Jala's Mask (22 page)

He put his arm around her shoulders and steered her out of the manor. “Let's talk outside. Too many unfriendly ears in this place, as I'm sure you've found.”

What could he have to say that he didn't want to get back to Azi? Maybe he was worried about Lord Inas, though. Once they were out of the manor, she pointed. “If we walk this way, I can show you where the invaders landed.”

They walked along the shore with the setting sun at their backs. The ocean was quiet tonight, and the waves lapped gently over the white sand. Several seabirds circled overhead, sometimes letting out high-pitched cries. Long-legged insects buzzed past Jala's face, and she waved them away. When they were far enough from any listening ears, she spoke.

“Azi told me about all the help you sent to the Gana,” Jala said. “It's hard to imagine a whole island of people are nearly gone. I'm glad our family could help.”

Her father nodded. “How could we do less? There's hardly a Bardo without at least a distant cousin on the Fifth Isle. Orad might have been able to run away, but the rest of our Gana cousins must live with the destruction. So, we do what Orad can't.”

“I'm sure Lord Orad is grateful for our help,” Jala said. “He couldn't have prepared for that kind of attack. What Marjani and Azi saw there . . . that can't happen again.”

“Maybe he is grateful,” her father said. “We'll find out soon enough.” He stopped walking and faced her. His eyes were serious. “I know that none of this is quite how you imagined it, and I know it's been hard for you. It'll get harder. But you're strong, stronger than any of these Kayet fools, stronger than you know. But
I
know, as I've always known. You will lead the Bardo to greatness, and sooner than I dared dream.”

His words were familiar; he'd said nearly the same things to her many times before. She'd always felt proud of his belief in her, but today she wasn't just his daughter. She wasn't just a Bardo anymore. “Our family's greatness doesn't really matter right now, does it? With the invaders and the Gana and everything else. We should all be working together to help them rebuild. And we need to work together if we're going to keep all five islands safe.”

“Yes, exactly,” her father said. “This meeting your boy king has called isn't just about raiding. It'll determine the future of the Fifth Isle. I'd bet Inas has already tried to convince the Gana to marry into the Kayet, and the rest of the families will do the same.”

Was he even listening to her? Jala thought she saw where this was going, and she narrowed her eyes. “You want me to convince him to choose the Bardo, instead.”

He just smiled. “I don't think you'll have to convince him. He has no choice. Either the Gana marry into the Bardo, or they lose the Fifth Isle to us anyway. Our soldiers are already on the island. The Gana have no fleet, and what sailors they have left are working with our own to rebuild. Orad's people have already made the practical choice. You just need to make sure he understands.”

“I understand that you aren't listening to me,” Jala said. Had he only sent help because he was hoping to profit? “Father, we can't just land some ships on the Fifth Isle and say it's ours.”

“We can, and we have. And soon we'll have more.” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm that seemed to encompass the whole ocean. “Just imagine, in a few years the Bardo will have more ships and more sailors than even the Kayet. When you have a son, he won't be just a king, he'll be a Bardo king!”

Jala's mouth was dry. “And where does Azi fit into this plan? Or is this island ours now, too, since you've landed me here?” She didn't know why she was surprised. This had always been his dream; he'd made no secret of it. But it was different imagining what it might be like to be queen someday and to hear stories of how she might unite the islands for her family. And of course back then he'd never told Jala those plans included destroying families and putting countless lives in danger. Years later, she was finally getting the rest of the story.

Her father shrugged. “The boy will be fine, don't worry. I saw the way he looked at you. He loves you, as well he should. After this meeting is over and the Fifth Isle is ours, you can talk to him and soothe him, convince him it's for the best. Lord Inas is a problem, but obviously his hold over the boy isn't as strong as he might have hoped.”

“He's not just a boy,” Jala said. “He's your king, too. And I'm his queen. Do you really think I can look him in the eyes and tell him this plan will benefit anyone other than the Bardo?” She went on before he had a chance to reply. “And what if Lord Orad refuses you? What about the other families? They won't just let this pass, not after what you had me do at the Sectioning.”

“So many questions! You never doubted yourself before, my little queen. Don't start now. When the winds of fate blow, you can only raise your sails and see where they take you.”

If she were still ten years old, her father's words might have made her feel better. But she was beginning to see that he'd never really meant his compliments. She was strong and powerful and smart, but only when she did exactly as he said. And that was no compliment at all.

But he was still her father, and he loved her. He was doing what he thought was best for their family. It just wasn't what was best for her anymore. She tried again to make him hear her. “I'm not doubting myself,” she said slowly. “I'm doubting you. How can you look around at everything that's happened and still talk about stabbing the other families in the back? Everyone on the Fifth Isle might be dead now if Azi hadn't gone to help.”

“You speak as though any of them are trustworthy. I promise you they're all plotting against us, especially now that you've shown them the kind of queen you are.” He put his hand on her head like she was a child. “I taught you better than this. You can't trust any of them.”

Jala pulled away. “If we can't trust each other, there might not be much left when more of those ships land. You keep calling me a queen, but you're still treating me like a little girl.”

“You're still my little Jala,” he said. “But I'll try to remember you're grown and married now, if you'll indulge an old man's forgetfulness now and then.”

“You're not that old,” Jala said, but she smiled. Things might be different between them now, but maybe he was trying. They walked for a while in silence, and her father examined the beach where the invading ships had landed. Much of the wreckage had been cleared away, but the tide had been leaving bits and pieces on the shore. A scrap of armor, a bit of ship, and, occasionally, a waterlogged body that must have fallen from the ships as they reached the island.

