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  side as she went on her way, bundle balanced on her other hip.

  The ground was definitely rising. She walked doggedly onwards. There were fewer villages in the uplands. All she had to do was stay out of sight.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  That rich scent is purple poppy and that drier astringency is redlance. I'm surprised it penetrates the dense spiciness rising from the clumps of aspi leaves.

  Refreshed by the night's dew, the physic garden surrounding the observatory tower breathed a heady mix of perfumes into cool air barely stirred by the new day's breezes. It was still early enough for the stone steps of his pavilion to feel cold beneath Kheda's feet. He was already dressed in fine indigo silk embroidered with silver, his silver and sapphire jewellery dull in the muted light.

  'I don't know that Daish Sirket will expect you to greet him when they're arriving so early,' Itrac said neutrally as she padded over the smooth tile on soundless feet. Her night plait was unbrushed and she wore a crumpled pink robe over ungainly padded breast bands and supportive binding wrapped tight around her belly.

  '1 couldn't sleep. But you should rest all you can.' Kheda put his arm around Itrac's shoulders and gave her a gentle hug to make it plain he wasn't rebuking her. 'And don't exhaust yourself entertaining all our guests today.'

  'I was awake to feed Olkai and Sekni.' She tugged absently at the front of her gown. 'Has Ritsem Caid said what omen he sees in Redigal Coron's loss of hiscounsellors?'

  Nothing to give me a clue as to what mendacious interpretation I should be concocting for best advantage.

  Kheda answered her with a question of his own. 'Did Sekni and Olkai sleep well?'

  'Well enough for me to be sufficiently rested for today. Jevin says you're permitting some travelling scholar to consult the Chazen archive,' Itrac persisted with some concern. 'Does he bring some contrary portent for Olkai and Sekni's fortunes from some other domain?'

  'No, no,' Kheda assured her. 'He's only interested in mariners' histories.'

  She laid her head on his shoulder. 'You'll rest more easily when you read the new-year stars. It'll be interesting to see something of what lies ahead for the Ulla and Redigal domains,' she added thoughtfully.

  'Indeed.' Kheda glanced towards the shuttered observatory, satisfying himself there was no sign that the magewoman within was stirring.

  Will there be the slightest chance I can read some false omen into the heavens or the earthly compass that would justify my departure on this cursed voyage into the unknown with Velindre? To think I would once have sooner cut off my sword hand than tell such lies.

  'The Ritsem slaves are already awake,' Itrac observed. Servants were emerging from the shadowed portico of the distant ebony-doored hall and heading towards the kitchens flanking a lofty storehouse on the next islet. 'Despite their late arrival.'

  'Ritsem Caid said he'd welcome Daish Sirket with me.' Kheda turned his attention to the drifts of mist beyond the outermost edge of the reef, trying to discern any hint of a ship. 'Which will demonstrate Ritsem's closeness to Chazen. Not that he needs to, even if Ulla Safar made so much of his surprise that he had only come with one of his wives.' He didn't hide his irritation.

  'They brought Zorat with them.' Itrac was unperturbed. 'Ritsem Caid would hardly take his heir to a

  domain he didn't trust, and Taisia's his first wife.' She spoke more softly, for his ears alone. 'Taisia Ritsem is with child. She told me and the Redigal wives, and Chay and Mirrel, when we were in the nursery last night. Isn't that proof that Ritsem are our faithful allies? Taisia would hardly risk any lingering shadow of Chazen's misfortunes falling on her unborn child. I'm not surprised Mirrel Ulla and Chay ate so little at dinner. The news must have curdled their stomachs.'

  'Why?' Itrac's evident pleasure in this diverted Kheda from the empty seas beyond the lagoon.

  'Because they are both desperate to find themselves with child. It seems Ulla Safar is hoping to breed himself a new son.' Itrac's nose wrinkled with distaste. 'He has kept them both shut up in Derasulla along with his lesser wives and concubines since the end of the rains, and the first woman to give him one will be raised to first wife over Mirrel.'

  'Ulla Orhan must really be ill.' Kheda stared out across the lagoon.

  I'm going nowhere until I know what Ulla Safar is up to. Velindre can protest all she wants. And I want Risala back here, not least to learn what rumours she's picked up in Ulla waters.

