Intrigues (20 page)

Vallant nodded as he also dismounted, and a heartbeat later there were torrents of water pouring over the seven people who had been splashed with the acid. Rion had already dissolved his wall, of course, and he watched all around as Lorand went from victim to victim, healing their burns as best he could. The guardsmen left in their escort were frantic, of course, babbling something about how the Excellences had to get themselves to safety, but not one of their six paid attention to the advice.

“I think I’m beginning to be really furious,” Naran said in what was an actual growl, a tone which startled Rion. “I should have foreseen this, but my Sight is still being interfered with. What’s
wrong
with those people?”

“Obviously we’re still being tested,” Tamrissa said in a matching growl from her place to Naran’s left, clearly understanding that the people Naran meant were those with her ability. “They don’t seem to care
how
many innocent bystanders get hurt as long as they find out whatever it is they’re still curious about. I think I’ll have a short talk with Dom Ristor Ardanis the next time I see him.”

Tamrissa sat her horse as she glared about, very clearly looking for someone to take her anger out on. Jovvi had joined Lorand and was helping to ease the wounded, and everyone else in the modestly sized crowd seemed to be unusually silent. Two of those who had thrown jars were screaming after being caught and were in the midst of being dragged toward the palace gates for the duty guardsmen to see to. The rest – and the guardsmen chasing them – had disappeared, and Rion silently wished the pursuers good luck. Fanatics were a danger to everyone, and needed to be caught and stopped as quickly as possible.

It took a few moments of intense effort, but at the end of the time the wounded were no longer screaming in pain. All seven of the victims, five men and two women, sat together on the ground with friends or family hovering nervously near, and even their color had returned almost to normal. Lorand
was
an excellent healer, and when he finally stepped back from the last of those who needed his attention an odd thing happened.

The silence that had been thick with all sorts of overtones and undertones was suddenly broken as people began to cheer. The cheering intensified as clapping and foot-stamping was added, and a heavy man with a big smile on his face stepped forward from the smaller group around the victims.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself,” the man said loudly in more educated accents than Rion would have expected from the look of him. “We’ve actually got a Blending that cares more about ordinary people than they do about themselves. You really shouldn’t have stopped to help, not with crazies out to get you, but we’re all very glad you did. For what you did to ease my wife and son – and everyone else – you have my deepest thanks.”

Quite a lot of people seemed to have heard the man, as the crowd cheered even more loudly after he finished speaking. Lorand, Jovvi, and Vallant were smiling as they remounted their horses, and when Lorand looked in his direction Rion knew what he wanted.

“Please, thanks aren’t necessary,” Lorand told everyone with one hand held up, his voice amplified through Rion’s efforts with the air. “These people were hurt because of us, so just riding off wasn’t possible.”

“It woulda been more’n possible fer th’ nobles,” someone shouted, and the comment was echoed by many voices. “Yer folks like
us
, real folks, an’ about time we got ya.”

That second comment was cheered even more loudly, so Lorand simply smiled again, waved, and then led off up the road. Rion and everyone else followed, the guardsmen finally looking a bit more relieved. The cheering people got happily out of their way, and in just a few minutes they’d left the scene of the attack behind.

“I hate it when people have backup plans,” Tamrissa grumbled from where she rode beside Vallant, just ahead of Rion and Naran. Her anger hadn’t lessened much, and Rion suspected that the cheering had added to her temper. Those people had been so sincerely grateful…

“Yes, it wasn’t logical havin’ them attack now, when we’re headin’ for their more involved trap,” Vallant agreed with a headshake. “We’ve got to stop those fools before someone gets really hurt.”

“One of those men would have lost his sight if not for us,” Lorand said from where he and Jovvi rode ahead of Tamrissa and Vallant. “That’s hurt enough as far as
I’m
concerned.”

“Which means we really do need to find a way to stop this sniping,” Jovvi turned around to say in agreement. “Let’s put our minds to it as soon as the ceremony is over.”

