Free The Rogue by Trudi Canavan

Tayend paused to listen to a response Dannyl could not hear, and then smiled. “Then perhaps I’ll train a slave, or import some Elyne women for the day – or mimic one myself! Nothing spared for my Sachakan guests.”
    Laughter followed. Dannyl sighed and turned away. He saw Achati talking to Lady Merria and felt a wave of gratitude. She had looked uncomfortable earlier, with the other guests ignoring her. Watching to see what the Sachakans would do when they saw her, Dannyl had noticed less displeasure and more uncertainty in their faces than he’d expected. Not used to women being among their social circle, since talking to someone else’s woman was taboo, they didn’t know what to do about her, so they pretended she wasn’t there.
    Achati looked up and beckoned to Dannyl.
    “I was just telling Lady Merria of a group of three Sachakan women I know who meet socially.”
    “I thought that was frowned upon here.”
    “They get away with it because they are widows and a cripple, and because they hate the Traitors. One of the group believes they killed her husband.” Achati smiled. “I thought Lady Merria might like to join them sometimes. She could become very lonely here otherwise.”
    Dannyl looked at Merria. “What do you think?”
    She nodded. “It would be good to meet some local women.”
    Achati smiled and looked at Dannyl. “Should I enquire with them if your assistant would be welcome?”
    Belatedly, Dannyl realised Achati was asking his permission, as if Merria’s social life was his responsibility. Amused, he looked at the Healer. She looked a little distant, as if she hadn’t heard the question, but perhaps her lack of expression came from her effort to show nothing of her true feelings.
    “Yes, please do,” Dannyl replied.
    Achati looked pleased. “Perhaps I can find you something to do, as well,” he murmured. Looking at Dannyl pointedly, he beckoned and headed toward an Ashaki whose partner in conversation had just moved away. Dannyl followed.
    “Ashaki Ritova. I was just telling Ambassador Dannyl about your impressive library.”
    The Sachakan turned to face Achati. He wore a haughty expression that softened very slightly into respect toward Achati, but returned when he looked at Dannyl.
    “Ashaki Achati. You need not boast on my behalf.”
    “Yet I always feel inclined to. Surely it is the best collection in Sachaka, aside from the palace library.”
    “It is a meagre pile of books in comparison.”
    “Even so, I am sure Ambassador Dannyl would be astounded at how old some of your records are.”
    The man glanced at Dannyl again. “I doubt you would find anything of interest, Ambassador.” He sighed. “I do not have the time to look in there myself. Too busy discussing treaties with the eastern lands.”
    He shook his head and began a long and boring criticism of the peoples the Sachakans traded with over the Aduna Sea. It would have been interesting to learn more about these lands, but Dannyl quickly realised that the Ashaki’s assessment was tainted with dislike and prejudice, and unlikely to be a true description. When Achati finally managed to extract them without insulting Ritova, he apologised.
    “I hoped to get something out of that for you,” he murmured. “But he is as stubborn as …”
    The Master of War, Kirota, drew near. Seeing Dannyl, he sidled over.
    “Ashaki Achati. Ambassador Dannyl. A pleasure to see you again, Ambassador. I hear you and Ambassador Tayend are closely connected. Is this true?”
    Dannyl nodded. “We have long been friends. Over twenty years.”
    Kirota frowned. “Ambassador Tayend said he lived in Elyne when you first met.”
    “Yes, as did I,” Dannyl explained. “I was Guild Ambassador to Elyne. I met Tayend at the Great Library. He assisted me in some research for the Guild.”
    “Ah, yes! Tayend mentioned your research. How is it going?”
    Dannyl shrugged. “I’ve made little progress recently.”
    Kirota nodded sympathetically.