  'Safar obviously misread whatever signs led him to poison every other boy child his women were inconsiderate enough to bear him.' Itrac shuddered.

  What omens convinced my father to raise all his sons to the brink of manhood instead of allowing our mothers to send us away as infants? How difficult was it for him to set his seal to that final decree declaring me his heir on his death? How could our mothers enforce his wishes, offering the rest the choice between castration and life aszamorin slaves or a quick and simple death? How could they do otherwise without throwing Daish into chaos? Were they glad that custom demanded they

  quit the domain after they had condemned their own sons to such a poisoned choice? How could I ever have believed the circling stars could sanction such a thing?

  Kheda grimaced. 'So how many of his women are brooding swollen bellies inside that fortress?'

  'None,' said Itrac with vicious amusement. 'And from what Elio Redigal was telling me, indulgence in his barbarian liquors and intoxicant smokes generally leaves Safar too limp to make good on his intentions, no matter how firm his resolve to get himself another male heir.'

  'Let's hope that omen unmans him still further, or he dies of an apoplexy between some concubine's thighs.' Kheda's gaze drifted to the hall whose doors were patterned with turtleshell plaques. 'But what about Tewi Ulla? If Orhan dies, she's next born and becomes the heir, and there's that whole gaggle of girls to come after her.'

  'All those girls have had any courage or wit in them crushed by Mirrel and Chay's inventive cruelties.' Itrac shivered and folded her arms beneath her milk-heavy breasts. 'Besides, Safar's trying to marry them off, even the ones barely of an age of discretion. Hinai Redigal says he doesn't care who he gives them to, as long as wedding into another domain gets them out of the line of succession.'

  'Who has he palmed them off on?' Kheda realised the breeze was rising and moved to shield Itrac.

  'He's had precious few takers.' Itrac was torn between satisfaction and pity for the hapless Ulla daughters. 'Didn't you see how Ritsem Caid and Redigal Coron both changed the subject when he mentioned that their heirs were now of an age to marry?'

  'Is that what's caused this breach between Ulla and Redigal?' Kheda wondered doubtfully.

  'I don't think so.' Uncertainty drew out Itrac's reply.

  'That new slave of Coron's is involved somehow, and Moni made a point of letting us all know he's sharing Coron's bed, not just sleeping at the foot of it.'

  Kheda frowned. 'It's been a long time since Coron last took a male lover and he's never done so openly.'

  'Moni was saying she shouldn't be surprised if Coron went clean-shaven before long,' remarked Itrac. 'Let me know what Ritsem Caid makes of that notion.'

  'Daish Sirket might know something, or Janne Daish,' Kheda said reluctantly. 'And here they are.' He pointed to the unmistakable shape of a fast trireme coalescing out of the distant mist. A signal horn from the wider, taller galley following the warship startled a flurry of coral gulls from their roost.

  Itrac hunched her shoulders inside her pale-pink gown. 'I had better go and prepare myself

  'They've yet to dock and their servants must settle everything in their accommodations,' Kheda said firmly. 'You don't need to receive them until mid-morning if you don't want to.'

  'I don't need to antagonise Janne Daish.' Itrac surprised Kheda with a pert smile. 'Not until I choose to. Not until we've found out what they know about Ulla Safar's preoccupations and Redigal Coron's new boldness.' She walked away towards the bridge leading to the next island and Je
vin detached himself from the shadows of the portico to follow.

  Kheda watched the fast triremes curl away to leave the mighty Daish galley picking its way through the reefs of the lagoon.

  'They're only bringing one ship.' Beyau appeared at Kheda's side. 'Do you suppose that was the young warlord's decision or has that bitch of a mother of his still got his sash knotted around her hand?'

  'Watch your tongue,' Kheda advised tersely. 'I don't

  want to be forced to have you flogged if Daish Sirket takes offence at that kind of talk.'

  To think I used to worry about the people of Chazen being too reticent to speak their minds. They certainly trust me now. What will they think of me if some menace reappears from this island Velindre has found beyond the western horizon? What will my lords ofRedigal, Ritsem and Ulla make of it, and read into such an omen for my new daughters' futures? What willjanne Daish think or say? Will she finally choose to betray my secrets and reveal just how I drove such foes away before? What will that mean for little Olkai and Sekni?

