“ Go on, nandi.”

She had not hung up, or passed him to Cenedi—so perhaps Ilisidi was at least not outraged.

He had taken wild, desperate chances.

But she had sent him without consultation. Had trusted him to use his knowledge creatively.

“I have proposed, nand’ dowager, that if you entered association with the Tasigin Marid, it might begin a pattern of remedy, first undertaking agreements for development of east coast harbors and shipping, to your benefit and to the benefit of the Marid as a whole. Second, I have officially informed Lord Machigi that you are bringing the Edi and the Gan into the aishidi’tat. I have maintained that the law of the aishidi’tat, once binding the Edi and the Gan, will assure the safety of Marid shipping on the west coast. And, felicitous third—” God, was there felicity at all in a structure of tissue and tape? “Nand’ dowager, I am about to propose that Lord Machigi seek more frequent rail and air links between Shejidan and the Marid, to carry the goods of the East up to Shejidan, once they arrive in Marid ports. This would provide economic benefits to the region, enable goods from the Eastern trade to flow up to Shejidan from Tanaja, while maintaining the traditions and culture of the Marid. The traditionalism of the Taisigin Marid is a close match with the sentiments of the east coast. It seems essential to bring a prosperity that will not damage that culture.”

There. He had gotten it all out, in decent order, sounding saner than it was. And if the dowager now called him a lunatic and burst the bubble, he was in a great deal of trouble.

Another silence followed. “ We will take all these matters under advisement, nand’ paidhi.”

He hardly expected instant agreement. He said, one last clarification, one plea for a crumb of progress: “The premise of personal association, nand’ dowager, between yourself and Lord Machigi underlies the initial section of the proposal. One would hope that exploring that, at least, is not out of reach.”

“ We have counterproposals,” Ilisidi said crisply. “ We can restrain the aishidi’tatand the Guild from proceeding against the Marid. When he can claim the same from his side, he will hold sufficient power, and we shall then be favorably disposed toward these proposals.”

Fly to the moon, that was. Control the Marid. Nobodycould control the Marid. A thousand years of history had said nobodycould control the Marid.

But in principal, she hadn’t disagreed. She hadn’t come back with the microfocused specific he’d hoped for. She’d offered Machigi a sweeping counterproposal.

Become the head of the Marid.

Then talk.

He felt numb all the way to his fingertips.

But he represented Machigi. He had to representMachigi’s interests.

“May one infer, nand’ dowager, that you will persuade your grandson to view Lord Machigi’s moves as self-defense?”

Silence for a moment.

Daredone remotely suspect she was getting all the aishidi’tat’s enemies down to one vulnerable neck?

No. It wouldn’t work like that. Machigi might dominate the others, but every district would still have its lord. Kill him, and the whole structure went back to chaos.

“We have stated our position,” Ilisidi said. “What happens within the Marid will not greatly concern us, until it has issue.”

Us. Who was us? And what was she up to? He’d honestly triedto structure a peace deal. She hadn’t repudiated what he’d done—she’d just made a counterproposal.

She’d promised the Edi a lordship and a seat in the legislature. She’d declared Machigi should take over the Marid. Not a shred of reference to her grandson. Had he somehow gotten aheadof her next step? Ilisidi was finally, after half a century, making a serious bid to dictate a solution to the old issues that had dogged the aishidi’tat from its founding—things shehad backed God knew how long ago.

“ And how doyou fare, nand’ paidhi?”

Give me information, that was. He didn’t dare mistake it for sentiment.

“We are in Tanaja, comfortably housed in very fine hospitality. You will soon have a direct report of that, nand’ dowager. Lord Machigi found Barb-daja on Taisigi land, along with Veijico-nadi, and delivered both persons to my care in good health. I have just sent my bus back to Targai with them aboard, as well as the Guildsmen your grandson sent with me. I have asked the two be transported on from Targai to Najida, possibly arriving at your door late this evening.”

“ One is very glad to hear so, nand’ paidhi.”

That, at least, was warmer. “We have also had confirmed, nand’ dowager, that the aiji your son has rescinded the Filing against our host. This is welcome news in this quarter. Is there news on the other matter?”

“ The Guild Council, within this last hour, has tabled their discussion of outlawry, at our request. You may deliver that information to your host.”

Thank God. And thank Ilisidi. “I shall, aiji-ma.” Damn. He couldn’t blame that aiji-maon the pain pills. It was so automatic. He hadn’t the hard-wiring to feel it, at least not in the same way.

And since Taisigi agents were recording every word, he couldn’t mend it. The information had been relayed, in effect, and the dowager certainly knew that.

“For the rest, nandi,” he said, resuming his more objective stance, “we hope our access to phones will remain open.” He dared not report what else they knew, that his bodyguard was evidently in direct communication with Machigi’s bodyguard on issues only the respective bodyguards knew.

And there was one thing he ached to know. Toby’s welfare. But it had no place in official business.

“ Tell Lord Machigi,” Ilisidi said, “ that we shall be interested in his response to our small notions.”

“I shall tell him so, nand’ dowager.”

“ We have had word your brother is making good progress.”

Thatwas a personal kindness. A signal. She was not upset.

“One is veryglad to hear so, nand’ dowager.”

But, given the constraints of his position, he compromised himself if he expressed personal gratitude.

The dowager surely understood that. She said, coldly, “ Keep us informed, paidhi-aiji.” And hung up.

Well, it was a performance. And both sides would have heard it.

He had shamelessly complimented his host. He had indicated to the dowager and to Cenedi that they were not exactly freec that they had lost their armed escort, they were down to their own resources, but were not panickedc

And he had, he hoped, conveyed that it was not time yet to call Tabini and admit that the paidhi-aiji was being held hostage in Tanaja. Toby was getting better. He was beyond glad about that news.

And he had managed to advise the dowager that the bus shouldarrive and with whom. If it didn’t—well, shewould have no doubt they had a problem, whether or not he ever had a chance to know it.

The legislature had declined to make her aiji in her departed husband’s stead—partly because her proposals about the west coast had scared hell out of themc

So it was round two.

Or round threec she’d outlived her son and was down to her grandson.

And for one reason and another, her great-grandson had now spent more time in her hands than in Tabini’s.

Now she was kingmaking in the Marid.

Nowhe began to understand it. She’d been watching Machigi. She’d been calculating.

And she’d made her move.

Hadn’t Tabini warned him, when he’d first sent him off into Ilisidi’s domain—beware of my grandmother?

He felt just a little light-headed, and stood there a moment quietly and deliberately redistributing blood where it belonged.

He had great confidence in Ilisidi. He knew her. He understood her impatience with war and wastec and her utter contempt for special interests that had gotten their fingers into the legislative process. He knew her resources, and he had known he had to work within what she had, not what she could obtain.