Thakur-na: A Terran Empire story Read online

w'woman went to the Bench and took the tape, thenleft.

  "Please stand, Ms. Manfredi," Killian said, startling Dana--andstartling her even more when he took her shoulders and steadied her asshe obeyed. "I regret that I must continue to observe the formalitiesof treating you as an oathbreaker for the moment; custom, as you haveshown you understand, should not be broken easily. But I want you toknow that I believe you acted honorably and should not have the kind ofdeath he sentenced you to. I do not feel that honor would permit me tocarry out that sentence."

  Dana was as stunned as she had been when Jason spoke the formula ofdismissal. "Chief--"

  He raised a hand to silence her. "What to do about your situationcannot be decided by a single clan-chief, even the chief of the FirstClan. But I doubt that you--or I--will be left in suspense long, oncethe Miklos sees that tape and has called the conference I requested.It should be an hour, perhaps a little less, and in the meantime I willhave you made as comfortable as your status permits." He nodded to thesenior of her guards. "See to it, Bowie, and bring her to the com roomas soon as the conference convenes."

  * * * * *

  Dana spent most of the next hour wondering what in Chaos was going on,even as she appreciated Killian's actions on her behalf and the way herguards managed to observe the letter of treating her as an oathbreakerwhile at the same time wordlessly letting her know they didn't thinkshe could be, after Killian's endorsement.

  Eventually they got word the conference was convening, and took her toAlanna's com room, where she recognized Miklos' arms on the screen. Asfar as she knew, the last time that communications-specialist clan hadagreed to call an all-planet conference was just before Sandeman wasbrought into the Empire; it was difficult to believe she was the reasonfor calling another. But it was impossible to disbelieve, especiallywhen the Miklos arms on the comscreen were replaced by Clan-chiefHurley's face.

  "Thank you all for your time," the Miklos clan-chief said. "Thisconference was called at Alanna's request, concerning a situation forwhich no custom exists, and for which Miklos agrees that one must beestablished quickly."

  He paused, then gave the background: Jason and Dana's vacation and theTorrance interrogation reports, then he said, "The next part consistsof monitor tapes from the Shangri-La Continental Medcenter. At thispoint, it still seemed that Jason's actions, peculiar as they were,might have had some justification."

  With that, the picture changed to show a hospital room, its onlypatient a red-haired Terran woman. Dana recognized herself, wincing atwhat the Sandemans must think, but she remained silent.

  The hospital room was replaced by Hurley's face again. "That tookplace this morning, medcenter time. Dana's situation has no precedent;only clan-chiefs can decide the proper way to deal with it, with her,and with Jason. Chiefs, Miklos awaits your responses."

  As chief of the First Clan, Killian was entitled to speak this morning,medcenter time. "Dana's situation has no precedent; only clan-chiefs candecide the proper way to deal with it, with her, and with Jason. Chiefs,Miklos awaits your responses."

  As chief of the First Clan, Killian was entitled to speak first; heused the coder combination that opened the conference for discussion.

  "Killian of Alanna," Hurley recognized him.

  "Is this 'cast going to the screen in Jason's suite?"

  Hurley looked off-screen for a moment, then nodded. "It is. What isAlanna's word?"

  "None, yet; first, Alanna wishes Vader's opinion of what we have allseen."

  "As Alanna wishes. Donovan of Vader." Hurley recognized the chief ofthe first clan founded after Sandeman overthrew the Shapers, named forthe figure in the Saga who had regained his and his family's honor byoverthrowing his oppressor. The most delicate questions of honor werereferred to Clan Vader, and their decisions were considered final."What is Vader's word?"

  "Vader says this." Donovan's face held grim determination. "DanaManfredi has acted in full honor at all times. Although it has neverhappened, Vader says the proper procedure for a thakur to release a 'nawithout dishonor to either would be for the 'na's tattoo to be barred,exactly as if honorable service had been ended by the thakur's death.In attempting to have her killed, especially in the way he did, andthen by dismissing her to seek the death of one who has hurt ordishonored his thakur, Jason has forfeited all claim to honor."

