“That’s true,” said Garal. “It might be better to go visit some time, instead of committing to spend the next five or six years of your life with the Geck.”
“You sell yourself short, you know,” Tic said to Ingray then. “If your mother is somehow unimpressed with you, that’s her problem, not yours. And actually, as a mother she may not be all cuddles and hugs, and it’s possible you’ll be happier at some distance from her—I think that’s likely, actually—but from what I can see I’m pretty sure she does care about you. And that nuncle of yours certainly knows what you’re worth.”
“Danach will likely be easier to live with once the inheritance thing is settled,” added Garal. “Still, I couldn’t blame you if you wanted to be away from all of them for a while.”
“You could come with us,” suggested Tic.
“No,” said Ingray. “No, I want to stay home for a while.”
At that point, the aide came back into the room with a tray of bread and cheese and said, “Miss Ingray, your mother would like a few minutes with you. She’s in the room just across.”
The room was nearly identical to the one Ingray had just left, except the bed was rolled up and where it would have been, Netano sat on a cushioned bench, and the wall to her right showed Nuncle Lak, sitting in a single chair, in a nondescript pale blue room. “You wanted to see me, Mama?” asked Ingray.
“Ingray, dear. Sit down.” Netano gestured at the space on the bench beside her. Ingray sat. “Have you seen the news services?” Netano continued. “You’re a hero.”
She didn’t feel like a hero. “Apparently.”
“I feel like I need to apologize to you,” said Netano. And then, with a glance at Nuncle Lak, though e had said nothing, hadn’t moved at all, “Your nuncle tells me I need to apologize to you. I’ve always told you children that any of you could be my heir, and I would choose the best one.”
“It’s all right,” said Ingray. Almost feeling as though she was telling the truth. “I’ve always known it was going to be Danach. Everyone knows.”
Netano gave a sardonic half-smile. “Even when he was small, Danach always had a … a certain something. And when he decides on a project, he is absolutely ruthless in carrying it out. And he’s always understood that the family’s interests are his interests. Even this business with the dirt mover—once he realized he had to change course, he did so immediately.”
A certain something, thought Ingray. Of course Danach had that certain something. He was from a good family, with old names and a history. He wasn’t some nobody out of a public crèche. But, no. Ingray wouldn’t be angry or bitter. She had her own life to make, and she could do that whether she had a certain something or not. You sell yourself short, Tic had just said, and she wasn’t going to do that anymore. She didn’t need to worry about Netano, or Danach.
“Your mother considers herself to be very egalitarian, very democratic,” said Nuncle Lak. “She was determined to give her public crèche fosters—that would be you, and Vaor before e left—every chance at inheriting. But somehow they never had that certain something.”
Ingray managed to keep her face more or less impassive, despite her surprise. She had never, ever heard Nuncle Lak speak about Netano in quite that way, in Netano’s presence or not. Certainly not on that topic.
“Now’s not the time, Lak,” Netano said sharply.
“Maybe not,” conceded Nuncle Lak. “But that time is fast approaching.”
Netano sighed. “I got a message from Prolocutor Dicat, not an hour ago, saying that if the gossip e’d heard was correct, I was choosing the wrong heir. I think e is probably correct. I think I should give my name to you, Ingray.”
It was as though the solid ground she had been standing on, steady and secure, had suddenly yawned open beneath her feet. “I … what?”
“Your mother wants to name you her heir,” said Nuncle Lak drily.
“I … but …”
“You’re thinking you can’t do it,” said Nuncle Lak. “But you can. And you wouldn’t be doing any of it on your own. Not at first. Not for a very long while, I hope.”
“And you’re a hero,” said Netano. “I’m quite sure the version of events I’m seeing in the news services isn’t … entirely accurate. That’s how the news services are, and besides, I don’t doubt there are things System Defense would rather keep quiet. But you walked into that situation willingly, and you did it to save those children, and to save Hwae. And what’s more, you succeeded. The details don’t matter.”
“And you’ve managed to acquire the good opinion of Prolocutor Dicat,” added Nuncle Lak. “I’m sure you realize that’s not easily done. That may well be extremely helpful, quite soon. Prolocutor Budrakim has managed to put himself in a remarkably difficult position this close to elections. There’s every chance you would be Third Prolocutor this time next year.”
Danach. Danach had known or suspected that this was coming. That was why he’d tried so hard to be pleasant, back in the infirmary. Why even so he’d said, resentfully, You were always Nuncle Lak’s favorite.
“The Tyr Executory is fully aware of the debt they owe you,” continued Netano. “They’ve sent to offer you indefinite residency documents, if you want them. No fees.”
“Though not free lodging or citizenship,” Nuncle Lak put in. “The Tyr are still the Tyr, after all.”
“And the Peoples of Byeit have also expressed their thanks,” Netano continued. “And there’s your personal connection with the Geck ambassador.”
“In short,” said Nuncle Lak, “at this point your mother would be a fool to name anyone but you her heir.”
She’d done it. She’d bested Danach. In the most undeniable, final way possible. This was a victory she had barely ever allowed herself to imagine, even as a private, grandiose fantasy. She’d done it.
She would be Representative Aughskold. Maybe Prolocutor Aughskold. The house in Arsamol, with the beautiful colored-glass front, the flower-lined courtyard, would always be hers. Of course she would be generous and gracious and let Danach live there.
She took a deep breath, opened her mouth, and found herself saying, “No. No, Danach’s always been your heir.”
“Are you worried I don’t mean it?” asked Netano. “Or that I don’t really want you as my heir? I do mean it, and I do want you to be the next Netano.”