It's hard to live in a Taren building without the interface. You can use the bathrooms, fortunately, but you can't even turn the lights on or off. Before the Tarens agreed to give the interface to settlers, the Kolarens had had to use handheld devices to do everything – respond to alerts, locate rooms, get through doors.
Tsaile Staben wanted the Nuran representatives' advice on how to best approach explaining the options – which in itself involved a great deal of explanation and you could see that even with a bunch of people selected for calm leadership qualities, none of them thought "a machine in your head" made any kind of sense.
It would make life infinitely easier for KOTIS to have the Nurans accept the interface, but I don't think Tsaile Staben thought for a moment she could convince the representatives, let alone the rest of the Nurans. She just wanted to make option two – injecting an 'identity trace' in one hand – seem like a bearable alternative. A barcode below the skin, so KOTIS could track where all the Nurans were.
Isten Notra, sitting next to me, stole Ghost from my lap and quietly played with her while the conversation went back and forth, and eventually said: "Perhaps Caszandra can share her experiences. Although her reaction to the expanded interface was asymptomatic, her introduction to it might give you a better idea of what to expect."
Given that the interface has nearly killed me twice, and I had thrown a temper tantrum over it, I didn't consider myself at all the right spokesperson. The Nuran representatives looked at me doubtfully, and the cook asked apologetically to be reminded who I was (I was dressed as a Taren Setari, after all).
Inisar spoke up at that, his ragged voice cracking from the effort as he said: "Caszandra Devlin is the touchstone who made it possible for Muina's children to return to this world, and the one who freed me. She is the reason you are alive, and here."
Even the other Setari looked shocked at that – I guess he hadn't had a chance to explain
how
he got free. Tsur Selkie super-briefly explained about Sight Sight leading him to ask me to try to visualise Inisar, and the questioning of the projected version of Inisar (something which made Inisar's eyes widen rather – he hadn't known about that), and then me reaching out and breaking the real Inisar's chains. And then Selkie noted that when I'd been first discovered on Muina no-one had known I was a touchstone and so I'd been processed as an ordinary stray and given the injection we were discussing.
It's really hard not to hide under the table when people are staring at you like you have two heads.
"My language very different from Muinan," I said cautiously. "So I had not an explanation beforehand. Implanting the interface, they use a rounded metal tube pressed against my temple. It stung, and then was bad headache worse and worse over the next days. It tapered off after third day and then I start seeing things – the basic controls of interface."
I paused, considering how very unattractive that had all sounded, then pushed myself to say clearly: "Have you noticed how people here keep glance at that wall?" I gestured to my right, and saw that the Nuran Setari at least nodded. "That's because the interface let us see map display there, show all of Muina, and track the ships come here from the rift. Is like an illusion only people using the interface can see. I can use the interface to talk someone on other side of planet, or read any book Tarens have ever written, or look at what goes on outside, or watch everyone fight that scratchy massive, to see if I miss anything. The interface monitors my heartbeat and sends alert if I'm hurt or ill, and I can use it to call for help if someone attacks me. You said before that you were worried that by staying here the Nurans would become underclass. If you stay here, and don't use the interface, you guarantee that. It would be like – like not learning to speak."
I don't think "it's going to give you an awful headache" really sold them on the idea, but the representatives dutifully went off to talk about how to try to explain the choice to their people, and I had another meeting with just the Setari (and Isten Notra and Tsur Selkie). Tsur Selkie wanted to know everything which had happened to Inisar, who told his story via Korinal. I guess he can't talk telepathically to groups of people.
Unfortunately he didn't have a great deal to add. He'd reached Nuri, gone directly to report to Nuri's leader, and was in some kind of waiting room when his Sights told him he was in danger. But before he could identify the source, or teleport away, he'd passed out. He thinks it was something in the air.
When he woke, he was chained to that wall, and someone called Torenaltelasker (one of the two likely heirs of Nuri) had questioned him several times about what Inisar had told me – using the Command device but still not believing the answers. The last time he'd been questioned, a Cruzatch had participated, burning Inisar but never speaking.
