L. Modesitt - Colors of Chaos

Senglat lifted the dagger, using a square of cloth, careful to touch but the weapon’s hilt.

Cerryl stood back and watched, as did Leyladin.

Once Senglat had left with the guards and Jiolt’s body and the heavy door closed, Leyladin stood and put her arms around Cerryl for a moment. Then she stepped back.

“You don’t like doing this, do you?” asked Kinowin.

“No. It has to be done. I can’t have either Anya or the old factors running Fairhaven, though.” He held onto Leyladin’s hands for a moment before adding, “Anya will be here shortly.”

“Why? She wouldn’t come before…when any of her little plots failed then.” Leyladin’s puzzlement showed in every feature.

“How many other plots were there?” asked Kinowin.

“Enough,” Cerryl answered. “She will be here. That’s why I wanted Esaak and Redark. All she has left are threats.”

“For the moment. Then she’ll start with some more gullible young and old mages.” Leyladin’s laugh was short and bitter. “Unless you do something.”

“I promised,” Cerryl said heavily. “I did, and I keep my promises.”

Kinowin nodded. “Let us hope that kept promises do not bury you, Cerryl.”

“I know.” Leyladin touched his cheek with her fingers. “I won’t say more.”

Even before she lowered her hand, there was another knock on the Tower door. “The overmage Redark.”

“Send him in.”

Redark stepped into the Tower room, fingering his ginger beard, then glanced toward Kinowin. “I saw Jiolt’s body…”

“He tried to attack the High Wizard with a poisoned dagger,” Kinowin said. “We thought you should be informed.”

“Jiolt…he is most temperate…a good man with his family…” Redark shook his head.

“That may be, but the dagger was most real,” Cerryl replied. Why do people think that loving family precludes murder and treachery?

“That…it is hard to believe…” stammered the ginger-bearded overmage.

“The dagger was poisoned,” Kinowin added. “Overcaptain Senglat saw that as well.”

“Poisoned?” Redark paled.

Esaak entered through the door that had not closed, puffing. “I hastened, High Wizard…overmages…healer.”

“Good.” Cerryl gestured. “If you all would sit…”

“The High Wizard…” mumbled Esaak.

“The High Wizard needs to stand.” Cerryl walked to the window, looking out and trying to compose himself.

Thrap! “The mage Anya,” announced Gostar.

Cerryl nodded and turned. “Have her come in.”

Anya’s boots clicked on the stones as she marched toward the conference table, ignoring the four seated at the table and staring at Cerryl, who remained before the window. “Why did you bring Jiolt here? What happened to him?”

Cerryl shrugged. “He lied to me. Then he tried to kill me with a poisoned throwing dagger. A black iron dagger. He’s dead. What do you expect?”

“He’s dead? You murdered him!” Anya’s eyes widened. “You…murdered…him…You! You miserable excuse…No, No, NO!!!!” She lurched toward Cerryl, chaos fire flaring at her fingertips.

Cerryl raised full order-chaos shields, as did the other mages.

Abruptly Anya snuffed the flames. “Not…you…not that way. Not for you, Cerryl. High Wizard,” she corrected herself as her eyes flicked to Kinowin and then to Redark. The redhead swallowed, looking at neither Esaak nor Leyladin. “You just killed him? The most powerful factor in Fairhaven? When trade is already so bad?” Her voice moderated by the end of the last question, turning cool and hard.

“If a Patrol mage can pass judgment, then so can the High Wizard,” suggested Cerryl. “I will report on what I discovered to the Guild.”

“You will report…you will report…you will discuss…you will talk…” Anya clamped her jaw shut and glared at the High Wizard, then glanced toward Redark. “And you let him do this…this abomination?”

“Ah…I came but later.”

“How terribly convenient for you all.” Her eyes went back to Cerryl. “Just how do you expect to remain as High Wizard doing this…sort of thing?”

“I may not, Anya, but I couldn’t exactly ignore it when Rystryr sent a half-company of armsmen after me in Fairhaven now, could I? Or when a factor from Fairhaven helped him?”

“I’ll have the whole Guild throw you out! You are High Wizard because-”

“Anya,” Cerryl said quietly. “Have you noticed that Broka is absent today? Or that the armsmen Rystryr sent to support Jiolt have vanished? Or that all your supporters are with Fydel on the ships? Or that both an overmage and the overcaptain of the White Lancers were there when Jiolt lifted a poisoned dagger against the High Wizard?” He paused. “Not even their worst enemies would accuse Kinowin or Senglat of lying.” After a moment, he smiled. “Oh…I expect that the fleet has reached Southpoint already-or it will shortly.”

“I hope for your sake, dear Cerryl, that it is successful.” Anya flashed a tight false smile. “Even that may not be enough to save you.”

“You may be right, Anya, but even the weakest of High Wizards has to do what is best for Fairhaven.”

“Best for Fairhaven…?” The redhead closed her mouth and stood before the table silently for a long moment. Then, she looked straight at Cerryl. “By your leave.” As she turned and left the Tower room, Anya avoided looking anywhere even near Leyladin.

The door thudded shut and vibrated on its heavy hinges.

“Perhaps you were a bit hasty…High Wizard,” suggested Redark.

Cerryl glanced toward Esaak. “You have much experience, Esaak? What do you think?”

“I think, High Wizard, that Anya is most angry and will seek any and all to have you removed.”

“Perhaps so…” Cerryl shrugged. “Yet it remains that Anya had ties to Jiolt, and Jiolt lifted a poisoned dagger-a poisoned iron dagger-against an overmage and the High Wizard.”

“Ties, but not proof,” suggested Redark.

“Exactly,” suggested Cerryl. “Did I do other than listen? Did I threaten?”

A faint smile crossed Esaak’s face. “You were most patient. Even Sterol would have turned her to ash.”

“I do wonder how Rystryr’s lancers found their way to the healer’s dwelling in a storm. Especially now.” Cerryl shrugged. “That is all we know, and you all have been helpful. I will summon you when it appears as though our fleet will engage the Black forces. For now…I would like some quiet.”

“I would suggest that as well,” said Kinowin, standing and moving toward the doorway. “By your leave?”

Esaak and Redark rose as well.

Once the overmages and Esaak had left and the heavy door had thudded shut, Leyladin turned to Cerryl. “Why did you have them present when she accused you? What did you gain?”

“Now…none of them can tell each other that Anya has done nothing.” And since three cannot keep a secret, word will spread, and not in the way Anya would like .

“You should have locked her away,” Leyladin said. “She and Jiolt were lovers. They had to be. She was truly upset. I’ve never seen her react that way. She’ll try to kill you, as soon as she can.”

“She can’t best me directly,” Cerryl pointed out, “and there’s no one left she can lure into trying. Besides, if she does it now, all will know, and she’ll lose any support she may have left.” He shrugged slowly. “I can’t tell you why, but I know I cannot remove her at this moment, not without being distrusted by all.” You need the story to spread, first…and it will . “There is no proof that Jiolt and Anya were conspiring, nothing beyond what you and I or Kinowin could sense by truth-reading, and who would believe that?”