Mission To Mahjundar (4 page)

“Follow my voice then. They tell me you’ve become quite clever, developed many tricks to minimize your disability.” Kajastahn sounded querulous. He caught his breath as she left the chair and walked a few steps nearer to the bed. “By the Ten Gods, you’ve become her twin!”

“No, sir, only her daughter.” Shalira paused, hands fisted at her sides.

“And mine.” His voice rang strong on the declaration, yet didn’t sound especially proud. “I never believed those claims your mother played me false with her damn guardsman.” Kajastahn was racked by coughing.

“I don’t understand—”

“I didn’t summon you here in the middle of the night to rehash old gossip. I know my Favorite didn’t cuckold me, not with Saium, not with any man. No one would have dared,” the emperor said. He fell silent, breathing heavily and shifting against his headboard as if no position gave him comfort.

Mother and Saium?
Thoughts whirled in Shalira’s mind. Pointed remarks and hints made by impudent courtiers over the last few years gained new meaning in light of what the emperor had just said.
But why bring this up now?
“Why am I here, sir?”

“Heard you were caught in a terrorist explosion this morning.”

“I was on the edge of the blast, yes. I took no harm, other than a superficial wound in the arm. The military officer from the Sectors rescued me.” Touching the fresh bandage on her upper arm, Shalira felt her cheeks grow warm as she remembered how commanding and strong Major Varone had been, how gallant.
I wish I knew what he looked like.
She pushed the stray desire to the back of her mind. Important to concentrate in this rare audience with her father.

“Not the first sign of unrest and rebellion. Maralika thinks she and her son will rule after I die, but she may have miscalculated how much the people will swallow. New taxes, new gods, she’s imposing too much change, moving too fast. Make no mistake, though, she’ll hold power for some span of time after I’m gone, which is why I wanted you well away from here.”

Shalira was startled again. “I thought my marriage was arranged to ensure peace along the western border? To seal a treaty.”

“Come closer.” Kajastahn patted the edge of his bed and Shalira obediently moved toward the sound, sitting once she had bumped into the mattress. A heavy, beringed hand closed around hers. Stroking her hand with his thumb, the emperor said, “I’ve not been much of a father, not since your mother died and your brother was killed. Too painful to behold you.” Unspoken was,
Why them? Why not you?

Pain clenched around her heart to hear him admit what she’d always suspected. Shalira fought not to cry. Time for self-indulgence later. “What’s changed now?”

“I don’t have much time left. Trying to settle old debts, fix some problems I allowed to fester. Now look, Bandarlok is reputed to be a strong man, holds what’s his. I think he’ll keep you safe, even if you aren’t to be his chief wife. Give him an heir with royal blood and your position will be secure, even after I’m dead. Maralika can’t touch you there.”

Icy shock poured through her, and Shalira’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t understand. Are you telling me he’s already married?”

“Customary among the hill people, just as it is here in the city. By the Ten Gods, girl, surely you didn’t think a powerful man like him was going to take a blind woman past her prime as his chief wife? Not even with the dowry I sent.” Kajastahn’s laugh was like acid on top of his harsh words.

Shalira fought not to faint, drawing in deep breaths and digging the fingernails of her free hand into her palm. Never once had it entered her mind she’d be one among many wives.
He makes it sound as if Bandarlok had to be paid to take me off his hands.
She wanted desperately to be anywhere but in this room, listening to Kajastahn’s revelations. She’d been so proud to have the marriage arranged for her, to be serving a critical diplomatic purpose for her father. How little she’d understood. Forcing herself to remain seated, Shalira waited for the next blow to fall.

Perhaps sensing his daughter wasn’t finding this explanation palatable, the emperor released her hand. Shalira heard him noisily drinking some liquid. Burping twice, he continued the justification of his actions on her behalf. “Well, if I’d done nothing, Maralika was proposing to send you to the Abbey of Obedient Sisters to the south, where I’m sure she’d have had you murdered as soon as I’m gone. Give me some credit. It’s not as if worrying over the fate of one girl is at the top of my duties. I got you a husband despite all the odds. You do the rest. Get yourself pregnant by him is my advice.”

