“How much more?”
“For organic? I would estimate a third higher. For organic and rare varieties of wheat? Easily twice as much as conventional.”
Twice as much? That was more than a little interesting.
“Tenzin, why are you asking—?”
“Thank you.” She hung up.
So organic wheat fetched a much better price than the human varieties they grew on big farms, and there were useless shipments of wheat in the storehouse at the monastery.
Three pallets, in fact.
Three.
She’d been quietly judging Ben for his interest in the wheat production on the islands, but she finally understood why it had bothered him. It all tied together: human life on the islands, the theft of the seal, the labyrinthine shipping patterns from the outer islands to the main island to the mainland.
It was meant to be confusing; it had been set up that way.
All to conceal a dripping embezzlement that had the added benefit of causing the Eight Immortals to lose face and possibly create a rift in their South Pacific alliance.
It was time to find Ben; she just hoped he’d managed to narrow down the human suspects. When it came to the vampire ones? She only had one name in her mind.
Chapter Twenty
The great hall was as full the next night as it had been on the night of Mahina and Sina’s reception. Officially, it was the welcome banquet for Sina and her delegation.
Unofficially, Ben and Tenzin had other plans.
The elders were on their thrones with their immortal offspring in attendance along with their staff, human and vampire.
All told, the hall was standing room only. While Ben and Tenzin were near the front of the room with Elder Zhang before them, they were still packed shoulder to shoulder with other immortals, which was both irritating and dangerous. Humans, except for a rare few near the elders, were lined up in the back.
Ben kept his voice low. “Do you think they plan these things to be recipes for violence?”
“No, but they’re oblivious to the threat of it.” She looked over to Lu Dongbin’s section. “He’s here.”
“Of course he is. If he wasn’t, it would look suspicious.”
“You have it?”
“Yes, and it’s heavy.”
Tenzin switched from Mandarin to Spanish. “I still think we should have made a replica and kept it.”
“How on earth did you plan on finding a pearl that could possibly replicate Mahina’s Eye?”
“I don’t think Sina would notice.”
“I think you’re delusional.” Ben glanced around the room. “Why are there so many humans here?”
Tenzin frowned, and it was one of those moments where Ben felt as if he were about twelve years old.
“It’s a banquet, Benjamin.”
“You mean…?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “There are many vampires here, and they will need to feed.”
Ben barely stopped the wince. “Publicly?”
“Probably not, but it’s a little bit like having a full table displayed at a reception. Knowing the humans are there to feed from should calm down any vampires who feel a bit growly.”
“I am so not telling any of the people here you compared them to a buffet.” Ben looked to the right where Sina’s delegation—including Mahina—had been positioned near Elder Han’s throne so they could look over the crowd as well as the elders. The dais was long and decorated with flowers, beautifully dyed cloth, and silk-covered furniture.
Mahina appeared to be conferring quietly with any number of people who came and went while Sina looked bored. Her lips were pushed forward in a slight pout, and her shoulders were slumped.
He leaned down. “I still can’t figure Sina out.”
“Don’t try.” Tenzin stepped forward, walked up the steps, and whispered something to Elder Zhang. Zhang gave a nod to Elder Lu Dongbin, who rose to his feet.
“Honored guests, visiting regents.” He nodded at Sina. “Thank you for joining us tonight for this banquet, welcome feast, and reception for our honored guests from the south.”
Guests in Penglai didn’t clap, but there were satisfied whispers around the room.
Elder Lu continued. “In addition to introducing our guests, we will also be introducing a new resident of Penglai tonight.”
Mahina stood and turned to look at Elder Han.
For a moment Ben forgot about the cold metal against his torso, the betrayal of the island, and the murder of the human who’d been in the way. He looked at Elder Han and Mahina, both their faces reflecting a quiet joy that felt tangible in the room.
Ben reached for Tenzin’s hand and wove her fingers between his.
Sina stood and addressed Elder Lu. “Honored Elders of Penglai, my daughter Mahina, daughter of the great Tanifa, chief of the Heilala Throne, and most beloved of all my children has asked my leave to join her mate, the most esteemed Elder Han Xiang of the southern waters, at his residence here on Penglai Island.”
Though the news wasn’t news to Ben and Tenzin, it apparently was to many in the audience because a murmur of surprise drifted across the room.
“It doesn’t sound negative,” Ben said. “But… cautious?”
“I think that’s a good summation.” Tenzin craned her neck to see Sina. “She didn’t exactly phrase it as a question.”
The corner of Ben’s mouth lifted. “I have a feeling it wasn’t a question.”
Elder Lu Dongbin addressed Sina. “Honored Sina, we welcome Mahina, mate of Elder Han and holder of the Heilala Throne to her place at Elder Han’s side. Further, we express our gratitude that her wisdom and experience will be added to the hall of the elders.”
A wooden throne carved with delicate flowers was brought out and placed at the bottom of the front dais, a seat of honor but not on par with the elders’, a signal that while Mahina would be joining her mate, she would not be a ninth elder or have the same status.
Mahina’s face revealed nothing as she turned to her sire. Ben could see a silent exchange between them before Mahina stepped down from her sire’s platform, walked across the hall, and took her seat in front of her mate.
“It’s a demotion,” Ben whispered.
“Yes.” Tenzin squeezed his hand. “But it must be one she sought. The weight of leadership is heavy, and perhaps she wanted a rest.”
He looked at her. “This is why you never want to take Zhang’s place.”
“No.” She looked up. “Careful. He might try to convince you, and if you think I’ll be willing to sit anywhere near you if you take that job, you’re fooling yourself.”
Ben smiled. “Noted.”
“Are you ready?”
Ben turned and saw Elder Zhang looking in his direction.
This was the part he’d been dreading. He’d never liked the spotlight, and this was a spotlight like no other in the immortal world.
He stepped forward, retrieving a large circular object wrapped in silk from the interior of his formal coat. He walked past Elder Zhang, Elder Cao, Elder He, and Elder Lu, and he was just halfway across the hall. He passed Elder Zhongli, Elder Li, and Elder Lan before he finally made it to Elder Han and the beautiful vampire he was privileged to call his mate.