Treachery's Tools (18 page)

“I think he knows now. I don't think he knew earlier, certainly not at the time Lady Asarya was trying to make Ryentar rex. I wouldn't be surprised if she let Ryel know when it became clear that Lorien and you weren't ever going to let her return to L'Excelsis.”

“That makes sense, but she had to know that would be taking a risk.”

“She would have, but her life was in L'Excelsis … and in her hopes for Ryentar,” Alyna pointed out.

“Then you think that Ryel arranged her death?”

“Dearest, it could have been Ryentar, Lorien, or Ryel. They all would have had reasons. Ryentar possibly most of all.”

“Why would Ryel…?” Alastar broke off. “Of course. If Ryel and Cransyr want the High Holders to rise against Lorien, the last thing Ryel would want is to have it known that he's related to Ryentar and the regial family. It also means that Ryel has been plotting with Ryentar, the most noble High Holder Regial, for at least several years.”

“Because Asarya died three years ago? We don't know that for certain.”

“There's a great deal we don't know. But when it croaks like a frog, jumps like a frog, and swims like a frog…”

“Enough about frogs, my very dear Maitre…” She glanced toward the bed.

Alastar was more than happy not to talk about frogs.

 

10

On Meredi morning, Alyna walked Malyna and Lystara to the administration building to introduce her niece to Akoryt, in his capacity as Maitre of Studies, so that Akoryt—and Alyna—could determine what instructionals Malyna needed and didn't, and in what areas, if any, that personal tutorials might be more appropriate.

Zaerlyn was on his way to pay his respects to High Holder Cransyr.

And, as he waited for Cyran to appear, Alastar was reading through the copy of
Veritum
that Maercyl had left on his desk. The first news item he read was about how the popularity of gaming had greatly increased in the past year and how the higher table stakes had resulted in more than hard feelings … and possibly some “unexplained disappearances.” Since the newssheet didn't blame anyone, Alastar couldn't see immediate repercussions. The second story was one that probably should have appeared much earlier, and it was about how High Holders were attempting to assert privileges revoked by the first Rex Regis to avoid paying their just debts. The brief article also noted that neither banking factor would comment on the matter, and that suggested High Holders just might be threatening those banking factors.

At that moment, Cyran walked into the study and gestured to the newssheet that Alastar was setting on the side of the desk. “I read the newssheet's views on the disappearances. It won't be the last. Heisyt said there was trouble last night, but he couldn't say anything yet.”

“Just what everyone needs.” Alastar waited for Cyran to sit down before asking, “What about our own disappearance?”

“I talked with Akoryt just briefly this morning. There's still no trace of Frydrek. After Akoryt told me yesterday, I asked Captain Heisyt to keep an eye out. They likely won't find anything. If he'd been killed for a few coins, they'd have found his body by now.”

“I can't see that anyone would gain anything personally from killing him and hiding or disposing of his body.”

“You think it's someone who hates imagers?”

“Or someone with a point to prove,” replied Alastar.
Such as Cransyr or another angry High Holder.
“Can you think of another reason?”

“Could Frydrek have imaged bad coins to someone? I know they're not supposed to image coins, but some don't listen.”

“Frydrek was never any problem that way, according to Akoryt. He did have a weakness for the fried pastries. Even if he had imaged a copper … he was good enough to image a decent one of solid copper. So that wouldn't have been a problem. Coppers are coppers.”

“Could he have fallen into the river? With the water so high and wild?”

“If he went into the river, it's far more likely he was pushed … but the unlikely is certainly possible. Right now, all we can do is warn the students and lower-level imagers to be especially careful.” After a moment, Alastar added, “There's one other thing. You might have seen or overheard—we've just gotten another imager, another High Holder's daughter. Alyna's niece, in fact.”

“I'd heard that from Belsior. He was on duty last night. If she takes after Maitre Alyna, she'll be strong.”

