by Fonda Lee
Anden sipped just enough tea to wet his dry mouth. He was more perplexed than ever but sensed with trepidation that what was happening now was different from what he’d initially suspected, a more complicated ploy than merely holding him prisoner to provoke violence or to gain a concession from No Peak over some dispute.
“I’m told you’re the best student at Kaul Du Academy,” Ayt went on. “When I was young, my father never allowed anyone with foreign blood to train at Wie Lon, but times are different now. I’m not like my father. I break from tradition when I see that there is cause to do so and when there is gain to be had. I believe differences can be overcome; disagreements in the past can be set aside. Your lineage is impressive, and even without the Kaul blood or name, you are a representative of the family.
“I’m making you an offer to join the Mountain.”
Anden’s heart began to pound. He knew both Ayt and Gont could Perceive his fear, though neither of their expressions changed. His reaction was a sign that he understood what was happening, what was truly being said. Betraying his patron and his adoptive family by crossing over to the Mountain would be suicide; he could never accept such an offer and they knew it. No, this was a thinly veiled proposition not to him, but to the Kauls themselves, to the clan of No Peak. An opening position.
The realization that he’d been brought here to be a messenger at the highest level, that Ayt expected him to infer the import of her words and take them directly back to Lan, filled Anden with a certain amount of relief. He was not going to be harmed or imprisoned. Then, on the heels of that relief came a burst of bewilderment and anger at the excessiveness of it all. Why force him into a car instead of conversing somewhere neutral? Why provoke Lan and Hilo to the brink of attack? Why include him at all?
Anden imagined standing up, tossing his cup of tea into Ayt Mada’s face, and saying in a voice cold with disgust, “Kaul Lan would never kidnap a jadeless student from Wie Lon School. The Pillar of No Peak would have the decency not to play mind games like this.”
Of course, Lan would not want him to do anything so stupid. He’d want him to stay composed, pay attention, and return safely. Anden remained still, keeping both his face and his voice calm as he responded, carefully, “I’m flattered, Ayt-jen.”
Ayt smiled at his discomfort. “I’m glad you understand the significance of such an unprecedented offer. You would be a Fist with many Fingers, in a position of considerable status and responsibility. But not here in Kekon. In Ygutan.”
Anden blinked. “Ygutan?”
“We’ve established vital new operations there. I need enterprising and talented Green Bones to be in charge of our expansion in that country. You would work under the Horn, but you would report directly to me.”
Ygutan was cold and desolate, the food was awful, and there wasn’t a pebble of jade in the whole vast country. Why on earth would the Mountain want to expand into Ygutan? Perhaps Perceiving his bafflement, Ayt lifted her lips in a thin smile. “The world is opening up. International trade is flourishing. Why should we Green Bones concern ourselves only with the bit of land that is Kekon when vast opportunity exists abroad?”
“But … what’s in Ygutan?”
Ayt paused with the teacup below her mouth. “SN1 production.” She sipped and put the cup down. “We’re going to sell shine to the Ygutanians.”
Anden was speechless. Shine was both illegal and reviled on Kekon. It was a drug engineered by foreigners, a shortcut to allow jade to be worn by non-Kekonese, by people without the hard-won tolerance that Green Bones proudly possessed. An entire civilization and culture was built around the inviolable truth that jade destroyed any wearer except the most worthy Kekonese warriors.
The Espenians, arrogant and inventive beyond compare in the world, had circumvented that. As soon as they’d established military bases on Kekon, ostensibly to help their allies defend and rebuild after the Many Nations War, they’d gone to work in secret labs to determine how their own soldiers could acquire the same legendary jade ability as Green Bones. Ten years ago, they’d succeeded, albeit imperfectly, by creating SN1.
The formula of the experimental serum had leaked from Espenian military bases on Kekon, and the illegal shine trade ballooned. Apparently a lot of people, here and overseas, were willing to trade years of life for a dangerous drug that allowed them to wear jade without being Kekonese, without putting in the years of hard training, and without dying horrible deaths from the Itches. Less acknowledged, and universally scorned, was the fact that there were some Green Bones who secretly used it, too, to artificially enhance their own natural jade tolerance.
