Hilo was finding it difficult to pay attention to what was arguably the most significant and far-ranging negotiation that had ever happened between the Mountain and No Peak. He glanced surreptitiously at his watch. At this moment, the Horn was leading a team of the clan’s strongest Fists in an attack on Ayt Mada’s residence.
“That seems reasonable,” Ato replied. “But can we expect any trouble from the Espenian government, after what happened this summer with the GSI soldiers?” Ato glanced at Hilo. “To be clear, I admire what you did, Kaul-jen. Making a public statement like that. It played so well on television. I wish I’d thought of it myself, honestly. Although, of course, I wasn’t in a position to say so at the time.”
Hilo brought his attention back to the conversation. “Don’t worry about GSI,” he said. “As for the Espenian government, they’ll gladly pretend it didn’t happen.”
Shae said, “The ROE is already lagging in its diplomatic commitments to reduce its military presence, and the protests and deaths of unarmed civilians hardly plays to their advantage. If the clans stand together, we can put even greater pressure on them.”
Ayt Ato said, “We have a common interest in cooperating against overreaching foreigners, but we also need to discuss how we’ll treat our clans’ overseas markets.”
Hilo’s phone vibrated. He waited until he had an opportunity to discreetly take it out of his pocket, flip it open, and sneak a glance at the small green screen, which displayed two lines of text from Lott Jin: Escaped. Before we arrived.
Hilo closed the phone and slid it back into his pocket. Slowly, he leaned back in the chair and breathed in and out, calming himself, not wanting to betray his fury and agitation. Niko was focused on the conversation with the Kobens, as he should be, and didn’t notice any change in his uncle’s aura. His nephew’s Perception had never been any better than average. Shae, however, was glancing at Hilo suspiciously, questioningly. Even without any jade senses, his sister could tell something was amiss.
A dull roar began to fill Hilo’s head. Fuck the gods. Ayt Mada, always one step ahead, even now—publicly disgraced, unpopular, old and ousted from power—she was not yet defeated, not yet dead. Which meant that the bitch was still going to make a play, still going to find some way to get what she wanted, to bring down everyone who stood in her way. Wherever she was now, she was still a threat to No Peak, to the family.
Niko and Ato, in consultation with their respective Weather Men, had agreed that the clans would no longer block each other’s expansion overseas. No Peak would allow the Mountain to enter Espenia and set up businesses there without attacking their operations or their people, directly or through allies. In exchange, the Mountain would extend the same courtesy to No Peak, allowing it to expand into Shotar, Ygutan, and the Uwiwa Islands, where the Mountain had been dominant for decades.
At last, they turned to the heart of the negotiation, the decision that would seal peace between the clans: a pledge of friendship between the Koben and Kaul families. As the petitioners of the meeting, the Kobens were expected to make the overture. Hilo could tell, however, that Ato was still uncertain. He wanted greater assurance from the Kauls, whom he had no reason to trust.
Ato cleared his throat. “You don’t have a girlfriend you’re planning to marry, do you, Kaul Niko-jen?”
The question surprised Hilo, but Niko answered without so much as blinking. “No,” he said. “Not yet.”
Ato said, “Since our families hope to be friends, I hope you won’t consider it too forward that I offer to introduce you to some of my younger cousins who are about your age.” He glanced cautiously at Hilo. “With your uncle’s permission, of course.”
Hilo’s eyes narrowed. “I know the Kobens are an admirably traditional family, but a man’s heart is his own.”
“Nevertheless, I would be happy to meet your cousins,” Niko said to Ato without smiling or hesitating. “My uncle is concerned for my happiness, but my heart’s more sensible and less picky than a lot of other men.”
“I’m glad you’re willing to consider it,” Ato said. “After all, words, money, and even jade—they don’t bind people together the same way family does. That’s something that hasn’t changed even in modern times, wouldn’t you agree?” Ato stood and his Horn and Weather Man stood with him. With ceremonial deliberation, the young Pillar placed his moon blade on the table in front of Niko. The weapon was a fine thirty-three inches in a beautifully carved scabbard and with small inset jade stones running down the length of its black hilt.