"There was communication between them," Inisar said, speaking directly. "Mind-to-mind. Torenaltelasker...fawned. Even without my Sights it was clear that he bent his pride not from fear or respect, but in pursuit of some gain."
Sadly, this Torenaltoomanysyllables hadn't read the
Villains' Handbook
, and totally failed to gloat, or explain his evil plans, or let slip any clue about what the hell they were trying to achieve with their underground bunkers. Inisar couldn't even guess whether the explosions were a sign that it all went wrong, or if that was meant to happen.
After that the Setari exchanged details of encounters with the Cruzatch, debating the idea that there were two different kinds of Cruzatch. No-one can decide if the Cruzatch are some kind of 'natural' creatures with their own planet, or Muinans made into Ionoth – let alone why anyone would want to be made into a Cruzatch. All the Sight Sight talents – Tsur Selkie, Kaoren, Inisar, and a Nuran woman named Elemnar – say that the idea of the Cruzatch being former Muinans feels right, but wrong to them.
The current plan is for the Setari of all three worlds to try to track the Cruzatch's home space – or at least one of the spaces which forms Cruzatch as memories, like the "Old West" one which had Cruzatch pinned on frames, or the space called "Columns". And if any Cruzatch are sighted anywhere, the Setari are going to try and capture one.
Inisar started looking exhausted again, so Tsur Selkie called a halt, and I went down to Moon Piazza with Maze and Kaoren to watch the mass processing and be part of a non-obvious cordon around the area to intercept any Nurans who tried to wander off. I brought my diary, and have been able to write all this and it's still going. We're sitting on the tiered gardens below the amphitheatre again, and the Nuran festival clothing has turned Pandora into a sea of cream and blue and violet. It looks like total chaos, but is apparently progressing to schedule. They've even managed to roughly outfit another of the big apartments, so the overflow won't need to be crammed into the Setari building.
I'm not looking for my flower girl trio. Really.
Friday, August 22
Lord Vetinari
Yesterday, I'd finished writing up my diary when Nils and Keer from Second came to take Kaoren and Maze's place in sitting about watching, since they had to go to a Captain's meeting. Both Nils and Keer had basically landed on their faces when the massive fell, and were looking extremely disreputable. Nils had been unconscious for most of the day, which I'm glad I didn't know about at the time. He's got a broken cheekbone and arm, while Keer somehow managed to achieve a broken nose and leg. Since they're Second's Telekinesis and Levitation talents, they can only blame themselves for their fall, and were teasing each other in a comfortable kind of way when my flower girl came down from the tier above us, walked right between Nils and Keer, and climbed into my lap.
"Head hurt," she said, sounding very pitiable.
As much pleased as dismayed, I rescued the cloth bag of clothing and personal items she'd discarded in favour of sitting on me, and looked around to find her shadows still on the stairs from the amphitheatre (also carrying bags). They looked, as usual, cross and reluctant. Each had a faint pink mark on one temple.
"Did you three agree have interface install?" I asked, disbelieving. It had come as no surprise as the medical checks went on that the Nurans didn't want anything to do with the interface. Even the identity trace had been a big point of contention.
"Ys, Rye want learn read," my flower girl said. She wriggled about in my lap, trying to get comfortable, then noticed Ghost in Nils' lap and held out her hands demandingly. Nils, looking very amused, handed Ghost over obediently, but Ghost doesn't tolerate hasty introductions, and vanished.
"You can meet her properly another time," I told Sen, then introduced the three children to Nils and Keer, and motioned Ys and Rye to come sit closer.
Nils complimented Ys and Rye for braving the interface, and gave them sympathy in advance for the headache they were going to suffer, but as usual they completely ignored friendly overtures. Ys fixed me with the basilisk glare which is obviously her speciality, then I think elbowed Rye, since he started, then asked: "Why is there a statue of you and that other one here?" [At least, I'm fairly sure that's what he said.]
