"We didn't talk about the fleet," Otah said. "The subject never came up.
Sinja unstrung his sandals and slid his feet into the warm water of the
bath.
"Why don't you tell me what was said," Sinja asked. "Because somehow, in
the middle of it, you seem to have done something right."
Otah recounted the meeting, rising from his bath and drying himself as
he did. Sinja listened for the most part, interrupting only to laugh
when Otah told of apologizing to the girl.
"That likely had as much to do with it as anything," Sinja said. "A high
councillor's daughter with the Emperor of the Khaiem calling himself
down for disrespecting her. Gods, Otah-kya, with that low an opinion of
your own dignity, I don't know how you managed to hold power all these
years."
Otah paused, his hands shifting to a pose of query.
"You apologized to a Galtic girl."
"I'd treated her poorly," Otah said.
Sinja raised his hands. It wasn't a formal pose, but it carried the
sense of surrender. Whatever it was Sinja didn't understand about the
act, he clearly despaired of ever learning.
"Tell me the rest," Sinja said.
There wasn't a great deal more, but Otah told it. He pulled on his robes
by himself. The servants could adjust them when the meeting ended. Sinja
drank another bowl of tea. The water in the bath grew still and as clear
as air.
"Well," Sinja said when he had finished, "that's unexpected all around."
"You think Ana-cha interceded for us."
"I can't think anything else," Sinja said. "She's an interesting girl,
that one. Quick to anger and about as tough as boiled leather if
confronted, but I think you made her feel for you. It was clever."
"I didn't mean it as a ploy," Otah said.
"That's likely what made the ploy work," Sinja said. "Issandra and Danat
should hear more of it. You know that little conspiracy is beginning to
slip its stitches?"
"What do you mean?"
"Danat's false lover. Shija Radaani? It seems your boy is starting to
fall in love with her. Or if not love, at least bed. That was the other
gossip this morning. Shija went to Danat's rooms last night and hasn't
yet come out."
Otah tugged at the sleeves, his eyebrows trying to crawl up his
forehead. Sinja nodded.
"Perhaps it's part of Issandra's plan?" Otah said.
"If it is, she's more of a gambler than I am."
"I'll look into it," Otah said.
"Don't bother. I've already sent word to all the parties who need to know."
"Meaning Issandra."
"And nobody else," Sinja said. "You worry about finding Maati and his
poet girls. And your sister. Whatever you're doing, keep one eye toward
her."
Otah was halfway to objecting, but Sinja only tilted his head. Idaan had