As their whaleboat closed in, the band faltered and fell out of tune. Hurried conferences proceeded between sunken-chested Barber-General Love and his associates, and spyglasses were raised to inspect Baru’s boat. Despite three Oriati aboard, the presence of a Falcresti naval officer, a masked technocrat, and a great pile of baggage seemed to satisfy the Kyprists that this was indeed a delegation from Falcrest, and finally they launched back into “In Praise” with fervor. Baru and the enact-colonel threw ropes to the waiting stevedores and helped Tau-indi up onto the boards. Shao Lune muttered obscene things but went about pretending to be Baru’s steward: the enact-colonel was already unloading Tau’s luggage.

Baru composed herself, shoulders back, chin down, elbows out, hands in, showing her angles. “One step behind me,” she ordered Tau, and together, as the smell of cooked crab got under her tongue, they stepped up onto the pier to greet Barber-General Love’s delegation.

He was a fiftysomething man of unexpectedly pale skin, with a narrow chest, stooped shoulders, and no hair except a bristling gray mustache. “Thank you,” he said, in a firm clear voice, his hands raised and clasped, the gloves orange and silky fine. “Thank you for coming. We are so grateful.”

“Thank you for receiving us promptly, Barber-General.”

“Everything is prepared. My fellow Generals on the Storm Council have been alerted. My surgeon has a full report on the outbreak and my Superintendent of Progress has drawn up a program of raids against the Canaat rebels. As soon as your marines are ashore, we may begin.”

The poor bastard. He thought Helbride had come from Falcrest to help him destroy his enemies. “Barber-General.” Baru coolly offered her hand. “My name is Barbitu Plane, from the Ministry of Purposes. I’m sorry to hear about this Canaat rebellion.”

“They don’t know what they want.” Love shook his head. “They’re like children. Less … developed.”

“You understand, of course, that my first priority must be containment of your epidemic.”

“Of course.” His sweat smelled like fear. He had a very firm grip but he kept shifting his hand, searching for a better hold. “If the Canaat steal a ship, they’ll spread the disease all over. They must be crushed.”

“Certainly we must work together.” Baru opened an arm for Tau-indi, who slipped in at her side like they were walking together into a dance. “May I present Prince-Ambassador Tau-indi Bosoka, of Lonjaro Mbo.”

Barber-General Love looked at his aide-de-camp, a spectacularly competent-looking Oriati woman in a net shirt and long skirtwrap. She looked back at him and said something in el-Psubim, the old tongue that came before Kyprananoki. Baru recognized the word for war.

“I’m surprised to see you traveling together.” Love tilted his head between Baru and Tau. “Given what I’ve heard of recent, ah, actions in Aurdwynn.”

Tau took and kissed his hand. “We are on a tour of mutual solidarity.”