Alastar definitely understood the not-so-veiled threat … and the fact that, while imaging shields might stop rifle shots, they would hardly suffice against the direct impact of a cannon shell, especially if the imager happened to be asleep. “They looked to be quite effective.”
“I’m certain they are, from what the marshal and Subcommander Chesyrk showed me.” Ryen smiled again. “You can go now.”
There was something about what Ryen had said, but Alastar couldn’t place it. Still trying to connect the words, he leaned forward and caught the map that Ryen casually pushed in his direction, then rolled it and tied it. Although Alastar inclined his head before leaving, the rex did not turn in his direction.
Alastar had just barely reached the bottom of the grand staircase when a woman’s voice stopped him.
“Maitre Alastar, I presume?”
He stopped and turned.
The woman who stood there could have been no other than Lady Asarya. She was tall, almost as tall as Ryen, with silvered blond hair that was swept back. The teal-green tunic and trousers she wore set off her gray eyes and fair and still unblemished complexion. Her knee-high riding boots were of polished gray leather. Her face was slightly narrower and longer than ideal, but she was definitely an attractive woman, although her voice was deeper than Alastar would have expected from her appearance, not that he had any real reason for that expectation. “Yes … and you are Lady Asarya, I presume?”
“Most perceptive of you. I had heard, indirectly, that you were.”
Behind Asarya stood a single chateau guard, his eyes moving from the rex’s wife to the Maitre and back again.
“Perception can be helpful, as can any skill.”
“You didn’t ask what I might require of you,” she said with a smile.
“That would have had implications I’d rather avoid.”
“You are cautious.” She paused. “There are times when caution is more dangerous than being impetuous, you know?”
“If one is wise enough to recognize those times.” And people, especially those trustworthy enough not to take advantage of that impetuosity.
“Wisdom can be the most foolish of virtues.”
Alastar smiled. “I bow to your wisdom, Lady.”
“You could be a dangerous man, Maitre.” Her smile was warm and friendly, the kind that came from years of practicing sincerity, Alastar suspected.
“Except that there is some flaw in either my being or my knowledge, if not both. How would you suggest I remedy that?” Alastar maintained a pleasant expression, not attempting a smile of sincerity, which would have been unmatched by the feelings behind his face.
“That, Maitre Alastar, is entirely up to you.” Another smile appeared, slightly condescending, before Asarya said. “It has been a pleasure to meet you. Until our paths cross once more.” She offered a nod of dismissal.
Alastar inclined his head in return. “Good day, Lady.” He did not look back as he walked to the chateau entrance and then down the outside steps toward the waiting pair of imagers. He could certainly see why Ryen and Asarya might not have shared quarters for years—if indeed that rumor was true.
Rather than ride directly to the Collegium, then wait for less than half a glass before setting out for his meeting with Factor Elthyrd, Alastar led his escorts along the route that Alyna was surveying. Once he located Alyna and the surveying party, less than a third of a mille from the Bridge of Desires, he rode to where she had positioned her surveyor’s cross and reined up.
Alastar could see a smear of charcoal across the left side of her forehead, just above and to the side of her eyes. Somehow, it made her look both competent and … he couldn’t say what. So he smiled.
“What is it, Maitre?”
“I thought you’d like to know. The rex agreed to the change you suggested. Will you need to resurvey that part of the route?”
She shook her head. “It seemed better to survey both possibilities. So I did. Not that I don’t appreciate the word, but you didn’t need to chase us down.”
“I’m glad you already surveyed both. As for chasing you down, I have to return to the Collegium. You’ll both likely be gone when I get back from my next meeting, and there’s something else you need to know.” Alastar motioned for Cyran to join them and waited until the dark-haired Maitre D’Esprit arrived. “The disciplinary hearing this morning revealed that Desyrk had neglected certain aspects of his duties as justice and preceptor of students. I relieved him of his duties and restricted him to Imagisle until further notice. I thought you two should know, and I’d appreciate it if you, Cyran, would let the other maitres here know as well.”
“I’ll take care of that. About the students involved?”
“Bettaur and Taurek. Bettaur had been using imaging to bait and torment Taurek. So there was guilt on both sides. For that pair, two weeks’ confinement, restriction until the first day of summer, extra duties, and reevaluation for suitability if either causes more trouble. The other three, restriction until the first day of summer, extra duties, and reevaluation for suitability.”
“Commander Taurran won’t be pleased about that,” said Cyran, “not when he finds out his son was set up.”
“That’s Taurek’s father?”
Cyran nodded. “He’s stipended off, though he might…”
“Have friends still in the army? It’s probably better I didn’t know.” Alastar frowned. “None of the other maitres mentioned it.”
“Desyrk is likely the only one who’d have a way to know. Besides Maitre Fhaen. And me, of course. He has—or had—the student records, and his brother’s a subcommander … or he was last time I heard.” Cyran paused. “I can see that about Bettaur, but that’s in hindsight.”
“Desyrk knew, I think, even about the extent of Bettaur’s scheming, much as he protested. I can’t see why he didn’t say more.”