“Yes, Father. I’m grateful you’re taking an interest in my fate.” Shalira forced the words from her lips.
Well, he’s right, life for me will undoubtedly be better out there in the western forests, even as a secondary wife, than here in this poisonous court. Or at the abbey!
Recalling horror stories of the abuses suffered by unprotected novitiates at an institution little better than a prison, Shalira derived some comfort in her father’s arrangements for her future.
I’ll make it work, just as I’ve done ever since I went blind. He has no idea how resourceful I am.
No one does.
Sagging confidence restored, she had a clever new idea.

The emperor endured a long coughing fit, unable to catch his breath. Shalira sat, not knowing what she should do for him, if anything. He hadn’t given her permission to leave or to touch him. Eventually, Kajastahn fell back against his pillows, shaking the bed frame.

She decided to press her luck. “Thank you, Your Majesty, for…everything. May I ask for one more boon tonight?”

“As long as you aren’t petitioning for anything costly. I’ve paid enough to get you married.” His voice sounded wary.

“I’d like the two Sectors soldiers to travel with my wedding caravan as an additional escort.”

“Don’t trust the men Maralika assigned to the job, eh?” The realization amused the old man, judging by his raspy chuckle. “Maybe you’ve inherited something of my cunning along with your mother’s beauty. Even Maralika’s cutthroats will think twice about harming you in front of offworlders. Get you to Bandarlok safely. Good girl. All right, I’ll give the order.” He caught her hand again, rubbing his bony fingers across her palm. “So like your mother—amazing. Well, she’ll be pleased I’ve taken care of your future.”

He expects to meet her in the afterlife soon and doesn’t want any reproaches about his treatment of me in this life—cold comfort.
Shalira stood. “May I go now?”

“Said all I have to say. No need to linger. Fetch my servant.”

Helplessly she raised one hand. “I…can’t. I’m not familiar with your rooms.”

She heard the sound of a small gong close by.
 

“Useless girl,” the emperor said as the door to the room opened, followed a heartbeat later by the creaking of the door to the secret tunnel. “I hope Bandarlok is taken by your beauty and ignores the rest.”

“The Sectors soldiers?” she reminded him, resisting for a moment as Saium took her elbow.

“Said I’d order it and I will, in the morning.” Kajastahn chuckled. “I’m sure they’ll be upset. Sectors citizens don’t like anything interfering with their high-and-mighty mission. Well, they can’t do anything on Mahjundar without my permission, so they’ll damn well escort you to the high lands and like it.”

Satisfied, Shalira yielded to Saium’s gentle tug.
Surely there’s something else to be said? Some word of affection?
“Thank you, I’ll miss—”

“You won’t miss me. We’ve not even spoken for ten years, so don’t try to play the dutiful daughter. We don’t need any farce. I’ve done what I needed to do tonight. Now leave me in peace.”

Angry and hurt at the same time, Shalira allowed Saium to draw her away to the tunnel entrance.

“Shalira!”

She homed in on the sound of her father’s voice. “Yes?”

 
“Go with the blessings of the Ten and cherish the knowledge of how much your mother meant to me.”

How much she meant to you, not a word about me.
“I will, Father.” She stepped over the threshold, and the door closed behind her.

CHAPTER TWO
 

Incessant knocking woke him early the morning after the banquet. Rubbing his temples, Mike rolled over and groaned.
The local wine is potent stuff. Whoever’s hammering at the door isn’t helping my headache any.
“Okay, I’m coming,” he shouted, working his way out of bed and heading for the entrance, throwing a pillow at Johnny along the way. “Get me some headclear, would you?”

“Sure thing. Did you want me to give Rojar some, too?”
 

Pausing in his tracks, Mike scratched his head, yawning. “Rojar?”

Rubbing his eyes, Johnny said, “You dragged him back here with you last night, drunker than any man I’ve ever seen. Don’t you remember?”

Mike frowned. “Vaguely. Let me get rid of whoever is battering the damn door, then we’ll deal with Rojar.” He yanked the portal open. “Do you know what time it is?”

