Jade War

“It’ll bring down a lot of trouble on us from the Espenians,” Shae said, still speaking to Hilo. “You know our relationship with them is tricky. We’ve restricted jade exports and refused to contribute troops to fight on their side in Oortoko, because, as you and Chancellor Son so clearly explained to Secretary Corris, we Green Bones protect what’s ours, but we don’t invade other countries and kill civilians without jade. This would fly in the face of that and weaken our position with them. And it would undermine the diplomatic pressure the Espenians are trying to put on the Uwiwan government to take greater responsibility for combating corruption and crime in their own country.” When Hilo frowned, she insisted, “And it’s not just the Espenians—several other countries have banned civilian ownership of jade. A lot of ignorant people don’t even know the difference between Green Bones and barukan thanks to those Shotarian gangster movies. For our own good, we have to be careful not to attract even more foreign attention. If we act reckless and bloodthirsty and show no respect for the laws of neighboring countries, it’ll set us back in a lot of other ways, especially in our alliances overseas and the businesses we’re trying to grow.”

“The Espenians,” Tar spat. “I’m sick of how we—how you

”—he glared at Shae—“think about the foreigners’ feelings with every decision. Ah, how are the Espenians going to like it? What about what people here

will think? They count on the clans; do you want them to think we can’t do anything against enemies overseas? If we’re afraid to act, to answer an offense against the clan because of what the foreign press might say about us in the newspapers, then we’re lapdogs that don’t even deserve our green.”

Shae turned a disdainful look on Tar, eyes narrowed at the veiled insult. “I’m not saying we give up. I’m saying we have to get to him in another way, one that doesn’t involve a highly public massacre right in front of the man’s plantation house in Tialuhiya.”

“Shae-jen has a point,” Juen said to Hilo. “Zapunyo has to pay for his actions, there’s no disagreement among any of us about that. But we would risk a lot by sending a dozen or more of our best Fists to try to strike at him head-on in his own country. Those are Fists that we need, that I need as Horn here in Janloon. We can’t afford to lose those lives, especially not when we know that, truce or not, the Mountain is still our enemy at home and will exploit any weakness.”

Tar’s jade aura was crackling with frustration, and when he spoke, he seemed almost near tears. “Then let me go alone, Hilo-jen. How can I live, otherwise? At least let me try.”

Hilo turned a look on his Pillarman that was oddly gentle and also angry. “You’re talking nonsense, Tar. We have to be ready to die, that’s true enough, but not if it accomplishes nothing. How’re you going to face Kehn in the afterlife and not look like a fool? You think I’m going to let you throw your life away? I’ve lost enough brothers already. What would Wen say?” Tar opened his mouth as if to argue, then closed it again as he looked away, ashamed.

Hilo sank lower into the armchair and scowled, leaning his head back. Outside the closed door of the study, they could hear the pattering footsteps of the children running up and down the stairs, and Wen calling them to eat. Hilo said quietly, “I promised my wife that I would avenge her brother and punish the people who put our children’s lives in danger. If I were to say what I want to do, it would be exactly the same as Tar.” Hilo’s mouth hardened as he lifted his head and looked around the circle of his closest advisors. “But Shae’s right. She’s always had a cooler mind than me, even when she’s angry. I’m also thinking about what Juen said. We’ve done a lot these past few weeks, but Ayt would like us to go farther than we can handle and cause problems for ourselves so she can take advantage. She’s likely even counting on that, since the Mountain was encouraging the barukan to go after us this whole time. So taking out Zapunyo—we can’t do it now, not this way.”

Hilo’s words were spoken reluctantly, but with finality. He got up, indicating that the meeting was over, but as he did so, he put a hand on Tar’s shoulder. “I don’t know what the way is yet, but it took us years to avenge Lan, remember? But we did it eventually. And that’s not even fully done yet, not until the Mountain is destroyed. So we have to be patient.”

* * *