Friday 10 September 2021

Chapter Eight: Keep On Winning

  

~/*\~ Nomi ~/*\~

"Still nothing." Nuria said flatly. She had been waiting for Nomi to return to the Chieftain's Lodge. Nomi hadn't said anything to her when she returned from her visit to Methuselah, and her mother hadn't even needed to ask. They had the same conversation every month. "People are starting to talk, Nomi."

"Believe me mother, if I could snap my fingers and become pregnant, I would have. If only to make you stop asking!" She barked at Nuria. "If it were possible, I'm sure many women would. Most of them prefer babies to their husbands."

"Some husbands prefer sons to their wives." Nuria shot back. It wasn't an argument. This was a warning.

Nomi froze. "Meaning what?"

Nuria glanced around to make sure the attendants were out of earshot, lowering her voice. "I was at the markets the other day, discussing the harvests with Zephan. And I noticed Tovina was there. She was buying enough food for three people, but she refused fish." Nuria lowered her voice. "When I was pregnant with you, I couldn't stand to eat fish."

Nomi felt her stomach drop. "We… still don't know if Tovina is…" She struggled to say it. "If Kainan is even interested in her."

"If she's pregnant, it won't take long to tell, once the baby is born. You know how fast the babies of Godsons grow." Nuria warned. "And once the baby is born, it'll be too late."

"Too late for what? An illegitimate child can't take over as Chieftain."

"Giving him a child beats anything else you could do. Any other gesture, any other sweet words, any other act of devotion? None of it compares." Nuria hissed. "Godsons don't like having to choose between anything they want, Nomi. They can have it all. And even if Kainan never carried on as greedily as he could have, if he finds out Tovina is pregnant, he'll get interested in a hurry. Tovina could be his second wife before you're packed. And even if he doesn't send you away, you're still the wife who couldn't give him a son."

"If Tovina is pregnant, and if it's his." Nomi insisted.

"You want to take that chance? Everything we have depends on your connection to Kainan, daughter." Nuria raged back quietly. "And even if you're willing to rest on your achievements, Tovina won't. None of them will. Every Godson has a pack of women sniffing around. If Kainan asks his father, he'll have Tovina, and you're finished."

Nomi winced, feeling the old panic rising again. She hadn't felt it in almost a year, so secure in her position. It was suddenly so fragile, all of it falling out of her reach. Didn't I say yes because I felt safe?

"This is the world, girl." Her mother said seriously. "Once you've won, you have to keep winning."

Nomi felt her weakening patience shred, just a little more. "Timur!" She shouted.

Before the echo of her voice had faded, Timur appeared in the doorway. "Yes, my lady?"

"Would you find out where Tovina is? There's a small job I need her to do." Nomi said quietly. Am I really about to do this?

Timur nodded and took off. Nuria never took her eyes of Nomi.

"Mother, get out." Nomi said shortly, not looking at her. I can't do this. Nuria left without a word, and Nomi poured herself a strong drink. I don't have to do this.

She didn't know how long she waited, before Tovina arrived. She isn't very pretty. Nomi shook her head. "Tovina, good. I have some errands I need to run for my husband. Would you mind helping me?"

"Always happy to help the Chieftain's family, my lady." Tovina said brightly. And then, apparently without thought, she rested her hand over her stomach.

Nomi saw the gesture and felt cold. It's not proof. And if she is, it doesn't have to be Kainan. And am I really going to do this? Aloud, she kept her voice level. "I'd like you to deliver some food… to our eastern watchmen."

Tovina nodded agreeably. "Of course, my lady. I can go with the supply run-"

"Ohno, this isn't with the other meal deliveries." Nomi caught her off guard. "You see, there's a new watch post. Recent events have the Chief worried about our neighbors to the east. The new watch is a secret, keeping an eye on the few roads that go to other communities." Nomi kept her face even as she lied. "That's why we aren't sending the usual supplies, like with our other watchmen. Best to keep it a secret. Going yourself would draw far less attention."

Tovina hesitated. "Y-you want me to go to the eastern territory, alone?"

"Of course." Nomi said, as though these requests were made every day. What are you doing, Nomi? It was four hours ago you were sitting with Methuselah talking about holy judgment on this sort of thing. You can't do this. Aloud, she was undaunted. "You'll take food stocks from my personal attendants, and you may keep the fine crockery afterwards, as payment for making the trip on short notice. I assure you, it's quite valuable."

Tovina looked terrified. Nomi was sending her alone to the most dangerous part of their map, carrying an expensive prize. "I-I've never even been to the Watchtowers, let alone a secret one."

She knows I'm lying. Nomi smiled brightly. "Don't worry. I'll show you on the map. And if you can't find it, then it's well hidden, which is rather the point."