  Kheda watched a contingent of Chazen warriors march swiftly down towards the empty anchorage as the Daish galley drew closer. Ritsem Caid followed after them, his faithful slave Ganil one pace behind. Kheda began walking along the paths and walkways towards them. Ritsem Caid saw him and waited where three bridges met on a lump of rock ringed with slow ripples.

  Kheda inclined his head in greeting. 'My lord, I appreciate you making this early start with me.'

  'I was already awake, brewing a ginger and wax-flower-leaf infusion to settle Taisia's stomach.' Caid ran a hand over long curly hair tamed in rows of tight braids. The rising breeze flattened the dove-grey silk of his tunic, showing muscles built on his lithe frame by years of practice with sword and bow.

  'Congratulations, my lord.' Kheda grinned as they walked on together.

  'It was unexpected news,' Caid confessed, hands clasped loosely behind his back. 'But it's every woman's right to decide when and if to bear her children.'

  'Not according to Ulla Safar, it seems,' Kheda said caustically. 'Have you heard anything about Ulla Orhan being ill?'

  'No.' Ritsem Caid was plainly puzzled. 'Talking of Safar,

  I know you won't heed his nonsense but Trya and Ri will visit as soon as they've balanced their ledgers.' As he gestured, the strengthening sunlight caught the carnelians studding his gold rings. 'We've just entertained Toc Faile, and before that, Jahal Luso's household. All too soon we expect Endit Fel and his ladies to join us for the transit of the Emerald across true east.'

  So Trya and Ri are doing all they can to undermine the Ulla domain's grip on trade to the north and east of here, seeing Mirrel and Chay so distracted.

  'They will be most welcome.' Kheda waved away Caid's explanations. 'We're sufficiently honoured that Taisia was prepared to make the journey now she is with child.'

  'Taisia is determined to bid for the oyster shells from your pearl harvest,' Ritsem Caid admitted ruefully.

  So Ritsem can burn the shells for the lime they need for smelting the iron ore they have so recently discovered in their domain. Ulla Safar's influence over my lords of Endit and Jahal must be slipping now that his stranglehold on the trade in metals has been broken.

  Kheda smiled. 'Itrac will be happy to make such a trade.'

  In return for a fair share of Ritsem iron.

  'We see it as a potent omen that Itrac named your daughter and heir for Olkai Chazen who was born my sister.' Ritsem Caid's voice tightened. 'And that your domain is blessed with twin daughters.' He rubbed a hand over his neatly plaited beard. 'If Taisia's baby is a boy, Kheda, would you consider him as a husband for your daughter Olkai? As long as he shows the necessary talents for a warrior consort? Taisia has already given up two sous to live other lives under distant stars to save Zorat from any challenge by a credible rival. I'd like her to keep this new child close, boy or girl.'

  'Itrac and I would give such a match every consideration,' Kheda said cautiously.

  Ritsem Caid sighed as he watched the Daish galley draw near. 'We are both blessed that our first-born sons were so well fitted to be our heirs.'

  'Sirket is warlord of Daish and acknowledges no kinship with me now that I am of Chazen,' Kheda said distantly.

  The two men walked on in silence broken only by the stirring of rowing boats setting out with stealthy oars to fetch the day's necessities from outer islands around the lagoon.

  Ritsem Caid looked sideways at Kheda as they crossed another bridge. 'There must have been whispers from some who'd rather have seen a son born to be the next warlord of Chazen in his own right.'

  'Chazen Saril's final year as warlord was a disaster,' Kheda said bluntly. 'And my accession hardly took place under ideal circumstances. Most see such omens arguing that it's a good thing little Olkai will be able to choose a husband sanctioned by favourable portents for the domain.'

  As long as there's still a domain for her to inherit and we haven't all been eaten by a dragon.

  'You've done well enough by Chazen,' Caid said robustly.

  'There are still those with doubts.' Kheda abruptly changed the subject. 'What do you read into Redigal Coron's loss of his zamorin counsellors?'

  'I never trusted any one of that nest of lizards.' Ritsem Caid shook his head and his slave Ganil let slip a wordless grunt of agreement. 'Though I'm surprised at Redigal Coron's equanimity over their deaths.'

