Jade War

Maro’s shoulders slumped and he turned his face away. “Soradiyo promised that if I let a word out to anyone, the barukan would get to my nieces sooner or later and send me their tiny fingers one by one. Maybe it was a bluff, but I didn’t dare call them on it. Even though my sisters are Shotarian, and I’m Kekonese, they welcomed me. They made me a part of their lives, of their children’s lives. I could never put them in any danger.” His jaw tightened, and bitterness slid edgewise into his voice. “You never brought me into your life. You kept me away, kept secrets from me, didn’t even tell me when you decided to get rid of our—” He stopped, his eyes flickering toward Juen, still standing nearby and watching them.

Maro jammed his lips together. His hands clenched in his lap, the knuckles white. There was blackboard chalk on the cuffs of his sleeves, a detail that had become so familiar in the time Shae had known him that she was surprised to be noticing it again now of all times, as if it were something new. “You say you would’ve protected my family, but the truth is that the clans protect only themselves. Would No Peak really help strangers, especially Shotarians? You won’t even go against the Espenians on the issue of Oortokon refugees.” Maro shook his head slowly. “The Green Bone clans rule Kekon—but only Kekon. If the barukan wanted to go after my sisters’ families in Shotar, they’d find a way. Who in Kekon would care, besides me? I couldn’t take such an awful risk. I knew they’d try to kill your brother—why else would they want to get past the guards?—but you’d already chosen your clan over me; I had to choose my family’s safety over yours. I had to do as they asked.”

“Why did you come here?” Shae cried, almost angrily. “If the barukan are as powerful as you say, why didn’t you ask them to get you out of the country?”

Maro let out a short, helpless chuckle. “Who in their right mind believes they can escape the justice of the clan? Green Bones have no equal when it comes to dispensing violent punishment. You know that more than anyone. Once your brother whispered my name, I’d spend the rest of my life as a dead man in waiting. At least this way, I had a chance to face you and explain myself in person.”

The resentment left Maro’s face and he gazed at her in sad resignation. “I never imagined this, Shae. Dying by the blade—that’s for greener men. I would’ve been happy with books, and conversation, and… occasional silly romantic musicals. What we had together was real and perfect, for a while.” He smiled weakly, then breathed a sigh that seemed physically laborious before dabbing the edge of his sleeve to his perspiring brow and looking up stoically at Juen. “Please make it quick.”

Juen replied unsympathetically. “Tell us what else you know about Soradiyo and the barukan who contacted you. The men who came in today and set the bomb—who were they?”

“A couple of young men who worked for Soradiyo. I can describe them, but I don’t know their names. The barukan made sure I didn’t know much.” There was no deception in Maro’s aura. After he’d offered up what little additional information he possessed, Juen beckoned to one of the senior Fingers, Lott, and asked, “Did you reach the Pillar?”

Lott said, “He’s on his way.”

Juen glanced at Maro, then at his wristwatch. There was no question of the prisoner’s guilt, but this was an instance not only of treason against the clan but a murderous attack against the Pillar’s family. Any intelligent Fist would wait for direction from Hilo.

Shae got to her feet, overcome by sudden dread. “Is Maik Tar with Hilo?”

Juen said, “I think so.”

Shae’s stomach turned over. Tar would lose his mind; he would tear Maro to pieces. He’d make it last for hours or days. Maybe Hilo would put an end to it, but Hilo had just lost his Horn, a man he considered a brother, and his wife and children had nearly been killed; Shae couldn’t count on him to be merciful.

Seeing the terrible realization on Shae’s face or Perceiving the spike of panic in her aura, the little remaining color drained from Maro’s face and was replaced with true fear.

A leadening sense of déjà vu flooded into Shae’s limbs. She remembered standing in the cabin in Opia, facing Yun Dorupon. She’d told Maro about it: I couldn’t kill him. She’d hated Doru for years but in that moment been unable to draw her blade. Now she walked toward Juen, her face a mask that hid every roiling emotion within her. “Juen-jen,” she said. “If you’re to be the Horn of No Peak, we’ll be working together from now on. I’ve heard my brother and Maik Kehn speak highly of you, so I want us to start off on the right note.” She forced moisture into her throat. “Tau Maro betrayed not only the clan but my personal trust. He’s told us everything he knows, and there’s no question he’s to die. Do you disagree?”