Betrayer: Foreigner #12 (42 page)

Toby had a broken rib along with the other damage—the latter in waterproof bandage. “We’re twins,” Toby declared, a bad joke. “But thank God they had you wear that vest.”

“If they hadn’t I wouldn’t be here,” he said, and changed to Ragi for young Dur’s benefit. “My brother says we match.”

Dur politely laughed. “One is very glad you wore the vest,” he said, the identical remark.

“My bodyguard is going to insist, one fears. One at least hopes for one made to my size.”

“One hopes for days in which one need not take such precautions,” young Dur said.

“Have you phoned your father? One is extremely grateful he has troubled himself, and one would not wish him to make undue haste.”

“One has, indeed, nand’ paidhi. But he has a dinner invitation, and he looks forward to it. The Gan leaders, likewise.”

“Dur’s father,” Bren translated, for Toby, “is still coming. Dinner with the aiji and the aiji-dowager and Lord Geigi. The kitchen is probably beside itself. The Gan. And the Edi. We’re going to have to put up tables in the garden, if there’s anything left of it.”

“It’s a little messy out there.”

“We’ll manage,” he said. He was vastly content.

Dinner—he wasn’t sure he could stay awake through. He’d try. Having a tableful of Ragi trying to maintain decorum with a tableful of Edi and Gan folk intent on having a discussion—and a visiting northern lord—was going to be interesting. A good thing Machigi had taken the prudent course and pulled back to the hunting station, where he was not going to be part of the immediate negotiations. Machigi had his own mess to clean up. Interesting if he could manage it.

He had his notes. From that bag Algini had swept up off the truck.

And Machigi wanted him back.

Tabini did.

Ilisidi did.

It was a good thing to be wanted.

Even in mutually incompatible directions.

He had another sip of orangelle. Still without alcohol. No painkiller, not yet. He wanted his brain in good order when he sat down at the table, wherever they found to put it.

He wasn’t going to be able to move in the morning. That was guaranteed.

But tonight—given a nap in his own bed in the meanwhile—he’d manage.