There wasn’t one of them who disagreed with that, so they continued on to the amphitheater in silence. Rion racked his brain trying to think of a way to apprehend that miscreant Ayl, but they reached the amphitheater and he hadn’t thought of a single idea. There were small crowds here as well, so Rion shielded them all again until they’d ridden through one of the wide doors leading to the interior of the amphitheater.

“That attack could well have been a distraction, meant to make us think we’re safe now,” Vallant said just before they all began to dismount. “I know we checked this place again this mornin’, but let’s still be alert and really careful. If they arranged one distraction, there could be more.”

Rion considered that good advice, as did the others, so they were all extremely alert when they handed over the reins of their horses and began to walk toward the people waiting for them. Lavrit Mohr stood with a group of men and women who weren’t all familiar, but ranged around and behind those people were the Blending’s link groups and associate Blendings. That made Rion feel fractionally better, but not entirely so.

“Excellences, please excuse the observation, but you’re late,” the man Mohr exclaimed as they neared, stepping out in front of his companions. “Is everything all right?”

“It wasn’t, but we took care of it,” Tamrissa answered for all of them, her tone still far from friendly. “Is there any chance at all that someone with Fire magic is in the mood to offer a challenge?”

As his sister deliberately looked around with those words, Rion could see flinching in all directions. It had been wise of her to let people know what sort of mood she was in, an effort that ought to avoid unnecessary trouble. The members of Tamrissa’s link groups – and the Fire magic users of the other Blendings – all began to study the high ceiling above them with complete attention, and the gesture wasn’t lost on those who
didn’t
have Fire magic.

“With all due respect, Excellence, we don’t seem to have anyone with suicidal urges in our group,” a man they didn’t know commented, trying to hide amusement. He was a rather large man, burly with dark hair and light eyes, and his clothing was on the shabby side despite the fact that he sounded like a scholar. “I’m Tolten Meerk, and I’ll be conducting the Seating ceremony.”

“Meerk,” Jovvi echoed as Tamrissa’s attention turned sharply to the man. “Were you by any chance related to Alsin Meerk?”

“He was my brother,” Tolten Meerk replied, a sad smile now turning his mouth. “I was told that he lost his life bravely, defending your lady of Fire, and I appreciate having that memory of him. He always seemed determined to give his life in
some
cause or other, and I’m just glad that he found a worthy one.”

“Please understand that we share your grief,” Jovvi told him gently, stepping forward to put a hand to the man’s arm. “Alsin was a close associate and a good friend, and we all miss him quite a lot. So what will we have to do during the ceremony?”

“Not all that much,” Meerk answered, immediately joining in changing the subject. “I’ll present you to the people, and ask if there are any challenges to your being Seated. Since there
won’t
be any, you’ll all sit in the chairs that have been put on the platform for symbolism. After that the people will cheer, and then we can all go home.”

“Obviously, the public Seatin’ ceremony was nothin’ but a time-wastin’ formality for the nobility,” Vallant commented with a shake of his head. “We’ll have to see about changin’ that, startin’ with the ceremony next year. If the people have to live under a Blendin’s rule, they ought to be able to feel that they had a hand in makin’ it happen.”

“What ceremony next year?” Meerk asked, glancing around with narrowed eyes. “Did someone tell you that you’ll have to go through this again in a year’s time? That doesn’t happen to be true, not when a reign is supposed to last for twenty-five years.”

“Dom Meerk, the idea is ours,” Jovvi told the man soothingly, adding one of her loveliest smiles. “The competitions have been controlled for so very long that we now want to add as much fairness as possible. We’re putting off the next competitions for a year, so that any Blending that wants to participate will have a chance to practice and grow strong. Only under those circumstances will the Seated Blending truly be representative of everyone.”

“And you can also tell everyone that classes in the use of talent will be started immediately,” Tamrissa added, her tone no longer quite so belligerent. “In a few weeks, once everyone has had a chance to attend those classes, the people who are interested will then be taught how to Blend. Even if they’re in no position to compete in the challenges, they’ll still be taught.”

