Madness in Solidar (24 page)

Alastar smiled. “You'll do just fine.” He couldn't help but think of the diverse places from which they all had come, and the differences in upbringing even among those from similar backgrounds.

They reached the Council Chateau before third glass. Alastar had to wait in a small sitting room until almost half past the glass before the same footman who had escorted him before appeared and led him to the receiving study. This time Guerdyn wore a silver and black doublet with black hose and shoes, and a black jacket trimmed in silver. He stood by the window and turned as Alastar entered. He gestured to the chairs around the low table, then stepped forward and seated himself. “I apologize, but our time will be limited, as I informed your imagers.”

Alastar sat down quickly in the armchair across from the High Holder. “I do understand.”

“Rather than assume I know why you are here, might I inquire?” Guerdyn's tone was condescending.

“You might indeed,” replied Alastar cheerfully. “You understand that, recently arrived as I am from Westisle, there are certain procedural matters of whose practices and niceties I am unaware. In brief, not being from L'Excelsis, I have no idea how the Council operates, except in very general terms. In the case at hand, if the High Council does consider tariffs to be a problem, might I ask exactly how the Council will address the matter. Procedurally, to be precise.”

“I do appreciate your interest in the matter.” Guerdyn smiled smoothly, although his eyes remained cold. “I also understand you have met with each councilor, and each has confirmed that you did not attempt in any way to suggest in the slightest how the High Council should address the matter of tariffs. Your words, or the lack of such words, convey an understanding of the restraint necessary for a Maitre of the Collegium. On the other hand, your very presence … that might present a problem.”

“A single imager who represents but a double handful of full imagers and a few students?”

“Your modesty becomes you, but we all know that small numbers of imagers have brought great power to bear.”

“Only for the greater good of Solidar.”

“‘Greater good'—that is a phrase subject to interpretation.”

“It is indeed. I would interpret it as meaning that all would prosper, if in different degrees, as opposed to a prosperity where one group, or two, prosper at the far greater expense of others. That is the definition under which the Collegium has always operated.”

“No one's prosperity should be held hostage to another,” declared Guerdyn. “When a ‘greater good' is invoked that costs one group to benefit another, that is theft, nothing more.”

“Not necessarily. You may be tariffed. Those tariffs may seem to benefit others, because a road is improved, a bridge built, a warship constructed to stop piracy … or the marshal of the army may build new cannon. The foundry where those cannon are cast purchases iron pigs from you or another High Holder. The workers at the foundry buy goods from shopkeepers, many of whose purchases result in greater sales to you or large factors.” Alastar watched Guerdyn, especially as he mentioned cannon, but the High Holder showed no reaction to that reference.

“That may be, but the benefit is diffuse. The cost is immediate and direct.”

“Any ruler, even the High Council, must balance immediate costs against long-term benefits.” Alastar smiled. “I'm not telling you anything you don't know. So what is the procedure?”

Guerdyn straightened himself in his chair. “The Council, as you must know, will meet here at the first glass of the afternoon on Meredi. We will discuss any matters that any member may wish to bring up. How we proceed depends on what the majority determines is necessary.”

“But any single member may bring up any matter?” Alastar wanted to be clear on that.

“Certainly.”

“And should the Council find itself opposed to something … then what?”

“Then, as in the past, we will convey our views to the rex. If he is wise, he will heed them. Should that occur, I would trust that the Collegium would also consider what might be the wisest course for the rex.”

“How could the Collegium do otherwise?” asked Alastar. “At times, however, determining the wisest course is not so obvious as others might think.”

“In matters such as tariffs, the High Holders and factors do not differ greatly.”

He really believes that!
“I could not speak to that.”

“Word is that you met with the head of the factors' council.”

“I did,” replied Alastar, making his tone as wry as possible. “We discussed repairs to the sewers of L'Excelsis and the fact that it would take either many golds or much imaging to make all the repairs necessary. And the fact that imagers should not make such repairs on Solayi.”

The faintest hint of a cool smile appeared and then vanished before Guerdyn spoke. “Do you think you could convince the factors to stand against the High Council?”

“I've made no attempt to convince any factor of anything, except that the Collegium did not mean to upset the chief factor by repairing sewers on Solayi.”

The High Holder frowned. “He was upset by that?”

“Quite upset.”

Guerdyn shook his head. “Are there other questions of procedure you might have?”

“Of procedure … I think not. Not at this time, anyway, but you have been most kind.”

“Then…” Guerdyn stood. “I do not wish to seem inconsiderate, but…”

Alastar stood. “I do understand, and I appreciate your making time to see me. I will not keep you from your other obligations.” He inclined his head slightly.

Guerdyn returned the gesture, then walked toward the study door and opened it. The two left the study, and the High Holder accompanied Alastar as far as the entry hall.

“A pleasant ride back to the Collegium, Maitre.”

“Thank you.” Alastar nodded again, then turned and made his way out and down to where Akkard and Belsior waited.

As Alastar rode back south on the West River Road, he was still worrying about what he should do about the forthcoming High Council meeting, as well as how the surveying of the avenue route was proceeding, and about what Factor Elthyrd might decide.

When he finally entered the administration building and stepped into the anteroom, he found Desyrk pacing around the anteroom. Yet when Desyrk looked up, he squinted, almost as if he did not see Alastar that clearly, before hurrying toward him. Alastair especially did not like the worried expression on the face of the Maitre D'Structure.

“Maitre…?”

“Come on in.” Alastar gestured toward the open door to his study, then looked to Dareyn. “Is there any word from Cyran or Alyna?”

“No, sir.”

“Thank you.” Alastar waited for Desyrk to enter the study, then closed the door and motioned toward the chairs. “What is it?” He seated himself behind the desk.

