Laldasa (4 page)

“That's difficult. The fact is, Anala, you're now ... part of my household.”

Her eyes dropped to her hands. Mouth grim, she turned the left one palm up and flexed the fingers back, exposing a faint golden design the shape of the Mehtaran river lotus—the saroj.

“I see. What you mean to say is—or perhaps what you've been trying not to say is—you own me.”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

“Do you? Do you see that it's not something I wanted? Do you understand that I didn't have a choice? I made a decision when I was of The Age not to own das-“

“What are they, then—peris?” she asked, jerking her head toward the house.

“They're family das. Their family has served mine for centuries. To me, they ... they are family.”

“If that's true—that you want no slaves—then let me go.”

“I can't, Anala.” He willed her to look at him, so she'd know the depth of truth in him. “With that mark in your hand, you can't leave this planet unless you leave it at my side.”

The pale eyes lanced through him, almost making him catch his breath. “You could take me to Avasa, then.”

He shook his head. “Not now, I can't. The Vrinda Varma is just beginning to hear petitions in the case between the Consortium and the Avasan Guild. You're from a mining family, you know how important that consultation is. At this time of year the turnaround to Avasa takes the better part of a week. I can't vacate my seat for a trip of that length.”

She snorted. “Least of all with the daughter of Rokh Nadim.”

He was stunned. He tried to hide it and failed.

“I see Father is a celebrity even on Mehtar.”

“You could say that.”

“So.” Anala folded her hands in front of her on the table.

There was an entire discourse on resignation in that one word—in that simple gesture. Jaya was almost awed by it. No tears, no histrionics, no anger. Just “so.”

She met his gaze again. “I am part of the household of Nathu Rai Jaya Sarojin. I thank you for helping me escape another fate. What now, mahesa? What will my duties be?”

She was steeling herself. He could see it in the slow straightening of her spine.

“Your first duty,” he said, “will be to take twenty thousand dagam into Kasi, buy the mining equipment you were sent to get, and ship it to Avasa on the next freight shuttle.”

Clearly it was not what she'd expected to hear. “What? Why?”

“Because ... because your family needs it.”

“Nathu Rai-“

“Kasi stole your money—and more. You didn't gamble it away or lose it carelessly. Kasi is my city. I am only returning a small part of what it took. I can't return the greater part. It's not in my power. I can only apologize ... for everything.”

“I'm ... more than grateful, mahesa. You seem to have saved me twice today.”

Jaya grimaced. “Hardly. All I've done is contrived to make the disastrous merely intolerable ...
 
Anala, would your family be able to produce duplicate leaf for you?”

“I should think so.”

“Then, we can send a message over with the equipment asking your mother and father to appear with it. The Inner Circle should be able to declare your freedom on the strength of that. And your father will very likely be appearing before the Vrinda Varma to argue AGIM's case-“

Anala was shaking her head. “Father's position is very much like yours, mahesa. He can't leave Avasa right now. He won't leave unless he's ordered to testify before the Vrinda Varma. The Guild needs him at home now, and there's every chance, if he did come, that his life would be endangered. The same is true for my brothers. They're too well known. Why do you think they sent me for equipment? No one knows me in Kasi and father said Mehtarans underestimate women. I'd be just another young dustbrain coming to Kasi for fun and pretty clothes.”

Jaya had missed half of what she'd said. “What do you mean, your father's life would be endangered?”

She lowered her eyes to her lap. “He's received threats.”

“From whom?”

She glanced up. “The Consortium, of course. Who else?”

“Anala, you know I sit on the Vrinda Varma. Are you sure you're not-“

Her eyebrows rose. “Exaggerating? No, mahesa, I'm not. My father and the other Guild officers have all received threats. They're also under surveillance. As I said, I was able to come only because I'm female. My father will send one of his officers to speak for him.”

“How do you know the threats are from the Consortium?”

“Who else would they be from? Who else would want to keep us in thrall to Kasi-Nawahr?”

“I don't know and I'm not going to conjecture. Now about your leaf-“

“Could they send it by packet?”

He shook his head. “Bad idea,” he said. “Any mail coming from an Avasan Independent to me or any other Varmana would be intercepted and checked.”

“If the Consortium learns of the position I'm in on Mehtar, they'll jump to use it to their advantage.”

“Then they'd best not learn. We'll make sure your message to your father is well hidden among your drill bits.”

“And what will my message say?”

Jaya stood as the house lamps came on in the purple twilight. “That you're safe, but unable to return because you lack id. That you're under the protection of a Lord who will return you when he can. Shall we go in? I'd like you to meet my Jivinta, Mina Sarojin. I think you'll find her a friend.”

“Two new friends in one day. I am blessed, mahesa.” She rose, pressed her palms together again, bowed and smiled.

He grimaced. “I'd rather you not call me that.”

She looked at him quizzically. “What should I call you then, Nathu Rai Sarojin, that won't scandalize your family?”

“Jaya?” he suggested.

She looked at him doubtfully.

“Jaya,” he repeated.

“It seems disrespectful for a slave to address her lord-“

“Let's not dwell on that shall we?” He moved toward the house, pausing when she didn't move with him. Annoyance pricked him. “You don't have to walk three paces behind me,” he said, without looking at her, and continued toward the house.

She was beside him when they reached the sliding glass panels that opened into the solarium, and gave him an odd look when he held them open for her. He led her through the core of the palace toward the wing occupied by Jivinta Mina. On the second floor she nodded at one of the uniquely decorated doorways.

“That's the room I woke up in.” She hesitated a moment, then asked, “Is yours in this part of the house?”

