Peacemaker by C. J. Cherryh Page A

first.”
    â€œHaikuti,” Tabini said with distaste.
    â€œHaikuti is dead, aiji-ma. Along with two Guild units besides, and whoever fired from the window at Asien’dalun’s upper corner. We then took tactical positions in the house and grounds. My bodyguard and the aiji-dowager’s prevented servants from destroying records. We arrested certain persons we believe are plain-clothes Guild, and we dismissed the rest of the domestic servants to the township, everything by Guild regulations. It
was
a legitimate Guild operation, taken in a legitimate action on my part, and their firing initiated our response.”
    â€œAnd where was Lord Aseida during all this?”
    â€œWithin the house, aiji-ma. He was brought out from hiding under our escort. We took him to Tirnamardi, where he asked protection of Lord Tatiseigi, who flatly refused him. In leaving Asien’dalun, we gave place to Taibeni clan who were
also
guesting on Tirnamardi estate, who were
also
offended by the operation launched from Kadagidi soil. They are holding the Kadagidi estate, in alliance with Lord Tatiseigi.”
    Tabini slightly pursed his lips. Tabini himself was half Taibeni. His aishid—excepting the dowager’s men—was Taibeni. And this morning’s turn of events now had Taibeni clan working with Taibeni clan’s old enemy Tatiseigi against their other old enemy the Kadagidi. It made a very interesting turn of events.
    â€œAnd Aseida?”
    â€œLord Aseida resides in the aiji-dowager’s keeping.”
    â€œHere?”
    â€œYes, aiji-ma. Along with the two Dojisigi Assassins.”
    â€œOn this floor?”
    â€œI have no idea, aiji-ma. But, cooperative though the Dojisigi have been, and deeply indebted as they are to the aiji-dowager, they will surely
not
be set at liberty yet, one is quite certain of that. And one is equally sure Lord Aseida will not be. They traveled in a separate rail car and at no point has this situation been near the children.”
    â€œI leave the Dojisigi to my grandmother’s discretion,” Tabini muttered with a wave of his hand, “but Aseida is mine to deal with. You will remind her of that.”
    â€œWithout a doubt he must be, aiji-ma, nor does one believe she would say otherwise.”
    â€œOf course not. —With a notable dearth of candidates for the Kadagidi lordship, of
course
she will not object. There will be a
firestorm
among the Conservatives, and
we
shall have to deal with the mess.”
    â€œAjuri,” Damiri said unhappily, regarding her clan, now lordless, with her father’s death, “and now Kadagidi must have new lords. And there will be
more
troubles for the north.”
    Damiri herself was one candidate for the lordship of Ajuri. She was the very last candidate Tabini wanted in that frequently-vacated office. There was clearly subtext in the aiji-consort’s uncommon statement on politics in the paidhi’s hearing.
    Subtext, too, in Tabini’s sideways shift of the eyes, in his wife’s direction.
    â€œWhen shall we see our son?” Damiri asked sharply.
    Angry. Yes. Damiri was angry with Tabini. Angry with her son. Angry with Ilisidi. Angry with him. Angry with her uncle. And, it was very certain, she was supremely angry at her recently-deceased father
and
whoever had killed him.
    She was also the very last person on the planet the dowager wanted involved in any plan to move against the old man in Assignments—an old man who also happened to be her great-uncle.
    â€œDaja-ma,” Bren said quietly, “the youngsters are all exhausted, and very concerned about making a good impression. An alert kept them up much of the night, and they are likely headed for baths and beds now as quickly as Lord Tatiseigi’s staff can settle them in. Your son is deeply concerned for your safety and your good opinion. He wishes you to know he is well. He is the only translator available for his guests at