“Either you’re more than very sure of yourselves, or you’re the answer to our prayers,” Meerk said, looking around at each of them, his expression odd. “I sincerely hope it’s the latter, but in any event it’s time we got on with the ceremony. Ah … may I ask why all those other people who apparently know you are here? They aren’t part of the group from the city, I’m sure, and there’s really no place for them in the ceremony.”

“Then I suggest we make a place for them,” Rion couldn’t help putting in. “Those are the people who made it possible for us to survive long enough to reach this point in time. Their suffering has earned them the best place we can provide, so we would appreciate your help in creating that place.”

“The ceremony would hardly be complete without them there,” Jovvi added as the others all nodded their agreement. “A word or two on our behalf indicating our appreciation would certainly be enough. Our full thanks will be shown them in a private, more fitting way.”

“As you wish,” Meerk agreed with the calm that seemed to be a part of him. “The representatives of the city groups will join us on the platform, but only as witnesses. Is that all right?”

“That’s fine,” Lorand agreed for all of them. “Now I think we’ve kept those people out there waiting long enough.”

“But that doesn’t go for everyone out there,” Tamrissa said under her breath as people began to move in all directions. “It would not bother me in the least if Ayl’s idiots died of old age waiting. But I do want to see the look on their faces when they find out what we did.”

Rion smiled at Tamrissa’s comment, understanding exactly what she meant. Ayl’s people had weakened the platform so that when their Blending sat in the heavy chairs which would be provided for their use, the platform would collapse. The collapse was meant to throw some if not all of them onto the hilsom powder-laced sand, and then, presumably, the men with bows in the stands would find it possible to murder them.

But that morning their Blending entity had taken possession of the watchers left by Ayl, and had used the men to reinforce the platform against collapse after destroying every speck of hilsom powder. Then the entity had made the men forget what they’d done before allowing them to return to their posts. The men would report that everything was as it had been left by those working the day before, but anyone waiting for the collapse – and a general loss of talent - would be sadly disappointed.

“No, I’m afraid that
can’t
be left for another time,” Rion heard Lorand saying to Meerk, the two men having already reached the wide doorway leading to the sands. “If you can’t find another chair like those five, take them away and bring out
any
six chairs. If you can’t find six chairs that are the same, then we’ll all stand for the Seating ceremony.”

“But I was told that you’d agreed to hold off with doing something that will upset everyone,” Meerk persisted, his tone disturbed. “It’s really too late for you to change your minds again, so – “

“You’re missing the point,” Lorand interrupted as the remaining members of the Blending reached the doorway. “We never changed our minds to begin with, so whoever told you that we had was lying. Please make whatever arrangements you have to about the chairs, and then we’ll want to know who gave you that false information.”

By then Rion was able to see that only five chairs had been placed on the platform in the middle of the sand. The sole thing that kept him from exploding in anger was the fact that Lorand had already made their position absolutely clear, and was also clearly holding down his own anger. For that reason Rion controlled himself as Meerk called over a young man who was probably his assistant. Meerk gave the young man rapid instructions, and when his assistant dashed off at a run, Meerk turned back to Lorand.

“There are additional chairs of the same sort stored on the side of the amphitheater that used to be used by the nobles,” Meerk informed them all with continuing calm. “We’ll have another chair out there in just a few minutes, and then we’ll be able to begin.”

“And the name of the person who told you that we’d changed our minds about how many of us would be Seated?” Lorand asked, the question downright curt. “I’m not asking just for form’s sake, or because I mean to go through all sorts of accusation scenes. We made our stance perfectly clear to everyone, but someone still wants to do things his or her own way. We’ll have enough trouble with problems that can’t be avoided. There’s no need at all to add in someone who wants to rule in our place without first challenging and defeating us. Now please give me that name.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know the man’s name, and I don’t even see him here any longer,” Meerk responded after turning to study the group of city leaders. “He was a thin man of average height, and he spoke with such casual authority that there seemed to be no reason to disbelieve him. He also suggested that if you changed your mind again, just a little coaxing would change it back.”