Madness in Solidar (27 page)

Alastar shook his head. “What I knew is that, in this sort of situation, where there's a group and someone on the outside, in eight out of ten cases, the one who gets caught doing something wrong is usually the victim, who's had enough and is lashing out because they can't take it anymore. And that's exactly what a cunning plotter like Bettaur has in mind.”

“You don't care much for him,” declared Gaellen.

“I don't care for anyone who wants to succeed by hurting others, rather than triumphing through positive efforts. Especially within the Collegium, we need each and every imager to be the best they can be, and we need to work together, not at cross-purposes.” Alastar grinned, self-deprecatingly. “End of homily. Now, we all need to get back to work.”

Alastar had no more than left the conference room than Dareyn approached.

“While you were conducting the hearing, sir, the rex sent a messenger. He would like to see you immediately. Your horse and escorts are waiting. Factor Elthyrd also sent a message. He will be available after second glass at the factors' building.”

Alastar thought about putting off that meeting, but then remembered that Elthyrd only liked handling the affairs of the council on Mardi and Vendrei. “If you'd send a messenger saying that I'll be there at half past two.”

Dareyn nodded.

“I'm going to wait a bit until Maitre Akoryt gets back.” Alastar hoped that wouldn't take too long, but Ryen would be angry in any event, simply because Alastar wasn't immediately available, and Alastar needed to tie up one loose end. “Also, will you post a notice that for the next week, Maitre Desyrk's instructional sessions will be canceled.”

“Yes, sir.”

Fortunately, Alastar had to wait only a tenth of a glass before Akoryt returned, and he used part of the time to gather and roll up the imaged copy of Ryen's map, since Alyna had the original. Although he had no idea if that might be what the rex wanted to discuss, he wanted to be prepared for that possibility. He stood as Akoryt entered the study.

“Sir, you wanted to see me?”

“I did. First, though, how is Bettaur?”

“He doesn't understand that he did anything wrong. Other than that…” Akoryt shrugged.

“I was afraid of that. We'll have to be very careful once he leaves confinement. That wasn't the reason I wanted to see you. I need you—the Collegium needs you—to take over Desyrk's duties. I realize I'm asking a great deal, but it's something I can't do.”

“I'm the most junior Maitre D'Structure…”

“You're also perceptive, and that's going to be even more necessary. Obsolym isn't temperamentally suited to the position. That leaves you and Taryn, or one of the junior maitres.”

Akoryt nodded slowly. “I'll do my best. If I'm not doing what you need, please tell me.”

“I will.” Akoryt's words confirmed to Alastar that he was the best for the position. “You'll make mistakes. We all do. The only question is whether we learn from them.” Alastar smiled. “Thank you. I do appreciate it. If you will excuse me, Rex Ryen has once more summoned me.”

Akoryt offered a faint smile. “Better you than me, sir.”

Alastar followed Akoryt from the study and then continued out of the building to where Belsior and Chervyt were mounted and waiting with his gelding. While they made good time, it was still just before noon when Alastar strode up the chateau steps and was escorted to Ryen's study on the second level.

The rex was seated behind his desk. He did not rise, but glared at Alastar. “You took your sweet time to get here.”

“I came as soon as I returned to my study and received your message. I can't stay in my study and run a Collegium.”

“Hmmmphh.”

Alastar approached the desk, but did not sit until Ryen motioned for him to do so.

“I could see your imagers yesterday and today. They were there, but nothing happened. That isn't progress.”

“There is an old adage that applies to cabinetmakers and other builders. ‘Measure once, cut twice. Measure twice, cut once.' We've been studying the route for days, and we're surveying it now.”

“You don't need to survey it. I gave you the route. Just get on with building it,” snapped Ryen.

“Sir … there are no sewers along that route. We need to know the grades and how to slope the avenue so that the sewers we will build with the avenue will drain properly.”

