The Desert Spear

see to the men.”
    Damaji
and
kai’Sharum
exchanged a bitter look, but they gave no argument and left to comply. Hasik moved to follow Ahmann, but Ahmann stopped him with a look.
    “I do not require a bodyguard to meet with a
khaffit,
” Ahmann said.
    Hasik bowed. “When you did not give me another assignment, Deliverer, I assumed my place was with you.”
    “My pavilion could use raising,” Abban suggested.
    Ahmann nodded. “Hasik, see to it.”
    Hasik looked up at Abban, murder in his eyes, but Abban, safe behind Ahmann, gave not the obsequious bow of a
khaffit
but a full mocking grin.
    Abban turned and stepped into the pavilion, holding the tent flap for Ahmann to enter. The impotent rage on Hasik’s face as he closed the flap was poor recompense for his daughter’s virginity, but Abban took his revenge where he could find it.

    Jardir turned to Abban once they were alone.
    “I apologize for striking you,” he said. “It was—”
    “Meant to impress the woman, I know,” Abban cut him off. “And it would have been a fair bargain had it worked, but these
chin
see the world differently than we do.”
    Jardir nodded, thinking of how the Par’chin used to defend Abban. “Our cultures are a natural insult to each other. I should have known better.”
    “One must take especial care when dealing with
chin,
” Abban agreed.
    Jardir lifted the Spear of Kaji. “I am a warrior, Abban. My strategies are for conquering men and killing
alagai
. I am not good at the sort of…manipulation,” he spat the word, “that you and Inevera excel at.”
    “Lies have always been bile on your lips, Ahmann,” Abban agreed, with a bow that seemed equal parts deferential and mocking.
    “So how do I claim this woman?” Jardir asked. “I saw her eyes upon me. Do you think she has the liberty of
dama’ting
to choose her husband, or should I approach her father?”
    “
Dama’ting
have their liberty because their fathers are not known,” Abban said. “Mistress Leesha made a point of introducing us to her father, and then gave you the cloak, a clear sign she is open to courting. An ordinary maiden might give a fine robe to a suitor, but her gift is one worthy of the Deliverer.”
    “So it should only be a matter of arranging a dower with her father,” Jardir said.
    Abban shook his head. “Erny is a hard negotiator, but he will be the simple part. I would be more concerned that the Damajah might oppose the match, and the
Damaji
support her.”
    “I will kill any
Damaji
who defies me in this,” Jardir said, “even Ashan.”
    “What message will that send to your army, Ahmann,” Abban asked, “when their leader kills his own
Damaji
for the sake of a
chin
woman?”
    Jardir scowled. “What does it matter? Inevera has no reason to oppose it.”
    Abban shrugged. “I only suggest it because the Damajah may find she has difficulty dominating this Northern woman as she does your other
Jiwah Sen.
”
    Jardir knew Abban was right. He had always thought Inevera the most powerful woman in the world, but this Leesha of Deliverer’s Hollow seemed to rival her in every way. She would not play the role of a lesser wife, and Inevera would tolerate nothing less.
    “But it is that very indomitability that I must have beside me, if I am to lead the
chin
to Sharak Ka,” Jardir said. “Perhaps I can marry her in secret.”
    Abban shook his head. “Word of the union would reach the Damajah eventually, and she could cancel it with a word, which Leesha’s tribe might take as an unbearable insult.”
    Jardir shook his head. “There is a way. This is Everam’s will. I can feel it.”
    “Perhaps…” Abban began, twisting his fingers through the curl of his oiled beard.
    “Yes?” Jardir asked.
    Abban was silent a moment, but then shook his head and waved his hand dismissively. “Only a thought that did not hold water when filled.”
    “What thought?” Jardir asked, and his tone made it clear he would not ask again.
    “Ah,” Abban said, “I had only wondered, what if the Damajah were only your
Krasian Jiwah Ka
? If that were so, there might be wisdom to appointing a Northern
Jiwah Ka
as well, to arrange marriages to
chin
in the green lands.”
    Abban shook his head. “But not even Kaji ever had two
Jiwah Ka.
”
    Jardir rubbed his fingers together, feeling the smooth scars of the wards cut into his skin as he pondered.
    “Kaji lived three thousand years ago,” he said at last, “and the sacred texts are