“What's really troubling you about the Gana?” her father asked, prodding a rusted and broken sword with his foot. “Are you worried about what your boy king will think of you? Neither of you believe the families will fall in line because of some mainlander magic. We've always fought amongst ourselves.”

“I can't do this,” Jala said. “I won't.” She stared down at the rusted blade. Once it had been a tool used to bring death, and now it was nothing more than a bit of scrap even the ocean didn't care to keep. She was afraid her people—all of her people—would end up forgotten, lost in the ocean. The sorcerer on the Lone Isle had said the islands were small, insignificant next to the enemy they faced. If the Five-and-One were destroyed, who would know there were ever islands here? What would Bardo or Gana or Rafa mean if none of the families lived through the year?

“Don't be petulant,” he admonished. “You're a queen, not a child, as you so recently reminded me. I'll speak to Orad myself then, but you'll support me when it's brought up. You'll see the right choice is the one that's best for our family.”

“Best for our family or just for you?” Jala asked.

“No, not for me,” he said, and his face softened. “For you. For your children. I'd hoped seeing your friend again would help you make the right decision, but I see it's only confused you.”

“You only brought her to manipulate me into doing what you want?” Jala dug her nails into her palms to keep from shouting at him. “You're acting like Lord Inas, all schemes and nothing else. When was the last time we talked of anything but what I'm to do next to help our family? Would you have visited just to see me, or am I out of your thoughts until you want to use me in some new plot?” His moment of silence was answer enough. “No . . . you wouldn't have.” She turned her back on him and ran for the manor.

He called something after her, but his words were nothing but wind howling over the water. By the time she reached the manor, she was breathing heavily, but she didn't stop. She didn't run, not wanting to draw attention to herself and be forced to speak to anyone, but she walked as quickly as she could.

She headed toward her room and to Marjani, but halfway there she changed her mind and went to find Azi instead. He was eating dinner alone in his room.

“Jala? I thought you'd be eating dinner with your friend and Lord Mosi tonight. But of course you can stay if you want,” he added quickly. “I admit I was a little jealous that your family would be stealing you away from me, even if it's only for a few days.”

“No, that's all right,” Jala said. “I don't think I can eat just yet.”

Azi put down his knife. “What's wrong?”

Jala sank into a chair and took several deep breaths to calm herself. “Nothing. I'm just tired. There's so much going on.” She looked away. Her father would want her to keep Azi quiet until it was too late to change anything, not ask Azi's advice on how to prevent it. But exposing her father's plans still felt like a betrayal.
Did I really mean it when I said Azi and I would make things right? I can't keep quiet, not even to protect my own father.

“No, there is something wrong. It's my father,” she said. “I spoke with him, and he plans to take the Fifth Isle for the Bardo. With most of the fleet already there, and more arriving, he doesn't think there's anything the Gana—or you—can do to stop him.”

Azi looked down at his plate. “I can't say I'm very surprised. When I saw his ships there, full of food and nets and willing hands, I wondered. Your father's never been known for his generosity.”

“You knew? Then why didn't you say something?”

“I didn't know. I hoped for the best, hoped that maybe I'd just been listening to my uncle too much. Anyway, if I told you, would you have believed me?”

Jala sighed. “I don't know. Probably not. I think I had to realize it for myself, and I almost wish I still didn't know any of this. But you could have tried to stop him, couldn't you?”

“I don't know that I want to stop him,” Azi said. “Not while he's helping the Fifth Isle as much as he is. Maybe he really can convince Lord Orad to marry into the Bardo. If he does, I won't try to stop him.”

“But—”

“I know what it might mean for my family. But it will take years, and Lord Mosi won't always be head of the Bardo. By then you'll be a great queen, and we'll figure it out together.”

He won't always be head of the Bardo. . . .
The words echoed in Jala's mind. She couldn't imagine home without her father storming around. But it wasn't really home anymore, and he'd made it clear she was more
useful
to him here. She pulled her chair closer to Azi. “I don't know what to do,” she whispered. “I hate this. I hate it.”

“We'll think of something,” Azi said. Tentatively, he reached out and put an arm around her, and the gesture made Jala feel a little better. She wasn't alone, even if neither of them had any idea what they were doing. After a moment, Jala closed her eyes and leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder.

“We'll have to think about it soon,” Azi said. “But we don't have to think about it now.” Even more tentatively, he turned her face toward him and kissed her.

Jala kissed him back. It was a long, slow kiss, and it left her breathless. “You're just trying to distract me,” she teased, her voice quavering.

Azi grinned. It made his mouth look even more kissable. “Maybe. Is it working?”

“A little bit,” Jala admitted. For a minute or two she forgot everything except the feeling of his skin and the beating of her heart and his lips on hers. But it ended too soon, and the world rushed back in along with her breath.

She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder again. “It's no use. Tell me a story instead. A funny one that doesn't involve kings and queens and nobles.”

Azi wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. “I think I can manage that. My time as a sailor turns out to be useful after all, it seems.”

Despite Azi's attempts to distract her, Jala couldn't stop thinking about her father's plans. She took her seat beside Azi as people filed into the meeting hall. Her father smiled at her as he strode confidently to his chair. Clearly
he
wasn't concerned about the way things would play out today.