Madness in Solidar (33 page)

“Not at all,” replied Tiranya almost forcefully and with a wide smile.

“Please do,” added Alyna quietly.

“Thank you.” Alastar eased into the chair.

“We'll likely get better fare now that you're here, Maitre,” declared Tiranya. “That's for certain.”

“I fear it will take more than my presence,” he replied with a laugh.

“The food has improved since you arrived at the Collegium,” said Alyna.

“Not nearly as much as it needs to, but I'm glad to hear that my presence has had a beneficial effect in some areas.” He reached for the sole pitcher, then paused as a student server hurried forward with a second one. “Let me guess. There's only pale lager in that one.”

Alyna smiled mischievously. “How did you ever calculate that?”

“It wasn't with geometry.” Alastar glanced at her beaker, noting that it was empty, then took the new pitcher and filled her beaker before his own. He couldn't help smiling as he set the pitcher down.

“I would have asked … if you hadn't shown up when you did.”

“But you're saving the requests for when they're absolutely necessary? Is that something you learned young?”

“Of course … and thank you.”

At that moment, two servers hurried up with a plate for each of the three maitres, set them down, inclined their heads respectfully, if quickly, and headed back to the kitchen, as if they did not wish to remain. One of the three was Shannyr, which might have explained both the quick service and departure.

Alastar noted that the cheesed eggs were solid but not firm and only held a touch of brown. The small loaf of dark bread was still warm. The strips of ham were crispy on the edges but not burned.
Definitely an improvement.

“Will we begin actual imaging on the avenue tomorrow?” asked Alyna.

That was something about which Alastar had very mixed feelings, but he only said, “Unless something comes up to make that infeasible.”

Tiranya swallowed quickly and looked past Alyna to Alastar. “Maitre, that sounds ominous.”

“It does, doesn't it?” replied Alastar. “I didn't mean it to sound that way.”
Even if it's likely true.
“The rex wants his avenue built. The factors want their sewers repaired … and then there are the priorities within the Collegium. I don't want to cancel too much instruction at any one time.”

Tiranya nodded, looked briefly at Alyna, then turned back to her plate and took another mouthful of eggs.

“Nicely done,” murmured Alyna in a dry voice so low that Alastar could barely hear it.

He managed not to choke on the lager he had just swallowed. At the same time, he wanted to smile. He liked Alyna's understated humor.
Because you like her … or just the humor?
He broke off a chunk of the dark bread and ate it, finding it warm, but not quite so moist or sweet as he would have preferred.

“When will you have us do another sewer repair?” asked Alyna.

“Not for at least a week. We've repaired the two most critical places.”
One critical to the Collegium and one to the wealthier factors and their wives.
“I worry about the apothecaries and others once we begin to remove buildings. What reaction have you seen when you've been surveying and measuring…” He shook his head. “I'm sorry. Surveying includes measuring.”

“That doesn't require an apology,” replied Alyna.

“It would if I'd said it,” quipped Tiranya.

“You're not the Maitre,” said Alyna, her voice false-honeyed.

How many ways can you take that?
wondered Alastar, immediately deciding to return to his previous inquiry. “Did anyone appear angry … or worse?”

“More unhappy, I think. One man muttered to another about even imagers would be sorry, but that was only once.”

“For everyone who said something, quite a few more likely thought it,” mused Alastar, before finishing his eggs and the last scrap of the crispy ham.

“They wouldn't act against imagers, would they?” asked Tiranya.

“It depends on how angry they are. Very few in generations have seen what an imager can do. The problem is that, if they do, we may create even more difficulties for ourselves.”
Unless you can set it up so that it's clearly someone else's doing and fault, and that doesn't seem possible … yet.
Alastar took a last swallow of lager from his beaker and set it on the table.

“Would you mind if I walked with you?” Alyna asked even before Alastar thought about rising and leaving.

“Not at all…”

Alyna turned to Tiranya. “I'll see you at services, then.”