Tovina was shaking, looking around for help, but there was nobody else there. "I… I would like to talk to Kainan first."

Nomi felt her smile turn to ice. Then it's true. She thought. This girl is making a move of her own. "You can talk to him when you get back in the morning." She said seriously. "After all, it's time the three of us spoke, to… consider our position."

The tone was all nice and civilized, but there were no secrets left between them.

~/*\~

Tovina had played it smart, making sure the attendants that gave her pots of food were all informed of who was sending her out on this mission. She managed to get a message to her brothers before she left, traveling with two strong, grown men; rather than go alone. She'd wrapped her cargo in the cheapest cloth she could find, making herself a less appealing target to anyone she met on the road by hiding the valuables.

Nomi let her try everything she could think of, short of open defiance. She knew it wouldn't make a difference. Nobody was going to overrule her. Nobody even tried. Did everyone know about this before me?

The next morning, Nomi heard the news. Tovina had been found dead, far outside the settlement. So had her brothers. They'd all been robbed of everything they carried.

~/*\~ Eleanor ~/*\~

Del was a contractor. Delays were nothing new. But he'd been waiting to lay the concrete foundation on the house extension for almost a week; and the pipes laid below the foundation were not ready yet.

He'd asked his coworkers for an explanation on what was taking their subcontractors so long, and heard every excuse in the book. Finally, he went into the head offices himself, and started pulling the contracts and invoices personally.

Darrel, his employer, knocked on the door. "Del." He said grandly. "What are you doing here? I thought you were on-site this week."

"I was." Del agreed. "But there wasn't really much need for me there, since we're all cooling our heels until the drainage pipes get repaired."

"Repaired?" His boss heard the magic word. "There's been some problem with them?"

"No, but there would have been." Del said seriously. "They used the wrong sealant for the kind of drainage they'd need. There'd be water damage under the foundations within six months. I caught it early and told my people to stand down. There's no point laying the concrete if we're going to have to tear it all up in less than a year."

"Probably a good move." Darrel said with grim understatement. "The repair bill would have been-"

"Your Subbie has already sent us an invoice for the repair job." Del said seriously. "We haven't finished the original job yet, and he's getting ready to pass on costs for repairing his own shoddy work, months early."

Darrel froze. "Really."

Del turned the invoices over to him. "I've been waiting for him to finish the-"

"He's my son." Darrel said quietly, eyes on the invoice sheet. "Our subcontractor, laying those pipes? He's my son."

Del froze, the strong condemnation he was about to declare died in his throat. "Oh."

"All right, I'm going to tell you what's going on here." Darrel said easily, as though this was purely routine. "Every job has complications. Supply problems, delays… Even the weather can affect our timetable. That's how it is on construction sites. One of the major delays that we have to deal with is administrative. Something unexpected crops up, it can take a week for the problem to be reported, signed, approved, reviewed, fixed, etc." Darrel smiled easily, relaxed. "So, every now and then, my son prepares some paperwork in advance. Leave the date blank, and you've essentially got a safety net."

"With a price already set?" Del said without thinking.

"Easily changed if it ever becomes relevant."

"The date isn't blank." Del pointed out, and wished his mouth would stop working.

"I know. That shouldn't be." Darrel nodded agreeably. "Probably an auto-fill. You know how the form templates work. The computers put in things like dates and contact details automatically. It's just a clerical error." He handed the Invoice back to Del. "Do me a favor, and reprint that, with the date blank."

Del froze.

"It's all above board." Darrel promised. "Take my word for it."

'Take my word for it' was one of those warning bells that Del had been warned to watch out for in training.

"Tell you what." Darrel said casually. "Why don't you think about it for a while? See, you're a great worker, Del. In fact, I was considering you for Dixon's old job, now that he's retired."

Del felt his heart beat a little faster. "Oh? The VP slot?"

"Well, you've got all the talent you need to go independent." Darrel grinned. "So I either make working for me more appealing, or risk gaining another competitor. After all, why start over when you could have a major pay rise, and a comfortable air conditioned office?"

Carrot and stick? Del thought distantly. "That's very flattering, but you know I have no plans to start over as my own boss."

"It would be a hard change, I admit. You're not twenty years old anymore, but you're sharp, you're careful, you're thorough. A model contractor, in fact. But, with a leadership position, it's less about skill, and more about… soundness. The Company needs someone sound. Someone who knows when to say 'no', and when it's best to say 'yes'." Darrel smiled winningly at Del. "See, right now, it's between you and Ioan; and I'd rather it be you. But Ioan's shown that he knows what to do in such situations. Know what I mean?"

"I think I do." Del said softly.

"Mm." Darrel clapped his hands together, as if breaking the spell. "Well. I'd better get back to work. And I'll call my son, give our Subbie a swift boot. You're right: We've been sitting idle on-site too long."

