Maia

by Richard Adams

  " 'Cos I never thought of it, my lord."

  "I see. But I'm also told that you said, before you got up on the Scales, that you'd had a dream in Suba and that that was how you got to know about Karnat's plan. If that's true, it's more than you ever said to Sendekar or to me. To the best of my knowledge you've never spoken of how you came to learn Karnat's plan, and as you evidently didn't wish to tell us, I respected your wish and refrained from asking you. Yet now you've been out telling workmen and laborers in the lower city that you dreamt it. Are you setting up to be a visionary, or what?"

  "No, my lord: 'twas nothing o' that sort, really. I just got a bit carried away, that's all. It was all along of arguing, like, with some of those armourer chaps. Truth is, I never meant to get up on the Scales at all. I only meant to go down to the lower city and let people see as I wasn't afraid, whoever else might be. I meant to do good, my lord, and I can't for the life of me see as I've done any harm."

  "Can't you?" And as he said this the Lord General looked so dire and baleful that poor Maia felt positively appalled.

  "My lord, if you're angry, then all I got to say is I don't deserve it! It was you as sent me to Suba with Bayub-Otal, and that very near cost me my life. I done everything you wanted and more. I've got nothing against you nor anyone in the city. I only want to be let to live in peace and quiet."

  "I should like to feel sure of that, Maia." He had been sitting on a high-backed, carved chair-a gift to the Ser-relinda from the citizens of Thettit-but now he stood up and began pacing slowly up and down the room. "I know, of course, that at the barrarz you sold yourself for nine thousand meld, which my son gave out was to go towards the cost of the expedition."

  "I never kept a meld of it, my lord."

  "Then where did it go, Maia? For it won't surprise you that I happen to know it never reached the army."

  "It went to the Sacred Queen, my lord. I thought Lord Elvair-ka-Virrion would have told you."

  "Why were you getting money for Fornis under a lying pretense of helping the expedition?"

  She reminded him of how she had come to him to plead for Tharrin, only to be referred to the Sacred Queen; and then, restraining her tears as best she could, went on to recount how Elvair-ka-Virrion had suggested the auction and how she had found Tharrin dead next morning; only

  omitting, for Pokada's sake, what he had told her of As-haktis's visit to the jail.

  "I see," he said yet again. She was expecting him at least to express some pity for Tharrin and sympathy for herself, but he was evidently preoccupied with more important considerations.

  "Well, that explains a certain amount. But I'm still wondering, Maia, what your real purpose may have been in going down to the lower city last night and speaking from the Scales."

  "It was like I've said, my lord; that and nothing else. I wish you'd tell me straight out what's on your mind."

  "I will, then. In a few months' time the Sacred Queen's four-year reign is due to end. It's the wish of Lord Du-rakkon, as well as of the Council and the army, that she should be succeeded by the lady Milvushina. They have excellent reasons, with which I entirely agree."

  "Well, I c'n promise you, my lord, I don't wish it no different, that I don't."

  He continued as if she had not spoken. "But the Sacred Queen, by ancient custom, is chosen by acclamation of the people of Bekla. Now, Maia, if the people were called upon tomorrow, whom do you think they'd acclaim?"

  She was silent.

  "And if that girl goes about the lower city telling tales about Lespa revealing Karnat's plans to her in dreams, and claiming to know the meaning of the star before the priests have had time to utter a word, what am I and the Council to think?"

  "My lord, I never give it a thought! 'Tweren't like that, not a bit! Honest, I give you my word I don't want to be Sacred Queen!"

  "No? Then I'm puzzled, Maia. The night of the barrarz you spent with Randronoth, didn't you?"

  "Yes, my lord. And as for why, I've just told you."

  "I can understand you not particularly wanting to become a shearna-you've got money enough without-but I find it puzzling that apparently-I say apparently-you've taken no lover since you came back from Suba. I'm not the only person to think that strange."

  Yet even he could never guess about Zen-Kurel, she felt sure. She need only decline to offer any explanation.

  "Well, after all, that's my own affair, my lord, if I just

  don't feel inclined. It's of no importance to anyone else as I can see."