  'He seems confident the domain will not suffer for lack of their counsel.' Kheda chose his next words carefully. 'I wonder if Daish Sirket foresaw any hint of the disaster.'

  Will you tell me if he tells you anything, Caid? Because I don't imagine he'll want to speak to me any more than he absolutely has to.

  The Daish galley approached with the creak and rush of oars rolling over the calm waters. Voices floated from the stern platform as the helmsman in his high seat called out to the rowing master as he deftly used his twin steering oars to guide the broad-bellied vessel.

  'The Rainbow Moth.'' Ritsem Caid studied the pennant at the top of the central mast as the ship wheeled around to present its wide stern to the anchorage. 'Rainbow for new light cast on old certainty,' the warlord mused idly. 'Moth for change and new beginnings.'

  All I see is Janne's favourite ship commanded by her most loyal shipmaster. What does jf Janne know about Ulla Safar's new obsession or Redigal Coron's unexpected ruthlessness? How can I expect her to tell me?

  Ritsem Caid halted as they reached the landing stage. 'Redigal Coron can look to that new body slave for wise counsel instead of those zamorin.''

  'Let us hope so,' Kheda agreed.

  Janne is the only other person who knows that one of those drownedzamorin was born my brother. Will she find a way to use that against me?

  Ganil spoke up behind the two warlords. 'Prai joined us on the practice ground yesterday evening, my lords. He knows how to handle a blade.'

  'I'm glad of that.' Kheda watched the Chazen islanders securing the vast galley. Brown-skinned and black-haired, the Daish crew with longer, straighter daggers at their belts were otherwise indistinguishable from those of Chazen with their crescent blades.

  'Is Daish offering any slaves for your consideration as you look for a new personal guard?' Ritsem Caid was studying the armoured men lining the ship's rails.

  'I don't know if Itrac has requested their help.' Kheda forced an amiable half-smile as a young man and an older woman descended the stern steps with their personal slaves a few paces behind.

  / don't imagine Itrac would offer Janne the chance to plant a spy in our household. Will that snub have put Janne Daish on her guard or on the attack?

  Clearing his throat, Kheda walked forward to greet his former wife and erstwhile heir. 'My lord of Daish, my lady. You are both most welcome.'

  'My felicitations on your new daughters' birth.' Daish Sirket's response was stilted and emotion shadowed his eyes, as green as Kheda's. He was plainly his father's son, with the same high forehead and oval face, cheek
bones and nose more sharply defined than was usual in the southern reaches. Janne's blood showed in Sirket's fuller lips and darker skin, in his jet-black hair and close-trimmed beard. He wore a red silk tunic a shade darker than his mother's gown, embroidered with soaring brindled eagles. Rubies glittered in the woven gold of his intricate collar and diamonds caught fire at his wrists and fingers in the sunlight.

  Rubies for courage and strength and diamonds to clear a warlord's mind of emotions that would cloud his purpose. I swear you 're taller, my son, and you 're certainly broader across the shoulders.

  Kheda smiled over the tightness in his throat. 'Thank you.'

  'It's good to see you, Sirket.' Ritsem Caid stepped forward to offer his hands to the young warlord. 'Taisia and I have brought Zorat with us and he's eager to see you again.'

  Daish Sirket addressed himself to Ritsem Caid with ill-concealed relief. 'I'll be glad to offer whatever advice I can to Zorat. I trust it will be many years before he

  has to take up care of the Ritsem domain,' he added hastily.

  'Let's hope so,' Caid agreed with amusement. 'Redigal Litai is here as well.'

  Kheda inclined his head to Janne Daish. 'I take it the other ladies of Daish chose to stay close to home for the new year?'

  What do you know about the recent changes in Redigal's fortunes, my lady? I see you're wearing ropes of the finest pink and grey pearls that the Daish reefs can boast. Is that to remind us of your shrewdness as guardian of Daish's trade? Or are you hoping that they will soothe your emotions? I'm not about to place any such reliance on talismans.

  'To support Mesil as he reads the stars in his lord and brother's absence.' Janne calmly smoothed her ruby silk dress over her hips. It was simply cut and loosely flowing as befitted her status as the warlord's mother, and a long over-mantle of dull crimson embroidered with white basket flowers further concealed her shapely figure.