L. E.Modesitt - Imager’s Intrigue

The Collegium Councilor paused then nodded. “I had not thought of that. I have no more questions.”

Heisbyl coughed, and Rholyn glared at him.

The older Maitre murmured, “No questions.”

I had understood what had happened, and I thought I knew why, but I wasn’t about to raise those questions, not in an open meeting.

“Then the matter comes to a vote,” announced Jhulian. “Maitre Rhennthyl and Maitre Dyana may not vote. All others will do so. All who agree that Maitre Dyana’s actions were within the purview of a Maitre of the Collegium please raise their hands.”

Twelve hands went up instantly.

“Thank you,” Dyana said quietly. “Maitre Jhulian, if you would document the meeting and place the record in the sealed archives.”

“Yes, Maitre.”

“You may all leave.”

Those were her words, but the quick glances to me and to Jhulian indicated that we were to linger, preferably without making a show of doing so.

I dawdled, and so did Jhulian, not that it was particularly difficult, because most of the others seemed all too ready to leave, and in moments, the three of us were the only ones remaining in the conference room.

“You seem to know what happened here, Rhenn, but I’d like some confirmation,” Dyana said pleasantly.

“I’m going by recall, but as I remember the rules of the Collegium, the Maitre is always either the most senior of the highest rank, or selected among those with the highest rank, with the consent of the most senior. It would appear that the shields I erected around Dhelyn, along with the ability with the shells…” I decided not to voice more.

“Those skills are, frankly, those of a Maitre D’Image,” Jhulian said. “You may or may not have all of them, but Rholyn does not wish you to become Maitre, and he doesn’t want the issue opened.”

“I don’t want to be Maitre. It takes more than imaging ability. Nor would it be good for the Collegium or for me.” Skills of a Maitre D’Image? That was far more worrisome than encouraging.

Jhulian chuckled and looked to Dyana. “I told you so.”

“Are you renouncing any claim to be Maitre?” asked Dyana.

“No. I’m agreeing with what you indicated earlier, that I’m not ready for any higher position at the moment. I don’t even know enough about what I’m doing now.”

The two nodded.

“There’s another reason why it would not be wise for you to become Maitre,” Jhulian offered. “Do you know what that might be?”

“I have several thoughts on that. Do you wish to hear them?”

“It might not a bad idea,” suggested Maitre Dyana dryly.

“First, if people suspect that I might be the next Maitre, they’re likely to be more reasonable with Maitre Dyana. Second, trying to remove Maitre Dyana resolves nothing. Third, there’s a certain deniability. In crises, I can act, and Maitre Dyana can either ask if they’d like to deal with me or offer to step down. There may be others, but those the ones that come to mind.”

“There’s one other,” offered Jhulian. “You’ll have more freedom to act in your current position, and fewer people will be questioning and watching you.”

“More people are already watching me.”

“More than you know,” added Dyana. “But less than watch the Maitre.”

That wasn’t exactly comforting.

Over the rest of Meredi and all Jeudi, not a single master made mention of the meeting, not even with allusions or hints. It was as though it had never happened, or that no one wanted to remember that it had happened. I mentioned it to Seliora.

Her response was simple. “You’ve just proved, without question, that you can destroy any of them. If you were in their boots, would you want to dwell on it, or offend you? Or even talk about it?” Then she had added, “You’re going to need to work very hard on convincing people that you want their honest views, because too many people with power only look for others to agree. You don’t want that, because it’s no help at all.”

She was right on both points.

I still did the morning exercises and was back to almost full speed on the run, but I had to push myself there, because Dartazn was no longer there to lead the way, and I was faster than most of the others. Both days were cold, and the ground frozen, but clear, since none of the recent snow had stuck.

On Vendrei morning, after meetings with Marteon and Haugyl, I met again with Schorzat and Kahlasa, because she was receiving reports from the covert imagers in Otelyrn that Caenenan forces were being mustered and trained for something-possibly an annexation of Gyarl, since Tiempre was so involved in trying to hold the line against the still-advancing Stakanaran invasion that the Tiemprans had moved most of their troops to deal with Stakanar. The shifting of ships from the Solidaran southern fleet to deal with Ferrum was another factor. We decided that there wasn’t much we could do-or advise them to do-except watch and report.

Right after that, I received a letter from Veblynt, informing me that he would be in L’Excelsis on Mardi, and that he would plan to meet me at ninth glass at the Collegium administration building, so that I would not have to drive so far south, unless he received word to the contrary from me. Although I was more than pleased not to have to make another trip to his paper mill, I half-suspected that he might well intimate, at least in places where he thought it might do him some good, that he was being consulted by the Collegium.

I smiled. It was true, and if that did him good, so be it. That was a price one paid for seeking information. Besides, he’d helped my father when times weren’t what they could have been.

Since I received no message from either Alynkya or Frydryk, I skipped the midday meal at the dining hall and took a duty coach out north to Frydryk’s “town” estate. He was waiting for me in the study when I arrived, just before first glass.

“Greetings,” I offered as I stepped inside after leaving my cloak with the footman. “You’ve been traveling more than you’d planned, I heard.”

Frydryk offered a rueful smile. “Much more. The advocates in Laaryn made matters more complicated than they needed to be, and then there was the business at the shipworks. By the way, I need to thank you for that. Right after you mentioned all the problems with the Ferrans, I sent word to the shipworks about the possibilities. They found some indications, and they were ready.”

“I’m glad.” At least I’d helped to save part of the Solidaran shipbuilding industry. “Have you heard anything from Glendyl?”

“He sent a long and laborious letter.”

“And?”

“He wants me to hold the debt, without requiring interest, until the Council acts on the measure to fund the capital ships. He was very insistent.”

I was getting more than a little tired of Glendyl’s arrogance and machinations.

“You have the plans, don’t you, and the right to build the turbines if he defaults?”

“You had said…”

“I was wrong. I thought he was more reasonable. I’ve since talked to him twice, and each time he has been less tractable.”

Frydryk laughed. “For that admission alone, Rhenn, I’d call the notes.” He paused. “I did follow your advice and talked to Alynkya. She said I was being too forbearing.”

“I also have some indirect indications that he may owe others, so you might want to register the lien with the judiciary before you notify him. But if you do so in person, don’t do it when he’s near a weapon of any sort. He’s not the kind to be indirect, like a High Holder.”

“I appreciate the advice on that.”

“Have you heard anything about High Holder Haebyn?”