SN1 was a contentious topic among Green Bones. Anden had heard arguments at school on occaison and even a debate in the Kaul house once, with some firmly of the opinion that the drug was an unmitigated social ill and others contending that limited use was acceptable so long as it was by sanctioned, highly trained individuals such as Green Bones who might, due to illness or injury, for example, benefit from medicinal use to temporarily bolster tolerance.
Anden wasn’t sure which side of the issue he fell on, especially given his own family history. Nevertheless, in his experience, the one thing everyone agreed upon was that the illegal spread of shine violated Green Bone interests and values and had to be eradicated. The fact that Ayt Mada, the Pillar of the largest Green Bone clan in Kekon, was planning to sell shine was so astounding to Anden that when he was able to speak again, he forgot his role and his caution, and blurted, “You’re going to give more foreigners the ability to wear jade? Isn’t that exactly what we don’t want?”
He realized his outburst had probably come across as disrespectful, but Ayt seemed amused. “What we don’t want is to lose control. The Espenians already use SN1 on their own soldiers. Other countries will aspire to follow suit. Soon there will be an expanding population of foreigners wearing jade.” Ayt leaned forward. Anden didn’t mean to, but he leaned away; the woman’s jade aura and her straightforward gaze felt like solid surfaces pushing implacably outward. “This could be the greatest threat we’ve ever faced, or an unparalleled opportunity. The faster Kekon speeds toward modernization, the more vital it is that Green Bones take strict control of our own resources. We can be driven out of our rightful place, or we can stand to profit greatly.
“My father strived to keep the foreigners out, but let’s accept reality: They’re here to stay. Kekon is no longer a mysterious backwater of civilization. People around the world know about jade, and thanks to the invention of SN1, now they can have it. Rather than try to fight the inevitable, let’s give them what they want. At a price we control, under conditions we control. The shine trade on Kekon has given us better knowledge of SN1 production than anyone besides the Espenians, and we can ensure the security of the facilities we establish. If we develop the SN1 supply, then we decide the extent to which jade can be used by outsiders.”
Anden felt entirely out of his depth. He made himself sit forward, reach for his teacup, and swallow down the now lukewarm liquid. In doing so, the proximity of Ayt’s jade prickled his Perception for an instant. The Pillar’s tone was pleasant but firm. She didn’t sound threatening. But he sensed menace. A dogged avariciousness.
“Green Bones were once united against foreign threats. It’s time we were that way again. Time that the clans came together in a new alliance. That’s why I’m proposing that you join us. The rewards would be great for you.” Ayt sat back, and her expression shifted, became flat and chilling. “If you spurn the hand we’re holding out to you, well, that is your choice of course. Just remember that we’re extending this offer in good faith and complete honesty. I strongly urge you to reciprocate that respect by not taking some position in the future that might place us at odds with each other.”
Anden’s pulse was racing and he shifted uneasily in his seat, his neck hot. Ayt was making the proposal as clear as if she were sitting here speaking directly to another Pillar. “Ayt-jen.” He cleared his throat. The near certa
inty that he would be returned in one piece to deliver Ayt’s pronouncements to No Peak gave him the courage to speak up with more force than he had before. “May I … ask a candid question?”
Ayt raised her eyebrows. “Please do.”
“I’m only a student, so forgive me if I don’t understand, but … why go to the trouble and risk of bringing me here and involving me in this conversation? If you want to propose an alliance with No Peak, why don’t you do so directly?”
Ayt smiled a satisfied, enigmatic smile that held no real warmth. “You sell yourself short. My offer to you personally, is quite real. You have an important future role to play in ensuring peace between our clans, if your Pillar recognizes so. As for conversing with the Kauls …” She opened her hands in a gesture of helpless disappointment. “I would welcome a discussion with Kaul Lan, but how is that possible when his Horn keeps giving offense against us? He never passes up an opportunity to harass us over territorial lines. His Fingers spy on us; his Fists pick battles over minor disputes. How are we supposed to expect a reasonable dialogue with No Peak?” For the first time during the entire conversation, Ayt Mada glanced at her Horn. She and Gont shared a brief, silent exchange before she turned back to Anden. “If the Pillar gave us some sign that he was serious about peace, then that would be a different matter.”
