Chapter Eleven
The Una
The sound was clear and pure, strangely captivating. It whispered across the air with the cold beauty of a frost. The man moved slowly at first, every figure of the exercise filled with control, with the impression of strength.
The rhythm changed, it was never constant but flowed, not a collection of movements but rather an endless and graceful dance. The man turned lifting his arm, and moved it sinuously, the rapid motion rippling down the sword and making it zing again.
He turned, every step sure, and taking the sword in both hands brought it to one side at eye level. He held it parallel to the floor for a few moments, before releasing it with one hand and rotating his wrist. The sword cut through the air with a whispering rush, and spinning quickly, he rocked backward on to his left leg.
Time passed, and still he continued, but somehow the dance had changed. It was still beautiful, but now also deadly. The pace increased, each stroke became more threatening than the last, the glint of the blade more menacing.
Yet still the tempo increased until the man moved with a breathless rapidity that mesmerised.
And then quite suddenly it was over. With a yell of aggression he brought his sword slicing downward, the full force of his strength behind it, stopping just short of the ground.
For a few moments he remained still, his breath coming raggedly.
“Your practice showed much anger, such aggression Kai.” The old man who had been watching twirled his cane between his fingers. “Who were you imagining your opponent to be? Councillor Ladron? Or maybe her?”
Kai turned slowly, and made his way toward the table where Elder Headman Amajit sat. He bowed formally, showing the respect due an older man.
“I didn’t see you arrive, Elderman.”
Elder Headman Amajit chuckled.
“It’s good to know that I can still approach with stealth despite my advanced years.”
He watched as Kai poured water from the jug on the table into the waiting glasses, and passed one to him.
“I thought of neither,” returned the young man smoothly.
Elderman Di Ye continued to watch him with appraising eyes.
“Your memory is faulty, Kai. I told you when you were very young that I would always know when you were lying. Did you not believe me?”
Kai perched on the edge of the table, and considered his glass.
“What does it matter what I thought?” he shrugged at last.
Elderman Di Ye shook his head.
“Hate is poison, Kai, you must rid yourself of its destructive influence.” Elderman Di Ye tapped his cane on the floor as if to drive his point home.
“My grandmother was particularly fond of this saying, ‘a little leaven will ferment the whole lump’. Do you know what that means?”
Kai thought for a few moments before shaking his head.
“It means that your hate will fester and spread through you, eating away at everything that is good, and leaving nothing but bitterness.”
Elder Headman Amajit watched Kai’s face for any change of expression but the young man gave nothing away.
“Do you really believe this can ever end if we hate the Tula?”
“Then should we love them?” asked Kai. “They try to kill us, demand that we change our way of life, yet you say we shouldn’t hate them?”
“That is precisely what I say,” answered Elder Headman Amajit simply. “By all means hate what they do, but not them. If we hate them there can never be peace between us.”
“Then must I love Councillor Ladron too?”
Elderman Di Ye’s cane rose swiftly, and hit Kai across the leg with surprising force.
“You are not stupid, Kai, do not pretend to be less intelligent than God made you.”
“Ouch!”
Kai rubbed his stinging limb only for Elderman Di Ye to cane his hand sharply.
“You should not speak foolish words, there is no place for stupidity in the mid of a Headman.”
Kai looked up from the red mark that lined the back of his hand.
“Sometimes I think that you don’t like me, Elderman. That you are intent in forcing me to be someone other than I am. Is my true self so full of fault that you cannot be fond of me?”
“Why should I like your faults? I am neither your mother nor your wife that I should overlook such imperfections.” Elder Headman Di Ye Uel Ne Amajit stamped his cane again. “It is as my grandmother used to say: ‘spare the rod and spoil the child’.”
Kai choked incredulously.
“When have you ever spared the rod?”
“I was never so unwise,” returned Elderman Di Ye pointedly. “It must have been your parents, and do not be defiant!”
This time the cane caught Kai on the knee before he could slip out of reach around the side of the table.
Elderman Di Ye watched in satisfaction as Kai rubbed the offended area vigorously.
“Why do you only ever pick on me?” he muttered, aggrieved.
Elderman Di Ye chuckled.
“Who told you that? I still have to reprimand your father on occasion, although the times are becoming less frequent.”
Kai paused, momentarily diverted.
“With a cane?”
Elderman Di Ye smiled, and shook his head.
“No one is ever too old for a good caning,” he returned. “But your father is a good boy: I haven’t had to cane him in years.”
Elder Headman Di Ye looked the man in front of him over again. Kai had removed his waistcoat and was wearing the black trousers and shirt of a soldier. The usual gold embroidery, to show his status as an Apprentice Headman, was missing on the waistcoat neatly folded on the table. Only the blue sash around his waist declared to all that he was of the family line of Sen.
