The pair exchanged glances. Issandra spoke.
"In one respect, I think you could say we're doing quite well. Ana's
request that her father add himself to your naval adventure has caused
something of a strain between her and Hanchat. He seems to think she's
being disloyal to Galt in general and therefore him in particular."
"I can understand that," Otah said, lowering himself to a cushion. "The
gods all know she surprised me with it."
"The problem is that she feels she's cleared all accounts by the
gesture," Issandra said. "Any sense of obligation she might have felt
toward Danat-cha from her misbehavior or his clemency toward Hanchat is
done."
"I see," Otah said.
"There's something else," Danat said. "I think Shija-cha has . .
"The imitation lover has developed ambitions," Issandra said.
"Apparently you've entrusted her uncle with some particularly delicate
task?"
Shija Radaani. Ashua's niece.
"I have," Otah said.
"She's taken that fact and the request that she act as Danat's escort,
and drawn the most remarkable conclusion," Issandra said. "She thinks
that Danat-cha is in love with her, and intends to sabotage his
connection to Ana on her behalf."
"It's not only that," Danat said. "This is my fault. I ... I lost my
perspective. It was ..
"You bedded her," Otah said.
Danat's blush could have lit houses. It was as Otah had feared. Issandra
sighed.
"This Radaani woman," she said. "Can you safely offend her family?"
"At the moment, it would be awkward," Otah said.
"Then I can't see that the girl is that far wrong," Issandra said.
"Danat has sabotaged things."
"I'm very sorry," he said. "It wasn't ... gods."
Danat sat again, his head in his hands.
"What is Ana's opinion of the matter of Shija and Danat?" Otah asked.
"I don't know," Issandra said. Her voice went softer, sorrow creeping in
at the seams. "I believe she's avoiding me."
Otah pressed his fingers against his eyelids until colors swam in the
darkness. No one spoke, and the silence pressed on his shoulder like a hand.
"Well," he said at last, "how do the two of you intend to move forward
from here?"
"She wants to put them together," Danat said. His voice was equal parts
plea and outrage. "She wants Shija and Ana to be seated beside each
other at every dance, every meal ..."
"You can't envy what you don't see," Issandra said. "It's more difficult
if this other girl can't be easily removed, but if Ana's run with her
present lover is nearing an end, and Shija makes it clear that she
considers Ana a threat ..."
Danat yelped and began to spout objections, Issandra pressing on against
him. Otah kept his eyes closed, the paired voices draining each other of