Lynn narrowed her eyes. “Can't see what made them think that. Especially with that well-rounded knot you tied.” Okay, there. I said it.
Arron's face went completely still. “Ah. You untied that, did you?”
“How was I supposed to miss it?” demanded Lynn. “You compared my project to the worst crime ever committed on a sapient race.”
His shoulders sagged, and he dropped his gaze to the floor. “Well”—he looked up and screwed a grin back on his face—”we've disagreed before this.”
Oh, no, Arron. It's not that simple this time. “Our disagreements never ran the risk of killing anybody before this.”
Arron opened his mouth and closed it again. Lynn could see the blood crawling into his cheeks.
The video wall lit up. She waved at Arron to keep quiet. “Just stand there and look official, will you?” She settled herself into the station chair and schooled her features into a serious, public expression.
The scene focused. The Tvkesh-I-Rchilthen, the Sisters-Chosen-to-Lead, Rchilthen Ishth and Byvant, sat on a sofa in their threadbare private office. They looked gaudy and out of place in the gold-and-silver jackets that were their official garb. Rchilthen Ishth was about eight centimeters taller than her sister. The skin on her face hung in so many folds and wrinkles that Lynn could barely see her mouth. Rchilthen Byvant had seen some of the battles Arron talked about. A puckered scar ran across her throat, and her left ear lay crumpled against her skull.
“Manager Lynn,” Rchilthen Ishth said in clear but halting English. “The light of day looks well on you.” Then she spotted Arron and her face tightened. “As it does on you, Scholar Arron.”
Lynn eyed Arron, a little surprised, but he just bowed his head once and stayed quiet.
“As it does on you, Rchilthen Ishth, Rchilthen Byvant,” said Lynn in Getesaph, praying her accent was at least comprehensible. Getesaph was the last Dedelphi language she'd learned, and she'd never gotten all the nuances down. “I've just received a grave report and I am much concerned. I had to voice my thoughts immediately before my fears settled into my blood.”
She glanced at Arron. His brows were raised. She hoped it was because he was impressed.
Rchilthen Byvant's left ear quivered, trying to match the flick made by her right. “Then by all means, speak your concerns, Manager Lynn. We will hear, as best we can.” She gestured deprecatingly at her maimed ear.
Lynn laughed lightly in appreciation of the joke. “It has come to my attention that there is grievous concern on the part of Parliament about the relocation schedule.”
The sisters exchanged a long look. “Indeed,” said Rchilthen Ishth. “We cannot deny this is the case.”
Lynn spread her hands. “Why didn't anyone let us know there were concerns about the plan?”
Rchilthen Byvant gazed over Lynn's shoulder at Arron. “We were uncertain as to where those channels led, Manager Lynn. You must understand and forgive us. This is all very new.” Her ear quivered again. Lynn tried to fix her gaze on Rchilthen Byvant's eyes.
“It's new for us, too, Rchilthen Byvant, Rchilthen Ishth. It is our earnest wish that we meet the needs of your Families.”
Rchilthen Ishth inclined her head. “For which we thank you. We have been lax. We have no history with you, and it weakens us in this matter.”
“I fully understand.” The formality was beginning to chafe at Lynn, but she couldn't let it drop. “However, I am asking you to understand that changing the relocation schedule is going to cause serious consequences and perhaps delays.”
Rchilthen Ishth opened her mouth, but Rchilthen Byvant laid a hand on her sister's arm. Byvant's ear shivered. Lynn dropped her gaze again.
“We are sorry. We do realize we are causing difficulties in the enormous task you have agreed to undertake on behalf of us all. But the Getesaph are not an oligarchy. We are answerable to our citizens and the representatives of our citizens. We are not rulers. In some ways we are leaders, but in many we are only servants.”
Lynn bit back a sigh. “How important is this to your Families?”
“Vital,” said Rchilthen Ishth simply.
“Would it be enough if we relocated you and the major t'Therian cities simultaneously?”
The sisters exchanged another long, wordless look. Rchilthen Ishth nodded. “I believe it would go a long way toward addressing the situation.”
“We have four ships immediately available. Two can be assigned to the t'Theria and two to the Getesaph. You can both send your preparatory teams aboard next week. We can work out a plan that allows parity in numbers between your peoples both on the ground and on the ships.” She paused to let the proposal sink in. “Will that be satisfactory?”