“Alyna and Akoryt are talking to her and testing her now. She's almost thirteen. She kept her ability hidden from her father until she told him she was ready to come to the Collegium, then imaged a perfect duplicate of his seal right in front of him.”

“Ha!” A broad grin crossed Cyran's face, then faded. “Will that pose a problem … with Lystara?”

That wasn't really what Cyran meant, Alastar knew, but Cyran was far too kind to more than allude to the fact that Alyna had almost died having Lystara and could have no more children. “Lystara and Malyna seem to get along well, and it appears that Alyna is more than happy to deal with both of them.”

“That would be good. Alyna kept to herself when she first came here, until Tiranya arrived. A friend does help, especially with the girls. They can be far crueler, in a quiet way, than the boys.”

“More often than the boys, but we've known some boys just as cruel.” Alastar couldn't forget how Bettaur had plotted against Taurek.

“Alyna has mentioned that,” said Cyran. “Is there anything else you need from me?”

“Not at the moment. I'm still worried about the problems between the High Holders and the factors and merchanters, but there's not much else we can do, not unless something happens.”

“Do you think that's going to be an immediate problem?”

“It could flare up in days or simmer for years. That likely depends on how Cransyr handles matters, and how the factors react.” Alastar rose from behind the desk, waited for Cyran to stand, and then followed him out of the study, where he turned to Maercyl. “Any messages?”

“No, sir,” replied Maercyl.

“Have you any word from Dareyn?”

“I stopped by their cottage this morning, as you requested. He says he'll be here tomorrow to help me out. Elmya says not before Vendrei.”

“I'd wager on Elmya.”

“So would I, sir.”

As Alastar returned to the study, he continued to worry, not only about poor Frydrek, but about the growing conflict between the High Holders and the factors, especially since it had been almost two days since he'd heard from Lorien. When Lorien delayed in doing anything, that was almost always a sign of either dithering or trouble, if not both.

A quint later, Alyna and Akoryt arrived in the study and seated themselves before Alastar's table desk.

“Malyna's waiting out in the anteroom,” Alyna said. “We need to talk freely.”

“That bad?”

Akoryt shook his head. “That would be far easier.”

“How good an imager is she?” Alastar asked.

“Right now,” replied Akoryt, “she's effectively a third. There are some kinds of imaging she doesn't know, but she'll have those down in weeks, if not sooner, once she's shown and instructed. With any amount of training at all, she'll be a top third in a month. In another two years, if not sooner, she'll have the ability to be a Maitre D'Aspect.”

Not that she should be at that age,
reflected Alastar.

Akoryt waited several moments before continuing. “That won't be the biggest problem.”

“Oh?”

“I've been working with Lystara, on and off, for the past few weeks. She's not only better than Malyna in technique, but she's stronger.”

“You're sure?” Alastar didn't want Akoryt exaggerating Lystara's abilities, although he'd never felt the Maitre D'Structure was the type to do that.

“I went over concealments with her yesterday. She can do more with them than some Maitres D'Aspect.”

“She figured that out just last week. On Meredi.”

Akoryt frowned. “She figured it out … herself?”

“She heard Shaelyt talking about light to the thirds,” said Alyna. “That got her to thinking.”

“I don't envy you two.” Akoryt ran his hand through his short-cut but unruly red and silver thatch, then cleared his throat. “As master of students, I really do believe Malyna should be fostered with you and Alyna … and Lystara. I realize there may be some charges of favoritism … but … I think I can defuse much of that.”

“By having them prove what they can do in instructionals?” asked Alyna.

“Would you suggest something else?” Akoryt's voice was amused.

“No.”

“There is one other problem I can foresee,” Akoryt continued. “With that much ability, they'll both need as much physical strength as we can give them … without straining them.”

“If you pick them out and do that…” began Alyna.

