L. E.Modesitt - Imager’s Intrigue

“I’m aware of that.”

“I shouldn’t keep you, Maitre. You might want to have a word with the subcommander before you leave.”

“I should. Is Alsoran’s promotion effective?”

“It is. As of today.”

“Thank you. I’m sure we will talk in the future.”

“I would hope so.”

After leaving Artois, I made my way down the upper hall to the next study, rapping on the door and then stepping inside.

Subcommander Cydarth rose from behind his desk. “I hear you may be leaving us.”

“In the more direct sense,” I replied. “I’m replacing Maitre Dichartyn.”

“I was sorry to hear about his death, but you have much more hands-on experience with the Patrol. That could benefit both the Patrol and the Collegium.”

“I would hope so.” I thought about adding something about benefit being in the eye of the beholder, but decided against it. “Have you had any success in tracking down any of those who destroyed so many buildings?”

“No. I can’t say that we have. The only ones we’ve ever caught were the ones you killed and those found dead in Third District. It was a pity you couldn’t bring one in alive.”

Those found dead in Third District? I’d have to ask Alsoran about that. “I did bring in some of the druggers. They were poisoned here in headquarters. That was a pity, too.”

“They wouldn’t have said anything.”

“We won’t know that, though,” I replied.

“No, we won’t.” He laughed in that deep rumbling voice. “There are always things we won’t know.”

I smiled. “There are things we can’t prove. That doesn’t mean we don’t know them.” I smiled. “I just wanted to let you know about the change personally. Oh, Alsoran has been promoted to captain of Third District, and, of course, I’ll be advising him as he feels necessary.”

“Of course.”

“I’m sure I’ll see you from time to time.” I smiled, nodded, and stepped out of his study, down the hallway and down the steps to the main entrance.

When I left Patrol headquarters, occasional flakes of snow were drifting out of a light gray sky. Even with my heavy gray winter cloak over an equally heavy waistcoat, I was grateful that the duty coach was waiting. Lebryn waited for my instructions..

“Third District station, please.”

“Yes, Maitre.”

As the coach carried me up Fedre, I could see, just short of Sudroad, an area of rubble to the right. Once there had been a line of row houses there. Another of the explosions set by the Ferrans? Why there?

We reached Third District station without difficulty, and, again, I had Lebryn wait. I wasn’t about to risk hacks at the moment.

Huensyn was on the duty desk, and he immediately stood as I walked in. “Sir!”

I gestured for him to take his seat on the stool behind the high desk. “Is Lieutenant Alsoran around?”

“The lieutenant stepped out for a moment, Captain. He said he’d be but a quint, and that was more than a quint ago.”

“I’ll wait. You can tell me about a few things. I noticed some buildings had been blown up in First District. Did we lose any here?”

“No, sir.” Huensyn smiled. “We did find a few dead bodies, fellows in black, though.”

“They must have run into trouble.” That was good and bad. I just hoped the taudischefs had disposed of the explosives, but most likely they’d sold them, not that there was anything I could do about it. I’d have to talk to them, but that could wait, because what was done was done, and even if there had been markings on the explosives, they would have doubtless been Solidaran markings.

“The lieutenant sent a report to the Commander that you’d stopped two groups already, and that another two had apparently run into difficulties.”

“I don’t imagine he got a response.”

“No, sir.”

At that moment, the station door opened. Alsoran smiled broadly as he caught sight of me. “Captain! I’d heard that some of the high-ranking imagers’ dwellings were shelled. We didn’t know…”

“I was laid up for a day or so, but here I am.” I nodded to Huensyn. “If you’ll excuse us, we need to talk over some matters.”

“Yes, sirs.”

We walked to Alsoran’s study. I let him close the door.

“Before we discuss anything, you need to open this envelope.” I withdrew the oblong and handed it to him.

He took it, then opened it slowly, as if he feared what might be inside. He unfolded the heavy sheet and read it, then read it again. Finally, he looked up. “You’re leaving, then?”

“I don’t have a choice. I’m needed at the Collegium.”

He nodded. “I didn’t ever expect this. Is it your doing, sir?”

I smiled and shook my head. “Commander Artois wrote it before I talked to him or met with him. It was sealed and waiting in his desk when I saw him earlier today. I did tell him that I’d be happy to offer you any advice or expertise you needed.”

He was the one to shake his head. “I still don’t…”

“You’re good at what you do, and the taudischefs trust you. They did back when you were a patroller first. They also know that I support you. What other lieutenant or captain could do as good a job here as you can?”

He offered a crooked smile. “No other officer would want to follow you, not so long as you’re still with the Collegium. You’re in charge of imager security, aren’t you?”

“There’s no such position, but I have duties along those lines.”

“I thought so.”

“Does following me bother you?”

“No, sir. I’ve never thought I was anything but a good solid patroller. I think I can be a good solid captain.”

“So do I, and L’Excelsis needs solid captains.” I smiled. “I can’t stay long, but I’d like to announce the changes to those here in the station.”

Alsoran smiled. “I can’t stop you.”

As I’d suspected, as patrollers had come in for various reasons, either between rounds or to report offenses, they’d managed to remain, and a half-score were scattered not-so-casually in the area around the duty desk. When I stepped out of Alsoran’s study, most eyes flicked toward the two of us.

I walked into the middle of the open area. “I have an announcement to make.”

The murmurs died away.

“Because of changes at Imagisle, I’ve been recalled to duty there. I’ve appreciated the effort all of you, and all those who are not here, have made. But I would like to tell you that from today on, Captain Alsoran will be the one running Third District, as he already has been in my recent absence.” I turned and inclined my head to Alsoran. “Captain.”

“Thank you, Maitre Rhennthyl.” He paused, then added, “We all appreciate what you have done. You will always be welcome here in Third District.”

“Thank you…all of you.”

I wasn’t a believer in long farewells, and I’d never put any personal items in the captain’s study. So I didn’t have to take anything with me when I left a short time later.

Lebryn took South Middle out to the Midroad, then followed it around the Guild Square to where it became the Boulevard D’Imagers. Two blocks past the Guild Square, we passed another pile of gray rubble-where, weeks before, had stood an older three-story structure that had housed L’Excelsis Indemnity. That had to have been a deliberate target. I’d have to check the list Artois had promised, once it arrived, to see if there was a pattern to the buildings that had been damaged or destroyed.

With all the traveling, I didn’t get back to Imagisle until the first glass of the afternoon. Beleart caught me before I even reached my study with a request that I meet with Maitre Dyana as soon as I returned. I did hang my winter cloak in my study before I headed upstairs.