~/*\~

Del walked out of the office on rickety legs, feeling like he'd just dodged a bullet.

"You've got a kid on the way." Ellis said softly.

Del froze, turning to look. Ellis, one of their accountants, waved him over quickly, as if afraid to be overheard. "I know that conversation." He told Del. "I've had that conversation."

"So it's not my imagination, then?" Del said softly. "What do I do?"

"What he tells you. You've got a kid on the way, and the economy is still tanked." Ellis reminded him. "The people who can still afford to pay for new houses and new extensions? They can afford this too. You think if we were going to bankrupt our paying customers, Darrel would act like this? He's saving for retirement, just like the rest of us. You won't find another job. Not in time, with a kid coming. I'm still paying off the hospital stay from when my kid was born, and he's in school now."

"It's wrong."

"None of it is illegal. Dishonest, maybe. But you're a contractor. It's not like people hire you for integrity." Ellis whispered. "This is life. You can't pay the rent with moral high ground."

"No, you can't." Del conceded.

"You're being tested, Del." Ellis counseled. "He's dangling VP, because he has to know if you're willing. You could be the next owner. If you had the VP office, it'd be the natural fit when he retires; which is only a few years away."

Del frowned at Ellis. "What's your angle in this?"

"I want you to get the job, because the alternative is Ioan getting it and becoming my boss. I'd rather quit." Ellis said plainly. "But I won't, because I've got a paying job, and kids of my own. I'll 'play the game', and be better off for it." He gestured around his desk, in the open office. Not even a cubicle. "This is the best I've got coming to me. This is the world. Once you've won, you have to keep winning."

~/*\~

Del came into Darrel's office with a clipboard. "So, I'm heading back out On-Site." He said, as casually as he could muster.

"Good." Darrel said, eyes on his computer screen.

Del slid his clipboard across the desk. "And I re-printed that invoice for 'repairs'. Here's hoping we never need to use it."

"Here's hoping." Darrel agreed, the ghost of a smile on his lips.

"And I was thinking, if you're seriously thinking about my future with the company, then maybe it's time I get serious about my future here too." Del said seriously. "Starting my own business was an idea I might have considered ten years ago, but the job takes a toll. I can't be laying concrete forever. You just can't keep that up for your whole career, know what I mean?"

"I do."

"So, we should talk about that, if there's a management track available." Del nodded, mind made up. "I was thinking, over lunch? My wife and I would love to have you over to our place for a meal sometime."

Darrel beamed. "Great idea! How about Friday?"

~/*\~ Nomi ~/*\~

As Kainan's wife, Nomi had leadership responsibilities. Such duties were carefully chosen, to take the unimportant matters away from the Chieftain, without making anyone useful to the community feel unimportant. Nomi couldn't be given any duties that might actually give her real power, in opposition to the Chieftain. Neither could any of his sons. It was a fine line to walk.

For the most part, Nomi's 'official' duties involved settling or mediating disputes in the community. As a woman, her mediation couldn't be considered threatening. As part of the Chief's family, she could not be easily intimidated in return.

She actually hadn't done much of her own trading since being married. She hadn't seen many of the merchants in months, except when they would come to her for mediation.

Which is why she felt a certain sick delight when Temira asked her to come to Natu's place at the market.

Temira made the case first. "I was tasked with gathering all the offerings for the next Harvest festival, but Natu only gave two-thirds of his pledge."

Natu bowed respectfully to Nomi. "My lady, the pledge wasn't given by me in the first place. I was told what to tithe, and then expected to deliver. Nobody consulted me about what I actually had in stock, or-"

"As I recall, Natu…" Nomi drawled slowly, dragging it out. "The nature of your stock has always been a tightly guarded secret. In fact, I recall the prices going up and down at your whim. Does your wife know why you were offering discounts to some of the younger customers?"

Natu froze. "My lady, the best of my grain always goes to the Chieftain's Lodge, which is the right and proper thing to do. But the Festival is for a good harvest. The next season has just been planted. My stores are all I have to feed my family until the next crop comes in. Believe me when I say, I'm not holding back on the offering to The Maker. It was He who cursed the ground, and made it full of thistles and weeds. Giving back to Him, in favor of a good harvest, is what I've bet my life and my livelihood on. I just wish I could have told someone what I had to offer before the quotas were set."

Nomi felt a twinge of conscience, just for a moment. But then she thought of all the times she had come to this man, begging for a decent bundle of wheat, only to be cheated, gouged…

"Your quota remains the same." She said shortly. "Your family will make do, as all your customers have done. Your fellow merchants can surely offer you kindness if things get lean. After all, you've helped them in the past, have you not? When they were in need?"

Natu's face changed. He'd never been generous with anyone who didn't force him.