“Why does she anger you so much?” probed Elderman Di Ye.
Kai stiffened, and the old man pressed on.
“Is your pride so badly wounded that you cannot see anything else?”
Kai flinched from the words as though they touched a particularly raw nerve. Elderman Di Ye leaned forwards, sensing his advantage.
“Tell me, Kai, that I've not wasted all these years upon a fool who cannot see past wounded pride?”
“Pride? I wasn’t aware that I had any pride left to wound.”
Elder Headman Amajit flexed his fingers around his cane, looking as though he wished Kai was still within reach.
“I never did have time for self pity, Kai, and neither do you. What is your first duty as an Apprentice Headman?”
“To serve and protect my people.”
“At what cost?”
“At any cost.”
“Precisely. Even at the cost of your pride, Kai Uel Ne Sen,” stated Elderman Di Ye.
They were silent, Kai gazing into the depths of his glass without expression and Elderman Di Ye watching the dark head for some sign of understanding. When Kai finally spoke it was quietly, his words clipped and precise.
“I have not, and never will allow my people to suffer for the sake of my pride. I have always seen to my obligations however distasteful they may have been to me.”
“Rem is a distasteful obligation to you?” enquired Elderman Di Ye.
“Yes, he was at first, how could he be anything else?” The frank honesty of Kai's words made his reply all the more shocking. “It was only after I knew him that I ceased to see him as such.”
Kai shifted awkwardly in the silence that followed. Elder Headman Amajit knew that he was uncomfortable with his confession. It was not Kai’s way to expose himself, and allow others to see his innermost thoughts.
“Have you never thought, Kai, that perhaps it could be the same with her?”
Elderman Di Ye saw the flicker of surprise pass over Kai's features, and stood. He had done all he would be able to do today. Kai had something to think about that he had not considered before. He stood slowly, leaning heavily on his stick.
“You’re leaving Elderman
Di Ye?” Kai’s question was absent, as though his mind was focused on the words that had passed between them.
“Yes, I have said that which I came to say. Now I want your promise that you will think on our discussion.”
Kai nodded and bowed respectfully.
Elder Headman Amajit left the boy to his own thoughts. As much as he wished to help, he knew that the battle that raged within Kai was not one he could help with.
Kai needed to face it alone. It would be the making, or the breaking, of him.
The old man sighed tiredly.
There were many things that he regretted he had needed to do over the course of his life. Some decisions would always haunt him. Yet, it was his interference in Kai’s life that scared him the most.
Had he, in his quest to do much good, only succeeded in causing much harm?
-------
The Tula
If there was anything a subsidiary in Government Building feared it was to interrupt a Council meeting.
Councillor Ladron hated to be interrupted by anyone, but found it particularly galling when that someone was a lowly subsidiary.
However it was too important, and Councillor Ladron would be even angrier if he were not made aware of the development immediately. And so the subsidiary walked into the Council chambers to deliver what was undoubtedly the worse news that Councillor Ladron had ever received.
He stood in the centre of the room as he delivered his message. Five of the councillors sat at their desks to one side of him, and five to the other. They were seated in large comfortable black chairs, and the desks in front of them glowed with the blue white light that travelled through wires embedded into the glass.
Councillor Ladron was seated at the head of the room, his desk raised on a black marble platform, his chair white in contrast to those of his fellow Councillors. He sat impassive and calm as the subsidiary delivered the news that the death squad had arrived at the Va Dic Toban residence to find it deserted. No quiver of emotion disturbed his face as he was told that Ceadron and Balak Va Dic Toban were absent without leave.
“You sent a death squad to kill Astra?” Beris Va Dic Zorrenson’s already severe face was drawn so tightly in irritation that her mouth was little more than a thin line on her face. “You did such a thing without the consent or knowledge of the Council?”
Councillor Ladron was not really attending to her, but had placed his fingertips together, and leant back in his chair.
“As always, Beris, you dwell upon the unimportant and miss the weightier matters,” he replied absently.
“You promised us that Astra was not a danger, Corbani,” interrupted Councillor Sendel, his smooth voice as calm as ever. “Yet now it transpires that, far from you having her under control, it has become necessary for you to wipe away every trace of her existence.”
Councillor Ladron’s eyes narrowed as he turned to meet Councillor Sendel’s gaze. He did not appreciate the reminder, nor the boldness that had prompted Councillor Sendel to make his observation.
“As I promised you, I am in complete control of Astra,” he replied softly. “It was Leda Va Dic Toban who made it necessary to be rid of them all.”
“I see.”
Councillor Ladron had the satisfaction of seeing Councillor Sendel lower his gaze as the cold words of reproof smote him. It was only momentary, for an instant later, with a languor born of arrogance, he raised his eyes again.
