#warofshallows
## War of Shallows 010: Diclomatic Business
"What do the Dials want from you?" Juva asked.
"Admiration, probably."
"I asked what they want, not what you are least qualified to receive."
Radiv placed a hand over his chest. "That was unnecessarily accurate."
Juva gave him a flat look.
"Fine," he said. "They say it is a relationship visit."
"Diplomatic."
"That also."
"You know the word?"
"I know many words. I don't always let them control me."
Juva stood and wrung river water from the edge of her robe.
"Dials do not invite Pilas for friendship."
"Of course not. They invite us for Piezs, trade advantage, border reassurance, and food in dishes too small for any honest creature."
"You make it sound serious."
"It is serious. Their tiny food is a cultural wound."
"Send someone useful."
"They did. Me."
"Someone diplomatic."
"Again, me."
"Someone who will not insult the host within the first hour."
Radiv considered this. "Then they have made a poor selection."
She started walking along the bank. Radiv followed, pretending the walk had been his idea.
"You should come," Radiv said.
"I was not invited."
"You can be my guest."
"You cannot bring the future ruler of Pila Land as luggage."
"I bring alarming objects everywhere."
Juva kept walking.
"If you are going to deal with people who are not Pilas," Radiv said, "you need to see how they lie indoors."
"I know how Dials lie."
"No. You know how they lie in negotiation halls, where everyone has agreed to wear a useful face. Dial land is different. Even their music can make a lie sound beautiful."
Juva slowed.
"You said one ruler cannot face what is coming," Radiv said. "You said you see changes before they reach us. Good. Come see them before they reach us."
"That is not fair."
"No. It is diclomatic."
"That is not a word."
"It will be after I use it in front of enough ministers."
She resumed walking. "What exactly is this visit?"
"A reception in the lakeside district. Talks with trade families. A meal with Premier Nita if she wants to look generous. Several conversations in which nobody says what the conversation is for."
"They never say?"
"Not with words."
"Who invited you?"
"Nyter."
Juva searched the name. "The premier's son?"
"Yes."
"I have heard he is careless."
"He is a Dial. Careless is what they call breathing without a committee."
"Radiv."
"He is clever," Radiv said. "Too honest when he should not be. He has terrible judgement, which I respect because it often benefits me."
"That is your host?"
"That is our host, if you come."
Juva stopped where the reeds opened and the far bank became visible. Beyond it lay the roads toward other lands, roads Radiv travelled so often that Pila Land sometimes seemed to receive him back in pieces.
"You think I need to know him."
"I think you need to know everyone who laughs while moving pieces on a board."
"And does Nyter move pieces?"
Radiv smiled.
"No. He knocks them over and calls it honesty."
Juva looked toward North Eis one last time. The lives inside it were hidden again behind a single point of brightness. She wondered how many dangers appeared that way from far enough away.
"Maybe," she said.
Radiv bowed with one arm flung wide, nearly losing balance in the mud.
"A glorious beginning to diclomatic success."
"Use that word again and I will send you to Dial land in pieces."
"Then I shall save it for ministers."