  "I'm afraid that's where you're wrong, Maia. If you were a nobody, it would be different; but you're not, as you're perfectly well aware yourself. I want to know-is Ran-dronoth your lover?"

  "No, he's not, my lord! I only ever went to bed with Lord Randronoth the twice: once was last year, when I was still a slave at the High Counselor's and he told me to, and the other was at the barrarz, because he was the one as bid the most."

  The Lord General sat down again and faced her. "Yet not long ago he sent one of his young noblemen from Lapan-a man called Count Seekron-to visit you here, didn't he?"

  Maia colored, and saw that this was not lost upon Kembri. He had taken her unawares. After a few moments, however, it dawned on her that Randronoth had forethought that Kembri would be bound to learn of Seekron's visit and had already put her in the clear.

  "Yes, certainly, my lord. He came to bring me a present from Lord Randronoth. P'raps you'd like to see it: here it is."

  Kembri examined the carved miniature cabinet carefully, opening and shutting it and turning it over in his huge hands.

  "Very pretty. Very valuable, too, I should imagine. Hardly the kind of present a man gives a girl for a casual night's pleasure, do you think?"

  "My lord, men send me presents from all over-men I've never even seen, some of thenv The house is full of presents."

  "Hardly of this quality, perhaps. Was there a letter with it?"

  "Yes, my lord; but I get dozens of letters no different. I never answer them; I throw them away. Lord Randronoth may fancy himself in love, but that's nothing to me, I can assure you."

  There was a long silence. Maia began to be filled with a certain sense of having kept the water out. It occurred to her, however, that many people buried valuables under their cellar floors and that she would not put it entirely past Kembri to have hers dug up. She had better find somewhere else: quickly, too.

  At length the Lord General stood up, took a step forward and put his hand on her shoulder.

  "Maia, you won't have forgotten the day when we talked about adventurers. There's only one touchstone an adventurer's judged by: success or failure. I'll be frank with you. I respect you because you've been extraordinarily successful. I have two reasons for not doing away with you-"

  "Doing away with me, my lord?" She stared at him aghast.

  "Just that. Pull yourself together: this is the real world, Maia. One reason's personal and the other's-well, public. First, even a man like me's not entirely devoid of human feelings. I admire what you achieved in Suba and I feel as grateful to you as anyone else in Bekla. But just supposing, Maia, that there was someone in Bekla who didn't feel in the least grateful to you, who hated you and wanted to do away with you, they'd still find that very difficult and even dangerous, because of your enormous popularity. There are many people in the lower city who believe you're more-or-less divine. It's no exaggeration to say that if you were thought to have been murdered, it would probably be very hard to keep the people under control. That's the real reason why you haven't been. By Fornis, I mean," he added, as she remained looking incredulously up at him.

  She answered never a word. His talk of murder-and her realization that he was speaking of it as matter-of-factly as he might have spoken of repairing a highway or collecting a provincial tax-had numbed her.

  "So you're the people's pretty mascot. There's no real harm in that, unless-unless, Maia, you let yourself become an implement in the hands of unscrupulous people who try to mak
e use of you for subversive ends. Are you quite sure that you didn't go down to the Scales last night with the idea of increasing your personal influence in the city?"

  This, at least, she could answer with truth and conviction. "Absolutely certain, my lord."

  "Well, take care you're not misunderstood again, Maia, that's all. I'll say this much: I believe you when you say you don't want to be Sacred Queen. I don't see you as-" he paused, then shrugged-"ambitious. There are people to whom the possession of real and actual power's worth more than anything else-more than money, health, friends,

  peace of mind. To certain people nothing outweighs the possession of power. Fornis is that sort of person. So was that black girl-friend of yours, in her own way. That's why I still believe she probably had some sort of hand in Sen-cho's murder: she was the sort of person who would. You're not." For the first time he smiled, though somewhat constrainedly. "But people who don't live for power, Maia, are usually people who want to lead normal lives and gratify normal appetites and desires. If you don't want to be misunderstood and fall under suspicion, why don't you find yourself a rich, noble husband and settle down to the sort of life and position most girls would give their eyes for? You could have virtually anyone you like; you must know that. I strongly suggest you get on with it, do you see?"

