Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

“I do not know what your word, your promise,
     means to you. You seemed surprised I would consider mine binding.”
    “Not surprised, exactly. Lupi consider their word binding in an absolute sense like
     you do. They’re very careful what they promise. Ah…my culture places a high value
     on honoring one’s word, but it is not absolute. We believe there can be mitigating
     circumstances. If breaking my word was the only way to save lives, I would do that.
     But it would truly have to be the only way.”
    Alycithin looked at her hands. She smoothed an invisible crease from the yellow silk
     of her gown then looked up and met Lily’s eyes. “Will you give me your word you will
     not repeat what I tell you now?”
    “No.”
    “No? You give me that single, naked response?”
    “I’m careful where I give my promises, too. First, I don’t withhold information from
     Rule. That’s firm. I very seldom withhold things from my boss, and only when there’s…you
     might call it a conflict of honor. When I think honor is better served by my silence.
     You asked for too broad a promise.”
    A smile tucked itself into the corners of Alycithin’s lips, making her look more catlike
     than ever. “Will you promisenot to repeat what I tell you to any sidhe, and to withhold it as much as you honorably
     may from your own people?”
    Lily thought that over, looked for trouble spots, and found one. “I will promise not
     to reveal it to any out-realm sidhe, and to withhold it as much as I honorably can
     from my own people.”
    “Out-realm sidhe? But Earth has no…I see that you do not intend to explain.”
    Lily shook her head. Arjenie’s secret wasn’t hers to reveal.
    “Very well. I accept those terms. Do you so promise?”
    “I do.”
    “Benessarai and Lord Rethna were friends of the third degree. This is not known in
     my realm. This is not known by his father, Lord Thierath. Benessarai is known to have
     been friends with Lord Rethna, but all think it was of the fifth degree. He is not
     the only one now tainted in this way, for Rethna entertained widely among the lords
     of many realms, but there is no real danger from such an association. Fifth-degree
     friends have liking for each other, but very limited bonds of obligation. Third degree
     is quite different.” She took a slow breath. “That is the real reason Lord Sessena
     ensured I was coleader of this delegation. Benessarai needs a success to redeem himself,
     yes, but he also needs to be watched. Above all, it cannot be known that he had such
     close ties to Lord Rethna.”
    Lily tried to think herself into Alycithin’s shoes. Her big fear was the Queens, Lily
     thought. Her people were scared that whatever was happening in Rethna’s realm would
     spill over into theirs. “It must have come as a shock when I told you that Friar,
     who is allied with or working for Benessarai, is the Great Bitch’s creature.”
    “The…oh.” Amusement flashed in her eyes. “This is how you refer to the one we do not
     name? How charmingly irreverent. Also clever. Even a casual use-name may acquire resonance
     with sufficient repetition, but I think
she
will not recognize any resonance with that appellation. Itwas a shock, yes, but it did allow me to make sense of some things that have been
     bothering me. I have reworked my plans considerably while we talked. And so I have
     given you the knowledge to destroy me utterly, should you disregard your word. Just
     as I could destroy you, did I choose to dishonor mine. I have made us equal in power,
     Lily Yu. Do you see why?”
    “You needed me to believe you,” she started. Stopped, and went in a slightly different
     direction. “And this is a negotiation. You can’t truly negotiate with someone who
     lacks power, can you?”
    “Precisely! I like you, Lily. You are so grave, but quick and flexible. Those qualities
     do not often march together. I cannot violate my agreement with Robert Friar.”
    “Even if he violates it first? Robert Friar places no value on his word. The Binai
     who killed Rethna was freed from her contract with him because he’d already broken
     it.”
    “With all respect to the Binai, a vow is far more binding than a contract. If Robert
     Friar proves dishonorable, I have erred by entering into an agreement with him. My
     error does not affect what I have bound myself to do. And yet I must find a way to
     keep such a one from succeeding, for reasons both moral and personal. You were