Temira looked worried for all concerned. "My lady, if his stock is so low, it would be a simple matter to verify it…"

"You can go, Temira." Nomi never took her eyes off Natu.

Temira retreated awkwardly, and Natu shrank a little, showing fear. "My… my children will go hungry within a few weeks."

"Don't worry, Natu. There are other ways to make ends meet. You've suggested them before. I have faith you can do the same." Nomi said tightly. "And if it gets very bad, send your family to me at the Lodge. I'll find work for Vered, until the next harvest."

She turned and walked away without another word, and felt a hot spike of victory go through her for a moment. Natu had been such a danger to her once, and now he cowered before her. It felt so right to balance the scales, and make him feel what she'd always felt.

"She didn't need to do that." Nomi heard a voice say softly. "She has plenty of attendants and servants who can trade for her. And even if she didn't, the Chief's family gets tribute all the time. It would have cost her nothing to change his quota. She came down here just to humiliate him."

"Natu deserved it. You know how he treats us when we trade with him? He treated her the same way, once. It's just how it goes, when you suddenly get power." Another voice whispered back. "And speak softly. She'll hear you."

Nomi turned to face those speaking directly. The young women scampered, as though they were always walking in the opposite direction.

Smirking a little, Nomi followed them at a more relaxed pace. The girls were young, and she didn't know them well, but they had older sisters; and those were the women Nomi had grown up with.

The usual group had gathered for a trip to the river. Nomi approached them before they left. "Sisters." She said grandly. "It's good to see you. I apologize for how long it's been since we've spent any time together."

The women said nothing. One or two of them bowed deeply, as was their duty. Some of the more familiar old friends nodded respectfully. But they stayed together, none of them coming closer.

Nomi wasn't sure why, but it made her feel uncomfortable, so she got to the point. "Shari, my mother's attendant, has apparently moved on. For whatever reason, this change has forced her to leave my mother's service. There's an opportunity for any of you who might be of service."

No answer.

They know what happened to Tovina. Nomi thought to herself, observing them. They aren't afraid of me, surely? I've known these women my whole life. I'm still the same woman who stood watch while they bathed at the river. Even if I haven't been back there in… She did the math in her head. Well, longer than I thought, but even so…

"We are thankful for whatever service we can offer to the Chieftain's extended family, my lady."

"What is it?" Nomi demanded. "Something's wrong."

Temira, still awkward from the confrontation with Natu, stepped forward. Aside from Anah, she'd known Nomi the longest out of all of them, and she took a deep breath before speaking carefully. "We're just being cautious, my lady. After what happened to Anah and Tovina, the usual precautions seem more important than ever, even on routine trips to the river..."

Why list them together? Their losses were not the same thing… Nomi shook her head. "Would you like me to assign some guards to escort you? I can do that now." She offered with a big smile. "Better yet, you could all come to the Springs. We'll have them heat water enough for everyone; make a day of it…" She suddenly realized how long it had been since she'd lost Anah, and found herself missing the others terribly. "There'd be all sorts of delicacies, music if you would enjoy it…"

Temira shook her head quickly. "With all due respect, the guards and the Godsons are the ones that the younger girls are most concerned about. Going to your family's private territory would just… surround us with them."

"You'd be my guests." Nomi insisted. "You'd be safe."

"We'd be noticed." Temira shot back. "Like Tovina was noticed."

Nomi felt her stomach jump into her throat. They knew. They all knew. "Temira..." She tried to speak. "We've known each other our whole lives…"

"You were just protecting what was yours." Temira said carefully, holding up both hands, trying to defuse the words with deference. "But Tovina was only a threat because she was noticed by… Well, by someone a lot bigger and stronger than she was. Best if we don't take the chance."

They had very carefully not said Kainan's name, but even so, Nomi had no answer to that. She'd hated the part she played in Tovina's death, but it was true. Anyone who hung around the Chieftain's Hut ran the risk of being 'chosen'.

And if Kainan happened to 'notice' Temira? Nomi asked herself awkwardly. Would you feel bad about doing what you have to, again?

"Shari has left my mother's employ." Nomi said to them all again, voice dull with heavy feeling. "If any of you should feel that you could be of service, you can speak with her privately. It's not a bad offer. You'd have… some security. I don't need to be involved, if it makes any of you feel uncomfortable."

Nomi turned and walked away from them.

~/*\~

Kainan had taught her to ride a horse. It was something for them to do together, since there were few horses that could carry a fully grown Godson. Nomi had never had the chance to even attempt such a thing, so she'd agreed. She quite enjoyed riding, and decided that she needed to clear her head.

I have no friends. She realized. Anah was my friend. Temira was even my friend, once. And now they're afraid of me. Because of what happened to- She caught herself. Because of what I made happen to Tovina.

