Free Destroyer by C. J. Cherryh Page B

thereafter we have heard rumors of the aiji’s movements, and we do not despair of hearing from him soon, aiji-ma. He may well send word once he hears you are back.”
    “Or he may not,” Ilisidi said, “if he is not yet prepared. He may let opposition concentrate on us.”
    “True,” Geigi said. “But we have not heard news lately. The Kadigidi have never since dared claim he is dead. But they may advance such a claim in desperation, Sidi-ji, now that you have arrived.”
    “Well,” Ilisidi said, as taken aback as Bren had ever seen her. She stood there staring at nothing in particular, and Cajeiri stood by, looking to her for answers. As they all did. “Well,” she said again.
    Jase, meanwhile, had been carrying on a running translation for Sabin, who stood, likewise looking at Ilisidi.
    “Where,” Ilisidi asked Geigi sharply, “where is Tatiseigi?”
    Cajeiri’s great-uncle, lord of the Atageini, sharing a boundary with the Kadigidi.
    “At his estate, aiji-ma. Apparently safe. The Lady Damiri is not there.”
    Cajeiri’s mother, who owed direct allegiance to the Atageini lord, Tatiseigi. Damiri was, very possibly, traveling with Tabini, if he was alive. She could have sheltered with her uncle, but apparently she was missing right along with Tabini, still loyal, and a constraint on her great-uncle.
    “How many provinces are now joining in this rebellion?”
    “Four provinces in the south, two in the east, under Lord Darudi.”
    “There is a head destined to fall,” Ilisidi said placidly. “And Tatiseigi? His man’chi?”
    “His neighbors the Kadigidi are surely watching him very closely, as if he might harbor the aiji or the consort, but he will not commit to this side or the other and they dare not touch him because of the Northern Association.”
    “The Northern Association holds?”
    “It holds, aiji-ma.”
    It was worth a deep, long sigh of relief. Atevi didn’t have borders. They had overlapping spheres of influence and allegiance. Within the aishidi’tat there were hundreds of associations of all sizes, from two or three provinces, likewise hazy in border, give or take, commonly, the loyalty of two or three families within the overlap. And if the Northern Association had held firm, rallying around Tatiseigi of the Atageini, the Midlands Association, to which the neighboring Kadigidi belonged, would be rash to make a move against Cajeiri’s mother’s relatives.
    And Cajeiri arriving back in the picture gave Uncle Tatiseigi a powerful claimant to power from his household, which would bring all sorts of pressure within Tatiseigi’s association . . . God, it had been so long since he had traced the mazes of atevi clans and allegiances, or had to wonder where the Assassins’ Guild was going to come down on an issue.
    Tabini missing. Assassinations. Havoc in the aishidi’tat .
    One thing occurred to him, one primary question.
    “Where are the shuttles, aiji-ma? Have they survived this disorder?”
    “Excellent question,” Ilisidi said, and relayed it to Geigi. “Where are the shuttles?”
    “We have one shuttle docked at the station,” was Geigi’s very welcome answer. “But we have no safe port to land it. The rebels hold the seacoast. We fear it may suffer attack, even if we attempt a landing on Mospheira.”
    God. But they still had one functional shuttle.
    One.
    “Aiji-ma,” Geigi said, “I have maps. I have maps, and letters, which I can send to you for more detailed information, if the station and the ship will permit.”
    Jase had translated that. They suddenly had Sabin’s full attention. “Jules,” Sabin said to her conversant, “Lord Geigi wants to transmit documents.”
    “He should send them,” Bren said, “aiji-ma.”
    “I shall get them together,” Lord Geigi said, when she ordered the transmission. “And I shall be there to meet you when you dock, aiji-ma.”
    “A cold trek and pointless,” was Ilisidi’s response. “Order my staff and the paidhi’s to