Chapter 19 #2
I hid a frown at that. Would it not have been better to use pseudonyms, if we didn’t want Asu telling others about us? But then again, it was important that we gain her as an ally and she already knew Director Chen, so lying to her probably wasn’t the best way to go.
“You are all most welcome to stay for as long as you like.” Asu bowed again, and as she did, I caught a whiff of unease coming off her.
She wasn’t being entirely truthful, but I wasn’t going to call her out on it.
I couldn’t blame her for her unease—we probably looked like trouble.
“My husband is not home right now, but I will introduce you as soon as he comes back. In the meantime, why don’t we have lunch? ”
I can get behind that, I thought as Asu led us down the hall and into her dining room.
It was a simple but elegant space, with beautiful scrolls depicting Garaian artwork and characters on the walls.
In the center of the room, a long, narrow table of dark wood sat low to the ground.
It was already laden with various spicy-smelling dishes, and my stomach grumbled a little in anticipation.
Standing off to the side in a single line, with their hands clasped in front of them and their posture perfect, were five children in tailored silk robes who all resembled Asu to varying degrees.
They bowed in unison as we entered, and I could scent their nervousness despite the expressionless set of their features.
“These are my children,” Asu said proudly, and then began to introduce them one by one.
The oldest, who looked about fourteen, was Arai, a stunning young woman who, according to her mother, was highly skilled at flower arrangements and also showed signs of strong magic.
Next was Busou, twelve, a stocky young boy with intense eyes.
He and his younger brother, Kori, were both learning the art of the sword from their father.
The two youngest, Shirai and Yusai, were twin girls, and they were adorable with their shy smiles and matching outfits, though Shirai wore green and Yusai wore pink.
All of them knew basic Northian. Asu introduced Director Chen as their aunt, and the rest of us as her foreign friends, then we sat down on the legless, but comfortable cushioned chairs to eat our meal.
“My nieces and nephews are very well behaved,” Director Chen remarked with a smile as we served ourselves.
I was thankful for the ivory serving spoons that supplemented the chopsticks—it would have been embarrassing to spill food all over the glossy wood or onto the silk carpet beneath our feet. “You must be very proud.”
“I am,” Asu agreed, and the children ducked their heads to hide their smiles.
“I am pleased that you are finally getting the chance to meet them. You have been gone for several decades. I would have expected you to have a husband and children of your own by now, actually.” Asu gave her a puzzled frown.
“Why do you not yet have a family of your own?”
I bit back a grin as Director Chen’s scent changed, indicating irritation, though her expression remained placid.
But before she could answer, a stocky Garaian dressed in bright red robes walked into the room.
He wore his long hair in a queue at the nape of his neck, and the pointed tips of his mustache nearly reached his sternum.
His black eyes were cold as he measured us, only warming slightly as he looked at his two boys, and Asu stiffened almost imperceptibly as his gaze landed on her.
He barked something in Garaian, and Asu and her children immediately rose from their seats.
I shifted in my chair, not sure if we should rise as well, but Iannis laid a hand on my thigh, so I stayed seated.
“This is Loku, my sister’s husband,” Chen murmured as the two exchanged heated words in Garaian. “He did not know that we were coming, and the sight of us in his dining room gave him an unpleasant shock.”
“Indeed.” Loku turned toward us, hiding his displeasure behind a smug smile. “Do forgive my rudeness, sister-in-law,” he said to Chen in fluent Northian. “I have been out on business since the early hours of the morning, and was expecting to come home to a quiet household.”
“Of course,” Director Chen said smoothly. “Please allow me to introduce you to my boss, Lord Iannis ar’Sannin, Chief Mage of Canalo.” She gestured to Iannis, who inclined his head, then introduced the rest of us as well.
“What an unexpected treat—so many guests arriving all at once,” Loku said, a sour note lurking behind his words. “Why don’t we sit and enjoy the rest of this delightful meal?”
We settled back down to eat, and Loku engaged Iannis and Garrett in small talk, mostly about the principal trade goods shipped from Solantha.
He included his eldest son now and then, but ignored Chen and me completely.
I forced myself to focus on my food and not betray my anger at Loku’s utter dismissal.