Ayt stood up, smoothly and casually. Gont rose as well, and Anden followed suit at once. Ayt was taller than he’d expected. Anden was taller than most Kekonese, and her eyes were on a level with his. The sunlight struck the coils of jade on her arms and lit the steel settings with motes of light. “We’ve taken enough of your time this afternoon; let’s get you home before anyone misses you … too much.” A touch of the sardonic in both her voice and the movement of her mouth. “You have our offer. You know what to do next. I’ll wait for an answer, but not for long.”
Anden clasped his hands and touched them to his forehead. “Ayt-jen.”
CHAPTER
11
Where the Pillar Stands
The ZT Valor pulled over to the side of the curving boulevard and let Anden out in front of the wide green space next to the handicraft market plaza in the Temple District. As soon as Anden stepped out of the car, he saw his cousin Hilo waiting for him, a posse of men behind him. Hilo’s face was flushed with relief and murderous intent, and for one ridiculous second, Anden was afraid for Gont’s driver. He shut the back door of the vehicle quickly and the ZT Valor took off at once, losing itself in traffic as it sped back across territorial lines.
Hilo strode up, seized Anden by the back of the neck, and shook him roughly. “I ought to give you another beating. What the fuck were you doing in Summer Park? You’re going to be green in less than a year; you have to pay attention every fucking second because I can’t always be there if there’s trouble, understand?” Anden nodded, shamefaced. Hilo grasped the younger man’s chin in his hand, eyes narrowing dangerously at the swollen bruise on Anden’s cheek that the trio of Wie Lon boys had given him as a souvenir of his careless wandering. “They do this to you?” he asked. “Gont or his men knock you around at all?”
“No, no, it wasn’t them,” Anden said hastily. “That was just a stupid thing that happened with some Wie Lon guys earlier. Gont’s people didn’t touch me.”
Hilo searched the teenager’s face for sincerity, then, finally relaxing, embraced Anden with a warmth that melted the last of the tension. “Am I ever glad to see you, cousin.” With one hand resting protectively between Anden’s shoulder blades, he walked them over to the Duchesse, which was parked quite prominently in the plaza’s loading zone along with two other No Peak vehicles. Maik Tar was leaning restlessly against the trunk, but straightened up to open the car door for them. “I need to talk to Lan,” Anden said a bit weakly as they got in. Now that he was safe, the low level of adrenaline that had been flowing through him for the past few hours was draining out like gutter runoff after a heavy rain, leaving him shaky.
“Lan’s in the Weather Man’s office,” Hilo said.
It took only ten minutes to get to Ship Street. When they arrived, Hilo gave some brief instructions to his men: “Go tell the guys in Little Hammer to clear off.” Then he and Tar walked with Anden straight through the lobby without bothering to check in at the reception desk.
Anden had never been in the Weather Man’s building before. This was a side of the clan he knew little about, and he was intimidated by all the Luckbringers in pressed suits, carrying briefcases and file folders. Hilo and Tar, with their sleeves and collars loose and sweaty from waiting in the sun, moon blades still slung over their shoulders and talon knives sheathed at their waists, seemed out of place here. People paused and looked over as they passed, some saluting shallowly.
They took the elevator up to the top floor. Lan was waiting for them, his expression no less calm than Anden was accustomed to, but he too embraced Anden joyfully. “Come in here and sit down,” he said, leading Anden to his own office.
“They brought me to meet with Ayt Mada,” Anden said. “Lan-jen … she wanted me to talk to you right away.” He placed slightly heavier emphasis on you.
Lan understood. When they got to his office, the Pillar turned to Hilo and said, “I want to talk to Anden alone first. Find Doru and wait out here for me.” Hilo looked piqued but not surprised, and quirking his mouth at Anden to show that he was not really sour about it, he jerked his head at Tar and the two of them moved off as Lan shut his office door.