Desyrk took the middle chair, but sat forward. “We had a problem … Taurek.”

“He's a tertius. You said he had great potential.”

“He does, but he has a temper. He's had trouble before. This time … I was talking about technique. I had just said that substituting strength for technique could get them in trouble. One of the other thirds—I didn't see who it was—made a snide remark under his breath, something about most bulls who were obstinate got gelded. Someone else snickered, and then Taurek clamped shields around Bettaur. For a moment, I didn't recognize what happened, because Bettaur wasn't moving…”

“Until he started turning red?”

“That's right. I ordered Taurek to drop the shields. He didn't even hear me. I imaged ice water over him, and then he tried the shields on me. I managed to turn them on him, but barely. He was mad, and he is strong as a bull. I had to hold them until he passed out.”

“How is Bettaur?”

“Scared, but he'll be all right.”

“Taurek?”

“I blindfolded him, and chained and cuffed him, just in case. He's in the iron-and-lead-lined detention room. He's still angry.”

Alastar took a deep breath. “I don't recall anything about Bettaur…”

“He's from a small-holder family in Tuuryl.”

At least he's not a High Holder or a factor's son.
“We'll have to hold a disciplinary hearing in the morning. It's obviously too late today, and it won't hurt Taurek to get a taste of the discipline cell. Set it for eighth glass. Maitre Tiranya will need to be on the panel. Neither Cyran nor Alyna can be. Gaellen and Obsolym … and Akoryt. I'll act as justicer, since you can't. You'll have the students who observed it all there to tell what they saw?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Were there any other witnesses?”

“No, sir.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

“Not that I can think of.”

“Then that's all we can do about that tonight. Make certain someone keeps checking on both Bettaur and Taurek. Even if they look fine…”

“Yes, sir.”

Once Desyrk had left and closed the door, Alastar took a deep breath.
What next?
He didn't even want to think about the possibilities.

 

15

The first thing Alastar did on Mardi morning, after his run, cleaning up, and breakfast, was to find Cyran in the armory.

“You have that look of a maitre looking for another master to deal with a problem.” Cyran laughed.

“I do indeed. You're going to have to take over supervising the surveying party today.”

“You mean for all of the day instead of just half?”

Alastar nodded. “How did the rest of the afternoon go?”

“There were no problems. I just listened to Alyna and kept order. I had the feeling you didn't want people working particularly late. We started back a little before third glass.”

“How far did Alyna get?”

“About a third of the way. I think there's a part that's going to be trouble, but you'll have to talk to her about it.”

“I'll do that later. I've got to deal with a disciplinary meeting.”

“Is this to do with Taurek?”

“Unfortunately. Has he been difficult before?”

“He hasn't needed a disciplinary session. It's been close. He has trouble containing his feelings, and he says exactly what he thinks. He doesn't have much tact.” Cyran frowned. “That's not right. It's more that he doesn't even know what tact is.”

“I'll keep that in mind. Now, I'll see if Alyna's at the stables.”

“I'm sure she is,” replied Cyran. “She likes doing things.”

With a nod, Alastar turned and walked swiftly from the armory. As Cyran had predicted, Alyna was indeed at the stables and had already saddled the brown gelding. She offered a pleasant smile as he neared.

“Good morning, Alyna. How did the surveying go yesterday?”

“Slowly. There's also an area where you'll have to run the sewers well away from the avenue because there's what was once a small valley…”

Alastar listened as she explained, then said, “Cyran will be in charge again today. I have to preside at a disciplinary meeting.”

“Taurek? I heard he was in confinement.”

“That's right. There's another matter. I've been meeting with the student imagers as I can…”

“I heard. Tiranya said you met with Linzya.”

“She's apparently come a long way.”

“Very long. She told Tiranya you were very stern. Stern in a nice way, though.”

“She's very enthusiastic about the Collegium and very positive about you and Tiranya.”

“More likely positive about Tiranya and accepting of me.”

“She said you explained things patiently and well.”

Alyna looked slightly surprised. “She did?”

“She did.” Alastar paused. “I'd like to ask you a question. You don't have to answer it, but I'd appreciate it if you did. Did you find it hard to adjust to the discipline of the Collegium? When you first came, I mean?”

Alyna opened her mouth, then closed it, shaking her head and laughing softly.

“I take it that the adjustment wasn't difficult.”

“Discipline at home was absolutely firm, and the punishments swift and very certain. The Collegium was certainly not any more demanding, and the punishments less so. The only things I missed were my brothers and sister … and my parents … and maybe the food. But I could image … after a while, that is, and I'd worried about that for over a year.”

The punishments less so?
Alyna's upbringing had been very strict, particularly for the child of a High Holder. “I take it your household was stricter than that of other High Holders?”

“Far more so, from what I overheard.”

“That's a loss for High Holders and a gain for the Collegium.” He paused momentarily. “I'd appreciate it if you'd continue to keep very good notes. I may have to explain some of the difficulties to Rex Ryen … and thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

By the time Alastar reached his study, Dareyn was already in the anteroom. “Good morning. Did you find out anything from Obsolym about that older imager—Aurelya?”

“I did, sir. She was the senior imager when Elestor was Maitre. She was at least a Maitre D'Structure. Obsolym said she might have been more powerful than Elestor. He also said that Elestor never disputed her, and always took her advice. She was very quiet. Looked a bit Pharsi, but she never said.”

“What else?”

Obsolym shrugged. “There's not much else. Her husband was a Maitre D'Aspect, but he died in the first mess at Estisle, the one where the local council head started burning books because he said they were the tools of the Namer. She didn't go. Might have been because her son was born about then. When the second burning occurred, she did go. There's not much about what she and the three with her did, but Estisle and Nacliano pay their tariffs and still send a token of fifty golds a year to the Collegium.”