Shadow and Betrayal

unlit lantern and a wide, low cabinet. Roast chicken, fresh cheese, and apples just on the edge of ripeness had been laid out for them. Sharpened by Otah’s hunger and relief and wonder, the smell of them was wonderful. Amiit gestured toward the table, then opened the cabinet and took out two earthenware mugs and flasks of wine and water. Otah took a leg from the chicken and bit into it - the flesh tasted of tarragon and black pepper. He closed his eyes and grinned. Nothing had ever in his life tasted so good.
    Amiit chuckled.
    ‘You’ve grown thinner, old friend,’ Amiit said as he poured himself wine and Otah a mixture of wine and water. ‘You’d think accommodations in Machi would be better.’
    ‘What’s going on, Amiit-cha?’ Otah asked, taking the proffered drink. ‘Last I heard, I was going to be either executed as a criminal or honorably killed in the succession. This . . .’ he gestured at the room with his mug, ‘this wasn’t suggested as an option.’
    ‘It wasn’t approved by the Khaiem, that’s truth,’ Amiit said. He sat across from Otah and picked up one of the apples, turning it over slowly as he spoke, inspecting it for worm holes. ‘The fact is, I only know half of what’s going on in Machi, if that. After our last talk - when you were first coming up here - I thought it might be best to put some plans in motion. In case an opportunity arose, you understand. It would be very convenient for House Siyanti if one of their junior couriers became the Khai Machi. It didn’t seem likely at the time. But . . .’
    He shrugged and bit into the apple. Otah finished the chicken and took one of the fruits himself. Even watered, the wine was nearly too strong to drink.
    ‘We put out men and women to listen,’ Amiit went on. ‘To gather what information we could find. We weren’t looking for anything in particular, you understand. Just an opportunity.’
    ‘You were looking to sell information of me to the Khai in return for a foothold in Machi,’ Otah said.
    ‘Only as a last resort,’ Amiit agreed. ‘It’s business. You understand.’
    ‘But they found me instead,’ Otah said. The apple was sweet and chalky and just slightly bitter. Amiit pushed a platter of cheese toward him.
    ‘That looked bleak. It’s truth. And that you’d been in our pay seemed to seal it. House Siyanti wasn’t going to be welcome, whichever of your brothers took the title.’
    ‘And taking me out of their tower was intended to win back their favor?’
    Amiit’s expression clouded. He shook his head.
    ‘That wasn’t our plan. Someone hired a mercenary company to take you from the city to a low town and hold you there. We don’t know who it was; they only met with the captain, and he’s not on our side. But I’m fairly certain it wasn’t your brother or your father.’
    ‘But you got word of it?’
    ‘I had word of it. Mercenaries . . . well, they aren’t always the most reliable of companions. Sinja-cha knew I was in the city, and would be interested in your situation. He was ready to make a break with his old cohort for other reasons, and offered me the opportunity to . . . what? Outbid his captain for his services in the matter?’
    ‘Sinja-cha is the commander?’
    ‘Yes. Or, was. He’s in my employ now. With luck, his old captain thinks him dead along with you and the other armsmen involved.’
    ‘And what will you do now? Ransom me back to the Khai?’
    ‘No,’ Amiit said. ‘I’ve already made a bargain that won’t allow that. Besides, I really did enjoy working with you. And . . . and you may yet be in a position to help me more as an ally than a commodity, ne?’
    ‘It’s a bad bet,’ Otah said and smiled.
    Amiit grinned again.
    ‘Ah, but the stakes are high. Would you rather just have water? I wasn’t thinking.’
    ‘No, I’ll keep this.’
    ‘Whatever you like. So. Yes, something’s happening in Machi. I expect they’re out scouring the world for you even now. And in a day, perhaps two, they’ll find you floating down the river or caught on a sandbar.’
    ‘And then?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Amiit said. ‘And then we’ll know what’s happened in the meantime. Things are moving quickly, and there’s more going on than I can fathom. For instance, I don’t know what the Galts have to do with it.’
    Otah put down his cup. Even under the blanket of whiskers, he could see the half-smile twitch at Amiit’s mouth. The overseer’s eyes sparkled.
    ‘But perhaps you