Protector

“In a tributary clan’s territory. We still do not know the reason, or the person who ordered it—perhaps some quarrel inside Ajuri. We see no reason to be concerned at present. This could change, but your great-grandmother sees no reason to change the security level here or to make any alterations in plans.”

He let go a breath, much, much happier at that news. It was a little odd to think that Grandfather was no longer in the world at all—but evidently his mother had notFiled on her father, and he could not imagine that his father had done it—he was, for a few days, still only infelicitous eight, but he knew enough of the politics to know that twoactions against his grandfather in a very short number of days was inelegant, and his father had just taken one extreme action in throwing him and all the Ajuri staff out of the Bujavid.

No, his father wouldn’t have done it, not without extreme provocation, and if that were the case, nand’ Bren would tell him.

So there would be a new lord of Ajuri. He hoped it was not going to be his mother.

But that was all too complicated to talk about in front of his guests.

“Is my mother still with my father?” he asked. That was what he wanted to know, and that would tell him everything.

Likely nand’ Bren knew exactly what he was asking, and Bren answered quite cheerfully: “Yes, young gentleman, and they both are safe.”

The way he said it, and the way he added that second part was a relief. He hoped it was the truth.

But nand’ Bren was particularly bad at lying, and rarely tried to. And nand’ Bren had come from talking to mani and Great-uncle, so he knew the latest, and nand’ Bren’s bodyguard was usually very well-informed.

He thought then, If Mother did not do this, Great-grandmother could have. Moving us all out here and moving all these bodyguards in, getting Great-uncle to deal with the Taibeni . . .

Boji grabbed the tail end of his queue ribbon, which Boji sometimes untied, a trick he knew got immediate attention.

“Stop that!” He was immediately at disadvantage, and Boji, sitting on the cage, had him caught.

Nand’ Bren, amused, reached out to intervene. “Is he going to bite me, young gentleman?”

“He does not, often.” He was annoyed and amused at once, and he could not, even by twisting his body, get at Boji’s hand. Nand’ Bren’s reach, however, frightened Boji, who let go and bounded across the cage top, rattling it all the way.

“Boji! Behave.” He still had the end of the leash, which had a clip, and secured the leash onto the sturdy metal fretwork of the cage. “Stay there, and hush, Boji.”

Boji, who regarded no authority, chittered at him.

His ribbon was probably a sad thing, since the ride, and now Boji’s attentions.

“Are we to be let out now, nandi?” he asked. “We have not gotten our baths.”

“By all means. We have the bath at our end, you have this one, and one is certain your guests will by no means be insulted if Eisi guides them to the servant baths on this floor and the next above. Everyone will feel better. And if we are not all too sore to walk tomorrow, we shall take another ride.”

He brightened entirely. “One hopes so, nand’ Bren! One really hopes so.”

“There should be a light late lunch, served to the room. Staff is getting to work. Enjoy your guests. There will be music tonight: I understand your great-uncle has arranged it. And there should be nothing to trouble you. Your great-grandmother is determined that nothing will spoil your time here.”

“One is grateful,” he said, and Bren bowed and headed for the door, stopping to have a word with Eisi and Lieidi, probably about the baths, and Banichi and Jago had been talking to Antaro and Jegari, probably about security.

But they were all right. He felt a great deal better, after what nand’ Bren had said. Great-grandmother was determinedthat he should have his birthday, no matter what. Nobody had ever quite put him at the top of priorities, not even his father and mother. He was quite struck by the notion of having someone like mani protecting what hewanted and bent on having that happen.

Boji had come back to the cage edge. He absently stroked Boji’s head and scratched his cheek, which got a happy clicking sound out of Boji, who had quite settled down.

“Eisi-ji,” he said, “Ledi-ji, we shall all need baths, did nand’ Bren explain about that? We shall be happy to use the servant baths if we may. A maid to attend Irene-nadi. And then we shall meet back here and have lunch.” He saw his guests much more cheerful. “We are promised we are all quite safe, and there is no trouble at all.”

•   •   •

Baths were a very good place for a quiet discussion, and Bren and Jase sat and soaked in the communal bath.

Banichi was in attendance, at the moment—guarding the door and assuring their privacy even from trusted staff, so that discussion was not a problem.