“If there aren't any problems,” replied the younger maitre.

“I'm sure you can handle them.” Alastar stood, hoping at the same time that there wouldn't be, given that the Collegium already faced enough difficulties.

“Tiranya definitely can,” added Alyna.

When the two left the dining hall, Alastar could see that, while they had been eating, the clouds had thickened into a blackish gray. A gusty cold wind battered them as they walked in the direction of the administration building and, beyond that, of Alyna's cottage to the northwest. They had just gotten halfway across the green when an especially strong gust of wind whipped past them. Alastar could see rain sweeping toward them, like a wall of water so heavy that he could barely see his residence to the north.

“You'll never make to your cottage without being drowned.” He touched Alyna's arm and pointed to the administration building. “We can wait out the storm there. Downpours like this don't last that long. Not usually.”

“Just like Ryen's tantrums don't last long—usually?”

“I'd wager on the storm being more reasonable.”

“I wouldn't wager against you.”

Even so, hurrying at a pace just short of a run, the two reached the door as the deluge struck, but the projecting roof kept them from more than scattered droplets. Alastar closed the door quickly against the pressure of wind and rain, then turned to Alyna. “We can wait in my study until it subsides.”

“Or until it's clear it won't end any time soon?” Alyna smiled humorously.

“Either way, it's your decision.” He began to walk down the hall toward the Maitre's study.

“Even though you're the Maitre?”

“Especially since I'm the Maitre. There's too much temptation.” As soon as he'd said those words, Alastar wished he hadn't phrased the thought quite that way, yet all he could quickly add was, “In power, that is.”

“You almost had me worried,” returned Alyna dryly.

“Should I be glad or concerned?”

“There's no good answer to that, dear Maitre.”

Alastar laughed. “I suppose not.” He crossed the dark anteroom and opened the door to the study, which was not that much brighter, given the gloom of the storm beyond the windows. After motioning for Alyna to enter, he followed her, then took the end chair in front of the far end of the desk and turned it, before gesturing to the others and waiting for Alyna to seat herself. He couldn't help noting the grace with which she did.

Feeling slightly awkward after sitting down, Alastar finally said, “I was surprised to see you at the dining hall this morning until I saw that Tiranya was the duty maitre.”

“I don't always accompany her, but the food has gotten better lately. I was hoping you'd be there.”

“You had to know I would be there.”

Alyna laughed softly. “I had good odds. I wouldn't have come just because she had the duty … but it provided an excuse in case you did eat at the same time.” She smiled wryly. “I like hearing what you have to say.”

Alastar had the feeling that was not all. “That makes two of us. I like what I say too. Too much, I fear, and too many other maitres, unlike you, seem reluctant to say what they think.” He paused. “What did you want to know? I'm assuming that was one reason why you were there.”

“A few things. How much danger does the Collegium really face? I received a letter from Zaeryl yesterday, sent by one of his private couriers. He said that Guerdyn and Haebyn have sent out word not to submit tariffs until Ryen agrees not to increase the levels. He also said that some High Holders will take steps against anyone who supports Ryen in that.”

“A not-so-indirect reference to the Collegium, I take it?”

“And the army High Command, I would guess. Zaeryl's not thrilled with anyone, right now, not Ryen, not Guerdyn and Haebyn…”

“But he's not willing to defy the High Council, not openly?”

“He didn't say that.” She offered a wry expression. “He didn't have to. He's very cautious.” She looked at Alastar and waited.

“Danger? That's the problem. I don't know. It all depends on just how determined the High Council is, how reckless Ryen may be, and to what length Marshal Demykalon will support him. The more I talk to Guerdyn and Ryen, though, the more worried I get.”

“You've tried suggesting some sort of compromise?”

“Twice. The first time the idea was absolutely rejected. I haven't heard on the second time, but that silence suggests that Ryen, at least, will reject the idea. He insists that tariffs have to be raised to pay for what Solidar needs.”

