L. E.Modesitt - Imager’s Intrigue

The factor’s assembly was still considering a replacement for Councilor Glendyl, although they had already agreed that the new factor Councilor on the Executive Council would be Sebatyon, the current timber and lumber factor from Mantes. No one wanted another Councilor associated even indirectly with shipbuilding, and that eliminated Diogayn, the most senior factoring Councilor, because he owned several ironworks.

I did get home not much after Seliora. Because Diestrya was tired and cranky because she hadn’t taken a nap, we didn’t get to talk until after I had rocked her to sleep while Seliora sang lullabies. Then I eased her into the high-sided small bed, and we tiptoed downstairs.

We just sat down on the settee in the family parlor and sighed, almost simultaneously, loudly enough that we looked at each other and laughed.

“Sometimes…” I offered.

She just nodded.

“Would you like some wine? We do have a bottle of Dhuensa in the cooler.”

“That would be good.”

So I went and got it and poured us each a goblet, and we sat next to each other and had several swallows each.

“I didn’t have a chance to tell you earlier,” Seliora finally said. “Shomyr came up with the sidearm this afternoon. He didn’t know whether you’d need the holster and belt, but they’re both there in case you need them, as well as a small box of bullets. I put them in the high strongbox in the study.”

“The one our little climber can’t reach?” Even if she could, it was locked.

Seliora nodded.

“Thank you…and Shomyr.”

“Can you explain what you can?” she asked quietly.

“It has to do with Valeun and Geuffryt. I’ve told you about how I’m convinced that Geuffryt was the one who arranged the bombardment of Imagisle…”

“I can’t believe anyone could do that just because he thought Maitre Dichartyn and Maitre Poincaryt might be sometimes supporting the High Holder Councilors-even if he wanted revenge. The Collegium only has one vote on the Council.”

“There’s more to it than that, but I don’t know everything. Valeun is protecting Geuffryt, and I have a good idea just who it was that let Vyktor know that I would be visiting him, well before anyone else could have known that it would happen. Even if I could prove that Geuffryt wrote the warning note, it’s only another piece of circumstantial evidence…” I couldn’t help but shake my head.

“So you have to come up with a way to resolve this?”

“Unfortunately, and I’ll have to meet with both Geuffryt and Valeun, and that will be anything but pleasant. Oh…they’ll both be so solicitous and polite and so willing to be cooperative with the Collegium, and if I leave it to Valeun, nothing will happen because he doesn’t want any of it to come out, and Maitre Dyana would prefer not to have anything more come out because discrediting the Naval Command will just make getting Council support for rebuilding the fleet harder, and no one will think it’s urgent, especially if Dartazn’s mission is successful, because they’ll think Solidar has plenty of time.”

“That’s not true, is it?”

“No. Frydryk has the drawings and designs and rights to produce the steam turbines for a new class of warships, but it will take a year, perhaps as many as three, to rebuild the facility, and the Council will want assurances that it can be done, and the shipworks can only build so many at once. It might take ten or fifteen years…and if the Council waits several years before acting, because they want to be sure that the Naval Command is being run correctly…” I shrugged.

“You’ll do what has to be done.” Seliora reached out and took my hand. “That’s all you can do.”

And that was what I feared.

I was back to exercising and running on Jeudi morning, and that helped my mood, at least until I got to the administration building after seeing Seliora and Diestrya off. Even so, there was no sense in putting matters off. So I went to find Schorzat. I found him in Kahlasa’s study. Both of them looked up, not quite apprehensively.

“Yes, sir?”

“I’ve been thinking…I’d like you to arrange for me to meet with Sea-Marshal Valeun and Assistant Sea-Marshal Geuffryt. I’d prefer later today but tomorrow would be acceptable. Stress that it is urgent, because we’ve received more evidence of Ferran activities that bear on the Naval Command.”

“Do you want me to mention the notes to Ruelyr and Broussard?”

“Don’t give them any details. Just say that because it involves both the fleet and intelligence. I need to meet with them both-and only them at first. Then they can decide who else, if anyone, needs to know.”

Kahlasa grinned at me. “You know, Rhenn, you’re sounding more and more like a cross between Maitre Poincaryt and Maitre Dichartyn.”

“What? Trying to ask politely for the impossible?” I let wryness creep into my voice.

“Oh, you know it’s possible,” she countered. “Just extremely difficult. It’s a good thing you’ve survived so much.”

I had a good idea what she was driving at, but I only said, “There are more than a few others, like you, who’ve been through things I wouldn’t want to have done.”

“Not many. And you’ve lost people you’ve loved because you’re an imager.”

That surprised me, because I’d never mentioned Rousel’s death to anyone but Dichartyn.

Schorzat cleared his throat. I could tell we were making him uncomfortable, with the allusions to the death of Rousel and of Claustyn, Kahlasa’s husband, so soon after they’d been married. “I’ll have to go out to the Naval Command. Otherwise, they’ll stall you.”

“I’d appreciate that, and I’ll leave you two to continue doing the almost impossible.” I smiled as warmly as I could.

Once I returned to my study, I went through the newsheets. Veritum reported that the Stakanarans had repulsed a massive Tiempran counter-attack and then slaughtered close to half the Tiempran troops. Tableta ’s lead story was yet another variation on the theme that innovative Naval tactics and superior training could only go so far, citing how much the new Ferran land-cruisers had changed the results in winter warfare in Cloisera and how the Stakanaran use of similar vehicles had played a part in the success of the annexation of Tiempran territory.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Valeun had some information suggesting that Dartazn’s imagers were having early successes against Ferrum.

It wasn’t until well into the afternoon that Schorzat knocked on my study door. “Half-past second glass tomorrow afternoon. The Sea-Marshal wasn’t pleased. I just asked his clerk-rating if the Sea-Marshal really wanted to put off the second-highest imager in all Solidar. Then I said I’d wait for an answer.”

“You leaned hard.”

“It wasn’t what you said, sir. It was how you said it. You don’t want to wait until next week. That was clear.”

“Something’s in the works, and I need to put the Sea-Marshal on notice.”

Schorzat smiled. “I’d love to be there.”

I shook my head. “They don’t talk unless they’re where they can deny what they’ve said.” After a moment, I added, “Thank you. I do appreciate it.”

“Better you than me, sir.” He stepped back and closed the door.

What with one thing and another, and a late afternoon meeting with Marteon, I didn’t get to the house until after fifth glass.

Seliora and Diestrya were sitting in the family parlor where Seliora was reading aloud to a slightly fidgety daughter.

Diestyra looked at her mother. “No more reading, please.”

So we talked and played with her until it was time for her to eat.