Caitlin stared at Tamt. Her bodyguard—and now friend—was normally so shy and self-effacing that Caitlin had a tendency to think of her as many Jao did: crude and coarse still, in many ways, despite Yaut’s training—what humans would call “unlettered.” Nor for the first time, though more forcefully than ever, Caitlin reminded herself not to underestimate the female. There was a good mind at work beneath that unprepossessing figure.
Kinsey was continuing. “Basically what will happen here, General, is that the Naukra has been summoned—by Narvo and Pluthrak both, it seems—to rule upon Aille’s conduct and status and determine which kochan will be given oudh over Terra. The two issues are related, but separate. In the case of Aille, his life may be demanded and given; or, it may not—but he still remains outlawed. Kroudh, as they call it, which is in many ways a fate worse than death for a Jao. That decision may, or may not, correlate with whatever decision the Naukra makes regarding Terra’s status. It is quite conceivable that Aille’s life will be demanded and given—and then oudh turned over to Pluthrak. Indeed, so far as I can tell—I don’t say this with any pleasure, believe me—that is the most likely variant. It would seem to satisfy the honor of both great kochan, at least.”
Kralik’s gray eyes were probing. “Is there any chance they would let Oppuk resume control?”
“The Naukra wouldn’t decide anyway which individual is made Governor. That decision is entirely within the purview of whatever kochan is given oudh on Terra. All the Naukra decides is which kochan that is to be.”
“That’s what I was afraid of,” Kralik muttered. “They could hand oudh back over to Narvo—and then Narvo would be within its rights to reappoint Oppuk.”
Kinsey shook his head, firmly. “Not a chance. You don’t really understand how this works, with Jao. To begin with, whatever their other faults, the Jao are far less prone than humans to what we’d call ‘political back-stabbing.’ A deal’s a deal, in their eyes. It would be understood by everyone that, even if Narvo were to be returned to oudh status—which is highly unlikely, by the way, and I don’t think even Narvo wants that—it would only be done to avoid humiliating them further. For Narvo to then turn around and reinstate Oppuk would be, under the circumstances, a grotesque insult to Pluthrak and, to almost the same extent, every other Jao kochan. Even worse, it would be a direct slap in the face to the Bond of Ebezon, which has made its attitude toward Oppuk very clear—and, so far as I can tell, that is something that no kochan, no matter how powerful, has ever been willing to do. The Bond can be . . . what’s the word?”
“Direct,” grunted Tamt. Her ears flattened, at the same time as her whiskers twitched. The combination was the Jao equivalent of grim humor, emphasis on grim. “Other words come to mind. ‘Forceful,’ perhaps, or ‘short-tempered.’ But perhaps one of Wrot’s little human sayings fits best of all, if I understand properly the nature of the beast referred to: ‘as grouchy as a grizzly bear with a sore tooth.’ ”
This time, even Kralik joined in the laughter. “Okay,” he said. “I guess we don’t have to worry about that. Still . . .”
His eyes moved toward the wall of the tent beyond which lay Aille’s command center. “I would miss him dearly, I surely would. I never thought the day would come, when I’d ever say that about a Jao.”
Caitlin felt her own eyes start to water. She too, now that the reality was curling over them like a great wave, understood how desperately she would miss the young Pluthrak, if he died.
And he would die, of that she was certain, if his life was demanded and he decided meeting the demand was the best way for him to be “of use.” However close he had become to humans, in that respect he was still Jao.
“All Jao,” she whispered.
Tamt was watching her, as she so often did, studying the woman she guarded as if to understand her. Now, she spoke softly, and Caitlin realized how thoroughly Tamt had come to know her.