off deliberately; and if it goes on, your economy will collapse. I shall take immediate steps to improve matters. And I do imagine that that action will turn up enemies—mutual enemies—very quickly.”
“Kontrin,” said ser Dain, hard-breathing. “In no wise was the attack on your person of our doing. There is no one in ITAK who would desire—”
“You can only speak of your hopes, ser Dain, not certainties. I’ll look to myself. Simply afford me your co-operation.”
“Our utmost co-operation.”
She gave them her almost-best smile. “Then I thank you, seri. I’ve found possibilities in Istra, a change from the ordinary. I’d like to travel a bit: An aircraft—’
“Your safety—”
“Trust me. An aircraft would be very useful. Armed, if you feel it necessary.”
“We’ll provide it,” Dain said; the man at his left confirmed his uncertain look with a nod.
“I’ll furnish my own security about my property; I’d appreciate ITAK security temporarily about the aircraft allotted to my use. All these things of course are not gifts: they’ll be credited against ITAK’s taxes. Kontrin presence is never financially disadvantageous, seri.”