For some reason, she was riding towards the Ark. Because all of a sudden, she wanted to talk to Shem. He said, repeatedly, that everyone was a sinner. She thought. So surely that didn't mean I was beyond hope, did it? I'm not… evil, surely? Because that sort of thing shouldn't have been so easy. Surely if I was crossing the unforgivable line, it would have been hard to do?

~/*\~

She rode until she reached the trees around the Ark. The animals were a constant feature now, and Nomi slowed her horse, who was starting to spook at the proximity of so many different creatures; and went on foot.

Why are you doing this, Nomi? She asked herself as she walked through the trees. He can't give you forgiveness. You know he doesn't believe anyone outside his own family will be saved. What do you want from the Ark?

Still hidden by the trees, Nomi began walking into the clearing, when she saw something that made her freeze. Nomi pulled back to the trees, where she could observe without being seen.

Shari had left her mother's employ to take a new job. The whole thing had happened before Nomi had found out; and Nomi wasn't surprised. She wouldn't work for Nuria if she could avoid it. Seeing Shari again with the Ark, Nomi suddenly understood there was more to it.

Shari had married Shem.

Shari was walking along the scaffolding, carrying a fair-sized bucket on one hip, and a water jug on her shoulder. She followed the scaffold until she reached Shem, who was painting the new layers of the Ark with pitch. She set the bucket down, refilling his supply. As Shem thanked her and kept painting, she poured him a drink of water. Shem looked surprised that she'd thought of it, and smiled up at her, kissing her wrist gently. Shari smiled back, leaning against him tenderly, as any newlywed would do, before picking up a brush, and helping him work.

Nomi watched the blatantly domestic scene, and felt something akin to raw jealousy of both of them. They were happy. They were kind to each other. They didn't need anyone else, and she knew Shem wouldn't be looking beyond his own wife…

Nomi hadn't even noticed how long she was standing there, watching, until the sun shifted, and the trees no longer provided shade. The family had paused for a meal, gathering at the base of the Ark, by the end of the large Ramp. Noah was leading the family in prayer as his wife broke the bread. Shari sat with Shem, holding his hand. A familiar little wolf came out of the Ark, padded down to them, and laid his head in Shari's lap. It had grown from the days of being a pup, but it was clearly the same animal that Nomi had played with, before-

Shem saw Nomi. His face changed as their eyes met. She wasn't sure if he was about to wave her over, or send her away. Either way, she didn't want to find out, and she pulled back, climbing astride her horse again.

Nomi suddenly realized why she had come to the Ark. For all their reputation as fools and lunatics, Noah's immediate family had no interest in the follies, or the fortunes of the world. The Ark was the one place where she didn't have to show dominance, or keep people in line. The Ark had no need for civilization. Or it's violence. Or it's vices.

Including me. Nomi realized. I'm not just part of the town, I'm part of the leadership. I didn't mean to gain power by marrying Kainan, I just wanted security. And I got it, didn't I? Just because everyone's afraid of me now…

Oh. It hit her. I'm part of the problem.

~/*\~

Nomi rode her horse faster and faster, away from the Ark. Her emotions were deadly calm now. She'd seen the whole world for what it was, and she knew her place in it like she knew the sun would shine.

She didn't ride back to town either, heading out for the trees. She knew the routes that the hunting parties usually took, though she'd never gone hunting herself.

It took almost an hour to find them. Kainan was leading the way back to town, on one shoulder was a thick pole, the other end carried by one of his brothers. It had a large beast, slain and lashed by its legs, big enough to feed half the village for days. It had been a good hunt.

Nomi ignored it all, and pulled the horse up from a light gallop to a sudden stop, close enough to send leaves and pebbles scattering. She climbed down from the horse with fire in her eyes. "Hello." She said shortly, ignoring them all, eyes locked on Kainan. "Looks like your hunt for the day is over, so I'm sure you won't mind if I borrow my husband for a while?"

There were a few catcalls, a little laughter, but Kainan grinned as she let the horse go, and pulled him away from the others, until they had privacy.

"You're in a strange mood today." He rumbled lightly.

She turned to face Kainan, and gestured for him to bend down closer to her. When he did so, she gripped his ear tightly. "I know you've heard about what happened to Tovina." She said in his ear. "And I'm sure you've guessed why."

He suddenly realized what was happening, and tried to straighten. She wrapped her arm around his neck, in an embrace, and kept him there. "I won't stop you." Nomi swore. "If you decide to indulge yourself with the others again. But if you think I'll let you have a son from anyone else, I'll kill you in your sleep, husband. I swear I will. I won't be humiliated that way. You are mine, and I am yours. Understand?"

