Loose Ends

[Jay Carpenter]

Zakar Kojima

Ellis landed on his doorstep; delivered there, shaken and drooling with fear, cowered into silence by his Asha'man baby brother. Reflecting, Zak should have recognized the signs. He pictured Jai's unnatural, childhood obsession with that swordmaster's tuteledge every day. Then before the boy was old enough to shave, he was stealing Zakar's priceless inheritance the moment was his back was turned and threatening to run out into the night like a common, bloodthirsty mercenary. Now an Accepted of the White Tower threw a heretofore undiscovered piece in this piecemeal design, and Zakar had no tangible knowledge to link her in. Other than Jaslene's comments, a surprising fortune and a history of Caemlyn nobility.

Her blunt speech dropped his face to absolute stillness. Not in anger, nor in worry, but in calculation. His eyes darted across her chilled face like he was rescanning the words dictated away into his memory. Wondering their true meaning. Lies were not beyond an Accepted's standards, no matter how close their cusp to a higher rank.

He took a breath then placed himself stiffly in the clerk's seat. Then crossed his fingers in his lap and dealt with Nythadri as he would any negotiation: straight-faced, patient, but focused on her every twinge. Waiting for a break that he might exploit.

He spoke quietly, but firmly. Unaware of any protection from eavesdropping beyond dropping the carry of his voice.
"So long as your account is open and the fee withdrawn, Accepted. No stronghold is safer than mine. No one accesses our records nor our vaults. None but us."


He leaned forward, so wrapped in consideration he nearly perched his wrists against the unfamiliar edge of the desk, but thought twice at the last moment and retracted them to his lap.
"I would be honestly surprised if the White Tower whored out one so young as yourself, so whatever intention you have, if you think sleeping with my brother is going to find you leverage over me, you are mistaken."
He disdained the sentimental fool incapable of separating the physical from his relationships. Jai being the posterboy for melodrama.

Jaslene's sputtered description was all the evidence one needed to identify his brother's telltale obsessions. All the way back to their boyhood, when the object had been Jaslene herself. When he was not yet man enough to do anything about his fawning over her. If Nythadri was his current object, as Jaslene implied, the reason why was obvious.
"Even if Jai weren't too wrapped up in his vile, carnal thirsts, he'd still be too stupid to see what you're doing. But trust me, I am not."
Intent, yes, but there was a touch of fear behind the words. A protective nature hardening his forestry eyes.

His direction was momentarily drawn elsewhere. A third man joined the clerk and his assistant, speaking something in the ear of the higher ranked gentleman and the two glanced his way. The clerk ignored them both, gestured something about the files in his hands and departed the pair. The newcomer was well dressed, but dust on his boots and the folds of a cloak over his arm spoke to recent travel. Zakar flicked his eyes back to Nythadri, "One moment, if you will pardon me."

The civility returned to his throat, but his intent to return was clear. He would uphold his statement, and be away only a moment. Whatever it was he expected to learn, it was important enough to shove one Accepted, important as she may be, to the background for the time being.

The news brokered little reaction beyond a contemplative nod and minor follow up questions. His journeyman returned with all haste from Caemlyn, he explained, doubling the pace of their travel by sleeping in his carriage until they splintered an axle and he finishing up on horseback. Zakar nodded as though such details were trivial, and that he get on with his discoveries.

He explained the current status of House Winther, a name Zakar did not seem surprised to hear, nor of the implications of an Asha'man's involvement in their downfall. What perked his attention was the description of Lynn's filed charges. What garnered the first near-expression of approval was to hear of the quietly shaken faith in the banking house, with the first accounts closed being of minor value. Until the first House of repute withdrew their fortune elsewhere only days ago. Pleased, Zakar clapped the man on the shoulder and bid him retire to take some rest.

He returned to Nythadri. Eyes on her as though he saw through her now. He did not sit. "Accepted, if you would do me the honor of humoring me. Might we continue our discussion in my office?"
He studied her expectantly, and lead the way, assistant following some steps behind. Silence stretched out between them along the walk, broken only for mundane thoughts meaningless to one outside of the business dictated to the assistant. Few broke the courage to interrupt Zakar on the return trip, although his assistant noted more petitions than he dismissed this time.

The journey was not long, and mostly oriented up flights of stairs. It was grand, however. Every ceiling was vaulted and carved plaster fingered delicate designs along their path. Plush carpets scrolled underfoot while ancient marble or gilding was kept to perfect standards. On the executive's floor, they passed a series of richly framed portraits suspended overhead, capturing in near lifesize scale the images of every Kojima owner since the institution was founded with Asad. But for minor nuances, each man was immortalized near the same stage of life when their powers were at their peak as both owner and executive. Their hair lightened as the year under the portrait regressed, as the clues of their history increased in time. Yet in every version, from the dignified Arman most recently to noble hadori adorned Asad at the end, the same sword crossed their knees and a show-worthy hound laid at their feet. The tradition would soon end, however. Although Zakar was yet unaware of the impending loss once it became his turn.

He held the door aloft, politely allowing Nythadri to pass by without burdening her fingers with the glass handle. Desk, chairs, and bookcases were orderly arranged. A vase of flowers sat in one corner, and the neat spread of paperwork was untouched in his absence. The windows beyond were flanked by velvet curtains accenting the view of the city beyond. Once Nythadri settled, he sat much as he had downstairs and offered his assistant to fetch them any drink she requested. But once the pleasantries were beyond them, he came to his point.
"It seems Matias Winther is the center of all this."
He paused should Nythadri flash a moment of recognition, however doubtful. He continued, Zakar being not a man unable to take a certain measure of risk. One did not advance far in his business without doing so. "So why would my politically blind brother care so much about Andoran nobility, Lady Vanditera?"
Her title emphasized; a grip on the abstract beginning to form.

Ellis was the man Jai used to clear the allegations Zakar cornered him into. While Lynn was the bank to be rattled in the downfall, priming them for a savior to pick up the pieces, Winther was the keystone holding the plot together. Rising to become such a man of salvation would earn a hero's welcome in Caemlyn, and give Zakar Kojima the first international banking empire: a business plan he intended to continue to expand. While ahead of schedule, plucking Matias from the structure as Jai inadverently did, everything would fortunately still collapse as intended. A move Zakar could flip into his favor, assuming the White Tower remained no closer than their structure outside the window loomed. With one of their own seated in his office.