Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

do not need to understand
     the nuances. It may be helpful to know that my position on the delegation is both
     punishment and opportunity.”
    “A punishment?”
    “If the delegation does poorly, the blame will go to me.”
    “Even though he’s in charge?”
    A touch of impatience flickered in her green eyes. “We are coleaders. Did I not tell
     you that?”
    “You said you were both,
ah
…I’ve forgotten the word.”
    “I failed to explain. Benessarai and I were given joint leadership of the delegation’s
     goals, but he has far more authority than do I. You may confirm this with your own
     eyes. He has six people. I have two. They are capable and loyal, but they are two
     to his six.”
    “Listen,” Drummond said. “I’m not doing you any good here. I’m going to see what else
     I can learn, but you’ll have to call me again to get me through those walls.”
    Lily drummed her fingers, careful to look at her hand, not the ghost. She didn’t want
     him to go, but he was right. He wasn’t helping here…except for making her feel less
     alone.
Go on, then.
    “Call me in thirty minutes.” He evaporated.
    Lily looked up at the halfling again. “I think I understand. On paper, you and Benessarai
     are coleaders. In reality, he’s running the show.”
    Alycithin nodded. “If I understand your idiom, that is the case. His father is Lord
     Thierath; his mother is Lord Sessena. My own breeding is…” Her smile flashed, quick
     and charming. Very nearly a grin. “You may have noticed, Lily, that I am not elfin.”
    “I had noticed that, yes.”
    “There is some overt prejudice in my realm and a good deal of stereotyping. A most
     useful word, that,” she added with a lazy smile. “For all its limitations in some
     areas,English provides an excellent framework for certain concepts. My father is Rekklat.
     His people are honored as worthy and excellent warriors, but they are not considered
     capable of the subtleties of
dtha
through which one may rise in…but now I arrive at those limitations. The closest
     English word I can think of is
society
, yet that does not convey my meaning well.”
    “Status?” Lily suggested. “Or caste?”
    She tipped her head, considering. “Perhaps caste is closer, as it partakes of elements
     of status as well as power. I am ambitious, you see. Some do not believe ambition
     is fitting in a halfling. Lord Thierath is one such. Lord Sessena, however, is my
     sponsor.”
    Lily’s eyebrows rose. “Benessarai’s father doesn’t approve of you, but his mother
     is your sponsor? What does that mean?”
    “You have not an equivalent status. I am life-sworn to her. She arranged for me to
     be coleader with her son. I will speak now with a degree of bluntness that would be
     considered stupid and absurd by my mother’s people.” She paused as if waiting for
     Lily to give her permission to be blunt.
    “Okay.”
    “Benessarai is a fool. His mother knows this. She wished to have one with him who
     owes her much. One who is, perhaps, not a fool.”
    Carefully Lily asked, “Is that the opportunity part of the deal?”
    Again a quick smile. “Very good. If the delegation is sufficiently successful that
     Benessarai is not disgraced, I will receive little public credit, but Lord Sessena
     will have reason to be very pleased with me.”
    “And Lord Sessena has the whole package—authority, power, breeding.”
    “She is very high caste.” She selected a grape. “Perhaps you are wondering why I tell
     you so much about myself.”
    “If you were one of my people, I’d say you were trying to enlist me. Convince me we
     were on the same side in some ways so that I’ll do something you want.”
    Alycithin peeled the grape slowly. Her nails were a little longer than Lily’s, well-shaped,
     but just a bit off. Narrow, as if they’d considered being claws at one point, but
     changed their minds. “I would say we are negotiating. I wish you to understand why
     I would negotiate with one who seems to be without power in this situation.” She contemplated
     the grape she’d peeled, put it in her mouth, and bit. “I must tell you something more,
     I believe. Lord Rethna’s realm is in chaos. Not simply his land, but the entire realm.
     The Queens are there. Both of them. You do not know how…astounding…this is. The Queens
     have not left Thalinol together in over three thousand years.”
    “Since the Great War?”
    The eyebrows lifted. “Yes.” She paused.