“Yes,” he said, and gestured at the one next to it. “That one.”

A look at her very expressive face told him she hadn't asked the question with the intent of offering to share her bed; a disappointment. Now she appeared to be rummaging through an obviously troubled mind for something to say.

“What, Anala?” he asked. “Speak plainly.”

“Nathu Rai,” she said, “I realize that as my ... lord you can command me as you wish. But, I would beg you-“

“You don't need to beg, Anala. Your honor is as sacred to me as it is to you.” It was an ambiguous statement, but it seemed to satisfy her. He'd be a liar to deny the kinetic attraction he felt to her, a hypocrite to protest that he would not act on it if the opportunity presented itself. That oath left the sacredness of her honor entirely up to her.

oOo

Mina Sarojin was enjoying a light supper when Jaya brought Anala into her suite. He hadn't gotten a word out before her bright, raptor eyes found and fixed on the Avasan.

“Ah! You are right, Gauri, she is stunning. Such coloring!” She swung aside the carved wooden tray that held the remains of her meal and sat eagerly forward in her cup chair. “What's your name, child?”

Anala, immediately impressed with the Jivinta, presented her with the respectful greeting—palms out, palms together, a slight bowing of the forehead to her fingertips. “It's Anala, Rani.”

“Anala.” The old woman nodded as if she liked the feel of the name on her tongue.

Anala had the sudden impression that if her name had not met with the Jivinta's approval she would have simply changed it on the spot. Everything about her spoke of royalty, from the erect posture to the long hair she wore like a silver diadem.

“And you will call me Jivinta Mina,” the old woman decided. “The distinction of Rani in this household goes to my bonddaughter. Unlike her, I prefer names to titles. So, what is the story of Anala? Are you to be a guest of the House Sarojin?”

Anala shot Jaya a fleeting glance. “A while, I think,” she said. “It much depends on the Nathu Rai's kindness.”

“Well, he's long on that quality. Your while here should be pleasant if it's his kindness you depend on.”

Jaya smiled at his Jivinta. “Ah, and this is where I jump in with a proof of my kindness. Jivinta, could I impose on you to take Anala into Kasi tomorrow for some shopping? She needs to purchase some mining equipment and some new clothes. That dress and a torn insulsuit is all she's got at the moment.”

Mina's sculptured silver brows ascended delicately. “Mining equipment and new clothes? An interesting combination. Well, I'd be very happy to take our new friend shopping.”

Anala stirred uneasily. “Nathu Rai, please don't trouble your Jivinta to buy me a new wardrobe. If I could have my insulsuit mended I'd be more than grateful. And I'm sure I can find the equipment broker on my own.”

Jaya's reply was blunt. “Anala, I'm going to be honest with you. I know your desire to get home is fierce. I don't want you to be tempted to try to return on your own. You simply wouldn't make it. Not with that dascree in your palm.”

Ana felt her face suffuse with heat. “You don't know me, so I won't take that as an insult. I couldn't possibly leave Mehtar with your money in hand. Besides which, I'm honor bound to repay your kindness to me. If I left without doing that, I couldn't face myself, let alone my family.”

The Nathu Rai flushed and opened his mouth. Whether he meant to equivocate or apologize, Ana was not to know; chimes sounded from the com-unit at Jivinta Mina's elbow.

The old woman glanced at it only briefly before returning her eyes to Jaya's flushed face. “Yes, Ari. What is it?”

“Some visitors for the Saroj, Jivinta. The Vadin Bel Adivaram and the Lord Kreti Twapar. They say it is urgent.”

“I'll be right down,” Jaya said and threw Anala a rueful grimace. “While I'm closeted with my guests, try to think of something I can do to merit forgiveness for that ignorant remark.”

“So, Anala,” said Mina Sarojin when her grandson had left her rooms, “Come, sit. Tell me about Avasa. Is the air as dry and sweet as I've heard?”

oOo

Jaya wasn't particularly pleased to have government business brought into his private quarters, but turning away Adivaram and Twapar would be considered an extreme rudeness. To them the governing of the Mehtaran Commonwealth and the concomitant political existence was the center of their universe. To one who didn't even want a political existence it was at best a duty, and at worst an imposition.

By the time Jaya reached the Court Salon reserved for the reception of Mehtar's elite, Aridas had already provided his guests with refreshment and was standing by to hear his Nathu Rai's pleasure.

“Channa please, Ari,” Jaya told him, and did not miss the oblique glances of his fellow Varmana. Their raised brows marked his indiscretion silently. He ignored them and followed a perverse urge to compound the social gaffe. “Oh, and Ari, you can just leave the carafes. I'll serve.”

Aridas bowed slightly, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, then went to the kitchen to fetch his master's channa.

“I wish, Nathu Rai, you would not amuse yourself at our expense.” Vadin Bel Adivaram studied the fluted stem of his wine goblet distractedly.

“At your expense?” Jaya asked, seating himself beside the opulent hearth. He chose a low, comfortable chair and chuckled inwardly when his guests both glanced toward the ornate and infinitely less comfortable throne he was expected to use on such occasions. “I fail to understand how Ari's humor cost you anything.”

“Then you fail to understand much,” mumbled Kreti Twapar. “Every time you elevate a das, by neglecting to use his varnal name, for example, you demean yourself in his estimation. When you make it a joke between you, you demean yourself even more—impair your dignity, impair the dignity of your station. In this instance, you have included us in the joke.”

“I've impaired your dignity?” Jaya asked. His answer came in the form of two eloquent glances. “Well then, aren't I demeaning myself even more by allowing you two to lecture me—a Sarojin?”