The Shah smiled grimly. “Enough prostration, Saelan. So? Are our guests well? Are they contented?”
The minister took a deep breath and spoke the truth. “Prince Delganor’s delegation from Haven is seemingly quite contented, Exalted One.”
His Effulgence stopped looking at the wall and stared directly at his minister. “Contented without water?”
“They have water, Exalted One.”
“Water! Where did they get water?”
“I do not know, Shining One. Perhaps they brought it with them.”
One of the Sworn Ones at the side of the throne shook his head slightly. The Sworn Ones had computed the bulk of the grav-sleds, and they would have known if any appreciable amount of water had been brought onto Mahahm.
“They did not bring it with them,” said His Effulgence.
“Then I am at a loss, sire.”
“Find out, find out,” said Arghad to the two Sworn Ones, who slipped silently away from the throne to be replaced by two others, as alike as sand ripples on a dune. The Sworn Ones were all of one family, a lineage that had served the Shah for generations. Its members resembled one another, they thought alike, they balked at nothing, so long as the Shah commanded it.
The Shah beckoned to Saelan, who crept up the seven steps to the throne and knelt on a thin cushion on the top step, the Shah’s indulgence to an aged and loyal servant.
“You’re saying the Prince and his entourage are not uncomfortable enough to go away,” said the Shah.
“They seem prepared to stay for some time, Effulgent One.”
“Do they have women?”
“I saw no women. I saw no signs of women. I did see quite a few men, though no faces. They seem determined to regard us as unclean. I am told they have a religious functionary with them. One Rongor.”
The Shah frowned in a puzzled manner. “A heretic, you mean. The Prince didn’t bring candidates, then?”
“I cannot say, Exalted One.”
“Why did he not take our warning when he arrived? By the devils of the deep, Saelan, we made it clear they were unwelcome. Did he assume we had given him a dry and empty house by accident?”
“It is evident that Prince Delganor did not recognize it as a warning, Exalted One. As an expression of displeasure, no doubt, but not as a warning. So our malghaste spies say.”
“Then he is a fool.”
“As are all who do not look upon the glory of thy face, Master.”
“I know he brought women! He wouldn’t have wasted the trip. He had to bring at least one! And he should have followed our custom. Any women should have been given to us the moment they arrived. Such is our agreement with Haven! Why do we provide P’naki otherwise?”
“As Your Mightiness says. Several of those in the Prince’s group are strangers to us, however. They are people ignorant of Mahahm, uninformed about our relationship with the Lord Paramount of Haven, unenlightened as to our Divine Purpose on this world. They are people who might take offense at giving us the women, and they may have power back in Haven.”
“Then why did the Prince bring such people?”
“Perhaps he had no choice. Perhaps the Lord Paramount ordered it. So, the Prince may have decided not to try both things at once. Perhaps he has decided to talk about increasing P’naki first, then later he will return for the other. We know he values us greatly. As does the Lord Paramount of Haven.”
“He would have brought women anyway,” said the Shah, loftily. “Just in case. He is that kind. And, barring accident, they are probably still here, with their babies.”
“They may be. Though our spies do not say so.”
“Very well. We want the women and babies now. The Frangian boat arrived yesterday, bringing several candidates, some provided by traders, to curry our favor. The Time of Renewal is upon us. These arghaste cannot be allowed to interfere with it. If the men will not leave the house because of discomfort, let them leave for something else. An invitation, perhaps.
And we will find out whether there are women by making an invitation to the women themselves!”