  She could not answer him. Nor could such a conversation, now clearly ended, be convincingly followed by any polite small talk.

  "I'll think over your lordship's advice very carefully," she said.

  Ten minutes later, having walked with him as far as her gate, she was down in the cellar, removing Randronoth's money to a less conjecturable hiding-place.

  72: FRIENDS IN SECRET

  She was walking in the big, smooth-grazed meadow with Gehta, the girl who had befriended her at the farm on the journey to Urtah.

  "Why don't you find yourself a rich, noble husband?" said Gehta. "It means good and not harm."

  She was carrying Randronoth's carved cabinet of the fishes in one hand. She opened it and showed Gehta a sheet of parchment, sealed at the foot.

  "That's an order of release," she said. "It's entirely correct; I've only to take it down there. Then Zenka and I can be married."

  "Ah," said Gehta, "but dad's farm's slap in the way."

  Then she was running with Zenka-her own, dear Zenka-his staff officer's badges on his shoulders and a dagger in his hand.

  "Forms-I'm going to kill her first," he said. "I'm utterly in love with you, Maia. I'll always love you. We'll meet

  again in Bekla and I'll marry you, if only you'll have me."

  "Oh, Zenka," she cried in an agony, "don't go! Don't go! You'll be killed, I know it!"

  "What kind of talk's that, Miss Maia?" And with this he began to fade and disappear before her eyes, like morning mist on Crandor. "What kind of talk's that, Miss Maia, Miss Maia?" And she was pitching in the Valderra, rolling hither and thither, struggling for her life.

  "Miss Maia, Miss Maia! Oh, Gran and Airtha, you care a hard one to wake sometimes and no mistake!"

  She was in her great, soft bed, with Ogma standing beside her. "Oh, miss, I been calling and shaking you very near to pieces, that I have! I was going to let you sleep on, see, only there's a girl downstairs with a message. She says it's important and she's been told she's to give it you herself."

  Maia rubbed her eyes, yawning, and blinking at the sunshine.

  "Do you know her, Ogma?"

  "No, miss, but I done like you said and made sure she hadn't got no knife nor nothing of that."

  "Where's she from?"

  "From the Sacred Queen's palace, miss. She says her name's Chia and you know her."

  "Chia? A big, dark girl with a squint and an Urtan accent?"

  "That's her, miss. She seemed upset you wasn't awake. Said she couldn't stay all that long. That's why I come and woke you."

  "Send her up here now."

  A minute later Chia came hesitantly into the big, sunny, white-painted bedroom, gazing about her as though in fear. Her cropped hair was tousled and dirty: she was wearing a dirty sacking smock and had a shrinking, cringing manner, different indeed from the blustering, hefty lass in Lal-loc's hall who had stuffed her apple core down Maia's neck. She looked under-fed, too, and it was easy enough to guess that she was no stranger to ill-treatment. Seeing Maia sitting on the edge of the bed, she stood stock-still and raised her palm to her forehead with downcast eyes.

  "For Cran's sake, Chia," said Maia, jumping up and taking her hands, "don't do that! How are you?"

  "Oh, saiyett-"

  "And don't call me saiyett, without you want to make

  me feel a total fool. Come and sit down. Would you like some breakfast?"

  Chia nodded speechlessly and Maia called down to Ogma to double everything she was getting ready to bring upstairs.

  It proved difficult to draw Chia out, but after she had wolfed down two or three eggs, half a loaf of bread and butter, most of a honeycomb, a pint of milk and some fruit, she began to gain confidence. Maia, sitting beside her in the window-seat, begged her not to hurry away. "I'll see as you don't get into trouble," she said. "That's to say, long as you haven't run away?" .

  Chia shook her head. "No; it's a message."

  "From the queen?" Maia, fearful, looked at her tensely. "Has she come back?"

  "No, she's still in Paltesh, far's I know. It's from Zuno."

  "Well, then, it can wait. Tell me what's been happening to you since we left Lalloc's."

