Part 31 (1/2)
Debts owed Lady Mendoza are by far the greatest and must be met. We support her claims and are guided by her thoughts.”
”Just so.” Plemia inclined his head, carefully not thinking about the impossibility of what he had just witnessed. Beside him, Sav Rid sat mute and s.h.i.+vering.”Thodelm Mendoza. I have seen information provided by Mr. dea'Gauss regarding your grievance against Plemia. Also, I have heard privately from my clansman that which convinces me of the justice of that grievance. Without doubt, Plemia owes. The amount must yet be ascertained. I am interested in hearing your thoughts on this.”
The black eyes considered him calmly. ”Sav Rid Olanek must be removed as Trader on Daxflan immediately.”
He stiffened. ”That is a Clan decision, Thodelm.”
”Then it is a decision I require of the Clan,” she returned serenely. ”Sav Rid Olanek is unfit. If he were examined by the Trader's Guild tomorrow, sir, he would be found wanting and his license revoked.
More.” She lifted a hand, forestalling his protest. ”I tell you now, sir, your kinsman gave scant attention to the honor of his crew-Liaden as little as Terran. His cargo included illegal Pharmaceuticals: bellaquesa, I will swear to; others I might guess. He is a danger to the honor of your Clan, the honor of your s.h.i.+p...
and to himself.” She glanced at the man on her right. ”Is it permitted that I ask Lady Faaldom to speak-as a Healer?”
”If Plemia agrees.”
Taam inclined his head. ”Plemia agrees.”
”Healer Faaldom.”
”Lady Mendoza?”
”I feel that Sav Rid Olanek is not-rational. Are you able to form an opinion? Would you tell us what it is?”
The Healer gave the softest of sighs. ”My opinion parallels your own. Sav Rid Olanek is deranged. The pattern is one I have only occasionally seen, most often in connection with ingestion of harmful drugs.
Bellaquesa addiction, for instance, might cause such a pattern.”
”Can he be Healed?” There was hope in the Terran woman's voice. Taam Olanek looked at her in wonder.
The Healer hesitated. ”It is beyond my skill.”
”Beyond everyone's skill, Lina?” She spoke insistently, and Olanek felt his wonder grow.
”On Liad, perhaps. The path would be a long one, I think, and tedious.” She sighed once more. ”If Plemia desires, I will provide names, an introduction.”
”You are kind, Healer. My thanks to you.”
”You will need that list, sir,” Lady Mendoza informed him. ”My second demand is that he be Healed.”
”Thodelm,” he said with dignity, ”you do not need to demand it. The child shall have what he requires.”
She bowed her head. ”Forgive me, sir. I meant no offense.”
”None was taken, Thodelm. May I know what items further go to balance Plemia's debt?”
”It must be recalled,” yos'Galan said smoothly, before the lady could speak again, ”that several attempts have been made on Lady Mendoza's life-which is the life of her House, entire. The first attempt must belaid directly upon Sav Rid Olanek, who ordered Dagmar Collier to strike. The second and third incidents must also be laid upon Trader Olanek for his inability to control the actions of one sworn to his service.”
”There are practicalities as well,” Mr. dea'Gauss put in. ”Unpaid wages, contract fee, clothing, hazard pay, recompense of personal indignities suffered while employed on Daxflan, family heirlooms lost-”
”Korval,” yos'Galan broke in, ”owes for the heirlooms, sir. Evidence indicates they were destroyed in retaliation for words spoken by Captain yos'Galan.”
Mr. dea'Gauss made a notation. ”So then. The sum owed, were there no further balance to be established: two cantra.”
Plemia inclined his head. It surprised him that the woman should have drawn so low a wage, that she should have possessed so little. ”Plemia agrees to a payment of two cantra in balance for these things.”
”Lady Mendoza,” yos'Galan said gently, ”has declined her right to Trader Olanek's life as balance for his attempts on her own. The life-sum agreed upon by the Council of Clans for a first cla.s.s pilot is three hundred cantra. It must be remembered that Lady Mendoza is currently the sum of her Line and Clan. It is to be a.s.sumed that one in her position would desire to establish a solid base for her House. Three children, I think, is not an unreasonable number. Nor is it unreasonable to suppose these offspring would inherit pilot reactions. Nine hundred cantra, then, for the children unborn.”
Twelve hundred cantra.
”A just sum,” Plemia murmured around the sinking feeling in his stomach. ”Precise balance is intended.
However, if Lady Mendoza permits, I would propose this alternate plan: Plemia pays a sum of fifteen hundred cantra, over four Standards, the money to derive from Daxflan's profits-”
”No!” she said sharply. ”I want no money from Daxflan.”
Wearily he raised his eyes to hers. ”Lady, I a.s.sure you, not all of Daxflan's profits come illegally. A guaranteed payment of three hundred fifty cantra per Standard would be made, even should Daxflan fail to earn that sum. Is this plan acceptable?”
She looked at him for a long moment, then glanced beyond. ”Mr. dea'Gauss.”
”Thodelm?”
”If Clan Korval permits, sir, I would like you to take charge of these-details. The sum of twelve hundred cantra at once or fifteen hundred over several Standards is agreeable to me. Otherwise, it would be-comforting-to know that you act in my interest.”
”Korval raises no objection,” Lord yos'Galan put in, ”if Mr. dea'Gauss feels he can undertake the task.”
”I accept the commission, Thodelm Mendoza. I am honored to give service.” He inclined his head.
”Perhaps Delm Plemia and I might meet on the morrow and discuss the matter more fully.”
”Certainly, sir. At your convenience.”
”We come now,” Mr. dea'Gauss said, ”to that owed Korval. There is deliberate loss engineered by Sav Rid Olanek. There is the paid attack upon the Dutiful Pa.s.s-age-”
”Korval,” yos'Galan broke in, ”makes the following demands for balance: From Plemia, twenty cantra toward the loss on the mezzik-root purchase. Captain yos'Galan will likewise pay twenty cantra to thes.h.i.+p, to remind him to hear more fully. Also, Korval does likewise insist that Trader Olanek be removed from Daxflan immediately and sent home, that Healing may commence.
”Last, Captain yos'Galan would speak with Delm Plemia and Captain yo' Vaade regarding the management of trades.h.i.+ps and the planning of trade routes. Plemia may reap profit from the discussion.”
Taam Olanek felt himself adrift. He managed to incline his head. ”Plemia agrees to all terms of Korval's balance.”
”So be it,” Mr. dea'Gauss said formally, and made notation.
”I believe that Master Arbuthnot also holds a just claim,” Taam ventured, still unsure of what had occurred.
”Me?” The boy looked up in surprise. ”Shan? Does this-does Delm Plemia owe me something?”
”You were in quite a bit of danger through the Trader's mismanagement, you know, Gordy.” From the mildness of the tone, yos'Galan might have been discussing a rather mediocre play.
The boy frowned and shook his head. ”The only thing he owes me is an apology for calling me 'it.' But if he's going to see a Healer, I guess he'll learn better, so that's okay. Dagmar's the one put me in danger, and she paid as much as she can.” Surprisingly, then, he inclined his head, speaking in tolerably accented High Tongue. ”Thank you, sir, but I believe our accounts are in order.”
Taam bowed his head. 'Thank you, Master Arbuthnot. Should you have need, Plemia's name is for you to use.”