CHAPTER 56
The Kadrak kluntra ignored the lieutenant’s discomfort. He placed the full force of his gaze upon Jani, then, and she shrank a little before it. He seemed to command almost as much of the area as Tirud did, without the magic.
“I mean no offense to you, Jani, ah, ku Ahjea. I have my spies among the Ahjea sordenu, so I have heard what you endured to refuse my proposal.” He spread bejeweled hands. “Such beauty as yours is rarely paired with as much strength and courage as you possess. I withdraw my proposal, for I am not worthy of you. You deserve no less than a king for a husband.” He bowed slightly.
Is that how a king is supposed to talk? Butu half-expected Jani to slap the Kadrak kluntra, to spit or sneer at him, but instead, she smiled at the flattery. Tirud looked away as if pretending not to hear, far more embarrassed than Jani looked.
“I won’t force anyone to marry me,” Tirud said. He glared at the Kadrak kluntra. “Most especially a fellow ku.”
Aesh looked horrified. “I didn’t intend that you should, your majesty, nor do I pretend to understand the desires of one of the minds that found Pisor where an army of Akdren could not.”
“I would think you’d be angry that Jusep and Zhek betrayed you by sending us to Urgaruna,” Butu said to the kluntra. His boldness was rewarded with angry glances from Zhek and Blay.
Aesh betrayed no irritation. He smiled. “My nephew is right to idolize you, Butu.” Paka’s mouth opened in an O and Butu felt his cheeks warm.
The kluntra gestured theatrically. “Your squad has bested all the great clans, which means you and all your companions have great courage and resourcefulness. In truth, Jusep acted on my orders, as you acted on yours — to ensure the Akdren did not make a king. I would have preferred if you had brought Pisor to me so Paka could make me king, but I believe you did the right thing to make a king instead of letting the Sword of Kings fall into Akdren hands. Philquek would have destroyed the Kadrak without hesitation, while an Ahjea sordenu would be more likely to consider my clan an ally.”
“Speaking of which, we’re missing one negotiating party,” Tirud observed. “I’ll be back soon with Philquek.”
Tirud and his golems sank into the stone beneath his feet. Aesh continued drawing members of the Ahjea squad into conversation, flattering them so blithely he almost sounded genuine. Butu said nothing, watching each of them in turn.
Blay stood a little apart from Zhek, and Butu sensed he was wrestling with his loyalties. Retus and Phedam looked exhausted, like they would just as soon curl up and sleep as recount their adventures. Lujo was in his element, here, describing the squad’s journey in grand detail with barely a grain of truth while Aesh listened with interest and Paka stared in amazement.
Jani stood close to Butu. She picked at the hilt of her sword as if considering whether she would need it. Zhek pretended to be interested in Lujo’s tale, but Butu caught him casting furtive looks at Pisor and angry looks at him. Butu tried to keep his face calm.
He knows enough to risk everything. Butu felt a spark of irritation. Let’s get this over with!
He gestured to the small palace behind them. “You must be hot after so much time in the shanjin sun,” Butu said. “Let’s relax in the shade until the king returns.”
“An excellent idea,” Aesh agreed, breaking off his conversation with Lujo.
“Yes,” Zhek said, and the smothered look of triumph on the lieutenant’s face told Butu what would happen.
Butu did not wait for anyone else, but turned his back deliberately and walked past Jani.
“If you’ll follow me,” he said, somewhat louder than he wanted.
“What are you doing?” Jani whispered as she caught up to him. “Aesh or Zhek could murder you right now!”
“They wouldn’t think of it, under a flag of truce,” Butu said solemnly. “We’re just going to get to the shade.”
Jani glanced warily at Zheck, but she fell back half a step and followed him. Butu consciously tried to find where everyone was behind him, and was thrilled when thinking about it didn’t make the effort fail.
I am truly an adult now, he thought. Now if only I can get the height to be one! Though the short kluntra appeared quite formidable.
Retus and Phedam passed them quickly, racing without magic and enjoying it. Lujo continued the story of squad Tem-35 after Aesh and Paka stood up, but that kept them far to the rear. Blay flanked Zhek, not three paces behind Butu. His skin prickled at the knowledge.
I want to be wrong, he thought. Shanubu, let me be wrong. What would it accomplish? Even if he gets Pisor, no one here will make him king.
Butu walked calmly, but his heart pounded in his chest. He forced himself to let Jani catch up to him. He kept his hand away from Pisor’s hilt, but it took a force of will.
If I touch my sword first, of course he’ll attack. He’d only be defending himself, and I’d be in the wrong. If I’m right and I wait, though, he might succeed.
Retus and Phedam had entered the tiny palace, shouting and making echoes. Blay and Zhek still paced each other, and Aesh, Paka and Lujo were even farther behind.
Butu felt Zhek’s sword leave its sheath a heartbeat before Paka gasped, shouting a warning.
My shumi was watching for me, too. Butu smiled. He listened to Jusep’s lesson, too.
Zhek needed two quick steps to reach Butu. Jani turned as Blay’s sword leapt from its sheath, and Butu didn’t have time to think about why his sword came out second. The conversation at the rear halted as soon as Paka spoke, and hands went to swords even as boots scraped the ground, trying to run.
None of them could have warned me in time. His smile turned grim. None of them can save me.
He wheeled and brought Pisor up as fast as Karp ever had moved, blocking Zhek’s hard over-arm chop in a perfect X that any weaponsmith would cringe at. Zhek’s blade snapped where it touched the unornamented Sword of Kings. The broken blade twisted in the air, struck a basalt wall and landed, spinning, on the ground.
Zhek stared at him with mouth open, clutching the broken sword dumbly. Butu met his gaze.
“I’ve learned to see,” he said softly. “That won’t work on me.”
Kingmaker Page 56