Read Online Betrayer: Foreigner #12 by C. J. Cherryh - Free Book Online Page B

shakily. “I’m ready.”
    “Then advise staff, Tano-ji,” Bren said. “One has no idea whether they will let us go down to see them off, but let us get this moving. We shall send Tabini’s men back to Targai, and then the bus will pick up my domestic staff at Targai and take them and Barb-daja and Veijico on to Najida. Set that in motion, nadiin-ji, and whatever we need to do, do it.”
    “Nandi,” Tano said, acknowledging the order, and Algini went past them to the hall outside, presumably to talk with the staff stationed to guard them.
    Bren decided a chair would be welcome, that one near the fire.
    But Barb intercepted him, linking her arm through his, hugging it tight. “Bren, are you sure you’re going to be safe?”
    He gave a little laugh. “I don’t think you could protect me if I weren’t. But you can get back to Toby. Once they tell you it’s safe to sail, you and Toby take that boat and get the hell back to Jackson.” That was their home port, over across the strait. “Tell him I love him.”
    “Don’t be giving me goodbye messages!” Barb turned around and was about to grab him around the ribs, but he fended her off at arms’ length, and she held onto his arms. “Bren!”
    “Shhsh.” He took a firm grip on hers and shook her gently.
    “Shhsh. We’ll be fine. The reason I want you and Toby off the continent right now has less to do with what’s happening here in Tanaja than what’s likely to happen if this negotiation goes well. People opposed to it, some in this district, some maybe even up north, are likely to strike at any target they can find, and I don’t want them to find you and Toby available. You’re tolerably safe in Najida, but I don’t want you to get stuck on this side of the straits during a prolonged situation. All right? We’re talking about convenience.”
    “You’re lying through your teeth.”
    “Now, that’s unkind, Barb. I’m not. I’m telling you quite a bit of the truth, and I want you to convey it when you get back to Toby. You just take care of him. He’s doing all right, but he’ll do a lot better when you get there. Hear me?”
    A nod, damp-eyed.
    “Good,” he said, and set her back, with a look toward Tano.
    “We are clear to proceed, Bren-ji,” Tano said. “The staff has received a confirmation from their lord’s guard. We have informed house staff that two persons will be coming downstairs to the bus, and house guard has confirmed the bus is free to leave. Guild will come to the door and escort the lady downstairs.”
    He was not encouraged to go downstairs to see the bus off. He was not surprised at that. If he had become an asset in Machigi’s hands, Machigi was not going to wave temptation past armed personnel with man’chi to Tabini. It was not reasonable in his own mind that Tabini’s guard might assassinate him, but Machigi could know no such thing.
    “Veijico,” he said.
    “Nandi?” Instant, earnest attention—a vastly different young woman than before this situation.
    “I have requested the Taisigi to look for your brother, nadi. If I can secure his safe return, I shall do so.”
    A bow, a more than perfunctory bow. “Nandi.” And not a word else.
    A knock came at the door, and it opened. Servants were there, along with uniformed Guild. Things were moving uncommonly fast.
    “Barb,” he said, “this will be your escort. Veijico will translate and speak for you. Let her. You take care. Understood?”
    He was afraid for a second that Barb was going to throw her arms around him. But she came and put her hands on either side of his face and just looked at him.
    “Bren, please be careful!”
    “I’m the soul of caution. Give everybody my regards. And get moving. They won’t wait around.”
    He was unprepared for Barb to kiss him. She did, a quick kiss, and let go and went toward the door. Veijico moved with her.
    Barb looked back once, in the doorway. Then she left, and Jago shut the door.
    It was, on the one hand, a