The Consuming Fire (The Interdependency #2)(26)

“For now?”

“He’s thinking of resigning. A sudden crisis of faith, he said. But whoever will take his place, they won’t be put there by the emperox. Which is my point to you, Lord Teran. For a coup to occur, power has to shift. None has.”

“If you say so, Archbishop,” Assan said. “And now I think I have your answer. Thank you.” He nodded and left as abruptly as he’d entered, glancing around at the office again as he did.

Korbijn stood there for a moment wondering what in fact had just happened, and then sat down at her desk, disquieted. She buzzed for Ubes Ici, her assistant.

He was at the door in an instant. “Yes, Your Eminence?”

“Set a meeting of my advisors for this evening,” Korbijn said. “Seven o’clock. Tell the bishops to clear their schedules if necessary.”

“May I tell them what the meeting is for?”

“I need their advice. On the emperox.”

Ici paused as if to ask for further guidance, but thought better of it. “Yes, Your Eminence.”

“And, Ubes?”

“Yes?”

“Schedule a dinner service and refreshments. It’s going to be a long meeting.”

*

“And how did Archbishop Korbijn take to your suggestion she’s been played?” asked Jasin Wu.

“She denied it, obviously,” Assan said. “But the point wasn’t to get her to agree. The point was to plant the seed of doubt. She already had doubts, of course. Someone of her position doesn’t just go along with a brand-new emperox spouting about prophecy. That’s a threat to her personal power and influence.”

Jasin grunted. The two of them were in Jasin’s office in the Guild House on Hubfall, all clean lines and executive power, as befitted Jasin’s position on the Wu board. The two of them had tumblers of whiskey in their hands, which Assan reflected was as much a cliché of executive power as the big office they now stood in. “When the time comes, I’m going to need her as an ally, Teran.”

“I know that, Jasin.”

“Good. Because that time looks like it’s coming sooner than later.”

“Because of the collapse of the Terhathum Flow stream.”

“Because that’s only going to be the first. Well,” Jasin amended, “second. But the other ones are going to happen, and we need to be prepared before too many of them collapse.”

“Prepared for your coup.”

Jasin grimaced. “Don’t say that word out loud, Teran. For fuck’s sake.”

“Call it what it is, Jasin. You and I both know it’s necessary. It’s why you maneuvered to put me on the executive committee in the first place. To make the case for it to the other members.”

Jasin glanced over. “Word is that you’re not all that popular on the committee. The word ‘asshole’ gets attached to you a lot.”

“I’m just being me.”

“It’s true you’ve always been an asshole. I say that with respect.”

“I know. There’s no point in me pretending to be who I’m not. The people on the committee aren’t stupid. They would see through that. So I’m an asshole. But I’m an asshole who has a point. And they can’t deny the point, as much as they might dislike me.”

“That’s optimistic.”

“It’s working.”

“Let’s hope so.” Jasin took a sip from his tumbler. “Nadashe Nohamapetan is still alive.”

“I heard.”

Jasin glanced over to Teran. “Is she alive because you told Deran I was planning to have her killed?”

“No,” Assan said, scornfully. “She’s alive because Deran’s office is three doors down and the House of Wu is incredibly leaky with information.”

“I hinted to you I was planning something.”

“And I told no one. You know I talk to Deran, and Deran knows I talk to you. The difference is that Deran thinks I am his double agent, when in fact I’m yours. And as your double agent, let me tell you it’s a good thing your attempt failed.”

“Nadashe Nohamapetan is dangerous.”

“Yes, she is. But she and her house can be your enemy or they can be your ally. The House of Nohamapetan is in disgrace right now, but it’s still powerful. It still has powerful friends. And for what you’re about to try to do, you’re going to need all the friends you can get.”

“I wish I could have seen the look on his face when you told him it wasn’t you who told me about his plan to murder Nadashe,” Deran Wu said, a half hour later, in his office. His office was slightly smaller than Jasin’s but perhaps more richly appointed, and his whiskey was better.

“Well, you know,” Assan said. “You know I talk to Jasin and Jasin knows I talk to you. The difference is that Jasin thinks I am his double agent, when in fact I’m yours. And as your double agent, let me tell you that now it’s time for you to be careful with the Nohamapetans.”

“Why? As of right now I have an understanding with Nadashe. She’ll put in a positive word for me with her house, through her lawyer. In return I’ll use our law enforcement and security contacts to make a mess of the evidence leading to her.”

“Which you will necessarily have to try to pin on Amit.”