Page 45 of The Second Marriage
“So you want me to find out.” Sejun’s tone and expression exuded skepticism. “I don’t imagine they’ll tell me if I ask.”
“No, nothing so overt. Listen to their conversations. Make friends and see what they’ll tell you. Anything you learn will be more than we know now. I don’t expect expert spycraft from you. Only keep your ears open and see what you might hear.”
“I’m so foolish they could openly discuss treason in front of me and I wouldn’t notice.” Sejun shrugged. “I’ll do my best.”
“You aren’t a fool,” Taral said sharply. He had heard Sejun say similar things before and was annoyed every time. “Who put such a thought in your head?”
Sejun rolled his eyes as if Taral were being unreasonable. “Everyone in Merek knows I have as much cunning as a garden snail, and if you don’t know it too then you haven’t been paying attention. All I’m good for is having fun at parties.”
“You’re good for much more than that, but as I don’t want to argue with you I’ll let the matter drop for now. At any rate, don’t feel that the negotiations are resting on what you can uncover. Feba will make some inquiries and speak with King Aditya. We’ll see what the servants might have to say. If you learn nothing at all, that’s not a problem.” He paused. “Don’t forget that you did offer to do all my reconnaissance for me.”
“And what if I unravel a vast conspiracy against the Chedai king? I’ll return to Tadasho a hero, although I’m sure no one there will believe this tale of my accomplishments.” Sejun picked up his cup of tea and gave Taral an arch look. “You should turn the negotiations over to me. I’ll have everything settled and all of us on the road out of Banuri by the end of the week.”
“You plan to charm both sides into submission? I don’t doubt that you could.” Taral reached over to lay his hand on Sejun’s thigh, awash with affection. “Thank you. I know you would prefer not to get involved.”
“Anything for my Taral,” Sejun said in a dry and teasing tone that heated Taral’s cheeks no less than absolute sincerity would have. “I’ve been invited to a party this evening. There’s going to be dancing, I’m told. So I’ll see if anyone’s tongue loosens.”
“A party,” Taral repeated. “When did you manage to get yourself invited to a party?”
Sejun laughed. “When we were at the welcoming feast. I told you I was going to learn where the Chedai do their dancing, and I did. Now I have your full permission to go.”
“As long as you don’t fall in love with some handsome Chedai courtier and abandon me to my fate,” Taral said. When Sejun didn’t laugh, he winced. “Never mind. Let me pour you some more tea.”
CHAPTER21
Sejun dressed in all his finery: his best robe and the necklace he had taken from his dowry goods before Iniya could claim it, a chain of delicate silver charms shaped like animals, tiny birds and deer circling his neck. He adjusted his robe to fall open at the throat and show off the gleaming metal.
“Very handsome,” Taral said. He reached up to smooth a tuft of Sejun’s hair. “I hope you enjoy yourself.”
“Are you sure you won’t come with me? You can’t claim you don’t know how to dance.”
Taral shook his head. “I think it’s better if you go without me. You’ll be able to talk more freely without having to worry about translating for me.”
“I suppose that’s true.” Sejun watched Taral for a moment, trying to decipher what he could sense from Taral through the bond. Whatever it was made him want to forget about the stupid party and stay in with Taral, to eat a quiet meal together and take him to bed. Well, there would be time for that later. He had agreed to go, and he did want to help so that Taral wouldn’t look quite so pinched and worried.
“Stay out as late as you like. Don’t worry about waking me when you come in.” Taral smiled at him. “And good luck.”
Sejun hesitated, then leaned in to give Taral a quick kiss. He was surprised and pleased when Taral seized the front of his robe and held him close to deepen the kiss. Taral’s mouth was soft and he smelled wonderful, and Sejun was freshly tempted to stay. But he pulled back at last and said, “I won’t be back too late.”
The sun had set some time ago, and the corridors of the palace were lit by lanterns set along the walls at intervals. In the dim lighting, so different from the sun-soaked day, Sejun took multiple wrong turns and finally had to ask a passing servant to direct him. When he came at last to the open courtyard where the party was to be held, he found he was late and the dancing had already begun. He hung back in the shadowed arcade, sheltered by the overhanging roof, and watched for a minute.
The welcoming feast had been sedate compared to the swirl of activity now. Musicians played a lively tune that had the dancers whirling around and around, holding their partner’s hand as they spun. The women’s gowns flared and fluttered; the men’s tunics glittered with sequins that reflected the light of the lanterns. Servants poured wine and water. Night-blooming flowers lining the courtyard garden released their fragrance into the cool summer evening. The sound of laughter rose even above the music.
Sejun searched the crowd for the man who had invited him, a courtier named Nirav. He spotted him not among the dancers but standing engaged in conversation with a woman wearing a long red veil. When those two parted, Sejun left the shelter of the arcade and crossed the courtyard toward Nirav.
Nirav saw him coming and hailed him with a raised hand. His features were all slightly too large for beauty, but his cheerful and gregarious nature shone from him so that he seemed handsome nonetheless. Sejun had liked him at once, and was assured of his good judgment of character when Nirav called, “Sejun of Merek! I was afraid you wouldn’t come, and I’m overjoyed to see you.”
“I got lost in the palace,” Sejun admitted. “I turned one way, then another way, then where was I? It’s too confusing.”
Nirav laughed. “I have a cousin who lives in Hampi near the mountains, and when she came to visit me once she said the same thing. But I’ve lived here all my life so I suppose I don’t notice it. Where is your husband?”
“He’s weary from the politics. I told him to stay in and rest.”
“Oh yes, the negotiations. Horribly tedious. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that. Would you like some wine? Would you like to dance? Here, come this way and let me introduce you to my Harini. I’m going to marry her this winter, if you can believe my luck.”
There were so many people to meet—so many names to remember, and all of it while putting sentences together in Chedai, a language he was most familiar with from reading. He was relieved when one of the Chedai asked him to dance. He knew none of the Chedai dances, but that was no problem; he could follow along well enough, and soon he memorized the steps. He drank enough wine to feel flushed and loose. The drums beat in time with the steps of the dance, and soon he felt that his heart was keeping time, too, throbbing along with the music.
He tried to search the crowd as he spun, but the lights and faces blurred. How was he supposed to know who wanted to betray their king? No one would approach him without prompting and confess to treason. He had no evidence that anyone here even belonged to the separatists. He hated to disappoint Taral, but he didn’t think he would learn anything useful here.