I had a feeling, based on the way Asu had reacted when he walked in, and the way he’d smiled so condescendingly at Chen, that he didn’t think very much of women.
“So, Mr. Bai,” I said loudly when I’d finally had enough, interrupting their conversation and forcing his attention to me. “What sort of business do you run?”
Annoyance flashed in Loku’s eyes for just a moment before he turned that patronizing smile my way.
“I am most invested in the fireworks business,” he said.
“They are very popular not only in Garai, but also around the world. I own a factory down here by the wharf, and several others around the country.”
“Fireworks, huh?” I smiled back, just as patronizingly. “I’m guessing that means you do a lot of shipping, since you said you sell to other countries. Does that mean you own ships?”
“Not exactly,” Loku said, his eyes narrowing a little even though his smile did not waver. “My business is vast and complicated. It would take too long to explain to someone like you.”
“Oh, do you mean because I’m a woman?” I said sweetly, then stabbed a piece of meat with my chopsticks, which I knew was very rude.
“Why don’t we discuss business over tea later?” Asu said swiftly, glancing at her children. The children had been glancing back and forth between Asu and me like they were watching a tennis match, their eyes wide.
“That is a good idea,” Iannis said firmly. “He may be an ass, but you should still pick your battles,” he said to me in mindspeak, though he didn’t so much as glance at me. I stifled the urge to stick my tongue out at him, focusing my efforts on clearing my plate instead.
We finished the rest of the meal in peace, then adjourned to a sitting room furnished in pink silk wallpaper and black lacquer accessories, where we were served hot tea.
Deciding it was best not to ask for coffee, which they probably didn’t have anyway, I gingerly cradled the hot cup of tea in my hands and blew on it as the others sipped.
The fragrance, I had to admit, was growing on me—the trace of dried flowers amongst the tea leaves was pleasant to my sensitive nose.
“So, Mr. Bai,” Garrett said, setting his cup down on the low table with an audible chink of ceramic against wood. “Have you heard anything about a factory in these parts supplying guns to rebels in the Northian Federation?”
“I may have heard something,” Loku conceded, arching his brows. “May I ask what your interest is? I did not think mages from your country would be interested in illegal firearms.”
“We are when they are being used to terrorize our own citizens,” Garrett said.
“The Northian government, for which all of us work in some capacity, takes a dim view of smuggling proscribed arms, Mr. Bai. It can only harm relations between our countries. Surely you would see fit to help us with this.”
“I care not for relations between countries,” Loku said with an airy wave of his hand. “What I do care about is money, and, unfortunately for you, it is not in my best interests to help you with this matter.”
“Why, because you’re secretly smuggling in the guns yourself?” I accused. My hand itched to slap the smug bastard, and it was all I could do bury it in my lap.
Loku gave Iannis an unpleasant smile. “Does your fiancée always talk this much? Such forwardness is a very unattractive quality in a woman.”
“Why you—” My leg muscles bunched as I prepared to jump to my feet, but Director Chen grabbed my wrist. Surprised, I glanced in her direction—she’d never laid a hand on me before. Her face was expressionless, but the tension in her grip gave me pause, and I reluctantly settled back down.
“Northian women are very different from Garaians,” Iannis said, sipping from his cup of tea and looking very relaxed. “But Sunaya does raise an interesting question. Are you directly involved in the gun-smuggling trade, Mr. Bai?”
“Of course not,” Loku said, smiling. “I am a law-abiding citizen.”
“He’s lying,” I said dryly. “I don’t even need my shifter nose to confirm that.”
Loku’s smile dropped. “I do not appreciate such baseless accusations.”
“We mean no offense,” Iannis said. “However, it is obvious that you know something. The use of firearms is meant to undermine mages’ control of the population, though the main victims are helpless humans and shifters.
They will be angry with Garai when it becomes generally known where those illegal arms come from.
If you know anything useful, it is in your own interest as a mage to help us put a stop to this gun-running. ”
“I have a human partner,” Loku said slowly, “named Ma-San, who may be involved, though this is only a suspicion and has nothing to do with me. I lease one of my warehouses to him, so he can conduct business safely without being harassed. What he keeps there is his own affair.”