“We have not yet discussed the price,” she said.
“All right,” I acknowledged. “I’ve talked about this with Rinaldo, and he told me to tell you that he’s called the vendetta off. He feels things were settled with Amber when Caine died. He asked me to release you if you would go along with this, and he suggested that in return for your help against the new lord of the citadel we restore the Keep of the Four Worlds to your sovereignty. Bottom line, as he put it. What do you say?”
She picked up the goblet and took a long, slow sip. She’d stall, I knew, trying to figure a way to squeeze more out of this deal.
“You’ve spoken with Rinaldo very recently?” she said.
“Yes.”
“I am not clear as to why he is running about with Dalt; rather than being here with us, if he is so much in agreement with this plan.”
I sighed.
“Okay, I’ll tell you the story,” I said. “But if you’re with us, I do want to get moving soon.”
“Proceed,” she said.
So I recounted the evening’s adventure in Arden, omitting only the fact that Vialle had placed Luke under her protection. Nayda seemed to grow progressively distressed as I told the tale, uttering small whimpering sounds at odd intervals.
When I was finished, Jasra placed her hand upon Mandor’s arm and rose, brushing him lightly with her hip as she passed, and she went to stand before Nayda.
“Now tell me why the daughter of a high Begman official is restrained here,” she said.
“She is possessed of a demon that enjoys interfering in my affairs,” I explained.
“Really? I’ve often wondered what hobbies demons might pursue,” she observed. “But it seems this particular demon has been trying to say something in which I might be interested. If you would be so good as to free it for a moment’s conversation I promise to consider your offer afterward.”
“Time is running,” I said.
“In that case my answer is no,” she told me. “Lock me up someplace and go to the Keep without me.”
I glanced at Mandor.
“In that I have not yet agreed to accept your offer,” Jasra continued, “Rinaldo would call this an entertainment expense.”
“I see no harm in it,” Mandor said.
“Then let her speak,” I told him.
“You may talk, ty’iga,” he said.
Her first words were not addressed to Jasra, however; but to me: “Merlin, you have to let me accompany you.”
I moved around to where I could see her face.
“No way,” I told her.
“Why not?” she asked.
“Because your penchant for protecting me will actually hinder me in a situation where I will probably have to take some chances.”
“That is my nature,” she responded.
“And my problem,” I said. “I mean you no ill. I’ll be glad to talk to you when this is all over, but you’re going to have to sit this one out.”
Jasra cleared her throat.
“Is that the entire message? Or is there something you wished to tell me, also?” Jasra asked.
There followed a long silence, then, “Will you be accompanying them or not?” Nayda inquired.
Jasra took just as long to respond, obviously weighing her words:
“This is a clandestine, personal operation,” she said. “I am not at all certain it would be countenanced by Merlin’s seniors here in Amber. While it is true that I stand to gain if I cooperate, I will also undergo considerable risk. Of course, I want my freedom and the restoration of the Keep. It is almost a fair trade. But he also asks a quitclaim on the vendetta. What assurance have I that this means anything here, and that the hierarchy of Amber will not hunt me down as a troublemaker afterward? He cannot speak for the others when he operates on the sly this way.”
Somehow, it had become a question addressed to me, and since it was a very good question to which I did not really have an answer, I was glad that the ty’iga had something to say:
“I believe that I can persuade you that it would be in your best interest to agree to accompany them and to render every assistance you can,” she offered.