Jade War

The men glanced at each other before Councilman Kowi said, “Kaul-jen, it’s about your sister. Given the scandalous revelations of her past… She shouldn’t continue as Weather Man.”

“Why’s that?” Hilo asked.

The councilman looked uncomfortable but said, “I want to say first of all that I have absolutely nothing against the Weather Man personally; I’m only concerned for the reputation of No Peak. I’m afraid it looks extremely bad for the clan, Kaul-jen. The main thing is that she was an agent for the Espenian military and sold them information that might’ve been of national security importance. And today, the Janloon Daily printed an interview with her former lover, an Espenian soldier of Shotarian blood. She was still involved with him while living in Espenia, less than four years ago.” Mr. Kowi spread his hands, indicating how self-evident the problem was. “How can she be trusted in the second-highest position of No Peak?”

Hilo saw the two Lantern Men nodding along, and he shifted his eyes to Hami. “You’re sitting in this room as Master Luckbringer, Hami-jen, and have many years of experience on the business side of the clan. In your opinion, is the Weather Man running Ship Street badly?”

Hami glanced at the other men before shifting in his seat and clearing his throat. “No, I wouldn’t say that. She’s made some… debatable decisions, but that’s not the same thing.”

“But you asked for this meeting and you’re sitting here. So you agree with them.”

“I share their concerns about the way this affects No Peak’s standing,” Hami said. “Councilman Kowi has always advanced the clan’s interests in Wisdom Hall, and Mr. Orn and Mr. Eho are two of the clan’s highest Lantern Men. When they came to me to request an audience with you, I thought it was important that you hear from them directly. I’m not advocating for any specific decision on your part as Pillar.” Hami might be known for his straightforward honesty, but he was certainly savvy enough not to presume above his rank, nor to speak poorly of his own Weather Man in front of people who were not Green Bones.

Hilo said to the two Lantern Men, “You think I should replace the Weather Man?”

“Kaul-jen,” said the older of the two men, whom Hilo recognized now as Mr. Eho, “this is a purely practical decision. Along with the Pillar and the Horn, the Weather Man is the face of the clan. Since this information about her past has emerged, the press and the public have been questioning if she’s still secretly working for the foreigners, serving their interests instead of ours. They’ve been calling her Espenia’s charm girl. Very crude. The thing is, the Oortokon War has turned opinion against Adamont Capita. The Weather Man’s past is a problem for No Peak.”

“She could resign and continue to assist the Weather Man’s office in a less visible role,” added Mr. Orn, whom Hilo also recalled had recently declared an intention to run for the Royal Council himself. “We simply need someone more publicly suitable to be a business leader.”

Hilo ignored him and said to Mr. Eho, “Who’s calling her that?” When the Lantern Man blinked in confusion, Hilo repeated himself. “Who’s been calling my little sister a whore?”

“I… I never said…” Mr. Eho stammered, looking suddenly contrite, even a little bit frightened, as if he was just now remembering that Kaul Hilo had a prior reputation of his own.

“Don’t bother to answer,” Hilo said. “I know who. Ayt Mada’s set up the whole thing to make herself out as a patriot. She’s smearing Shae in order to weaken No Peak.”

“Still, you can’t deny the facts,” Councilman Kowi argued.

“No,” Hilo said, “I don’t deny them. My sister made some mistakes when she was young, but everyone does. She had a foolish romance with a foreigner, but that’s over, and any communication she has with the Espenians these days are for No Peak’s gain, on account of the oaths she took to me as Pillar. If she’s doing her job as Weather Man, there’s no problem.”

“Kaul-jen,” Mr. Eho exclaimed, “don’t you care how this looks, what people think?”

Hilo gave Eho, Orn, and Kowi a briefly withering glance, then laid a hard, flat stare on Hami, as if to say that naturally the others could be forgiven for wasting his time, but he’d expected a Green Bone to know better. The Pillar was the spine of the clan; he didn’t make decisions to please others. Certainly not jadeless politicians.

Hami’s aura drew in, and he said, with some defensiveness, “It would be irresponsible for me as Master Luckbringer not to point out the consequences this might have on No Peak, and on your own leadership, Kaul-jen. Your grandfather and most of his comrades are gone—let the gods recognize them. When people look at Green Bones today, they’re not looking at the heroes from the Many Nations War. They’re seeing young leaders who grew up with wealth and foreign influences and wondering whether they’re green enough to defend the country the way their parents and grandparents did.”