"Because I was first person come here since Muina abandoned," I said, struggling not to notice Nils' hugely entertained expression. "And Kaoren and Sonn were Tarens who found me. This place is commemoration of re-opening of Muina."
Again this was ignored, and the pair sat down cautiously on the bottom of the nearest stair, watching with close-mouthed resignation as Sen decided the beginning of her headache wasn't as interesting as Nils and Keer's injuries, and began inspecting them. Nils tolerated the bruise on his cheek being fingered, but must have asked someone else whether rogue children needed to be chased off, because the garden wall was abruptly made fuller by the addition of Kaoren, Tsur Selkie, Korinal and Inisar (obviously just up from a nap).
"Fiionarestel's daughter," Korinal said, after a moment's consideration of the self-willed imp giggling as Nils lifted her with Telekinesis so he could stand up. "Last of the strongest-Sighted House of all Nuri. This one was given to the care of Kimirenar after Fiionarestel fell to an attack some years ago." She glanced at Inisar, then nodded decisively at Tsur Selkie and Kaoren. "I agree. There is at least a double handful of children from strong lines who have survived, and who will need particular guidance whatever their chosen path. It would be dangerous not to collect and mentor them."
"Teaching methods can be discussed later," Selkie said, watching impassively as Sen retreated to attach herself to my leg. "An addition will be constructed on the Setari building to serve as quarters for children identified."
I was watching the two older kids, who had stood at Inisar and Korinal's arrival and 'assumed the position' – eyes down, arms held limply at their sides. Empty. But as Korinal spoke, the pose faltered, horrified eyes lifted and dropped, and though they managed to almost regain that blank expression, I could see them going white.
"We'll use the apartment next to ours to house these three until the school is ready," Kaoren said, and I was so grateful to him for that, for having been perfectly aware that there were two kids there who mightn't be from this strongest-Sighted family, but so clearly dreaded being separated from Sen, and hadn't expected to be taken into consideration at all. Sen showed her approval by switching from clutching my leg to clutching Kaoren's.
"This will bring many of the Zarath together in one place," Inisar said. "Protection should be arranged for any others until feeling is not so high."
They moved down the stairs, discussing whether to collect all the Zarath in a single location. Kaoren detached Sen and followed them, and I gave the older kids a reassuring smile. As soon as the Nuran Setari were gone they straightened up, still far from cheerful, but markedly different as Sen bounced up to them.
A pair of greensuits came trotting down the stair from the amphitheatre – having discovered three escapees from their group – but Nils obligingly intercepted them and then Kaoren came back.
"They've gone through all the processing," he said, scooping up Sen's cloth bag. "Shall we walk?"
Waving goodbye to Nils, I opened a channel to Kaoren as we pointed the kids in the right direction.
"You guessed that she would find me again?"
He nodded. "Her Sights are driving her to you."
"But why? Does she know something about the Cruzatch?"
He gave me one of his fractional smiles. "I doubt it. All her energy appears focused on the two older children. In you I think she must see a way to elevate their status."
"She – what?"
"Inisar explained that names such as Ys and Rye would signify that they are not members of this Renar House – of the family – but instead belong to it. A kind of property."
Slaves. Or maybe what would be called bond-servants.
"It is likely Sentarestel's care was their duty – that they are the ones who have been raising her. In return that child is absolutely determined not to be separated from them."
"And so she–" I stared at the three ahead of us and met Ys' eyes as she glanced suspiciously over her shoulder. And Sen looked back as well, thoroughly pleased with herself.
"Little Miss Machiavelli!" I said out loud. "You think you're going to wrap me around your little finger do you?"
I spoke in English, but she obviously had no problem understanding the tone. And laughed, this utterly delighted little crow, then took the hands of the other two and skipped, showing no sign of her headachy crotchets. I had to wonder if it was even true that they wanted to learn to read, or if she'd just said that because it was like shooting an arrow to the heart of all I think right and proper.
"Were you like that at her age?" I asked, staring after them.
"No. Perhaps. Sight Sight is very clear in the early years, then becomes more difficult."