“Could be that there’s bad blood between Desyrk’s brother and Commander Taurran.”
“That shouldn’t enter into Collegium affairs.”
“Just like tariffs shouldn’t?” asked Alyna sweetly.
Both men laughed.
“In any event,” Alastar said to Cyran, “you might talk to Akoryt about it. He’s agreed to take over Desyrk’s duties, at least for now. That’s all I needed to tell you two for now. I’m off to see Factorius Elthyrd once more.”
“I think I’d definitely prefer to assist Alyna with surveying than do that.”
“So would I,” replied Alastar, “but I’ll leave you two to handle it.”
As he expected, riding the last third of a mille to the West River Road took two quints, but crossing Imagisle was faster, and he actually arrived at the factors’ council building only a quint past second glass.
Elthyrd saw him immediately, and Alastar sat in front of the factor’s desk, wondering what Elthyrd and the factors’ council had decided.
“You understand, Maitre,” began the factor, “the council is not terribly pleased that you alleviated a certain pressure on Rex Ryen.”
“I understand that, but I must tell you, in equal frankness, that His Grace Ryen, Rex Regis, does not seem to respond to pressure of any sort, except negatively.”
“Ah … that is something the council also considered, and we will accept your offer to repair the worst of the problem areas with the sewers. But not on any Solayi.”
“Is Samedi acceptable?”
Elthyrd nodded.
“We also cannot work on them all immediately, perhaps one location a week.”
“We understood that as well.” Elthyrd extended a single sheet of paper. “There are four locations that have caused difficulties. We have listed them in order of probable difficulty, but we would leave the order of repair up to the Collegium. We would expect to be informed when and where you will begin each.”
“Of course. It will not be this week. We will have to investigate them all to determine what needs to be done, and in what order makes the most sense.” Alastar too
k the paper, quickly looking over the locations. All four seemed to be fairly close to the East River Road … or not too far from it.
“We understand that.” Elthyrd cleared his throat. “Then there is the tariff matter. Not only I, but others have heard that you have talked to some of the members of the High Holders’ council.”
“I have, but my purpose was to meet them, since I knew none of them, not to influence any specific decision.” Except through my presence. “Because I am not from L’Excelsis, I thought it necessary. High Holder Guerdyn was the only one who actually brought up the tariff matter. He seems to assume that the factors would back whatever the High Council decided.”
“You mentioned that before.”
“I did. I thought it was important.”
“I also heard that you visited the army headquarters on Samedi.”
Alastar understood what Elthyrd was suggesting—that anything outside of Imagisle that Alastar did, and perhaps even what happened on Imagisle, would come to his attention. “I was requested by Rex Ryen to meet with Marshal Demykalon.” That might not have been technically true, but it was close enough. “The marshal had me watch a demonstration of a new lighter and more accurate cannon that could be used to great effect anywhere. He said that they had developed a version for warships as well.”
The factor offered a wintry smile. “That’s one of the more informative things you’ve said. I take it that even the strongest imager could not withstand a cannon shell?”
“Nor could any pirate vessel, if Rex Ryen had enough tariffs to build the ships to carry them. As for imagers … that’s not something any imager would wish to test, not any that I know,” Alastar said dryly. “It is fair to say that, if any imager could, there would certainly only be a few, at most.”
“You’re in a rather intriguing position, Maitre. It will be interesting to see how matters turn out.”
It’s all too likely to be far too interesting. “We all do what we can.”
“If there’s nothing else…”
“Not unless…”
Elthyrd shook his head and rose.
Alastar stood and inclined his head. “Thank you. I appreciate your understanding and that of the factors’ council.”
Elthyrd smiled as Alastar left the study.
As Alastar rode back toward the east bridge and Imagisle, he considered just how much friendlier Elthyrd had been … and the fact that Elthyrd had brought up the tariff matter, although he had ignored Alastar’s comment about the need for warships to carry the new cannon. Maybe the factors aren’t in such lockstep with the High Holders. But then, it could be for another reason … one not any more helpful to Alastar and the Collegium. And that’s far more likely.
16
Alastar was at the stables Meredi morning immediately after breakfast and before the group surveying the route of the new avenue departed. He stood in the light wind, more chill than he’d thought, given the clear skies and bright morning sunlight, waiting less than a quint before Alyna arrived.
She smiled pleasantly. “You look like you’re waiting for someone. Cyran or Petros?”
“You, actually, and I suspect you know that.”
“I was the other possibility, but it would have sounded self-centered to include myself.”
Again, Alastar caught a glimpse of humor in her eyes and expression. “After you’ve finished today, will you be able to sketch out the new route and where the sewers should be?”
“If you don’t want too detailed a map, I can have something by tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’d appreciate that. Please be careful. I have the feeling that the people along the route may get more and more unhappy as time passes.” Alastar paused. “I know you and Cyran can more than take care of yourselves, but it would be best if you could avoid having to do so.”
“Avoid what?” asked Cyran as he walked toward Alastar and Alyna.
“Having to use force on anyone who gets upset about the new avenue.”
“You two are better at that than I am.” Cyran grinned. “I’ll take my lead from Alyna.”
