The Consuming Fire (The Interdependency #2)(31)

“Yes, quite,” the countess answered, not looking at Kiva at all.

“It would have been unfortunate if such practices had leapfrogged from the in-system organization to the Nohamapetan organization at large,” Grayland continued. “Then the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Justice would be obliged to step in.” She glanced over to Kiva. “But you do not believe that such a thing is the case?”

“Not yet, Your Majesty,” Lady Kiva said. “But of course our investigation is not yet over.”

“How long do you think it will take, Lady Kiva?”

“Given the complexity of the House of Nohamapetan income streams and books, and the sophistication of the skimming from each, several more months, I think.”

“Several more months,” Grayland said, with a very slight emphasis on the word “months.”

“At least, yes,” Kiva amended.

Grayland returned her attention to the Countess Nohamapetan. “We have no doubt you are extending your director here every courtesy and cooperation while she sounds the extent of your local organization’s issues, Countess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, but—”

“Yes, Countess?”

“—while Lady Kiva has shown great ingenuity—”

“The countess is too kind with her praise,” Kiva interjected, knocking the countess off-balance. “I must admit, however, that there was almost no ingenuity on my part here. To discover these lapses, all it took were fresh eyes.”

“Someone from the outside, you would say, Lady Kiva?” Grayland asked.

“Perhaps that’s all that was needed, yes,” Kiva replied.

Grayland slapped the arms of her throne, lightly. “In that case, we believe it’s best to have those outside eyes continue to look into the issues with the in-system Nohamapetan business, and to help this branch of a great house return to form. And of course, in your continuing role as director, Lady Kiva, you will remain in contact with the countess directly, to keep her informed on what you find, as you will keep us informed, to the same extent.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Kiva said.

“The House of Nohamapetan is of great interest to us, Lady Kiva,” Grayland said. “You have a great responsibility, both to it, and to us.”

“I understand,” Kiva intoned. She glanced over at the countess, who it must be said was holding her outrage in admirably.

“Now, Countess, let us discuss your daughter,” Grayland said.

“Ma’am?” the Countess Nohamapetan said, thrown entirely off track by this.

“Our understanding was that this was the reason for your visit,” Grayland said.

“In fact, ma’am, we came to discuss the matter of Lady Kiva—”

“Well, we’ve settled that, have we not?” Grayland asked. “And on the matter of your daughter, we have an interest to speak to you. If you wish to hear it.”

Kiva saw the countess momentarily and almost imperceptibly weigh her desire to revisit the matter of extracting Kiva from her business against the possibility of irritating this emperox who was currently in the process of railroading her sorry ass all around the room. She took the cowardly way out. “I am happy to speak of my daughter, ma’am.”

“Your daughter is accused of some of the most grievous crimes, Countess. Murder. Attempted assassination. Treason. These crimes, if she is found guilty of them, come with the penalty of death.”

The countess paled a bit at this. “Yes, ma’am.”

“It grieves me that she finds herself in this position, Countess Nohamapetan. At one point, we thought she might be our sister, married to our brother Rennered, who was to be emperox. Things would be very different now, had he lived to succeed our father.”

“Yes, they would,” the countess said. “They would indeed.”

“We cannot say what may have led Nadashe to the crimes she is accused of. We cannot stop what must happen. She must be tried. And when tried, if she is found guilty, she must be punished. We must all face the law, and justice. You understand this, Countess Nohamapetan?”

“I do.” The countess looked down at the room’s exquisite mosaic floor.

Grayland nodded. “Nadashe must face the law, and must face justice, and must be punished,” she repeated. “And yet, in earnest of my brother’s love for her, and to honor the loyalty you have pledged your house to, I can offer some mercy.”

The countess looked up. “Your Majesty?”

“Life instead of death,” Grayland said. “If she is found guilty of any of the capital crimes she is accused of, and is sentenced to death, I will commute the sentence to life imprisonment. And she will serve that sentence here on Xi’an, at Silent Water.”

Kiva blinked at this. Silent Water wasn’t so much a penitentiary as it was a vacation camp you couldn’t leave. It was where ministers of parliament went when they were caught taking bribes, or accountants caught embezzling funds. It was the only penal facility on Xi’an, on the basis that one doesn’t want to house hardened criminals in the same habitat as the emperox. To house Nadashe there when she straight-up murdered dozens of people, including her brother, was giving her a huge fucking break. Grayland might as well be giving her an ice cream cone while she was at it.