Kei's Gift Read Free Page A

But....”
    Karus watched him intently. “But...?” he prodded gently.
    “But,” Arman said slowly, “fifteen hundred miles of mountains and desert are a heavy dowry to accept with Darshek’s port and trading routes. We’ve taken twenty years to truly control southern Darshian, Pei. It’s brought us great benefits, and the Prij grow stronger for having this land as their own. Will we say the same in another twenty years, when we’ve been forced to hold the north with all our armies engaged as invaders, and we have been stretched thin for all that time?”
    Karus nodded. “You have said this to her, no doubt?”
    “Not as such. Her Serenity doesn’t care for naysayers, not when it touches her pride.”
    “Ah, yes. But to Ritus, Jozo? You have said as much? Do they agree?”
    “Ritus only wants what Kita wants. Jozo...Jozo, I think, has some sympathy with me, but not enough to bring it up to her. Certainly the Lord Commander isn’t going to. No one else is bothered at all, and I am but the junior general,” he said dryly. “I must not exceed my position.”
    “Yes, true,” Karus murmured. He cleared the pieces from the kezi board, and put them into the leather pouch. “But you’re not afraid for yourself? That the mission across the mountains will not succeed?”
    “Of course not. Niko, lord of the heavens, sets our span of life and I can only trust to his wisdom.”
    “Very pious, very true, my boy. But I would be sad if that span of life were not to extend for a few years longer.”
    You’re probably the only one. Arman scrupulously amended that thought. Loke would mourn him, and so would Tijus. Their father would regret losing the chance to further his dynasty, but Arman’s death would not bereave his father half as much as that of his brother. It was just, since Arman scarcely cared about his father’s well-being either. It had been a long time since they had eyed each other with anything approaching affection.
    Of course, Mayl would bury him with appropriate rituals and much obvious weeping. His mouth twisted sourly as he thought of his wife. And then pass many happy hours thinking of how to spend her inheritance, free of her tiresomely stolid husband. No, Mayl would not care in the least if he were to die on the desert campaign. Her only concern would be extracting the widow’s allowance from the crown for his funeral.
    “You’re full of solemn thoughts tonight, Arman—not auspicious for a general about to lead a major mission across unknown territories.”
    Which was true enough. “Again, apologies, Pei, but perhaps I should be going. We’re leaving at dawn and I want to be rested.”
    He helped his former tutor stand up, mindful of his arthritic hips. Karus laid a fatherly hand on his shoulder. “At least you’re taking Loke. He’ll make sure you eat and rest properly. My mind is much relieved by this.”
    Arman couldn’t resist a smile at the thought of his irrepressible page. “He wouldn’t hear of me leaving him behind this time, and in truth, it will make my task more pleasant as well as easier.”
    “Then it is as it should be,” Karus said, his eyes twinkling again. “So I will say goodnight, my boy, but not goodbye, and I expect a more satisfying game of kezi upon your return. In the meantime, I beg you, do not tell any one who taught you the game. I fear for my reputation.”
    Arman hung his head in mock shame. “No, Karus-pei. I’ll do better, I promise.”
    “Good. Now, farewell until our next meeting. A safe and profitable venture, if the gods so will it.”
    “If they so will,” Arman responded with formal correctness. Karus patted his shoulder and then walked away, leaning heavily on his walking stick. Arman made his way through the darkened house to the front door, noting Karus had been right—his servants were all asleep or busy elsewhere. It was very late, after all. Only a single sleepy footman greeted him at the door, unlocked it and bade him goodnight,