“Sewers? I didn't say anything about sewers…”

“No, sir. You didn't. That isn't your task. It's ours. You like things done correctly. If we image an avenue without sewers or one with sewers that won't work, the avenue will stink. An avenue named after you should not stink.”

Ryen opened his mouth and then closed it. Finally, he said, “You do have a point.”

“There is also one other matter about the route…”

“What about the route?”

“The route you outlined passes less than a full block from the Anomen D'Rex. If we angled the avenue from the ring road to the anomen square and then constructed an oval road around the square, and then angled the avenue to the Bridge of Desires, the ride or drive would only be a few moments longer, but you would have a direct route to both the anomen and the Collegium, and imagers would still be able to reach the chateau easily.”

“Let me see the map.”

Alastar stood and unrolled the map, spreading it on the desk.

Ryen studied the map, frowned, then said abruptly. “For once you're telling me how to make something better rather than how hard it is to do what I want. That makes sense.”

“You do know that the apothecaries and others are already complaining about the route and that they will not be adequately compensated—”

“Let them complain. People always complain. That's not your business. Your task is to complete the avenue.” Ryen smiled. “I understand Marshal Demykalon demonstrated his new cannon to you. Marvelous weapons. They can destroy the strongest stone structures even across hills and rivers, even in the dark, I understand, if they're properly ranged and laid.”

Alastar definitely understood the not-so-veiled threat … and the fact that, while imaging shields might stop rifle shots, they would hardly suffice against the direct impact of a cannon shell, especially if the imager happened to be asleep. “They looked to be quite effective.”

“I'm certain they are, from what the marshal and Subcommander Chesyrk showed me.” Ryen smiled again. “You can go now.”

There was something about what Ryen had said, but Alastar couldn't place it. Still trying to connect the words, he leaned forward and caught the map that Ryen casually pushed in his direction, then rolled it and tied it. Although Alastar inclined his head before leaving, the rex did not turn in his direction.

Alastar had just barely reached the bottom of the grand staircase when a woman's voice stopped him.

“Maitre Alastar, I presume?”

He stopped and turned.

The woman who stood there could have been no other than Lady Asarya. She was tall, almost as tall as Ryen, with silvered blond hair that was swept back. The teal-green tunic and trousers she wore set off her gray eyes and fair and still unblemished complexion. Her knee-high riding boots were of polished gray leather. Her face was slightly narrower and longer than ideal, but she was definitely an attractive woman, although her voice was deeper than Alastar would have expected from her appearance, not that he had any real reason for that expectation. “Yes … and you are Lady Asarya, I presume?”

“Most perceptive of you. I had heard, indirectly, that you were.”

Behind Asarya stood a single chateau guard, his eyes moving from the rex's wife to the Maitre and back again.

“Perception can be helpful, as can any skill.”

“You didn't ask what I might require of you,” she said with a smile.

“That would have had implications I'd rather avoid.”

“You are cautious.” She paused. “There are times when caution is more dangerous than being impetuous, you know?”

“If one is wise enough to recognize those times.”
And people, especially those trustworthy enough not to take advantage of that impetuosity.

“Wisdom can be the most foolish of virtues.”

Alastar smiled. “I bow to your wisdom, Lady.”

“You could be a dangerous man, Maitre.” Her smile was warm and friendly, the kind that came from years of practicing sincerity, Alastar suspected.

“Except that there is some flaw in either my being or my knowledge, if not both. How would you suggest I remedy that?” Alastar maintained a pleasant expression, not attempting a smile of sincerity, which would have been unmatched by the feelings behind his face.

“That, Maitre Alastar, is entirely up to you.” Another smile appeared, slightly condescending, before Asarya said. “It has been a pleasure to meet you. Until our paths cross once more.” She offered a nod of dismissal.

Alastar inclined his head in return. “Good day, Lady.” He did not look back as he walked to the chateau entrance and then down the outside steps toward the waiting pair of imagers. He could certainly see why Ryen and Asarya might not have shared quarters for years—if indeed that rumor was true.