“Then it was Leda you had no control over,” he stated mildly.
Councillor Ladron fingers convulsed jerkily at these words. Although one of the few councillors who dared to give him trouble, Sendel was pushing particularly hard today. Corbani could only view his recklessness with misgiving. He had made a miscalculation, and Sendel seemed intent on using that mistake to his full advantage.
Corbani turned to the subsidiary still standing before them.
“What of Senator Burton’s son?”
“There was no trace of him, Councillor, the security forces believe that he was taken along as a hostage.”
Councillor Ladron smiled slowly.
“No, not as a hostage. Astra knows only too well that he has no value to me.”
Councillor Zorrenson spluttered incoherently for a moment.
“How can Senator Burton’s son have no value as a hostage? His father has the ability to end peace talks between our governments.”
Councillor Ladron laughed softly, shaking his head.
“You have fire, Beris, but unfortunately the smoke blinds you. Mr. Burton is by now in full possession of the facts that govern Astra’s position. He needs to die before he passes on those facts to his father. Astra is aware of that and knows therefore that he is useless as a pawn in negotiations.”
“Then why take him?” snapped Beris irritably.
“Because, my dear Beris, she knew that if they left him he would have been disposed of. She wished to save him, a grave error in judgment.”
“You mean you would not have killed him?” she asked confused.
“Not at all, he would most definitely be dead. I meant that she made an error in caring what happened to him, because now she has dealt me an ace.”
“How can you possibly use this to your advantage?” demanded Councillor Sendel.
Councillor Ladron smiled chillingly.
“You don't know?” he asked mockingly. “Behold the reason why I control this Council, while you are fit only to be controlled. I will tell Senator Burton the truth.”
There was silence in the room.
“Th-the truth?” stuttered Beris.
Councillor Ladron seemed lost in his own pleasing musings.
“I will tell him that Astra is Una. That in our kindness we allowed her to live as one of us, trusting her to the point where she was invited to take the honoured position of my subsidiary. I will tell him how she has, most unfortunately, remained true to the extremist ways of her people. That she even succeeded in subverting the minds of her adoptive family into joining her in her heinous crime of kidnapping his son, in the hopes that the Free Nation will be pressured into ceasing peace talks.” His eyes glittered. “When he hears that his son has been found dead, killed by his captors – who will themselves die trying to escape justice – the treaty will be agreed upon almost immediately.”
The room was silent and Councillor Ladron pulled himself upright in his chair.
“The only question is how they found out that a death squad had been dispatched to their house, and were therefore able to evade my carefully laid out plans.”
He looked around the assembled Councillors, his eyes lingering a little on Councillor Sendel.
“Narim is a good friend of the Va Dic Tobans is he not, Councillor Sendel?”
Sendel raised a nonchalant eyebrow, seemingly unconcerned at this mention of his only son.
“He works alongside the two eldest boys.”
Councillor Ladron smiled, his eyes never wavering from those of his quarry.
“But how would a mere securitor like Narim know about such an order?”
Councillor Sendel shrugged.
“I don’t see how he could have.”
Councillor Ladron said no more. He knew better than anyone how to stalk his prey. A few words now, followed by a long period of reflection, would be more effective than a full out attack. Leaving him unsure of his ground was the best way to punish Councillor Sendel.
“Will you tell Senator Burton about his son immediately?” asked Beris.
Councillor Ladron shook his head.
“Not yet. I will wait until the death squad has successfully eliminated them, then I’ll tell him.”
“Do you think it can be kept from him that long?” asked Councillor Sendel.
“I don’t see why not. Unless, of course, one of us tells him beforehand.”
Councillor Ladron allowed his eyes to rest unblinkingly on Councillor Sendel. His words elicited no response, but then he hadn’t really expected one. Councillor Sendel was too old a
hand to give himself away. He would not have lasted so long if he had not had a duplicitous nature. Sendel had his uses, it was the only reason he was still alive, the second he forgot his place he would be eliminated.
“This doesn’t change the fact that you ordered a death squad operation without the consent of the Council,” interrupted Councillor Zorrenson.
“So?”
“You have no right to make such decisions without the agreement of all the Council members.”
Councillor Ladron regarded Beris Va Dic Zorrenson frostily for some moments.
“As Councillor over the security forces it is my decision and mine alone,” he responded coldly. “Just as it is my choice as to whether I tell you of my decisions or not.”
Beris Va Dic Zorrenson’s gaze became flustered, and she cleared her throat nervously. Corbani looked around at the rest of the Councillors sitting quietly and fearful behind their desks. He would have no more trouble from them today, and no more trouble at all once Astra and her family were found and captured. He leaned back in his chair, placing the tips of his fingers together. It was going to be a good day, even better than he had planned.