'No, I guess not. So how does it play?"
'If Yama-Shita/s in bed with the Federation then he must have known who
was delivering the winged pony."
'So it was a setup."
'It has to be. But whichever way you slice it, the Consul-General had
a chance to blow the whistle when he found out what was under the
body-paint. He didn't take it. From there on in he was on the hook.
What can Lord Min-Orota tell you? I'm sure he and Lord Yama-Shita can
produce a string of witnesses to swear they handed over a female
Mute.
And we can't check out the Plainfolk clan that Yama-Shita claims to
have done a deal with because -' 'He's our only contact."
'End of story. Toh-Shiba's the one in the hot-seat.
He's been caught with his stick out and they're aiming to use it to
gain some leverage."
'Like persuading him to order his garrison to look the other way if and
when the Min-Orota decide to move against me . . ."
Toshiro shook his head. 'There's a long way to go before we reach that
bend in the road. They haven't even begun to consider the military
options yet. Even with the help of the Min-Orota, Yama-Shita and his
friends are not strong enough to topple the Shogunate with one, swift,
bloody stroke."
'They might if Toh-Shiba's family was to change sides."
'We must make sure they don't."
'So, in other words, I must let sleeping dogs lie."
'I'm sure we can come up with some ploys that'll give them a few
restless nights. But even if the TohShiba went over, it still wouldn't
guarantee Lord Yama-Shita a clean hit. Neither side wants to get
bogged down in another long-running civil war. We've all got too much
to lose. No - what we've got on our hands right now is a battle for
hearts and minds."
'The most difficult kind of battle to win."
Toshiro bowed. 'Sire, with you at the helm..."