Rather than ride directly to the Collegium, then wait for less than half a glass before setting out for his meeting with Factor Elthyrd, Alastar led his escorts along the route that Alyna was surveying. Once he located Alyna and the surveying party, less than a third of a mille from the Bridge of Desires, he rode to where she had positioned her surveyor's cross and reined up.

Alastar could see a smear of charcoal across the left side of her forehead, just above and to the side of her eyes. Somehow, it made her look both competent and … he couldn't say what. So he smiled.

“What is it, Maitre?”

“I thought you'd like to know. The rex agreed to the change you suggested. Will you need to resurvey that part of the route?”

She shook her head. “It seemed better to survey both possibilities. So I did. Not that I don't appreciate the word, but you didn't need to chase us down.”

“I'm glad you already surveyed both. As for chasing you down, I have to return to the Collegium. You'll both likely be gone when I get back from my next meeting, and there's something else you need to know.” Alastar motioned for Cyran to join them and waited until the dark-haired Maitre D'Esprit arrived. “The disciplinary hearing this morning revealed that Desyrk had neglected certain aspects of his duties as justice and preceptor of students. I relieved him of his duties and restricted him to Imagisle until further notice. I thought you two should know, and I'd appreciate it if you, Cyran, would let the other maitres here know as well.”

“I'll take care of that. About the students involved?”

“Bettaur and Taurek. Bettaur had been using imaging to bait and torment Taurek. So there was guilt on both sides. For that pair, two weeks' confinement, restriction until the first day of summer, extra duties, and reevaluation for suitability if either causes more trouble. The other three, restriction until the first day of summer, extra duties, and reevaluation for suitability.”

“Commander Taurran won't be pleased about that,” said Cyran, “not when he finds out his son was set up.”

“That's Taurek's father?”

Cyran nodded. “He's stipended off, though he might…”

“Have friends still in the army? It's probably better I didn't know.” Alastar frowned. “None of the other maitres mentioned it.”

“Desyrk is likely the only one who'd have a way to know. Besides Maitre Fhaen. And me, of course. He has—or had—the student records, and his brother's a subcommander … or he was last time I heard.” Cyran paused. “I can see that about Bettaur, but that's in hindsight.”

“Desyrk knew, I think, even about the extent of Bettaur's scheming, much as he protested. I can't see why he didn't say more.”

“Could be that there's bad blood between Desyrk's brother and Commander Taurran.”

“That shouldn't enter into Collegium affairs.”

“Just like tariffs shouldn't?” asked Alyna sweetly.

Both men laughed.

“In any event,” Alastar said to Cyran, “you might talk to Akoryt about it. He's agreed to take over Desyrk's duties, at least for now. That's all I needed to tell you two for now. I'm off to see Factorius Elthyrd once more.”

“I think I'd definitely prefer to assist Alyna with surveying than do that.”

“So would I,” replied Alastar, “but I'll leave you two to handle it.”

As he expected, riding the last third of a mille to the West River Road took two quints, but crossing Imagisle was faster, and he actually arrived at the factors' council building only a quint past second glass.

Elthyrd saw him immediately, and Alastar sat in front of the factor's desk, wondering what Elthyrd and the factors' council had decided.

“You understand, Maitre,” began the factor, “the council is not terribly pleased that you alleviated a certain pressure on Rex Ryen.”

“I understand that, but I must tell you, in equal frankness, that His Grace Ryen, Rex Regis, does not seem to respond to pressure of any sort, except negatively.”

“Ah … that is something the council also considered, and we will accept your offer to repair the worst of the problem areas with the sewers. But not on any Solayi.”

“Is Samedi acceptable?”

Elthyrd nodded.

“We also cannot work on them all immediately, perhaps one location a week.”

“We understood that as well.” Elthyrd extended a single sheet of paper. “There are four locations that have caused difficulties. We have listed them in order of probable difficulty, but we would leave the order of repair up to the Collegium. We would expect to be informed when and where you will begin each.”