“He’s on his way to talk to the emperox about it.”

“Huh,” Huma said, and then was quiet again, thinking. “Well, is there anything we’re going to be able to do about any of the ‘end of the Interdependency’ shit before I sign our deal with the House of Jemisin two days from now?”

“Not really, no.”

Huma nodded. “Then let’s just focus on the Nohamapetans for the moment. Now. Tell me everything.”

Kiva went on at length about the Yes, Sir’s entire sojourn at End, loudly and at length, with considerable editorial comment. At one point, the two of them were interrupted as Lord Pretar entered the room, which as it happened was his actual office. Countess Lagos dismissed him without even looking at him; he hastily retreated and sat in his own waiting area. After an hour of waiting he eventually got up to get himself coffee.

“You’d be willing to get up in front of the Guild Court of Grievances and testify that Ghreni Nohamapetan ordered a bomb planted on the Yes, Sir and was behind the pirate attack,” Huma asked, after Kiva was finished.

“Of course.”

“And you think the House of Nohamapetan was behind this. Not Ghreni Nohamapetan freelancing for his own personal goals, but acting under orders of his house.”

“I know Ghreni Nohamapetan, Mom. We went a few rounds when I was at university and he’d visit Nadashe. He’s not the most ambitious one in that family. I don’t know what the official House of Nohamapetan position is on the crap he’s pulling on End, but I know he’s not the brains of this operation.”

“You’re talking about Nadashe, then.”

Kiva nodded. “She’s the one I actually went to university with.”

“Are you friends with her?”

“ ‘Friends’ is stretching it. She tolerated me when I was banging her brother and otherwise we sort of mutually agreed that staying out of each other’s hair would be the best thing for everyone. But I respect her. She’s smart as fuck and if she pushed you down a hole, she’d make it look like you jumped. If there’s anything doing, she’s the one doing it.”

Another pause from Huma and then, “You know that for the past several months, End rebels have been bombing the shit out of things, here and in other systems, yes?”

“No. How would I know that? I’ve been away for more than two years, Mom.”