They seated themselves; a discreet cough at the door made them turn. Kamatsu stood at the door “May I enter, Great One?”
Milamber and Laurie started to rise, and the lord of the house waved them back into place. “Please, stay seated.” Kasumi entered behind his father and closed the door. Milamber noticed for the first time that the son of the house was wearing garments that were Midkemian in fashion. He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.
The head of the Shinzawai family looked deeply troubled and tried to collect his thoughts. After a few moments he said, “Great One, may I be frank with you? Your arrival today is something unexpected and the source of some possible difficulty.”
“Please,” said Milamber. “I do not intend to cause disruption in your household, lord. I want only my wife and son. And I will require this slave also.” He indicated Laurie.
“Your will, Great One. The woman and the boy should, of course, go with you. But if I may beg of you, please allow the slave to remain.”
Milamber looked from face to face. The two Shinzawai maintained control, but by the way they glanced from one to the other and at Laurie, their distress was poorly hidden. Something had changed here in the last five years. The relationship between the men in the room was not what it should have been between masters and slave.
“Laurie?” Milamber looked at his friend. “What is this?”
Laurie looked at the other two men, then at Milamber “I will have to ask you to promise me something.”
Kamatsu’s shock was signaled by a sharp intake of breath “Laurie! You dare too much. One does not bargain with a Great One His words are as law.”
Milamber held up a hand. “No. Let him speak.”
In imploring tones Laurie said to his friend, “I know little of these matters, Milamber. You know I have no sense about protocol. I may be violating custom, but I ask you for the sake of our former friendship, will you keep a trust and vow to keep what you hear in this room to yourself?”
The magician pondered the matter. He could command the Shinzawai lord to tell all, and the man would, as automatically as a soldier following orders, but his friendship with the troubadour was important to him. “I give you my word that I will not repeat what you tell me.”
Laurie gave a sigh and smile, and the Shinzawai seemed to lose some of their tension Laurie said, “I have struck a bargain with my lord here. When we have completed certain tasks, I am to be given my freedom.”
Milamber shook his head. “That is not possible. The law does not permit a slave to be freed. Even the Warlord cannot free a slave.”
Laurie smiled. “And yourself?”
Milamber looked stern. “I am outside the law. None may command me. Are you claiming to be a magician?”
“No, Milamber, nothing like that. It is true that I can only be a slave here. But I won’t be here. I will return to Midkemia.”
Milamber looked puzzled. “How is that possible? There is only one rift into Midkemia, and that is controlled by the Warlord’s pet magicians. There are no others, or I would know of them.”
“We have a plan. It is involved and will take much explaining, but simply put, it is this: I will accompany Kasumi, disguised as a priest of Turakamu the Red. He will be leading soldiers replacing troops at the front No one is likely to notice my height, for the Red One’s priests are given wide berth. The troops are all loyal to the Shinzawai. Once in Midkemia, we will slip through the lines and find our way to the Kingdom forces.”
Milamber nodded. “Now I understand the language lessons and the clothes. But tell me, Laurie. Are you willing to spy for the Tsurani in exchange for your freedom?” There was no disapproval in his voice, it was a simple question.
Laurie flushed. “I am not going as a spy. I am going as a guide. I am to take Kasumi to Rillanon, for an audience with the King.”
“Why?” Milamber was surprised.
Kasumi interrupted. “I go to meet the King and bring him an offer of peace.”
Milamber raised an argument. “How can you possibly expect to end the war with the War Party still in control of the High Council?”