Vaier closed her eyes. “There is no one. We will send for Praeis Shin.” And one day, her Ancestors will send for us and demand an explanation for what we have done to their daughter.
Ueani pulled out of Vaier's grasp and stalked over to the clerical door. She flung the arched portal open and bellowed, “Osh! Elpetar!”
The two assistants scuttled inside, stationed themselves with their backs to the door, closed their eyes, and raised their hands.
“We need Praeis Shin found and brought to us at once,” said Ueani.
The wrinkles in Osh's heavy forehead deepened. “Majestic Sister, Praeis Shin is in the debating chamber. She is petitioning to meet with you.”
“Now, that really is magnificently convenient,” said Aires mildly. “Tell her we grant the petition.”
The assistants hurried out the main doors. Ueani paced the Audience Room twice before Praeis Shin entered, followed closely by her remaining daughter. Vaier found time to pity the daughter. She was just about ready to cross to motherhood and here she was, alone with her insane mother, surrounded by disloyal aunts and her-Ancestors-only-knew what kind of cousins. If she were not allowed daughters of her own soon, she might end up as solitary and unstable as her mother.
Praeis and her daughter walked into the small circle of desks, chairs, and sofas. She stood in front of the sofa where Vaier and Aires sat, raised her hands, and closed her eyes.
“Thank you, Majestic Sisters, for granting my petition.”
“Open your eyes, Praeis Shin. Sit yourself and your daughter down.” When Praeis opened her eyes, Vaier gestured her to a divan. “In truth, we did not know you were waiting for us. For this, we apologize. You have done difficult and dangerous service for us and of all our citizens and servants. You should not be neglected.”
Praeis looked at her blankly, as if trying to decide what expression she should paste on her face for this official flattery. Aires opened her mouth, but Vaier touched her arm to silence her.
“The words of Queens are lighter than feathers and more easily torn apart, I know,” Vaier went on. “But I hope you choose to believe what we are saying right now.”
“My Ancestors see I have nothing but trust in my Majestic Sister,” said Praeis piously. “But I am wondering what is to follow.”
Laughter exploded out of Ueani. She flung her head back and let the sound echo off the ceiling. “Very good, Praeis Shin. You may be insane, but you are not stupid.”
Vaier felt her ears fall back against her skull. She straightened them hurriedly. After this interview, they were going to have to talk to Ueani about self-control under stress.
The daughter bared her teeth, probably reflexively. Praeis's face went tight, and she covered her daughter's mouth with one hand.
Vaier mustered a dismissive tone. “We have all been through too many days without peace here.” She avoided looking at either Ueani or Aires. She could feel Aires's skepticism like a breath of cold air against her skin. “And I'm afraid we must go through more. You know better than anyone else that there is an explosion waiting to happen in the peninsula.”
Praeis's ears drooped briefly. She let go of her daughter's mouth and took her hand instead.
Vaier watched Praeis carefully, trying to interpret the ridges in her skin and the set of her ears. “For stability, and to buy time for the Human investigation, we must appear to have joined the dissenters against the Confederation.” Praeis sat absolutely still, a grey-blue statue holding her daughter's hand. “We must play at assembling an invasion of the Getesaph archipelago, and we must ask you to assume the lead of this deception.”
A look somewhere between surprise and horror crossed Praeis's face before she could compose herself.
“Your expertise at logistics, along with the fact that it is your daughter and sister who are endangered make you the logical choice. We ourselves know your loyalty to us better than anyone out there.” She jerked her chin contemptuously toward the outer wall.
The folds in Praeis's face tightened. “Then there will be no real rescue? No search?” As Praeis spoke, her daughter's mouth opened as she began to pant.
“Of course there will,” said Vaier with a touch of indignation. “But surely you see that the Humans can do a better, faster job of it than any of us. You must give them time to do it.” She let her face stiffen. “If we lose control, there will be an invasion in earnest, and what will the Humans do then? What will the rest of the Confederation do?”
Praeis sat still again with just the tips of her ears quivering. Her daughter looked up at her with wide, miserable eyes.
“I understand,” said Praeis. “But, Majestic Sisters, after Urisk Island, who will willingly follow me?”