Anden sat down in the nearest chair, gratefully accepting the bottle of lemon soda water that the Pillar took from the mini-fridge and handed to him. “I won’t lie; you had us all a little worried today,” Lan said. Watching Anden gulp the soda, he said, “Take your time. Then tell me what the Mountain wants.”
When his cousin was done, Lan was quiet at first. Then he said, “You did well, Anden. You kept your cool and did exactly what you were supposed to. I’m sorry it ruined your Boat Day, and you ought to be more careful in the future. I’m sure Hilo’s already told you that. But you ended up doing a brave thing for the clan.”
“I’m sorry to have caused trouble, Lan-jen.”
Lan smiled. The boy—the young man, Lan reminded himself—was always like this: a little anxious, a bit overly formal. When he was in the Kaul home, he still acted like a guest, waiting for subtle permission to sit or eat or voice opinions, even though he’d lived in the house since he was a child and resided there still during the Academy’s holiday breaks. “You’re never any trouble, Anden,” Lan told him. “I think the Mountain has been planning to give us a shake like this. You just happened to give Gont a way to do it.” He stood up, and Anden stood with him.
“What are you going to do?” Anden asked. “About Ayt’s proposal?”
“I’ll discuss it with the Horn and the Weather Man,” Lan said. “That’s not something you need to worry about. You just focus on school and preparing for Trials this year. Are you still on track to graduate Rank One?”
“I think so. I’ll try my best,” Anden promised, and Lan felt a surge of pride. Anden was a good kid; he’d come from a tragic family situation, but he’d grown up well. Not a day went by that Lan didn’t feel thankful he’d convinced his grandfather to take Anden in and make him a Kaul.
Lan took his cousin out to the chairs in the elevator lobby where Doru, Hilo, and Maik Tar were waiting. Tar took Anden back to the Academy while Lan returned to his office with the Horn and the Weather Man. He poured all three of them a generous splash of hoji over ice and said, “Take these; we’re going to need them.” He swallowed his own drink and regarded the two other men: Doru sitting in one of the chairs with his long legs crossed, patient curiosity on his face; Hilo leaning against the wall, his gaze sharp and expectant. Their jade auras hummed steadily in Lan’s awareness: cool and murky on one side, smooth and hot on the other.
Lan said, “The Mountain has a plan to produce and sell SN1 in Ygutan. It could make them a lot of money, and Ayt proposes we join
in with them on it.”
After Lan had explained what he’d learned from Anden, Hilo straightened up from the wall. “What does Ayt take us for?” His expression was angry, but his voice was more perplexed than anything else. “The Mountain’s been digging at us for months, and today Gont grabs Andy off the street. Just about starts the war right there. And they think we’re going to get into bed with them after that? If Ayt really wanted to talk business, she would’ve come to you properly, with respect. This proposal isn’t serious. It’s an insult.”
Hilo was right; the Mountain sending a message to No Peak in such a vaguely threatening way was a blatant slight, but at least Lan knew from Anden what Ayt’s purported reason was. I would welcome a discussion with Kaul Lan, but how is that possible, when his Horn keeps giving offense against us? The other Pillar was letting it be known that she would not deign to negotiate directly with Kaul Lan until he reined in or removed his brother from his position as Horn.
It was an outrageous demand. Was it even possible to attempt any discussion under such flagrantly disrespectful terms as one Pillar stipulating the other’s choice of his Horn? Lan had no doubt Hilo and his men made life difficult for the Mountain, but his brother maintained that it was all in response to the Mountain’s escalating overreach. Was Hilo truly the aggressor standing in the way of peace, or was he simply too good at his job, someone Ayt wanted out of the way so she could more easily dominate No Peak, or even seize it outright?
Ceding the clan’s military position was out of the question, but perhaps the Horn did need to be reminded that he was not blameless for bad relations between the clans. Lan kept his eyes on his brother and said, “Ayt says she’ll talk in person if we put an end to street skirmishing and show we’re interested in getting in on the business side.” He caught a glimpse of Doru nodding and suspected the old advisor had inferred the more specific demand precisely.