  Chia's story would have drawn tears from a basilisk. Not long after Maia and Occula had left for the upper city to be sold to Sencho for fifteen thousand meld apiece, she had found herself on the block in the Slave Market, one of a job lot of six or seven unattractive but strong girls suitable for domestic work. She had not understood the bidding and had no idea how much they had been sold for; but she knew-and had good reason to know-who had bought them: the Sacred Queen's household bailiff. Since that day, the only occasion on which she had left the kitchen quarters at the palace had been when she was taken upstairs to be beaten in front of Maia. Upon her first arrival in the queen's house she had had a recurrence of the illness about which she had told Maia at Lalloc's; and had nearly died of it, since no one had paid her the least attention, except to drag her to her feet and set her to work as soon as she was sufficiently recovered to show fear of punishment. She had been ill-fed, worked from morning till night and never allowed further than the yard. Once-and at this point in her account she did break down-a letter had come for her, brought by a carrier from northern Urtah who had actually taken the trouble to go to Lalloc's and find out where she was. Herself unable to read, she had asked for help from the housekeeper, who, having taken it from her and read it, had torn it up and told her to get back to work.

  Naturally the kitchen-slaves, like everyone else in Bekla, had heard how Maia swam the river, and Chia had let it be known that the two of them had been together at Lal-loc's. One morning, many weeks later, Zuno had come down to the kitchens with a message that the Sacred Queen wished to know whether any of the slaves had ever been friendly with Maia. Chia, of course, had had no least idea what would follow. While being beaten she had been in such agony that she had not even realized that Maia had come into the room or had interceded for her. She had never known that Maia had been there at all, and had understood nothing about the business until now.

  All this made Maia so angry that she was past caring what she did.

  "You say Zuno sent you here this morning?"

  "Yes, sai-I mean, Maia. He came downstairs and told the housekeeper it was me as was to go."

  "I see: so you've got every business to be here. That's all I need to know."

  Having told Ogma to get a bath ready for Chia, Maia sent Jarvil out to fetch a professional scribe. When Chia came downstairs an hour later, dressed in one of Maia's second-best robes (which was rather too small for her), Maia kissed her and said, "Well, now I'm going to read you two letters, so just sit down
and listen.

  " 'To the Sacred Queen's Household Bailiff. Sir, I write to inform you that I am purchasing your slave, Chia of Urtah, for the sum of two thousand meld, a price which I imagine you will not be disposed to regard as inadequate. The money is with the bearer of this letter, which you should receipt and return to me by his hand. Chia I have already sent to northern Urtah on personal business of my own. Maia Serrelinda.'

  " 'To Surdad, elder of-you'll have to tell me the name of the village, Chia-'greetings. The bearer of this letter is Chia, a girl whom you will recall that you selected for your Beklan slave quota last summer. She has been my slave, but on account of her excellent conduct I have freed her and sent her home. Please assure me by return that she will never be included in any future slave quota. Maia Serrelinda.' " Chia was so much overcome by this that she could not really pay attention to Maia's dispatch of Jarvil to the palace with the first letter and the money. It was not until Brero was being asked whether he would oblige

  by accompanying her down to the market and handing over the necessary payment for her to join the next caravan for north-eastern Urtah, Gelt and Ortelga, that either of the girls remembered that in the first place Chia had come with a message. They both burst out laughing, as much from high spirits as anything else.

  "Well, what is the message?"-asked Maia. "From Zuno, you said?"

  "He said your friend hoped you'd come-"

  "My friend? Which friend?"

  "That's all he said, Maia; 'your friend.' "

  After a moment Maia guessed that Occala's very existence in the queen's private entourage was probably kept so secret that the ordinary household slaves were unaware of it. For the matter of that Kembri, from the way he had talked, apparently supposed that Occula was dead.

  "I see. Well?"

  "Your friend hoped you'd come tonight, once it was dark, and if possible bring-what was the name? Oh, yes, Milvushina. It's important, but come the back way and try not to be noticed, Zuno said."

  As soon as Chia, in tears of gratitude and sufficient funds for her journey, had left with Brero, Maia sent Ogma to Kembri's house with a pressing invitation to Milvushina to come to supper that evening. She herself could not help feeling rather apprehensive. She had hitherto supposed that Occula must have left Bekla with the Sacred Queen: evidently she had not. Why? If Occula had something on her mind which had made her risk sending for them both, it must be important.