Treachery's Tools (36 page)

“Excellent!” Alastar didn't have to feign enthusiasm.

“That is very good,” added Alyna. “Very good.”

“I wouldn't have known if you hadn't told me she could detect concealments,” Akoryt added.

“That was just good fortune,” replied Alastar.

“A little more than that, Maitre, I think. If there's nothing else…?”

“Go,” said Alastar cheerfully. “I won't keep you.”

With a nod, Akoryt turned and left the conference room.

Alyna and Alastar had just entered his study when Dareyn appeared in the study door, a pair of missives in hand.

“One is from Rex Lorien, the other from Westisle.”

“Thank you.” Alastar took the sealed envelopes, then studied the white-haired third. “How are you feeling, Dareyn?”

“Much better, sir. Not back to where I was, but better.”

“I'm glad to hear that. Very glad.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Once Dareyn returned to the anteroom, Alastar slit the envelope from Lorien, extracted the sheet of heavy paper, and began to read.

Maitre Alastar—

It has been brought to my attention that the eldest son of High Holder Paellyt was murdered by the son of a factor last night, and that the Civic Patrol appears unable to find the miscreant. It is not to anyone's advantage to have this situation unresolved.

With your long-standing ties to the factoring community, you should be able to deal with the difficulty and dispose of it before it creates even greater difficulties than those that you and the Collegium now face. We look forward to hearing that you have done such.

The signature and seal were that of Lorien.

But why didn't he summon you to see him if he's so concerned?
Alastar suspected that Lorien didn't want to give Alastar any excuse to see him personally any sooner than absolutely necessary. That also suggested that Lorien was attempting to play both sides.
Which will only get him—and the Collegium—in deeper trouble.
Alastar sighed softly and handed the sheet to Alyna. He waited while she read it, abruptly realizing something else. For Lorien to have written and dispatched the message as early as he had meant that someone had informed him either late the night before or very early in the morning.
And Lorien isn't a morning person.

She looked up from the sheet, shook her head, and handed it back. “He doesn't understand. Or he knows something we don't.”

“How about both?” asked Alastar dryly. “And the fact that someone beholden to the High Holders is keeping him informed.”

“We've been thinking that the shootings are targeted just at the Collegium. What if the shootings are to make a point to him as well?” asked Alyna. “What if he's received an indirect message to that effect?”

“That if the imagers can't stop the shootings of imagers, how could we protect him and his family?”

“Isn't that possible?”

“It's all too possible. And it makes a great deal of sense, unfortunately. But why wouldn't he…” Alastar shook his head. “Knowing Lorien … he isn't sure who he can trust.”

“He can trust you.”

Alastar shook his head. “He can only trust me to do what is right for Solidar, and he knows that. All this means is that it's even more important to discover who's behind it, but trying to find out which High Holder or High Holders are is like trying to find a copper dropped in hog slop.” Should he send out more scouts? With more than twenty High Holders having holds within fifty milles of L'Excelsis, and reportedly another eighty or so with town homes or chateaux nearby, trying to investigate all of them quickly would be impossible, since Alastar only had ten senior maitres and perhaps another twenty maitres and imagers with the skills and shields to search undetected.
Still … if you don't learn something in the next day or so …

“That metaphor tells a great deal about how you feel about High Holders, dearest.”

“Only about some,” he replied sheepishly.

She grinned, all too briefly. “I need to get to my mathematics instructional.”

“What about geometry?” Alastar realized that was a stupid question, because geometry was in the afternoon.

“That's this afternoon, remember?”

“I'm sorry. All of this…” He gestured vaguely.

“I understand.”

After Alyna left, Alastar realized he had not opened the second envelope.
What other problems does Voltyrn have?
With a sigh, he opened the second envelope, extracted the missive, and began to read.

Maitre Alastar—

While we realize that making a decision on Maitre Zhelan's successor does require thought, those of us here in Westisle would fervently hope that you can see your way to make that decision in the near future, since we did our best to forewarn you about the possible need …

Alastar shook his head.
Has it been that long?
He tried to remember. It had been late in Agostos, the last Thursday—not quite two weeks ago—and the letter in his hand had been sent almost a week ago.
Why is he pushing for a decision?

Admittedly, Voltyrn had no idea of all that was occurring involving the Collegium, but how could he not know that pushing Alastar wasn't likely to help his cause. And Alastar hadn't cared that much for Voltyrn years ago, thinking him a smarmy weasel even then.

Is he trying to upset you? Or is he that stupid?

Alastar walked to the half-open window, but the air was so still that there was no breeze whatsoever.

Finally, he decided to walk to the East Bridge, holding full shields, now that he had them back, even if holding them for long was a slight strain, just to see if he could draw fire … and perhaps learn more, or even kill another shooter. When nothing happened, he walked to the Bridge of Desires and did the same thing, making certain he was most obvious, but there wasn't a single shot. Nor did he see anyone who looked like a possible shooter, not that he would have expected that.

He returned to his study, deciding to wait, at least another day before starting expeditions to the chateaux of various High Holders. As always for him, waiting was the hardest part.
Even if it is the best strategy at times.

Just before fourth glass, Akoryt reappeared and entered Alastar's study. He closed the door before speaking. “I sent Belsior to keep watch on the Chateau D'Council. He just returned. He actually used shields and concealments to get inside the gates. He didn't enter the chateau, but he was able to overhear a conversation between a chateau footman and a messenger. The messenger wore green and gray livery, by the way…”

Green and gray? High Holder Meinyt?

“… and they were talking about how the High Holder's illness meant he wouldn't be able to attend the meeting tomorrow afternoon. They didn't mention the time.” Akoryt paused. “Belsior had to be cautious and careful. There were several guards in maroon carrying heavy rifles.”

