The Xacatecas apartments in the Imperial Palace were twice the size of Mara’s. The carpets and antiques were sumptuous, black-lacquered furnishings in tasteful contrast to shades of lavender, royal purple, and cream. Li birds in hanging wicker cages filled the room with song and the flutter of brightly coloured wings. Mara recognized Isashani’s love of comfort and grace, and she settled in relief upon soft, thick cushions. The servants had been trained by Lord Chipino, and one of them had served on the desert campaign. Already familiar with her habits, he held a bowl of water scented with the perfume she preferred. As Mara washed, she thought sadly of the old master, while Kevin found his place on the floor behind her shoulder.
Hoppara shed his heavy outer robe, pushed a hand through tightly curled hair, then seated himself opposite a low table laden with a sumptuous lunch. He sighed, tugged his sleeves back to free strong, suntanned wrists, then offered his hands to be washed by the body slave who waited at his elbow.
When the slave had finished the ablutions, the young Lord turned frank eyes to study the bearded barbarian who stuck to Mara like a shadow.
Kevin stared levelly back until Hoppara raised an eyebrow. ‘This is your barbarian lover?’
The curiosity did not offend. Hoppara had his father’s bluntness and his mother’s shrewd judgment of people. He was simply being direct, not mocking her personal choices. Mara returned a slight nod, and Hoppara gave back Isashani’s disarming smile. ‘My father mentioned this man to me. If it is the same one?’
‘This is Kevin,’ Mara said guardedly.
Hoppara nodded in satisfaction. ‘Yes. The slave who owns a full set of armour in Acoma colours.’ He sighed, his sorrow barely concealed. ‘My father told us how this Kevin was more than merely useful in the battle fought in the desert.’
Mara smiled slightly, indicating the point was not lost. ‘He had one or two . . . suggestions.’
Li birds sang sweetly through an interval of reflection. ‘Father was not often free with compliments,’ Hoppara admitted. He stared at the cutlery as if he saw memories instead of food on the plates. ‘He credited much of what he saw in the field to brilliantly original ideas. He said no Tsurani would have thought to order his soldiers onto the backs of cho-ja warriors. The tactic impressed him greatly.’ The young Lord gave his guest another engaging smile. ‘As he was also impressed with you, my Lady.’
Kevin suddenly felt a stir of jealousy as Mara blushed at the compliment. ‘I thank you, my Lord.’
‘Is it hot?’ Hoppara said suddenly, as if the colour on the Lady’s face had other cause than his attention. He waved for a servant to open the screen, and sunlight and air spilled into the room. The garden beyond was planted in violet flowers and canopied over with fruit trees. Then, as if Lujan’s slight stiffness revealed that a guest might be concerned for her safety in the Xacatecas home, the Lord offered swift reassurance. ‘This apartment backs up to a barracks that houses the Emperor’s honour guard. Eighty Imperial Whites are in residence at all times.’
When Lujan stayed unbendingly alert, Hoppara’s tone turned genial. ‘Mother never liked that much. She said she could never wear lounging robes or bathe in her garden without putting the Imperial Family at risk. Assassins could be murdering them all, she insisted, and there the Imperial Guards would be, peeking over the walls with the wrong spears raised, and not an eye among them on defence.’
Mara smiled. Lady Isashani’s beauty was legendary -repeated motherhood over the years had done little more than add a mature lushness to her figure -- and her forthright, spicy tongue was the outrageous delight of polite Tsurani society. ‘How is your mother?’ Mara inquired.
Hoppara sighed. ‘Well enough. My father’s and older brother’s deaths were a blow to her, of course. Did you know,’ he added, unwilling to lose the thread of his original subject, ‘that my sire suggested you might marry one of his younger sons one day, should you escape from Desio’s attempts to obliterate you?’
Mara’s eyes opened wide at that, for gossip said Isashani unequivocally favoured Hokanu for her match. ‘I’m flattered.’