Before Kainan could answer this most unexpected tone, from the most wholly unexpected direction, she was kissing him passionately. Almost savagely. He very much responded, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her further away from the others, their lips not breaking contact once.

I have nothing else. Nomi thought to herself. If I lose this, I've lost everything. No friends I can turn to, no mercy from my mother, no goodwill from the merchants, no forgiveness from God. This is my whole world now.

And woe to anyone who tries to take anything more from me.

~/*\~

The hunting party returned to the town a few hours later, singing the usual songs for a successful hunt. Nomi returned with them, walking arm in arm with her husband, long used to the fact that he was huge beside her. The whole town saw them arrive together; but Nomi was scanning for only one.

Her mother was watching from the balcony of the Chieftain's Lodge, and Nomi smiled over at Kainan. "I'm going to head inside, clean up a bit. See you for dinner?"

Kainan agreed, and followed his hunters.

~/*\~

Nomi strode into her room, and started changing her clothes, barely acknowledging her mother, who spoke quickly. "Good, you're back. So, I wanted to check with you about some arrangements for the next Festival-"

"Shut the door." Nomi said firmly to her mother.

Taken aback by the tone, Nuria did so automatically.

"I think Kainan killed Anah." Nomi said quietly once they had privacy.

Her mother froze. "What? Why?"

"Mostly, because it's just what people do." Nomi drawled, sounding more tired by the state of the world than upset at the injustice of it all. "But… He's a Godson. He's nicer to me than most of them are to anyone, but he's still one of them. He wants something, he takes it. He wanted me, and Anah warned me against it. Then she was killed, and my broken heart was his in a day."

Nuria said nothing.

"I think Kainan 'removed' Anah, the same way I removed Tovina." Nomi said, voice brittle. "I didn't see it, because I just didn't think that way, until I did it myself."

"Can you prove it?" Her mother asked carefully.

"No. And even if I could, who would I tell?" Nomi asked bluntly. "Besides, it doesn't matter anymore. I've made my choice, and this life is the only one I'll ever have, now." She turned to face her mother. "You were right. This can all go away so easily." Nomi's face was cool and certain. "So I'd better get serious about defending what's mine."

Nuria nodded, pleased. "I'm glad you finally understand that. Now, the first thing you have to do-"

"I want a bath." Nomi told her mother flatly. "Go heat water for me."

"I'll get the girls to-"

"I want you to do it." Nomi said shortly. The sudden flash of anger on Nuria's face made her want to grin. "You've been treating me like a servant girl for a while, mother. If you want me to get serious about keeping the 'place' I've won, then it's time you did the same." She let that thought linger. "Go prepare my bath. Then return home. When it's time to make plans, I will send for you."

"We can talk over dinner-"

"You won't be eating with us." Nomi cut her off. "Everyone else has to ask permission to join the Chieftain's Table. You're getting too comfortable with just wandering in and taking a seat." She raised an eyebrow. "After all, as you've made clear: my position as Kainan's wife is more fragile than it seems. We wouldn't want to do anything to annoy my husband, or his father, would we?"

Nuria said nothing for a long moment. "Of course." She said finally. "I would like to join you and your honored husband for dinner. With your permission, and his."

"Ask me nicer than that." Nomi said slowly, dragging it out.

Nuria's eyes flashed, but she fought it down. "Please, beloved daughter… May I have the privilege of sitting at your table tonight?" She set her jaw, dying inside. "After I have prepared your bath, of course?"

Nomi felt her heart racing, a hot flush of savage glee going through her. It was almost worth the lifetime of pointed, disdainful orders that she'd been given over the years. Revenge felt so… appropriate. Like the world was suddenly making sense. "Mother, you would be welcome to sit at the end of my table, with the other servants of the lodge… tomorrow night." She extended her leg. "Also, my sandals haven't been properly cleaned in quite some time. Would you take them home with you, bring them back when you visit us for Dinner?"

"You have a hundred servants and attendants." Nuria grit out.

"But none of them put such care and love into these things as my own, dearest mother would." Nomi countered politely. I hadn't thought I'd enjoy humiliating her this much.

Nuria's eyes filled with a raw, naked rage. It lasted half a heartbeat before her gaze went dull. "Of course, my lady. Whatever you need." And she sank down to her knees, reaching forward to unlace Nomi's sandals.

~/*\~ Eleanor ~/*\~

Del was nervous, and so was Eleanor. It was the first time they'd entertained as a couple. Eleanor felt obvious enough, in the late stages of pregnancy. "Why didn't we ever hold dinner parties before?"

"Neither of us can cook." Del offered lightly.

Eleanor scoffed. "Right. Well, if this turns out to be the worst lasagna you've ever eaten, blame it on the pregnancy doing things to my sense of taste."

