“Excellent. You will return there at once with Ambalasei.”

“What of this other uruketo? It was taken by Ambalasei, it must go back . . .”

“It has been recovered, unharmed, as you can see for yourself. Reassure great Saagakel that it will be returned one day to her city. But I will have use of it for a period of time. This use is all the reward I ask for my labors, for finding the uruketo, for finding and returning the one she sought.”

“For killing Fafnepto,” Ambalasei said with cold anger. “Enge spoke correctly—you are a poisonous and deadly creature, Vaintè. I have work, possessions, my assistant Setèssei in the stolen uruketo, now doubly stolen. What of them?”

“I offer all assistance. They return with you to Yebeisk of course. Transfer them now. And leave.”

“And you will remain. What labors of magnified negativity do you plan to do here?”

“What I plan is no concern of yours, old one. Leave—and enjoy the attentions of the Eistaa.”

Ambalasei signed disdain. “If you think the Eistaa will punish me, abandon that hope. She will present no problems to me. When I turn over the records of my discoveries to Saagakel she will forget all thoughts of revenge. Her city will be the center of the new learning and will welcome scientists from all Entoban*. Like any other eistaa she will take all of the credit. As for myself, one city is like any other city. It will suffice. Setèssei, supervise moving of my possessions. I now go and rest.” She walked a few tired steps, then turned to Enge and signed departure immediate/final. “I am sorry to see these creatures of evil in your city, Enge.”

“Do not concern yourself. The Principles of Ugunenapsa will survive.”

“Good. I am particularly fond of the ninth.”

She turned, climbed the uruketo’s fin and vanished from sight.

Elem started to speak but Vaintè pointed the hèsotsan at her and signed silence on pain of death.

It was a long silence that continued as Ambalasei’s containers were taken from one uruketo and loaded into the other. Akotolp, her fear vanished with Ambalasei’s departure, took up Fafnepto’s hèsotsan again and settled back on her tail. Serving her eistaa. The commander, Gunugul, was the last to board when the uruketo was ready to leave. She turned and spoke coldly to Vaintè.

“The Eistaa shall hear exactly what happened here. How Fafnepto died. Everything.”

“Speak of it,” Vaintè said, her contempt withering and dismissive. “I did as I promised her, then did what I had to do for myself. Now—depart.”

She was silent again until the gap of water had opened up between the uruketo and the dock. Only then did she turn to Enge.

“That is done with. Now we look to the future. I greatly admire this fine, fresh, new city that you have here. You must tell me of it.”