each other."
"I'm a powerful enough man to do that," Radaani agreed, his tone
matter-of-fact. "But I can't think why I would."
"There's no reason for the council to be called."
"No reason? We're short a Khai, MIaati-cha."
"The last one left a son to take his place," Maati said. "No one in that
hall has a legitimate claim to the name Khai Machi."
Radaani laced his thick fingers over his belly and narrowed his eyes. A
smile touched his lips that might have meant anything.
"I think you have some things to tell me," he said.
Nlaati began not with his own investigation, but with the story as it
had unfolded. Idaan Machi and Adrah Vaunvogi, the backing of the Gaits,
the murder of Biitrah Machi. He told it like a tale, and found it was
easier than he'd expected. Radaani chuckled when he reached the night of
Otah's escape and grew somber when he drew the connection between the
murder of Danat Machi and the hunting party that had gone with him. It
was all true, but it was not all of the truth. In the long conversations
that had followed Baarath's delivery of Cehmai's letter, Otah and Maati,
Kiyan and Amiit had all agreed that the Gaits' interest in the library
was something that could be safely neglected. It added nothing to their
story, and knowing more than they seemed to might yet prove an
advantage. Watching Porsha Radaani's eyes, Maati thought it had been the
right decision.
He outlined what he wanted of the Radaani-the timing of the proposal to
disband, the manner in which it would he best approached, the support
they would need on the council. Radaani listened like a cat watching a
pigeon until the whole proposal was laid out before him. He coughed and
loosened the belt of his robe.
"It's a pretty story," Radaani said. "It'll play well to a crowd. But
you'll need more than this to convince the utkhaiem that your friend's
hem isn't red. We're all quite pleased to have a Khai who's walked
through his brothers' blood, but fathers are a different thing."
"I'm not the only one to tell it," Maati said. "I have one of the
hunting party who watched I)anat die to swear there was no sign of an
ambush. I have the commander who collected Otah from the tower to say
what he was bought to do and by whom. I have Cehmai Tyan and
Stone-Made-Soft. And I have them in the next room if you'd like to speak
with them."
"Really?" Radaani leaned forward. The chair groaned under his weight.
"And if it's needed, I have a list of all the houses and families who've
supported Vaunyogi. If it's a question what their relationships are with
Galt, all we have to do is open those contracts and judge the terms.
'T'hough there may be some of them who would rather that didn't happen.
So perhaps it won't be necessary."
Radaani chuckled again, a deep, wet sound. He rubbed his fingers against
his thumbs, pinching the air.
"You've been busy since last we spoke," he said.
"It isn't hard finding confirmation once you know what the truth is.
Would you like to speak to the men? You can ask them whatever you like.