Chapter 26. Complications Under the Silent Sky

Chapter 26. Complications Under the Silent Sky

Amir Esca Shirvan-jaCheêck out latest novels at novelhall.com

“Are you sure this is not a trap?” Amir glanced at her cousin.

Samat was cold, wet, and crowded. A far cry from the pleasantly dry sands of their cities. Even the decks of their ships were cleaner than some streets of this cesspit. And they had to travel by tail.

The other lamura shook her head. “Shahin would not have suggested this place if she felt threatened or followed. It is safe.”

“Or she thinks it is safe.” Amir pressed her lips thin.

Her head snakes hissed in agreement, vigilantly watching the surroundings. The revelation that Shahin was safer than Amir imagined her to be didn’t raise her spirits.

Amir Shirvan-ja came here on the personal behest of their mother. To save one of their own. It was not common when one of their own had found themselves in a situation where their personal power wasn’t sufficient, but it did occasionally happen.

If Shahin thought herself safe, this situation was even more complex than Amir had prepared herself for.

“What of House Kiymetl?”

“Their Speaker is wary of losing us, but she is asking for time. Their Matriarch is on the way.”

“And what of her sister?”

“Amanzhan Irada does not think it is time yet to inform her of our arrival.”

Amir stopped, “She does not? So the Speaker of Kiymetl plans to use us for her own plots.”

“She would not be a Speaker otherwise.”

“This is welcome news if it is true.” She slid into a pavilion and glanced around. “If we position ourselves as the crucial bargaining token, they will fall over themselves trying to win us over.”

The place was rather ordinary. It was an empty estate on the outskirts of Samat: a winter residence of some Manor, rich enough to afford it but poor enough to let it sit idle when not in use.

A perfect meeting place for an affordable price.

“May the warmth never leave your house, Amir Shirvan-ja.” Shahin suddenly slid into the room. “I have not seen you for more than ten years, ever since my last trip to Shirvan. While it is unfortunate that we have to meet under current circumstances, I am pleased to see you nevertheless.”

“And may the warmth never leave your breath, Shahin Yusuf-ja.” Amir frowned and slid closer. “You have come here alone?”

Shahin’s hands were free of shackles. Her skin was also clean and her scales had a natural shine. Kiymetl Manor had the decency and wisdom to treat her properly, it seemed. Many families were wiped out and many Manors had ceased to exist because of a single Domina who couldn’t handle newfound power and made too many enemies too quickly.

“Yes. I know that this meeting might look risky and detrimental to my cause, yet it is necessary. There are many things you ought to know as soon as possible. Things that I could not rely on the messengers or missives to deliver.”

Amir took out her pipe and tapped it against her palm, thinking. Shahin was right — coming here this early and alone reeked of desperation. Something that her captors could easily exploit.

Whether she had snuck out unseen and was currently risking capture, or came here with their approval and made Esca’s bargaining position that much weaker in the process: it was hard to argue for tyranny if she was unhurt and enjoying many freedoms.

“Very well.” Amir glanced back at her retinue. “Set up a circle around this place and let no one pass.”

Amir took her time filling the pipe, waiting for everyone to disperse. A small snake of living fire spawned in the air and was immediately sucked into the pipe as she took the first drag. Feeling the calmness spread through her body from that smoky warmth in her lungs.

“If you were one of our youngest, I would have caned your back raw by now.” She calmly observed, watching the smoke dance around her like a school of fish. “But you are old enough not to make such mistakes and young enough not to suffer from senility. And your past deeds are well-known among Esca. So, tell me: what did go wrong and how can we solve this together. Especially with the eldest daughter of Kiymetl trying to keep us in good grace.”

“The situation here is more complex than you can dare to imagine.” Shahin crossed her arms. “Do not place your bets on Amanzhan Irada this soon: she has lost already, most likely, and does not even realise it.”

“From what I could tell, she has the ear of most of her House.”

“If you look at it as an internal House conflict. It is not. You are sliding into the dance of four Pillar Houses of Emanai and you do not even know it yet. I guarantee that the other three are equally curious by now but do not wish to intrude.”

Amir couldn’t help but scoff. “All that because a single Manor learnt about glass? I did not know Emanai was that dependent on it.”

“Do not look at me that way, or you will repeat the same mistake as I did. This is not about Esca, nor our glass. This is about the person who gave them this knowledge.”

“Your growth comes with the price to other Kiymetl Manors,” Amanzhan was quick to interfere, as expected. “Your tyrannical treatment of Esca had likely cost us a valuable partner. While the beauty of your trinkets is still a mere shadow of Yusuf.”

An expected murmur across the room.

“Tyrannical?” Aikerim raised her eyebrow, looking surprised. “Have you spoken to Shahin Yusuf-ja yourself? Not only is she well-cared for but she is happy in her current place.”

