Change of plans: 9

Harbend opened the door to his small office and called on the main lights. He'd chosen quarters in the western, older parts of the city, and the buildings here showed their heritage by displaying narrow slits rather than the more modern wide windows that allowed more daylight in. The slits were glassed of course. An addition to all old houses several hundreds of years earlier, but one that increased the need for lamps.

He'd bought several oil lamps in order to be able to work during evenings when the main lights didn't quite suffice. Late work was a must here where the days grew considerably shorter during winter.

The rooms were generally smaller in this part of the city as well, designed during an age when defense was more important than luxury. Great wars had raged then, some almost reaching the city itself when it was but a fortified display of power, a provincial capital when Keen was still part of an ancient empire now long gone.

Harbend used to feel the shadow of that empire looming closer when Hasselden was his center of operations. From there ships could take him to the southern tip of the Ming peninsula in a day or two, and visiting traders sometimes still boasted of Ming Hjil de Vhat and La, the ancient capitals from where emperors had ruled all of the northern world.

Now all that remained of the twin capitals were an insignificant fishing town to the far north on the peninsula and a mass of haunted ruins on the isthmus, the latter half a day's ride from a small town usurping the name of the once great city.

But he wasn't in Hasselden now. He was standing in his office in Verd, and sounds came from a back room that should have been quiet. He rounded his desk and made his way through the doorway to find out who had intruded on his privacy.

The sight made his heart jump.

"Uncle! And Horse-lord Kanir, what a pleasant surprise!" They stared back at him in disdainful incomprehension and he caught himself. Quickly he repeated himself in his native tongue.

"You have been here long indeed when you greet your family in such a harsh language." The words carried a barb, but Harbend could see the affection shining in his uncle's eyes. He looked old, but then he'd always seemed old to Harbend. Beardless now, but with long, white hair. He'd become thinner as well since Harbend last saw him.

Ramdar Garak, Harbend's uncle, was by far the oldest of three brothers and as such head of their family and therefore responsible for leading the noble line. He already had two married sons securing the continuity of the line.

The sensation of listening to words spoken in Khi filled Harbend with joy. Years had passed since he last had a chance to hear it.

"You are right, of course. I apologize most deeply for my bad manners." Harbend bowed, as was expected from him.

When he rose he saw the horse-lord still keeping his steely gaze. A hard man in his fifties he commanded all cavalry under the noble line of the Garak family, a line Harbend was more than satisfied he wasn't part of. Vildir Kanir wore the long leather coat coming with his position, and he'd worn it for as long as Harbend could remember. Horse-lord Kanir was large, large the way a predator loomed over its prey before striking, and Harbend assumed he had very little fat hidden under the clothes. There was gray in his black hair now though, and new lines streaked his face. Change came even to this pillar of stability.

"When did you arrive, and how?" Harbend asked.

"We sailed for Rhuin. They still keep their coasts clear with the help of Nijan and us, but there we learned that the only way north was by land. We were fortunate enough to buy passage in Ira."

"Ira?" Harbend drew a mental map. It didn't make sense. "But the caravan route from there to Kastari takes ages!"

"We didn't join a caravan."

"But how... Oh. But you abhor the jump towers"

"Yes." The old man smiled. "I was sick for days after we arrived in Chach, but we made a season's worth of travel in a day." The frown on Ramdar's face belied his tone of satisfaction. "Then crossing the Narrow Sea," he continued, and Harbend could almost see the worry they must have felt when taking the dangerous sea route with westerners roaming virtually unchecked. "The roads on this side are fantastic so we sold our horses and paid for the use of a truly excellent coach service. From Chach to Verd in less than a moon. I would not have believed it possible had I not traveled the part myself," Ramdar finished, and there was real wonder in the old man's face.

Harbend already knew about the network of roads so he was more interested in the implications for such a journey.

"Now I know how you made your way here, but please enlighten me as to why."

"There is something you ought to know." Ramdar sat down on a bench in the back of the room and Harbend, guessing the news could be nothing but bad, did the same. Only Vildir remained standing.

"Tell me."

"We are here on behalf of your father, but there is more to it so I had better start at the beginning. Our family is very large for a minor family, too large, and it has been for the last two generations."

"I was never told," Harbend said surprised.

"Deliberately so," Ramdar said. "We are making a bid for full clan status."

Harbend was mute. He'd expected bad news, maybe even the news of his father's death, but this piece of information rocked his world.

"The Rikar family is undermining your father's economy," Ramdar continued relentlessly.

That piece of information made sense, painfully so. The noble line of a mere family couldn't be seen transferring resources to the lesser lines, but a clan failing to help each of its families would lose their clan status.

"But, uncle, each clan must symbolize something unique, something that breaks with tradition, and we fail to... Oh, no, you are not seriously..."

"I am very much so. Your father has known all along. That is the reason your restless mind was never disciplined. That is why you have been allowed to play the merchant half a continent away from your home."

Harbend was too astonished to feel cheated of what he had believed to be the result of his firm determination and not part of an elaborate plan. "What do you expect me to do?" he whispered.

"When you made your intentions clear I started to read about Keen and how politics work here." Ramdar gave Harbend a warm smile. "You might have forced the issue and traveled here even if I had not found out what I did." Ramdar sighed slowly. "You were always the impatient one, but as it turned out I did find a use for your wishes. I want you to found a trading house."

"With what funds?" Harbend asked, still far too surprised to be angry. The resentment would come later.

"Have you not made funds of your own?"

"Yes, but the last four years have been ghastly. My skills at trading have barely enabled me to pay for my store in Hasselden and my office here. The raiders..."

"That was bad news, very bad news. I do not accuse you of the western devils' doing. I know better than that, but you should know your line faces execution should your father go bankrupt."

Harbend didn't need telling. He'd studied more of the politics in Khi than his uncle knew. Normally bankruptcy was a disgrace, but for a family making such a bid for power there would be no excuses. Khi had no use for a clan only managing to gain power but failing to wield it wisely. Ramdar had been kind enough not to tell all of it. Harbend's father and sister would meet the gallows, but not until after every living member of the noble line was hunted down and killed.

Harbend stared at both of his visitors. He didn't know what to think. Finally his anger caught up with him and he wondered what had really happened to make Ramdar play the desperate game. Still, loyalty to family overshadowed anything else, and Harbend knew his raging wouldn't help them. Then an idea formed out of memory, one that would give them a way out while still allowing him a stinging retort.

"It would seem there are those who think I have overstayed my welcome here, and combined with your journey it gives me an idea. I do not know if it will work, and if it does, our entire family will be indebted to a stranger," he said silently. The smile he kept for himself.

"That is an unacceptable disgrace and a breach with all our family stands for," Horse-lord Kanir said, breaking his silence for the first time and swallowing Harbend's bait whole.

"Yes, that would definitely shine in stark opposition to all our values," Harbend said looking at his uncle. They sat in silence for a while staring at each other and then Ramdar laughed loudly.

"Gods! You are learning already. Your father has much to be proud of. Now, tell me more about this stranger of yours."