‘Lady Mara, are you well?’
His voice was gruff, but well modulated. And Mara, looking up at him, smiled also. ‘You honour me too much, my Lord,’ she said in quick deference, by which Kevin knew the man had higher rank, but had not insisted she speak first. Lord greeted Lady in friendliness, with a public display of favour. ‘I am well,’ Mara continued, her poise belying her strain. ‘And greatly flattered to see you here. You are well, Lord Chipino?’
‘Well indeed,’ the man replied, with sudden, acid sarcasm. He tossed back steel-coloured hair and laughed; Kevin could not see why, but decided the Lord was responding to some subtle nuance of Mara’s as he offered his arm and led her forward. ‘Lord Desio, may he and his cousins die choking, shall be made to regret this day.’
Mara murmured something in reply that caused the Lord of the Xacatecas to laugh again, and to eye her with fresh appreciation. He completed a gracious motion, and the Lady was handed into the Lord’s own litter, a thoughtful courtesy, since his personal appearance had not been expected, and time had not allowed the Acoma servants to unpack her palanquin. The company of warriors moved off in squares of black and yellow offset like a chequerboard with squares of green.
‘If I were younger,’ boomed the Lord in his gravelly voice, ‘I would be minded to give young Hokanu some competition.’
Well, Kevin decided – with a small pang of jealousy – at least the Lord of the Xacatecas seemed charmed by the Lady who desired his alliance.
‘For which your beautiful Lady wife would wish me poisoned,’ Mara demurred smoothly. ‘Is Isashani well?’
‘Well, thank you, and grateful for my absence, which keeps her from becoming pregnant again. Turn here,’ Lord Chipino instructed his bearers. The company wheeled smartly across a narrow intersection and entered the canopied shade of an open-fronted hostel.
A refreshment bar extended the length of the back wall, and the sides were open framework. Soups, pastries, and assorted blends of local herb brew, called tesh, as well as the usual chocha were sold here. Benches and tables emptied as patrons of lesser rank scurried to make room for their betters, and a flurry of servants in smocks descended to clean up leavings and lay out clean cups and plates. Chipino saw Mara to a seat, took the Lord’s place at the head of the table, and set his elbows on the sanded planks, chin rested on his steepled fingertips. He regarded the girl who had routed Lord Jingu of the Minwanabi in his own home, and whose quickness at the game was earning her notoriety. Around him, Lujan’s warriors and Xacatecas’ were arrayed in defensive formation, leaving Kevin standing with the bearers just beyond earshot of the conversation. He could tell by Mara’s bearing that the social chat ended, and that discussion of serious matters began almost immediately. Servants brought food, which was laid aside barely touched, to make room for parchment maps, and a series of slates brought in by a servant in yellow-and-purple livery.
Presently Mara waved for Kevin to come and stand at her shoulder. ‘I want you to hear this,’ she said, and by her tone the Midkemian understood that she intended to ask his opinion later, when they had time in private for talk.
The afternoon passed in discussion of the previous year’s succession of skirmishes, which had resulted in Mara’s summons from the High Council.
‘There is only one thing to be concluded,’ Xacatecas wrapped up. ‘The raiders from Tsubar are growing vastly more numerous, and aggressive beyond their normal nature. What I would ask you is, why?’
Mara regarded the older man steadily, thinking. ‘We shall find out, Lord Chipino.’ She spun her empty tesh cup with her fingers and said obliquely, ‘Rest assured, my estates are vigorously fortified.’
The Lord of the Xacatecas smiled to show even teeth. ‘Then, daughter of Sezu, we understand each other well. The enemy shall gain nothing of advantage.’ He reached out, and lifted his goblet of Jamar crystal in hands that bore no rings. ‘To the victory,’ he said softly.
Mara met his eyes and nodded, and for some unknown reason Kevin felt chilled.