Off-Grid
The Rose Cottage
Dosent had been moved into the cottage, to her special pillow by the hearth. Tekelia had made part of that effort, and remained inside, lending support to Maradel’s argument that Geritsi accept a Healing sleep. As Padi understood it, Jorey’s push had not been gentle, and only her fury—and the ambient—had kept her upright so far.
In the meanwhile, the Warden had taken his trussed prisoner away to a more secure situation.
“I will come back for you as soon as I may,” he had said to the woman who had been belatedly introduced to Padi as Zeni gorminAstir, the chair of the Council of the Civilized.
“Do not endanger yourself, Warden. I am in no hurry to return to my office, now that I have been sitting outside in the free air. Additionally, I wish to speak more fully with Oracle vesterGranz.”
So it was that Padi joined Aunt Asta and the council chair at the table under the tree. Padi had disposed of several pieces of cake, and a cup of yeast drink provided by Maradel, and was feeling rather more the thing.
And before her sat—an opportunity.
“I wonder if you might advise me, ma’am,” she said, interjecting herself into a pause in the conversation between the two elder ladies.
Zeni gorminAstir turned to her and inclined her head.
“I will do my best, Trader. How may I assist you?”
“You will, I think, have been informed that Master Trader yos’Galan has called for a whole port inventory. This step reflects his strong belief that Colemeno may be fit to serve, if not as a trade hub, then at least an important terminal for multiple Loops.”
“I have heard this news, yes. Portmaster krogerSlyte keeps me informed, as of course does Councilor ziaGorn.”
“We have good friends in the portmaster and Councilor ziaGorn,” Padi said. “Indeed, I thought to seek their advice with the trade mission’s difficulty, but neither was available to me.”
Zeni gorminAstir smiled.
“And the ambient has provided you with another friend.”
“I’m glad to hear that you are our friend, ma’am. The person just apprehended—his name was kezlBlythe?”
“That is correct, Trader.”
“As it happens the trade mission’s difficulty seems to arise from another person named kezlBlythe—one Zandir, who we are told is the principal of a business syndicate operating in the city.”
“So it is, but—seems, Trader? Are you not certain?”
“For my part, I am certain, ma’am, but I have been strongly cautioned by Trader ven’Deelin of our team that, while someone may have attempted to put me under their influence, it does not follow that they are actively working to prevent the trade mission from accomplishing its inventory.”
“Enlighten me, Trader. Were you attacked by Zandir kezlBlythe?”
“Ma’am, I was,” Padi said, and felt Tekelia’s presence in her head sharpen. “She dented my shields, and I foolishly repaired the damage, so that our team Healer was not able to assess the severity. That, however, is not the most concerning matter.”
“That being this possible interference in the trade team’s work,” said Zeni gorminAstir. “What do you suspect the kezlBlythe Syndicate of doing?”
“Briefly, ma’am, I—and our qe’andra, also—suspect that the kezlBlythe Syndicate has intimidated the city professionals with whom our qe’andra made appointments into failing to keep those appointments, and refusing further contact.”
Padi paused. Aunt Asta hefted the pot, poured tea into a cup, and handed it to her. Padi sat back and took a sip, feeling a warm hand land on her shoulder.
“The kezlBlythe again?” Tekelia said. “They are remarkably busy.”
“Well,” Padi said, craning her head backward to see Tekelia’s face. Mismatched eyes looked down into hers. “At our first interview, it did seem that Zandir kezlBlythe was determined to increase her holdings by being the trade mission’s . . . friend, as she had it, in the city.”
“The kezlBlythe Syndicate has recently come to the attention of the Council of the Civilized,” Zeni gorminAstir said. “If I understand you, Trader, you suspect the syndicate of restraining the trade mission’s work.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Padi, “but I am obliged to say that it is more than the trade mission that stands in peril from these tactics. There are protocols outlined by our Guild, which the master trader is bound to follow. If he cannot proceed in a correct manner, he will have no choice but to withdraw from Colemeno.”
“Which means that we will not become a Tree-and-Dragon hub,” Zeni gorminAstir said.
“Yes, ma’am. Understand, that might be the outcome in any case, depending on the results of the whole port inventory. And, indeed, now that the Dust has danced away, other traders will find you—”
Her pocket vibrated, and she snatched her comm out. A quick glance showed a familiar code. She looked up.
“Your pardon, ma’am—Aunt Asta. I left my office . . . rather suddenly—they must wonder where I am.”
“Take your call, Trader,” Zeni gorminAstir said, turning toward Aunt Asta.
Padi raised the comm.
“yos’Galan. Service?”
“Padi, it is Dyoli. Zandir kezlBlythe is alone with Jes in the qe’andra’s office, and the door is locked against us. The portmaster and Port Security are on their way, also building Security, with the override code.”
“Jes is alone with Zandir kezlBlythe,” Padi repeated aloud. “How long?”
“Half an hour.”
“I’m on my way,” Padi said.
She closed the comm, to find three faces turned to her expectantly.
“Is there a problem, Trader?” asked Zeni gorminAstir.
“Zandir kezlBlythe has been alone with Jes—with our qe’andra—for half an hour. Jes is Deaf. I don’t know—”
gorminAstir rose with alacrity.
“Oracle vesterGranz, I look forward to our next meeting. Trader, I will come with you.”
Padi raised her hands.
“I’m not certain I can carry you, ma’am.”
“We can both carry her,” Tekelia said. “You hold the councilor’s hand, and I will hold yours. You will lead—by which I mean, you will show the ambient where you wish to arrive, and make the leap. I will contrive to keep us all together.”
“Done,” said Padi, and showed the qe’andra’s office to the ambient.