"Have you ever noticed how you're using the pregnancy to excuse or get out of things whenever you want?"

"Yup. And once the bub is born, I'll never have to leave the house again if I don't wanna." She grinned up at him. "Okay. Any advice? You know him better than I do."

"Sure, on site. I've never had lunch with him either."

"I did a google search for how to be a good host." Eleanor offered. "You know me, I did my research." He chuckled, and she plowed on. "Most of it is common sense stuff, but they make a point never to bring up religion or politics, or anything that's going to cause an argument. Basically, we treat him the way we'd treat our relatives. I mean, if we liked spending time with our relatives." She smoothed Del's collar, like a nervous habit. "And don't badmouth your coworkers. You said he was feeling you out about a promotion, don't use the lunch to run the other contenders down. He'll notice."

"I won't say an unkind word." He caught her hands. "Hey. I know you're nervous." He soothed. "But it's gonna be fine."

The doorbell buzzed.

Eleanor took a breath and scanned the living room again while Del answered the door. Clean. She thought. I wish we had bookshelves. Classier than a big-screen TV.

She returned to the kitchen as Del led their guest in and made introductions.

"Well, look at you." Darrel said with a big, winning smile, as he took in her belly. "Your first?"

She nodded.

"Mm. That takes me back." Darrel admitted. "My wife got all the way to our third before she threatened to shoot me if we ever tried again." He glanced around the small kitchen. "So, something smells amazing." He lifted a large wine bottle. "Something that pairs well with Red Wine, I hope."

Eleanor smiled, pleased. Her research into being a good hostess had overlapped with being a good guest. Bringing an event-appropriate gift was a good sign. "Oh, thank you. The glasses are-"

He'd already collected the wineglasses in one hand, clinking them together loudly; and opened the bottle himself. "I assume you didn't want one?"

Eleanor rested a hand on her stomach. "No, probably not."

Darrel poured two generous glasses, and headed out of the kitchen. "So, Del. This is your place, huh? You'll probably need something bigger once the baby comes."

Eleanor winced once he was out of sight. The guides had warned about 'helping yourself' when a guest in someone else's home; and about making disparaging remarks about the place. But Darrel was a builder, and probably looking at the apartment with that viewpoint. As for the wine, Eleanor doubted she would have noticed if she hadn't looked it up that morning, or if she'd been able to drink herself.

It's going fine. She promised herself, and pulled the lasagna out of the oven.

~/*\~

The meal had gone downhill from there.

Eleanor wondered if she would have noticed, if she hadn't looked up information on being a good hostess, or a good guest, but Darrel was breaking all the rules.

Eleanor didn't say anything at first when they started to eat. She'd never done so out loud, but she'd been praying over her meals. A habit from when she'd been meeting Martine for lunch. But she'd always done it to herself with her eyes open, not wanting Del to know.

Small talk over the salads had launched into current events. There was really nowhere to escape political talk anymore. Eleanor didn't know what to say, and clearly Del didn't either. Her husband knew to change the subject quickly, and brought them around to the weather. It had seemed like a safe topic, except it had led to talk about climate science, which brought them back to politics. Eleanor had seen it coming, and quickly asked how the weather affected things on construction sites they worked at.

Darrel, like anyone, could talk for hours on a subject that mattered to them personally; and that carried them through to the main course. Eleanor served them each a plate, with Del hurrying to help. Talking more about the company led to Darrel giving his appraisal of some of the employees at Del's level. Eleanor had warned her husband not to use the lunch to speak ill of any of his coworkers, but their guest didn't have that problem.

Eleanor had no idea what to do. Her inexperience in throwing dinner parties had left her with no defenses, no skills to deflect from aggressive and divisive matters. Darrel, fortunately, had noticed the awkwardness and reined himself in. The conversation became polite and reserved… until their guest fished a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. Darrel didn't even look at his hands as he flicked a lighter on and puffed.

Eleanor glanced at Del, who scowled to himself while their guest was looking at Eleanor… but he didn't say anything. What can he say? Eleanor wondered. It's his boss. He never made waves before, why should I expect him to-

"Sir." Del said finally. "Not to be a poor host, but you can probably tell, we don't smoke. Certainly my wife doesn't, given her pregnancy."

Darrel took the cigarette out of his mouth immediately. "Oh. No, of course. Inappropriate." Darrel admitted, and glanced around for an ashtray that wasn't there, before stubbing out his cigarette on the edge of his bread plate. "Forgive me." He said sincerely. "I should never have lit up, but after this long, it's something I do without thinking." He gave them that big grin again. "You know what they say, right? 'Quittin's easy. I've done it a dozen times'." He laughed at his own joke.

Del was aware that the tension had been rising all through the meal, and made an effort to shift the conversation back to work. "So, how's the Emmerson Site going? I heard they needed extra work on the hot water system."

