L. E.Modesitt - Imager’s Intrigue

Jhulian laughed. “He has a point there, Rholyn. He isn’t proposing that we be the ones to start singling out individuals, nor that we use overt violence.”

“More to the point, Rholyn,” said Maitre Dyana, “do you have a better approach?”

That question led to more discussion, but, in the end, no one did, and Maitre Dyana closed the discussion by saying, “That’s settled. Maitre Jhulian, if you would see that the Collegium rolls are changed to reflect that Rhenn is a Maitre D’Esprit. Maitre Rholyn, while I understand that you have some concerns, I trust that they are not major enough that it will prevent you from arranging a meeting for you and me with Caartyl and Glendyl here, and preferably tomorrow or as soon as Glendyl returns from Ferravyl. Meet them and escort them past the ruins of the three senior imagers’ dwellings before you bring them here.”

“Ah…”

She smiled coolly. “I’m certain that you can manage.” Then she stood. “That is all. We have much to do.”

Seliora and Diestrya were waiting in the first floor study in the administration building that had belonged to Master Dichartyn.

“Beleart said this was the best place to find you,” said Seliora. “How did the meeting go?”

“As Maitre Dyana intended.” I took the chair behind the desk, empty of anything. There were a few books in the bookcase-three volumes on jurisprudence, the legal codex of Solidar, all fifteen volumes, and a black bound book that held Council procedures.

Diestrya investigated the empty shelves. Fortunately, the heavy volumes of the codex were beyond her reach.

“We got another letter back from your mother, by private courier. Beleart gave it to me. She wrote again how much she appreciated my sending that note by courier to let her know that we were all right. She also said that the fires in Kherseilles missed the factorage there, and that Khethila was fine. Oh, Klysia has already begun to clean up the dust and grit in the house. It should be ready by supper time.”

“They’ve repaired it already?” I almost shook my head at the stupidity of my question. Imagers who could form perfect machine parts could certainly re-image a house back into shape, especially in a few days if a score or more of them were involved.

“You’re effectively the second-highest imager in Solidar,” Seliora pointed out. “You also saved most of them.”

“No one’s said anything.”

She smiled. “All anyone has to do is look. Three dwellings are destroyed. There’s a large hole in the fourth. It’s ours. Well…they see it as yours. Nothing was destroyed after that, and the barges with the bombards exploded immediately. Also, the word is out that you’ve been made Maitre D’Esprit.”

“It is suggestive,” I admitted. “Not conclusive, but suggestive.”

“More than suggestive,” Seliora countered.

“What can you tell me about Fhernon? Anything at all.”

Seliora frowned. “Why? We’re still working on his commission. You know that.”

“Suyrien was shot and badly wounded. He may not recover. The High Holders have selected Fhernon to take his Council seat…but not to serve on the Executive Council.”

“Poor Kandryl….” Seliora shook her head.

I noticed her sympathy didn’t extend to Frydryk, but said nothing.

“Fhernon has always been polite and very formal. He knows I’m married to you, and he knows who you are. I don’t think he’s all that different from most High Holders, but he did bring his wife to look at the drawings before he approved the upholstery design for the dining chairs. She was cautious, but did recommend a small change, and he agreed. He paid the advance deposit without quibbling.”

“What’s your impression, even if you can’t explain it?”

“He’s cautious. He won’t go against the other High Holders unless he’s fully convinced. I think he could be stubborn, even against the other High Holders. I also feel he has a dislike of open violence. He’s doesn’t like to be out in front, but he’s not a blind follower.”

“That sounds like a cautious choice on the part of the High Holders.” It also suggested they were aware that they would be wise not to propose anyone too controversial.

“Things are going to get worse, aren’t they?” asked Seliora.

“They could. I’m supposed to keep that from happening.”

“Dear…that may beyond even you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I was at Mama’s earlier. She’s gotten word that there were anti-Pharsi riots in Westisle and Solis. They all started in the taudis.”

“I suppose there are rumors that the imagers and the Pharsis are the cause of all the problems?” I wasn’t quite satiric.

“There are some. Mama says some are saying that the imagers and the Pharsis are doing the High Holders’ dirty work.”

“I wonder who’s behind all that.” As if I didn’t know.

Seliora stood and scooped up Diestrya. “You have work to do, and I want to put the house back in order. As much as I can, anyway.”

I stood, walked around the desk, and hugged the two of them. “I’ll see you later.”

“At home,” Seliora declared.

“Yes, Lady.” I grinned.

She did smile back.

Seemingly within moments of Seliora’s and Diestrya’s departure, Beleart knocked on my door. “Maitre…?”

“Come in. What is it?”

He set five folders on the corner of the desk. “Maitre Dyana said you’d need these. They’re the preceptor folders. There’s one for each of the junior imagers…”

“The ones for whom I’ll be preceptor?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Thank you.”

He nodded and was gone.

I had no doubts that before long, more piles of papers and reports would appear. So I quickly looked over the files to get the names: Eamyn, Haugyl, Marteon, Ralyea, and Shault. Then I read the biographies and academic records on each. After that, the files went into the second desk drawer. I just hoped I didn’t have to deal with immediate academic, personal, or disciplinary problems for them.

What I needed to do more than anything was have a series of long and detailed conversations with Schorzat about all those matters about which I knew nothing or too little. So I walked to the third door down the hallway. I didn’t have to knock because the door was open.

Schorzat stood with a smile. “I thought it wouldn’t be very long.”

I stepped into his study and closed the door, then sat down in the single chair across from a desk piled with papers.

Schorzat re-seated himself behind the desk. “I don’t envy you, Rhenn.”

“I don’t envy me, either. What are the more urgent matters I should know about and probably don’t? I’m sure there are more than I even know about. So you might start with those that are most likely to impact us immediately if we don’t do something.”

“First, we need to go over what you…and I…have to work with.” He handed me two sheets of paper. The first was a map of Solidar, with numbers at various locations. The second was a listing of names, with a number after each. The numbers corresponded to those on the maps. “Those are our regionals and their locations. You’ll need to keep those safe.”

I studied the locations and the comparatively short list of names. “Just thirty-one for all of Solidar?”

“If we could find more with the independence and abilities…” Schorzat shrugged. “We have ten vacant regional houses right now, and they’re not in tiny towns. Places like Alkyra, Ruile, Thuyl, Juvahl. A regional has to be able to hold light shields, be intelligent and discreet, and have the ability to practice another occupation or have an economic reason for support.”