Free Laldasa by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff Page B

places an order must sign for it, in person, at the freight dock on Mehtar before the resources can be released.”
    â€œWe are only trying to protect our associates, Deva,” interrupted Speaker Prakash. “The Avasan ships are ancient and unreliable-“
    â€œThey are entirely reliable!”
    â€œ-and sending expensive equipment to Avasan retailers in the hope that it will be sold is not profitable. What are we supposed to do if someone orders a drill rig, then never shows up to pay for the shipping?”
    â€œThat has never happened!” objected Pritam.
    â€œWe propose that it never will.”
    Taffik Pritam smiled acidly. “How very prudent of you.”
    â€œIt would also be very prudent, Prakash-sama,” interjected the Deva, “if you would take your seat and allow Taffik Pritam to continue with his presentation uninterrupted.”
    Prakash bowed his head deferentially and sat. Ranjan Vrksa immediately began to whisper in his ear.
    â€œDo continue, Pritam-sama.” The Deva favored the Avasan with a nod.
    â€œThank you, Deva. I also lodge official complaint against the Kasi-Nawahr Consortium for deliberately standing in the way of our legal free enterprise. They have blocked shipment of our independently contracted ores, which has caused us to default on at least two hard-won contracts. We are trapped, Deva. Even when we can contrive to get the equipment to Avasa to get the ore out of the ground, we cannot ship to more lucrative markets because Consortium associates own the ships on which it must be freighted. Since their Quality Control discounts at least forty percent of our yield as inferior or impure grade, we are left with no choice but to sell to the Consortium at a substantially lower price.”
    â€œNaturally, we pay inferior prices for inferior ores,” muttered Prakash, just loudly enough to be heard.
    Before the Deva could utter censure, Pritam rounded on him. “There is nothing inferior about our ores! We have independent analysts who will testify-“
    â€œThen sell your ores to them. The choice is yours.”
    â€œIf we are to feed our families, we have no choice!” His face flushed with emotion, Pritam turned an impassioned gaze on the Council. “Noble Varmana, members of the Inner Circle, all we ask of you is the protection of our right as citizens of this Commonwealth to pursue our livelihood unfettered by Consortium interference. Our ancestors migrated to Avasa as adita—free as the world they found. The Consortium would now enslave us. We ask only that you allow us our freedom under Mehtaran law.”
    The comment light on the front of the KNC box lit up momentarily.
    Deva Radha acknowledged it. “The Consortium Speaker requests leave to comment. Do you object, Pritam-sama?”
    â€œNo, Deva. Let him speak.”
    Prakash saluted his opponent with a mocking bow. “How kind of you. Let me start by reminding Pritam-sama that Avasa’s status, under the law, is far from certain.”
    â€œIf you are going to speak to Pritam-sama,” interrupted the Deva Radha, “speak to him, not around him. However, I’d rather you address your remarks to the Vrinda Varma itself ... if you don’t mind.”
    Prakash colored slightly.
    Was it possible the man was embarrassed? Or did he merely possess the good sense to fear incurring the displeasure of the Inner Circle? The former wasn’t likely, so Jaya decided the good Prakash had finally realized that Deva Radha was not just a “frigid harpy with a sharp tongue,” or whatever he’d had the poor judgement to call her at dinner three nights ago. Jaya had long ago decided that the man was a pompous idiot, but realized a number of people, Duran Prakash among them, thought of Jaya Sarojin in the same terms.
    Just now, the pompous idiot was favoring the Assembly with a deep, courtly bow. “My humble apologies, Deva, Noble members of the Inner