Her demeanour changed instantly, replacing surprise with outrage, “Don’t forget that she had brought two Collectors into my Manor! Not just after my Alchemist but my own daughter and, possibly, me! Do you expect me to stay meek and quiet about that, lest I offend your trading partner?”

That had increased the noise of the gathering. It also made her mother frown. Aikerim was honest with her accusation: the two Collectors were tasked to remove Erf and anyone else who knew about the glass. Shahin did not anticipate how eagerly Erf was parting with his knowledge.

“Are you willing to say this again in front of Esca?” Amanzhan narrowed her eyes, “With the Orb of Truth nearby?”

“Yes and yes.” Aikerim was quick to seize the offered opportunity. “Where are they anyway? I can bring my Orb or use one of yours. My conscience is clear. Theirs — not so much.”

“Just because you are right does not mean you are powerful,” Nanaya Ayda sighed from her central couch. “You can’t force them to resume their trade with us if they feel slighted.”

“Let them come. Esca can have their lamura back anytime.” Aikerim shrugged. “I have no need for her.”

Her mother blinked.

“I can assure you, mother. Not only am I not worried that Esca would cease the trade, but Shahin Esca Yusuf-ja would do her best to remain by my side.” She felt herself grin. “Their delegation will try to appear powerful but, once they meet with their own, they will know that Esca has no other choice.”

“Bold words for you to say, sister. Do you think your Erf has managed to seduce the lamura already? Or were you seduced by him instead?”

Now came the tricky part of the conversation. By the looks of the room, Aikerim had won the first exchange which forced Amanzhan’s hand further. This was something that she intended to do all along, especially now when her sister was on the defence, but that didn’t mean she could be careless about it.

“Compared to some, I am not in Heat to constantly think about it. Nor is Shahin. I am not that stupid to think that an Envoy of Esca herself with decades of experience would think with her cunt and not her head. She is seduced by the knowledge. Secrets of glass that Esca does not have, yet. Secrets that would be denied to her if she were to betray me.”

“Secrets that you are sharing with the lamura and not your sisters.”

“She gets the secrets of glass, nothing more. If anyone in our House can make glass — they can learn from our artisans how to make flat panes as well. Or do you actually want me to lose Esca forever by making their glass-making knowledge public?”

Aikerim looked around and spread her arms. “I am not obligated to share the secrets of my Manor, even with my own House. But I am going to. For I am a grateful daughter of Kiymetl.”

Glancing back, she bowed to her mother. “You can ask your brother why he decided to gift the Gestr to Erf of his own volition. And how many secrets he has learnt from him since then.”

“Where is he, by the way?” The Matriarch glanced around.

Aikerim shrugged innocently. “Most likely busy playing with a new invention. An invention that would have been his alone if the Speaker of Kiymetl didn’t invite the Censor of Emanai over. Just for the opportunity to milk her brother.”

“You think that trinket is worth more than the seed of Albin Chasya?” Amanzhan growled in outrage. “You spent years to claim Tarhunna as yours and you dare to frown on others for thinking the best for their children?”

“Amanzhan is right, Aikerim.” Her mother sighed, “you can’t compare the usefulness of a tool to Albin’s Spark. Even if he sires only boys.”

“Unfortunately, the tool was not what Sophia Chasya is after. She made it perfectly clear that she wants Erf himself. The question is, did you promise her my property? Or are you trying to stir enough controversy to claim him as yours, first?”

“Your murk has caused enough controversy by himself,” one of her aunts spoke up from the side. “First we heard about the glass and issues with Esca. Now there are rumours of him working with steel. Enoch Manor is already abuzz about it. And what about outside of Emanai? Do we have to fear armies from the north because your slave decided it is time to play with fulad?”

Aikerim sighed among the murmurs. that was yet another rumour she could not contain. A rumour she had no easy defence against. “There are no plans to make fulad, I can assure you about this in front of the Orb if I need to.”

“Nevertheless, the rumours are there.” Amanzhan proclaimed and Aikerim couldn’t stop herself from glaring at her elder sister. It was obvious where the rumours had started from.

“An arm of warriors would not move because of the gossip of an elder sister. If they send an official envoy, I will greet them and assure them of our non-involvement and I would not lie about it. If they dare to attack us anyway, it would be done because they simply wanted to invade.”

“You wish to risk...”

“I wish to risk nothing!” Aikerim thundered. “It would not matter to the North clans if he belongs to me, you, or you have already given him to Sophia Chasya. If they even dare to. Since when did the Speaker of Kiymetl, one of the Pillar Houses, start to think so low about the power of Emanai? Are you going to bow to everyone around us lest they decide to invade too?”

“At least I don’t bow to a mere murk! Or give him my eldest daughters as playthings!”

Amanzhan’s hiss made the entire room deathly silent.