It's too steady."
"Only if there was a real struggle going on. If the decision was already
made, it would look exactly like this."
"Yes. There are times I hate being right. Any word from the poet?"
Otah shook his head and sat, then stood again. Maati had gone from their
first meeting, and he'd seemed convinced. Otah had been sure at the time
that he wouldn't betray them. He was sure in his bones. He only wished
he'd had his thoughts more in order at the time. He'd been swept up in
the moment, more concerned with his lies about Liat's son than anything
else. He'd had time since to reflect, and the other worries had swarmed
out. Otah had sat up until the night candle was at its halfway mark,
listing the things he needed to consider. It hadn't lent him peace.
"It's hard, waiting," Amiit said. "You must feel like you're back up in
that tower."
"That was easier. Then at least I knew what was going to happen. I wish
I could go out. If I could be up there listening to the people
themselves ... If I spent half an evening in the right teahouse, I'd
know more than I'll learn skulking down here for days. Yes, I know.
You've the best minds of the house out watching for us. But listening to
reports isn't the same as putting my hands to something."
"I know it. More than half my work has been trying to guess the truth
out of a dozen different reports of a thing. There's a knack to it.
You'll have your practice with it."
"If this ends well," Otah said.
"Yes," Amiit agreed. "If that."
Otah filled a tin cup with water from a stone jar and sat back down. It
was warm, and a thin grit swam at the cup's bottom. He wished it were
wine and pushed the thought away. If there was any time in his life to
be sober as stone, this was it, but his unease shifted and tightened. He
looked up from his water to sec Amiit's gaze on him, his expression
quizzical.
"We have to make a plan for if we lose," Otah said. "If the Vaunyogi are
to blame and the council gives them power, they'll be able to wash away
any number of crimes. And all those families that supported them will be
invested in keeping things quiet. If it comes out that Daaya Vaunyogi
killed the Khai in order to raise up his son and half the families of
the utkhaiem took money to support it, they'll all share in the guilt.
Being in the right won't mean much then."
"There's time yet," Amiit said, but he was looking away when he said it.
"And what happens if we fail?"
"That all depends on how we fail. If we're discovered before we're ready
to move, we'll all be killed. If Adrah is named Khai, we'll at least
have a chance to slip away quietly."
"You'll take care of Kiyan?"
Amiit smiled. "I hope to see to it that you can perform that duty."
"But if not?"
"Then of course," Amiit said. "Provided I live."
The rapping came again, and the door opened on a young man. Otah
recognized him from the meetings in House Siyanti, but he couldn't