  The two men in Jason's hotel suite looked at each other, and the headof Jason Interstellar's Sandeman operation said feelingly, "Oh, shit.That tears it, boss. We won't do a centi's worth of business here fora year."

  "They'll get over it, Gunter. We'll make up the loss elsewhere, andyou can keep things going until business picks up again here. I'll seeto it that your pay doesn't suffer--though you'll probably have to cutstaffing for a while."

  "I can live with that, I guess. Not that I'll have any choice."

  Killian spoke again. "Alanna thanks Vader, and Alanna says this." Hehoped Jason could read Sandeman expressions better than he could theirway of thinking. Obviously he didn't realize that Miklos controlledtwo-way access to any set tuned in to a conference call, and that hisconversation had been heard in all the clans. "There is precedent fora clan to give countenance to an off-worlder, and others have adoptedour customs; our Earl Klaes and his family even use the clan-prefixesoffered them by Shona."

  He paused, turning to Dana and smiling. "Dana Manfredi."

  Dana was startled to hear herself addressed, but she responded quickly."Yes, Chief Killian?"

  "Will you accept Alanna's countenance?"

  Would she accept the First Clan's countenance? Dana could feel tearswelling up, though she managed to keep her voice under control. Shehad been rejected by her thakur, had a planet-wide conference called todiscuss her fate, been commended by the arbiters of honor, and nowoffered membership in the First Clan! Thank the gods they didn'tconsider tears a sign of weakness . . . "I would be honored, Alanna."

  "Good." Killian smiled at her, then sobered. "The Terran woman knownas Dana Manfredi has accepted Alanna's countenance. Be it known thatshe is henceforth Dana, a clanswoman of Alanna. As chief of her clan Isay her actions deserve not punishment but praise; the honorableservice she gave was to one unworthy of it, and he had no right toorder her death. It is my personal belief that Dana merits the blackand a place in the warrior caste, but that decision is not mine alone.

  "It is my decision, however, that Clan Alanna take appropriate actionagainst Richard Jason and every thing or person associated with him.To that end, I claim Chief's Right on behalf of my clanswoman Dana."He paused, and when he spoke again, it was to one man.

  "Jason. That means that anything of yours on Alanna property will bedestroyed, anyone who serves you will be killed unless they renouncethat service, and your life is forfeit if you enter Alanna territory.I find myself hoping you do; I would enjoy making you suffer the fateyou ordered her to seek."

  After a brief interval, Hurley began recognizing other clan-chiefs."Odell of Leras."

  "Leras agrees that Alanna's clanswoman Dana should wear black. Lerasalso concurs and will cooperate with Alanna in other respects; Jason iscurrently in Leras territory, and as an off-worlder, we must give himtime to leave. But his property will be destroyed, and should he remainhere after one standard day, he will be delivered to Alanna for Chief'sRight."

  "Shona concurs and will cooperate."

  "Lewies concurs and will cooperate."

  "Vader concurs and will cooperate."

  * * * * *

  "Miklos concurs and will cooperate."

  As the litany came to an end, Dana realized Killian--her clan-chief!--wasbehind her, releasing the restraints and easing her arms into a morecomfortable position. "Welcome to Alanna, lady," he said gently,removing the heavy woolen cloak that was part of his ceremonial blackgarb and draping it around her shoulders. "The true oathbreaker willdo no more business in this sector, or in any where honor is morevaluable than greed, even if
he manages to get offworld. You should bestarting to feel the aftereffects of the energine, so Meara, our seniorw'woman, will care for you until you wake--and when you are recoveredenough, we will have a party to welcome you into Alanna, the warriorcaste, and the ranks of those who wear honor-black." He smiled, andDana could almost feel the lightening of the clan's mood. "You havedone something as unprecedented as what was done to you, did you knowthat?"

  Dana's strength was ebbing as the energine wore off, and she wasn'tquite sure what her clan-chief meant. "I'm