“Do you think he's right?”

“He is. The army is half the size it was in his sire's time, not that we need that large an army, but we do need a larger and stronger navy, and there are no funds for that. Ryen says that he doesn't have enough funds for road and bridge repairs—”

“Didn't the Collegium do that once?”

Alastar shook his head. “All the stone-paved roads in Telaryn were created and paved in the old way. Quaeryt and his imagers did resurface a number of ways here, such as the East and West River Roads, and the ring road around the Chateau D'Rex, but there have never been that many powerful imagers in all of Solidar since then.”

“Why not, do you think?”

“Something about the times … and Quaeryt, I think. According to the stories, he created the entire stone river wall on the north end of Imagisle in one imaging. He also destroyed the entire palace complex of the Autarch of Antiago during the battle there.”

“You're from Westisle. Did he?”

“There's a sunken park there now. Whatever he did lowered a square of ground three quarters of a mille on a side almost ten yards.”

“Ten yards?”

“It's as though he imaged out that from under the palace and let the whole thing drop. Maybe he even took what he imaged and dropped some of it on top of the palace.”

“No one could do that.”

“No one today could do what they did then. They rebuilt the walls of the Chateau D'Rex. You can't even scratch them with a sharp blade. It will likely stand forever.”

Alyna shook her head. “You hear the stories, but … you saw that park. No one thinks about the walls or the roads that don't seem to wear out here in L'Excelsis.”

“There aren't any records, either. I've been reading the journals of the first chorister of the anomen at the Collegium. He was an undercaptain in the Telaryn army who served under Quaeryt in putting down the Tilboran Revolt…” Alastar went on to relate what little he had learned about the first Maitre. When he finished, at least as far as he had read, he added, “It's still a mystery why he didn't want anyone to know all he did. For that matter, it's clear, at least from the Collegium archives, that Vaelora didn't either … unless she told things to her daughters that have come down through your family.” Alastar looked to Alyna inquiringly.

“There's nothing that I know of. I did ask Father about her, but he said there was nothing, either. I think he was telling the truth about that.”

Which suggests that he didn't always tell the truth about everything.
Alastar just nodded, before asking, “Do you have any thoughts about that?”

“Some wives heed their husband's cautions,” Alyna said with a shrug, not quite convincingly.

“I get the impression Vaelora wasn't that type. She married an unknown imager well before … well, he was princeps of Tilbor.”

“That's not a bad match for a junior daughter. She was the youngest.”

“I think there was more there.” As the pounding of the rain began to subside, Alastar looked to the window. “It won't be long before it's over … or maybe only a drizzle.” He turned back to Alyna. “The way you say that … you…” He wasn't quite sure how to finish the sentence.

“Before it became obvious that Father didn't have to worry about a match, I was told quite often that I could not afford to be picky.”

“Why not? You're intelligent and attractive.”

Alyna stiffened almost imperceptibly, and Alastar realized she was also blushing, although the slight honeyed shade to her skin meant that the flush was not obvious to anyone not looking closely. After a pause, she said, “Thank you. You're kind.”

“Perhaps, but I'm also accurate.”

This time, Alyna was the one who looked to the window. “Thank you for spending the time with me. I'd never heard most of that. You make it more interesting the way you say it.”

“You're being kind.”

“Perhaps, as you said a moment ago, but I'm also being truthful.”

Alastar wanted to sit with her and talk more, but it was clear his observation about her had somehow distressed her. He rose. “The rain has almost stopped. I'll walk with you to your cottage and then keep going to the residence.”

Alyna also stood and smiled gently. “I'd enjoy that.”

They walked from the study without speaking and from there out of the building and into a fine misting rain that was so light it barely felt like precipitation, except that the air was even colder than before.

Belatedly, Alastar realized that what he had thought to be mist was actually tiny ice particles. “The first sign of winter.”