Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The lead vocalist and conductor returned to the front of the emperor’s dais to commence the next round of song. Roka took the next four songs as a chance to organize her thoughts, both in relation to the Topto Coalition of Citizens and Talit’s behavior prior to Mashakata and Seijasa’s interruption. The first concern was easy to categorize and file away for the future. She did not need to overly worry herself over a political issue that might not come to fruition for a significant period of time, or which might ultimately have nothing to do with her.

The second concern was more problematic. It seemed clear to her that Talit intended to court her, and she needed to decide quickly how she would handle that. For the moment, she held no romantic or sexual interest in the man. She might not always be so disinclined, but she had certainly felt no spark during their first day together, such as she had felt with paramours in the past. His company was pleasant, and she could see them becoming more friendly, but not yet that friendly, especially considering his monumental status.

Of course, there still remained the possibility that he was simply an awkward young man that had complimented her without intending to charge the complement with any romantic sentiment. She decided she would fall back on her original plan to wait and see what he might do. If he made his intentions clear, she could politely but firmly rebuff him. He likely held some influence over whether she became keeper or not, but she would not lower herself to unseemly tactics to earn his favor.

As the fourth song of the set began, she stopped considering the matter at all until Talit made it relevant again. He seemed a good man, and she was happy to enjoy the party with him. She did him a disservice by so carefully calculating what he might or might not do. Better to simply sing, eat, and talk.

As the song came to an end, Elise King appeared out of the crowd.

“Prince Talit,” she said, ignoring Roka’s presence. “Might I have a moment of your time?”

Talit looked to the emperor’s dais, confirming via the conductor’s signal for a break that they would not be interrupted, before saying, “I believe you may.”

Elise King proceeded to question Talit on an issue related to the import of some kind of vegetable. Most of the conversation went over Roka’s head. She had never heard of the vegetable and had a hard time following the subject of high-level trade negotiations between nations, even when the negotiations were at their most casual. While she had learned many things in her travels with her master, her education remained limited to the laws of the land and the proper implementation of justice.

Talit didn’t seem to mind being interrupted from the ball to delve back into a duty-related conference. The work clearly gave him pleasure. More and more he appeared suited to his role as heir, and more and more Roka sympathized with what the Topto Coalition of Citizens stood to take from him.

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After she reached momentary agreement with Talit, Elise King turned sharply to Roka. “I would still have you and your master visit with the Donparsh assembly tomorrow morning in the Whale’s Stomach. Do you remain amenable?”

Roka nodded. “Yes we do.” Elise King took a step to walk away, turning slightly. “But, Ms. King?” Roka continued, stopping her.

“Yes, child?” the Donparsh woman said, still partially facing away.

Roka bit her tongue at the “child” but kept her voice neutral. “I hope I have not done something to offend you.”

Confronting the Donparsh woman on the subject was uncomfortable, but Roka knew that if she wanted to work with Elise King in the future, she needed to get everything out in the open. Perhaps Roka did not need her approval, but with the scope of Donparsh influence in the city, she suspected that was unlikely.

“You have not,” Elise King said. The last word barely left her mouth before she quickly walked away.

Talit looked after. “What was that about?”

“I have no idea,” Roka said. “I met her briefly in the women’s bath before coming here. I thought we were having a normal conversation, but then she called me a silly girl and left in a huff. I would say she can bury herself in an ant hill, but I doubt I can do my job as Keeper of the Walls if she hates me from day one.”

“Her opinion does not matter,” Talit said. “Not when it comes to keeper.”

“I suspect it will matter a great deal. It is clear to me that the safety of Ninzam’s people is closely connected to the empire’s relationship with the Many Ensigns of Donpar. The longer I stay in this city, the stronger I feel it: I will be seeing a lot more of Elise King.”

“Ms. King has power, but not as much as you think. Commodore Golz remains anchored with his ships a mile beyond the empire’s territorial waters. Ms. King answers to him.”

“Golts? I am unfamiliar with him.”

“Golz,” Talit corrected. “I think that’s how you say it. Ms. King corrects me every time I use his name around her, but it always sounds different.” He shook his head, “Anyway, you know Paumil, correct?”

Roka immediately recognized the name. Paumil had been the name of the man that led the Donparsh invasion of the empire more than twenty years earlier—or that is what the Ninzamian people knew him to be called. He likely had a more Donparsh name. Anyone who knew the name Paumil hated it. He killed tens of thousands of imperial citizens, warriors and common folk alike, on his march south from the invading army’s landing points north of Topto. Any prisoner he took was tortured and executed.

His death during the siege of Topto finally broke the invasion’s strength and gave the Ninzam people the courage to finish the fight.

“Commodore Golz is Paumil but at sea. His name did not become known to us until after the war ended, but it is clear he had authority over Paumil and now has authority over Ms. King.”

“And he is a military man like Paumil?”

Talit nodded. “One of the most important among the Donparsh. He does not threaten us directly, but his continued presence so close to our borders is a clear message.”

Roka tapped her cheek in thought. Perhaps it was because she was just learning of him, but she did not think this man Golz was as important as Talit said. “Either way, it is Elise King I will be working with, not Golz. And her projects are not military, but social. I don’t pretend to understand everything she is doing or how it might affect the empire, but she is the first point of contact.”