uneasily at Otah. Maati stared at the ground between his hands.
""They'll never forgive this," Cchmai said. "The Galts will kill us to a
man."
Otah smoothed a hand over his daughter's brow. Confronting the andat
seemed to have taken what strength she had. I ter face was pale, and he
could see the small twitching in her body that spoke of fresh pain. He
kissed her gently where her forehead met her hair, and she put her arms
around him, whimpering so softly that only he could hear it. Therc was
blood soaking through her robe just below where the cloth widened at her
hips.
"No. They won't. Cehmai," Otah said, his voice seeming to cone from far
away. Ile was surprised to hear how calm he sounded. ""lake Nlaati. Get
out of the city. It won't be safe for either of you here."
"It won't be safe for us anywhere," Cehmai said. "We could make for the
Westlands when spring comes. Or Eddensea-"
"Go now, and don't tell me where. I don't want the option of finding
you. Do you understand?" lie looked up at Cehmai's wide, startled eyes.
"I have my daughter here, and that's had enough. When I see my Wife, I
don't want you anywhere I can find you."
Cehmai opened his mouth, as if to speak, and then closed it again and
silently took a pose that accepted Utah's command. Nlaati looked up, his
eyes brimming and red. 'T'here was no begging in his expression, no
plea. Only remorse and resignation. If he could have moved without
disturbing Eiah, Utah would have embraced the man, comforted him as best
he could. And still lie would have sent Nlaati away. Ile could see that
his old friend knew that. Nlaati's thick hands took a formal pose of
leave-taking, appropriate to the beginning of a long journey or else a
funeral. Utah took one that accepted the apology he had not offered.
"'i'he Galts," the Khai (:etani said. "What about the Galts?"
Utah reached his arms tinder Eiah, one under her shoulder blades, the
other at her knees, and lifted her into his lap. 't'hen, straining, lie
stood. She was heavier than he remembered. It had been years since lie
had carried her. She had been smaller then, and lie had been younger.
"We'll find the trumpeter and call the attack," Otah said. "Listen to
them. If they're as had as she is, they'll barely be able to fight.
We'll drive them hack out of the city if we do it now."
The Khai Cetani's eyes brightened, his shoulders pulled back. With a pit
dog's grin, he took a pose that mirrored Cehmai's. The command accepted.
Utah nodded.
"I lai! YOU!" the Khai Cetani yelled toward the servants, bouncing on
the balls of his feet. "Get the trumpeter. Have him sound the attack.
And a blade! Find me a blade, and another for the Emperor!"
"No," Utah said. "Not for me. I have my daughter to see to."
And before anyone could make the mistake of objecting, Otah turned his
back on them all, carrying Fiah to the stairway, and then down into
darkness.
26
What would have happened, Balasar wondered, if he had not tried?
It had been a thing from nightmare. Balasar had moved his men like