“They were actually carrying them? Ready to shoot?”

“Yes, sir. Belsior was getting tired. He was afraid his shields or his concealment might fail, and he didn't want to reveal himself. So he left when the messenger did. He just returned. He was as pale as a frog's underbelly. I sent him to the mess.”

“Good and thank you. Did he see any other livery colors or other possible High Holders?”

“No, sir. There was one other messenger, who wore scarlet and black, but Belsior didn't hear him say anything.”

“Scarlet and black? I've never seen those colors. Have you?”

“No, sir.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“I don't think so.”

“I'll need Belsior tomorrow, from about noon on, so don't have him do anything in the morning.”

“Yes, sir.” Akoryt raised his eyebrows.

“Don't say a word.”

The younger maitre grinned. “I wouldn't think of it.”

When Akoryt left, Alastar went to find Obsolym to see if he knew what High Holder might have livery of scarlet and black, but the older maitre had already left for the day. He was just entering the study when Lystara and Alyna appeared.

“How was your day, Lystara?”

“It was good, except we didn't get to practice imaging on the water. How long will we have to stay away from the river?”

“Until we can find and stop the men that are trying to shoot at young imagers.” Alastar paused. “I have a question for you. I'm not angry, but I need to know something. Have you been practicing and using a concealment any of the times you've been at the imager factorage?”

“Is this important?”

“It could be.”

Lystara sighed. “Most times. Just a little bit, though. If I disappeared for long, Tertia Linzya would get upset and start looking. I've been really quiet.”

“I'm glad you're practicing, and you've obviously gotten very good … but I'm going to ask you not to do any more concealments in or around the factorage for the next month. There's a reason for that, but I can't tell you yet.”

“Can I still practice concealments?”

“In other places, but not during instructionals, and not to eavesdrop on maitres … or other imagers.”

“And if you do hear something you shouldn't, if you think it's important,” added Alyna, “you're to tell one of us. If it's not, you're to keep it to yourself. You know what I think about gossip.”

“Yes, Mother … Father.”

At the slightest sound, Alastar turned and said, “That goes for you, too, Malyna.”

The concealment vanished and Malyna stood just inside the study door. “I thought you couldn't see me.”

“We couldn't,” said Alastar. “That didn't mean I couldn't hear you.”

“Oh…”

“That's why you have to be quiet, especially inside, if you don't want to be discovered.”

Alyna looked to Alastar.

He nodded.

“I think it's time we left for home. It's been a long day.”

And tomorrow will be even longer.

As Alyna and Alastar walked from the administration building, she asked, “Why did you make Lystara promise not to do concealments in the factorage? Because someone else might be?”

“Charlina told Akoryt that there's been even more of it. I didn't think about Malyna, but if you'd ask the same of her…?”

“I can do that. She likes to be helpful.”

Alastar smiled.

“I hate it when you smile like that.” Then Alyna laughed.

So did Alastar.

 

20

Much, much later on Meredi evening, Alastar and Alyna sat on the porch, one of the few cool places, and one where finally there was enough of a breeze to keep the mosquitoes and moths from bothering them excessively.

“There's something on your mind…” she ventured quietly.

“Several things. I didn't have a chance to tell you. The other letter was from Voltyrn. He's urging me to choose a successor to Zhelan. Immediately. He didn't make it quite that obvious. Almost, but not quite. He must have written it even before he could have received any response to his letter about Zhelan's death.”

“He wants to be Maitre.”

“He wants it that badly, and that suggests I shouldn't choose him, but send someone from here.” Alastar shook his head. “I haven't really even had time to think about it in the past few days.”

“You haven't wanted to.”

“You're right. It will be a thankless job for anyone from here.”

“Bettaur would love it.”

“He's too junior and not even a Maitre D'Structure … but you know that. It's still disturbing.”

“What else?”

“Akoryt had Belsior scouting the Chateau D'Council today.”

“You'd mentioned that you were thinking of that.”

“He discovered there is a meeting tomorrow afternoon … and Meinyt is ill, and will not be attending, and there are guards with the new heavy rifles on duty at the chateau.”

“Then they're about to act … fairly soon … and Meinyt's not ill, not from what you said about your meeting with him.”

“Unless Cransyr found a way to poison him. I thought he was too honorable to get involved, and, apparently, I'm guessing, Cransyr felt the same way and took steps to keep him from being involved.”

“Do you know that?” Alyna's words were low, with a tone between sadness and amusement.

“Of course not.” Alastar's soft laugh was ironic. “Meinyt likely didn't realize how serious Cransyr was, and also didn't want to say anything until he was certain. That's often the problem with waiting until you're certain.”

“That's why you're going to do something tomorrow.”

“I didn't say anything about that.”

“You didn't have to. Can I do anything?”

“Only if something goes wrong, and I don't return. Then you and Cyran are to destroy the chateau with the High Council—excepting Meinyt—in it. He likely won't be there anyway. Remove permanently any High Holder who objects. Explain to Factoria Kathila and Factorius Elthyrd that the High Holders were about to depose Rex Lorien, destroy the Collegium, and take total control of Solidar.”

“I'd appreciate it if you'd take enough care so that such a bloody eventuality isn't necessary. Are your shields even up to what you plan?”

“I'm mostly planning on eavesdropping. They're certainly up to that. After that … even if nothing happens, things will get bloody.”

“If so … I'd prefer the blood were on both our hands, and that our hands remain warm. So would Lystara and Malyna.”

Alastar glanced up at Erion, the reddish moon that was nearly full. “That makes all of us, I think.”

 

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