Sign of chaos

She looked away. She was silent for a long time. «Your file,» she said at last. «It was… fascinating reading it. You're one of the few people here close to my own age, and you've led such an interesting life. You can't imagine how dull most of the things I have to read are - agricultural reports, trade figures, appropriations studies. I have no social life whatsoever. I am always on call. Every party I attend is really a state function in one form or another. I read your file over and over and I wondered about you. I… I have something of a crush on you. I know it sounds silly, but it's true. When I saw some of the recent reports and realized that you might be in great danger, I decided I would help you if I could. I have access to all sorts of state secrets. One of them would provide me with the means of helping you. Using it would benefit you without damaging Begma, but it would be disloyal of me to discuss it further. I've always wanted to meet you, and I was very jealous of my sister when you took her out today. And I still wish you'd stop by later.»

I stared at her. Then I raised my wineglass to her and took a drink.

«You are… amazing,» I said. I couldn't think of anything else to say. It was either an on-the-spot fabrication or it was true. If it were true, it was somewhat pathetic; if not, I thought it a rather clever bit of quick thinking, calculated to hit me in that wonderfully vulnerable place, the ego. She deserved either my sympathy or my wariest admiration. So I added, «I'd like to meet the person who wrote the reports. There may be a great creative talent going to waste in a government office.»

She smiled, raised her own glass and touched it to mine.

«Think about it,» she said.

«I can honestly say I won't forget you,» I told her.

We both returned to our food, and I spent the next five minutes or so catching up. Bill decently allowed me to do this. Also, I think, he was waiting to be certain that my conversation with Nayda was finally concluded.

At last he winked at me.

«Got a minute?» he asked.

«Afraid so,» I said.

«I won't even ask whether it was business or pleasure going on on the other side.»

«It was a pleasure,» I said, «but a strange business. Don't ask or I'll miss dessert.»

«I'll summarize,» he said. «The coronation in Kashfa will take place tomorrow.»

«Not wasting any time, are we?»

«No. The gentleman who will be taking the throne is Arkans, Duke of Shadburne. He's been in and out of various Kashfan governments in fairly responsible positions any number of times over the years. He actually knows how things work, and he's distantly related to one of the earlier monarchs. Didn't get along well with Jasra's crowd and pretty much stayed at his country place the whole time she was in power. He didn't bother her and she didn't bother him.»

«Sounds reasonable.»

«In fact, he actually shared her sentiments on the Eregnor situation, as the Begmans are well aware-»

«Just what,» I asked, «is the Eregnor situation?»

«It's their Alsace-Lorraine,» he said, «a large, rich area between Kashfa and Begma. It has changed hands back and forth so many times over the centuries that both countries make reasonable-sounding claims to it. Even the inhabitants of the area aren't all that firm on the matter. They have relatives in both directions. I'm not even sure they care which side claims them, so long as their taxes don't go up. I think Begma's claim might be a little stronger, but I could argue the case either way,»

«And Kashfa holds it now; and Arkans says they'll damn well keep it.»

«Right. Which is the same thing Jasra said. The interim ruler, however - Jaston was his name, military man - was actually willing to discuss its status with the Begmans, before his unfortunate fall from the balcony. I think he wanted to repair the treasury and was considering ceding the area in return for the settlement of some ancient war damage claims. Things were actually well along and headed in that direction.»

«And…?» I said.

«In the papers I got from Random, Amber specifically recognizes Kashfa as including the area of Eregnor. Arkans had insisted that go into the treaty. Usually - from everything I've been able to find in the archives - Amber avoids getting involved in touchy situations like this between allies. Oberon seldom went looking for trouble. But Random seems to be in a hurry, and he let this guy drive a hard bargain.»

«He's overreacting,» I said, «not that I blame him. He remembers Brand too well.»

Bill nodded.

«I'm just the hired help,» he said. «I don't want to have an opinion.»

«Well, anything else I should know about Arkans?»

«Oh, there are lots of other things the Begmans don't like about him, but that's the big one - right when they thought they were making some headway on an issue that's been a national pastime for generations. They've even gone to war over the matter in the past. Don't doubt that that's why they came rushing to town. Govern yourself accordingly.»

He raised his goblet anr took a drink.