"Lucky for us, yes." Darrel grinned. "The subbies used the wrong pipes there too. We have to replace the whole system, or we'll give someone lead poisoning one day."

"How did the sub-contractors miss that?" Eleanor asked in shock, and Del kicked her under the table. What? What did I say?

"The plumber was my son." Darrel excused. "I try to support him where I can." He gestured at her. "You'll find out quickly, there's nothing more important."

"Well, I can understand that." Eleanor agreed. "But aren't you worried about the liability if he's sub-contracting for you?"

Del kicked her under the table again, and Darrel grinned. "The way our insurance is set up, the liability doesn't come to me, or to my son; until the job is finished. That's why your Del is up for promotion, as a matter of fact. He spotted one such error."

Eleanor spoke again. "I remember Del told me about something like that happening before. Something about small claims court…"

"Oh, that was months ago." Darrel shook his head, unconcerned. "Small claims are part of the business when you're in construction. There's always some whiner trying to stiff you on the bill. That's why finance is such an important part of the contractor's life." He took another sip of his drink. "Besides, my boy is out of the electrician's business now. The real money's in plumbing. It's something nobody likes to think about, but when it stops working for even a day, they'll pay anything to fix it fast."

It's a racket. She realized, and looked to Del, who was pointedly not looking at her. "Is he doing it deliberately?" She asked, and Del kicked her under the table again. Stop that.

Darrel's smile froze, as he looked at her. "Deliberately?"

"If he's subcontracting to you, and you're passing the bill along to your clients, then… Your son might be padding his bill, doing the same job twice."

Del had a pretty good poker face, but his wife could see through it when he wanted to sink into the floor. He knew! Eleanor realized. Del knew about this!

If Darrel was angry, he didn't show it, but Eleanor noticed his… exuberance had faded somewhat. "These are just facts of contracting and construction work, my dear. There are always unexpected complications that can run into money or time. Our clients know this too. It's a fact that your work can be exceptional, or cheap, or fast. But not all three at the same time." He had the pack of cigarettes in his hand again, as though threatening to light another one. "It takes a sound businessman to know when something's shady, and when it's just the price of doing business. As a matter of fact, that's what put Del in the running for VP. He's a smart man."

Del was staring at her, and trying not to show how much he was staring at her. Eleanor put a hand over her stomach, reassuring herself. "He is. That's half the reason I married him." She said, forcing a big bright smile. "We won't mention the other half."

Darrel laughed, loud and long.

Peace restored, the conversation moved on.

~/*\~

"Well." Del said quietly as he cleared the plates away. "Our first time entertaining. Could have gone worse."

"You didn't tell me you were up for promotion because he knew you could spot the price gouging." Eleanor commented archly.

Del blinked. "Meaning?"

"You get paid out of the commission." Eleanor said. "A promotion means you get a bigger cut. He said it himself, 'when the plumbing stops working for even a day, they'll pay anything'. And if you hadn't spotted it, the job would have been done with bad pipes, with someone living in the house. Which means you can charge your customer twice to lay the same pipes, because 'your liability shield is that strong'."

"You think he's dangling a promotion to get me on side?" Del hesitated.

"He 'needs a sound businessman who can tell the difference between something shady, and the cost of doing business'." Eleanor quoted.

"That's the job." Del argued.

"It's a racket." Eleanor scorned. "He's farming out sub-contracts to his son, knowing he'd do a shoddy job, so that he can charge his customers twice to build it correctly once." She pointed at him swiftly. "And it's happened before. He said his son was an electrician last time, now a plumber. That kind of change happen often?"

"Lotta contractors have two licenses." Del excused.

"There's no way he'd let that happen by accident twice. Even if- especially if it was his son doing it, so it's deliberate." Eleanor countered, doing squats slowly beside the table. "Your boss has figured out a way to pad his bills by giving kickbacks to his son." Eleanor put one leg up on the dining room chair, flexing slowly. "You said it yourself, when we were dating. You can spot dodgy construction firms by things like that. How often they change business names, how often they farm out jobs to other people, all the 'unexpected' costs."

"Ellie, he wasn't wrong about small claims court being a staple of the business. This is just how it works. There's no firm in town that doesn't… what are you doing?" He finally noticed her odd acrobatics.

"Stretching." Ellie grunted, resting a hand over her stomach. "Usually when I exercise, the baby reacts. He can feel it when I start moving around. I haven't felt him move since last night."

Del froze. "What?" He hurried to the hall and got their coats. "Come on. I'm taking you to the hospital."

"Del-"

"Or we could stay here and keep arguing about how crooked my boss is." Del shot back.

Eleanor took her coat from him. "Fine."

They were halfway to the car when she started throwing up.


~/*\~

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