Blinking, hand raised to knock again, the servant standing in the hallway retreated a step or two. “You’re summoned to the prime minister’s office for a ceremonial breakfast in half an hour, sir. It would be best not to be late.”

Mike shut his eyes in disbelief for a moment.
They go in for pomp and ceremony at breakfast on this planet?
“How do I find this office?”

“Captain Rojar will escort you.” The servant darted glances both ways to be sure the hall was empty before leaning closer. “Have you seen Rojar since last night? He missed his duty watch, and if he doesn’t attend this ceremony with you, they’re going to arrest him for dereliction of duty. The empress has a vendetta against him.”

Conscious of the headache ravaging his nerve endings, Mike shook his head gingerly. “Haven’t seen him, but I’m sure he’ll show up. Thanks for the warning.”

“I’m his cousin. Clans have to stick together to survive in this place.” The servant bowed and walked briskly away.

Mike shut the door and grabbed the headclear inject Johnny was holding out to him. “Did you hear the discussion?”
 

“Yeah, cousins have to stick together.” Johnny shot him a sardonic look. “Not a news flash.”

Mike rolled his shoulders as the drug took effect. “Best invention ever.”

“No argument there. Good thing they provide an unlimited supply to operators in the field.” Johnny winked. “I’m glad you’re handling the high level protocol requirements. This place has too much politics for my taste. We’d better get Rojar sober and presentable, fast.” Another inject in his hand, Johnny walked toward the adjoining room of their suite, from which Rojar’s loud snores could be heard.

In between the first course and the second, the visibly bored prime minister presented Mike with a jeweled, totally useless dagger in appreciation of his having saved Princess Shalira from the bombing in the plaza.

“Thank you, sir, I was happy to be in the right place at the right time.” Mike accepted the gift, examining the workmanship. Mahjundan enameling was admired even in the Sectors. A nice souvenir, but hardly a serious weapon.

“Good,” said the prime minister, absorbed in spreading a second layer of jam onto a roll. “Then you will be highly pleased to know the emperor has such faith in your abilities after yesterday, he commands your presence in Princess Shalira's caravan, escorting her to be married to a powerful tribal chieftain in the forested highlands at the edge of the mountains.”

 
Mike paused, cup halfway to his lips. “I’m not sure I understand, sir. My own mission is urgent. Surely the princess has a sufficient escort with her father’s troops?”

The prime minister shoved the dripping roll into his mouth and cleaned his fingers on a snowy napkin. After a bout of vigorous chewing, he swallowed hard, choked, and shook his head. “Perhaps you mistake my meaning, outworlder. If you don’t choose to travel with the princess, the emperor won’t issue a permit for you to leave the capital at all.” Tilting his head, he regarded Mike with his eyes half-closed. “Do you wish to reconsider your decision?”

Beyond angry, Mike kept a rein on his temper.
Can’t cause trouble with the local officials. Command would be upset
.
All kinds of diplomatic complications.
“Permit me to consult with my liaison, Captain Rojar, to get a better understanding of the caravan’s route.”

“Shalira leaves tomorrow and greatly desires the honor of an outworlder escort. I was told you were impatient to leave, so the emperor has arrived at a solution for both of you.” The prime minister picked up his next breakfast pastry. “Unless you have more to discuss, we’re done here.” Ostentatiously turning his back on Mike, he addressed some pleasantry to the woman seated on the other side of him.

Rojar tapped Mike on the arm. “The caravan goes north first to make a pilgrimage to the tomb of Shalira’s mother.” He sketched out the route on the tablecloth.

“Do you see how many days of riding this detour adds to my schedule?” Mike demanded, keeping his voice under control. “How can anyone expect me to agree to this?”

Rojar sipped his juice. “As the prime minister said, if you don’t agree, you have no mission.”

“Unacceptable.” Mike shoved his plate away, causing the people near him to stop talking and stare. He nodded to the prime minister. “With your permission, sir, I’m going to excuse myself and go survey my gear, talk to my sergeant about this proposed change.”