Alyna raised her eyebrows, slightly darker than her light brown hair, with an expression that suggested Cyran would scarcely take his lead from anyone.
Alastar repressed a smile. “I’ll leave you two to work it out. I’m certain you’ll manage.” He turned and began the walk back to his study.
As was often but not always the case, Dareyn was already in the anteroom.
“Good morning, Dareyn. How are you doing this morning?”
“I can tell winter’s coming.”
“It’s more than a month away.”
“That’s by the calendar, sir, not by the weather.”
“You may be right. It was colder out this morning than it looked,” Alastar admitted. “Desyrk should be in his cottage. Send a messenger informing him he’s to be here to meet with me at half past seven.”
“If he’s not there?”
“I need to know immediately.” He should be, if he has any sense. “One other thing. What do you know about Bettaur’s background?” From Bettaur’s demeanor, speech, and bearing, Alastar had his own ideas, but he wanted to see what others knew. All the Collegium records showed was that he had been admitted six years earlier.
“Nothing, sir. He came before I began to assist Maitre Fhaen.”
“Did Maitre Fhaen seem to take more of an interest in Bettaur?”
“Not that I—” Dareyn paused. “Come to think of it, he did meet with him more often than with the other thirds. Not a lot more, and it wasn’t regular-like.”
Almost as if someone had requested information about Bettaur, and that means someone important. “Is there anything else?”
“I can’t think of anything more, sir.”
“Thank you.” The first thing Alastar did after settling behind his desk was think about Bettaur. Should you talk over his background with him? He shook his head. Bettaur was safe enough from meddling in the detention cell, and talking to him right after disciplining him would undermine the very punishment he’d received, but he made a mental note to do so once Bettaur finished his two weeks in the disciplinary cell.
After that Alastar began to go over the possibilities for dealing with Ryen … and Marshal Demykalon. He didn’t like any of them, especially since it was clear that Ryen expected Alastar to change the Council’s likely decision and build an avenue through a populated area in a way that was already upsetting all too many people and that Demykalon would appreciate any excuse to target his new cannon on Imagisle. If the Collegium didn’t accomplish Ryen’s ends, the rex was rash enough to allow Demykalon to do just that—and that might even temporarily strengthen Ryen’s position with regard to the High Holders and factors, assuming he was mad enough to turn the army on the High Holders. Over time, however …
Alastar shook his head, but then caught sight of the founder’s sabre. Is it there as a reminder that at times force is the only solution?
Promptly at half past seventh glass, Desyrk walked into the study and sat down in the chair across the desk from Alastar, even before the Maitre could finish gesturing to the chairs.
“Good morning, Maitre. You requested my presence. I am here.”
“Good morning. Have you thought over what occurred between Bettaur and Taurek?”
“I have.”
“What are those thoughts?”
“I understand your concern for Taurek. I believe you are being unrealistic. Boys, and men, have always followed the strongest. By protecting students like Taurek from what occurs naturally, you will not save him, but only weaken the Collegium more. I’ve seen that over the years.”
Alastar didn’t care for the implication that Desyrk had seen more, nor for the tone of voice, but he replied, keeping his voice even, “Infants will freeze if you expose them to the elements. Smaller children will starve if they have to compete with older children for food. By the logic of your argument, we will have no Collegium left. What you are ign
oring is the fact that the physical ability of young imagers develops before their imaging skills do. What you are also ignoring is how few imagers there are. Your approach would kill off those imagers who are slower to develop in one way or another at a time when we need every imager. In addition, you fail to understand that, if Taurek had not been handicapped by partial supervision, and been left unsupervised totally, he would have been free to deal with Bettaur directly, and Bettaur would likely be the one dead or crippled.”
Desyrk’s face expressed puzzlement and doubt.
“Taurek is physically stronger. He is already a slightly more accomplished imager. He can protect himself adequately, even if he does lack certain personal skills, against any of those who tormented him. What he couldn’t protect himself against was manipulation by a group.”
“You can’t protect them from each other,” declared Desyrk.
“I don’t think you understand. Without the support of the other thirds Bettaur gathered, he would not have fared well against Taurek. You allowed that group to pick on Taurek until he felt he had no choice. What exactly did you think would happen?”
Desyrk did not respond.
“What did you think would happen?” Alastar asked once more.
“Men always have had groups. Young men are no different…”
“It depends on the group.” Alastar knew that trying to get Desyrk to understand was likely to be futile, but he felt he had to try. “The whole purpose of the group Bettaur formed was not to improve the group. It wasn’t to make them better imagers. It was simply to get Taurek into a difficult situation and to reinforce Bettaur’s dominance. If you will, Taurek was the designated enemy whom Bettaur used to unify the group and reinforce his control. And you’re absolutely correct. Young men without strong supervision do this all the time. That makes it neither correct, nor the best way in which they should develop.” Alastar looked at Desyrk, taking in the almost clenched jaw, the fingers gripping the wooden arms of the chair in which he sat, and overall stiffness. He waited to see if Desyrk would say anything.
Madness in Solidar Page 21