Most of the men will arrive today. Those who are here already will make preparation. There will be a ceremony tonight, to open the festival and let Kina know that tomorrow is her day. The ceremonies tomorrow are meant to invoke her. Candidates will be presented to her, to accept or reject. After the ceremonies the feast will begin. All during Festival the priests will judge petitions presented. There arent many this year. An old dispute between the Ineld and Twana bands is up for judgment, though. That will attract a lot of attention.

I frowned.

Bands sometimes come into conflict. The Ineld band is of Vehdna stock, the Twana of Shadar. Each accuses the other of heresy and poaching. Its an old dispute that grew much worse after the Shadowmasters invaded. In parts of their territories the bands are the only law, which makes for bigger

stakes.

It was a long story, not pretty, too human, serving to illustrate that the Deceivers were more than a lot of deadly fanatics. In some areas they ruled the underworld. The bands in question hailed from populous Hatchpur State, where the Deceivers were relatively strong. Their true feud was a contest of criminal gangs over territories.

Anyway, Narayan said, Iluk of the Ineld band stunned everyone by insisting the conflict be handed to the justice of Kina.

The way he said it was ominous. Kinas must be a very final justice. Thats unusual?

Everyone thinks its a bluff. Iluk expects Kowran, jamadar of the Twana band, to refuse. That would leave the judgment to the priests, who would take his refusal into account.

And if he doesnt back down?

Theres no appeal from the judgment of Kina.

I thought so.

Are you feeling better?

Some. Im still nauseous but Ive got it under control.

Can you eat? You should.

A little rice, maybe. Nothing heavily spiced. They liked their spices in Taglios. Cooking odors could be overwhelming in the city.

He handed me over to Ram. Ram hovered. I kept my composure. Well I did. While I nibbled, letting each bite settle, Narayan brought a parade of priests and jamadars for formal introduction. I memorized names and faces carefully. I noted that few of the jamadars boasted the black rumel. I met only four men who did. I mentioned that to Ram.

Very few are honored, Mistress. And jamadar Narayan is foremost among those. Hes a living legend. No other man would have dared bring you here.

Was he warning me? Maybe I had best watch myself. There could be politics here, too. Some band captains might resist me simply because I was associated with Narayan.

Narayan. The living legend.

How had our paths come to cross? Im no believer in fate or gods, in the accepted senses, but there are powers that move the world. That I know well. Once I was one.