Akoryt shook his head. “It's something I've been thinking about. I was going to suggest some additional training for a number of the student imagers, roughly ten and older.” He looked at Alyna. “You and Lystara run every morning. I'd like to have the girls over ten join you.” His eyes went to Alastar. “You and I could do the same for the boys over ten, since the older male students are already running with us. We could add an exercise session for each group after the run. We'd have to push back breakfast and instructionals a bit. Some of the boys, especially, are … heftier than they should be.”

“So am I, probably,” admitted Alastar.

“It wouldn't hurt some of the other woman imagers, either,” added Alyna.

After another awkward pause, Akoryt spoke again. “Have you decided … about Malyna?”

“We've decided, but the final decision is up to her,” said Alyna. “You know that.”

“There's another problem. If Malyna's a third … and Lystara is only a second…”

“We'll tutor Lystara as necessary,” declared Alastar. “She needs to spend some time as a second. There are some instructionals she could take with the thirds. That happens with a few others. We'll explain that to her.”
Somehow.
He couldn't help but think that parents of non-imagers didn't have to make as many explanations, but then raising imagers necessitated a different approach in some areas. The trick was to know where, and Alastar still wasn't certain he knew all he should, although he had been far more confident about that before Lystara began to image things.

“You two seem to have thought this out.”

“‘Seem' is precisely the right word,” said Alastar ruefully. “Is there anything else?”

Akoryt shook his head.

“Then we'll offer Malyna her choice and let you know.”

“If that's all…?”

“Not quite. What about Charlina? Can she actually detect someone under concealment?”

“Yes. I even had Shaelyt and Cyran approach her. She could sense exactly where they were.”

“Now … if she'd work harder at other things…”

“She is. The fact that you told her that she had a valuable talent seems to have made an impression.”

“All the attention doesn't hurt,” added Alyna. “I hope she's working that hard in a month … and in a year.”

“Don't we all? Thank you,” said Alastar, adding with a tone of cheery sardonicism, “You can escape now. Have Malyna come in.”

Akoryt smiled and stood.

Moments later, Malyna entered the study, wearing the grays of a student imager that she had donned for the first time that morning, her eyes on Alastar.

“If you'd sit down, Malyna,” Alastar said, “we need to talk over a few things before you head off to begin your studies.”

Malyna sat on the edge of the chair, if only for an instant, before easing herself into a position that was nearly identical to that of Alyna.

Alyna looked to Alastar, then to Malyna, before speaking. “Malyna, you know that your uncle is the Maitre of the Collegium, and that he has to approve who lives where?”

“Yes, Aunt … Maitre Alyna.”

Alyna smiled gently. “In private, I'll always be your aunt. Promise me that.”

A glimmer of a smile appeared then vanished. “Yes, Aunt Alyna.”

Alastar felt awkward, but Alyna had insisted that he treat their niece as any other student imager of the same age. “You know … I hope you know … that Alyna and I want you to live with us and with Lystara. I cannot tell you how much that is our wish. But … you are now an imager. Our wishes are not sufficient … unless you also want to live with us. Many of the student imagers do not have the choice of where to live, but any who are over the age of twelve and living on Imagisle with parents or guardians have that choice of living at home or with other students. So you also have that choice.”

“I can choose?”

“You can,” affirmed Alastar.

“If I don't choose to live with you, where would I live?”

“With other girls your age in one of the girls' cottages.”

Alastar could see the tension in Alyna … and even apprehension.

Malyna smiled. “I like being an imager, even a very new one. How could I not choose Aunt Alyna … and you? I'd choose you even if I had to sleep on the floor in Lystara's room. I know you wouldn't do that … but your house feels … warm. I can't imagine it any other way. I really can't.”

“It won't be easy, sometimes,” Alyna said. “Just like your father, we have rules. Some of them are not so strict as those you grew up with, and some are much stricter. There are reasons for those, and those rules apply to every student imager. That is because imaging can be so dangerous when it is misused that it can kill you … or others.”

“Father told me that. I think I understand.” Malyna turned to Alastar. “Thank you for giving me a real choice.”