Madness in Solidar (40 page)

“I just know what I've been told, sir. The commander gives the orders.”

Commander?
That alone suggested that spicers were merely an excuse. No commander would be out on the riverbank looking for traces of spicers and smugglers, not to mention the fact that the factor was absolutely correct about such an unlikely place being used for smuggling.

The factor snorted, but motioned to his driver to move on.

“… always said there were spicers in L'Excelsis…” muttered the old man as he neared Alastar. “… wouldn't be here though.”

The cart passed within a few yards of Alastar. Once the old man was more than ten yards away, Alastar turned his mount back toward the Collegium. Once he was back, he left his mount at the stables, still saddled, and walked to the administration building. He'd hoped to have been able to do more largely undetected, but the locale and the picketing troopers made that unlikely.

All the things that Ryen, Demykalon, and Guerdyn had done were looking to make the situation a bloody mess.
That's what happens when everyone is convinced he or she is right.
He smiled wryly, knowing that he was one of those convinced he was right.
Except you are, just like everyone else believes he is.

“Any messages?” Alastar asked Dareyn as he walked into the anteroom.

“No, sir, but Maitre Cyran was looking for you.”

“Send someone to tell him I'm back.”

Dareyn motioned to the second sitting on one of the anteroom chairs. “Maitre Cyran is in the armory. Run and tell him the Maitre is back.”

The second hurried off, and Alastar walked into his study, thinking.

In a fraction of a quint, Cyran was striding into the Maitre's study. “You've been doing some scouting yourself, I'd wager.”

“I have. I'll tell you in a moment. How did the repairs go?”

“We completed another hundred yards or so.” Cyran sat down opposite Alastar. “We had to remove two more shops, but they were already empty. No one complained. All this road imaging is strengthening all of us, especially Shaelyt, Mhorys, and Narryn. Alyna's been having the thirds do some as well, mainly curbs and gutters around the drains. They're improving as well.”

“That's good. What's not so good is what Demykalon is doing…” Alastar went on to describe what Akoryt had reported earlier and what he had found out himself. “… and that means that you'll likely find the same situation to the south. If they actually fire on the Collegium, you and your group need to destroy the guns and ammunition without risking any of the imagers.”

“Concealments to get close; image red-hot iron into some of the ammunition? Something like that?”

“That will work, but you'll have to deal with sentries first. I'd try fine pepper and salt mist to the eyes first, but don't hesitate, and make sure that you're behind stone or earth when anyone images hot iron.”

“I'll have them practice.” Cyran paused. “Is Demykalon really that stupid?”

“He's not stupid at all. He's nowhere close. He'll claim he was only doing what was ordered by Ryen, or that his officers exceeded their orders. Or both. He'll likely even have documents to prove it. They'll take the blame … and Ryen will suffer. I'd be very surprised if Demykalon doesn't have even greater ambitions. He may even profess the need to replace the rex with a more effective and evenhanded ruler. After, of course, he has used the army and his new cannon to show how terrible Ryen is.”

“And he'd be the more effective and evenhanded rex?” Cyran snorted.

“He would be if we let him be.”

“How did Ryen let things get so far out of hand?”

“He really didn't,” replied Alastar. “Maitre Fhaen and his predecessors did. They failed to support the rex where necessary and oppose him when required. They did not make it clear that the Collegium could and would oppose the worst abuses of power by the High Holders. They wanted the Collegium to be liked and funded by the rex without earning that support. That's not possible and never was. Power unused is ineffective or held in contempt. Power used is feared. Power abused is hated. The best those with power can do is to obtain respect for their wise use of it.” He offered a crooked smile. “Right now, the best we may be able to gain is fearful respect.”
If that … and only if most things you've planned work.

“That's likely better than the alternative. I'd better get back and make preparations.”

“Send Alyna here, if you would.” Alastar stood.

“I can do that. I left her in charge of the group.”

Alastar barely had time to take a breath after Cyran left before Akoryt hurried into the study. Alastar motioned for him to close the door, then, as soon as it was shut, asked, “What's happened, if anything?”

Akoryt replied first with a sardonic smile. “Enough to justify your concerns about the marshal. The army has moved two companies south and west of the Chateau D'Rex. They're split into squads in various places, but they're all within half a mille of the main entrance.”

Alastar frowned. “There aren't any others posted around the chateau or any nearer?”

“No, sir.”

“Has there been any change in the troopers posted south of Imagisle?”

“We haven't seen any. They do have mounted guards posted at the edge of the West River Road, in both the positions north and south of the Collegium. We haven't seen any more wagons moving.”

Although Alastar continued discussing matters with Akoryt for nearly a quint, he didn't learn anything he had not already known or discovered.

Moments after Akoryt departed, Alyna knocked on the door and then stepped inside the study. “You wanted to see me?”

“I did. Please come in.”

Alyna shut the door and walked toward the desk. Alastar just watched. He enjoyed those moments, but tried not to show that.

“You're looking concerned, Maitre,” observed Alyna.

“In my position, wouldn't you?”

“I'm not in your position, and I'm very concerned. I took a look at the Chateau D'Rex. Ryen has guards posted everywhere.”

“What about army troopers?”

“I didn't see any.”

“Akoryt's scouts report that Demykalon has moved two companies near the Chateau D'Rex. Both of the army positions north and south of Imagisle have mounted guards to keep people from seeing what they're doing. They're claiming to be seeking smugglers and spicers.”

“They couldn't tell a sun eagle from a spicer,” said Alyna with a light laugh. “Neither could Demykalon.”

The way the phrase came off her lips suggested familiarity with the phrase, a phrase Alastar had never heard before. “Sun eagle from a spicer?”

“It's a family expression.”

Alastar wondered if that had been passed down from Vaelora and what else from Alyna's background might have come down from her. “You're as skeptical of Demykalon as I am.”

“I might be more so.”

“Why, might I ask?”

Alyna smiled wryly. “I'm good with numbers and measurements. You can't do that with character. So I tend to be skeptical based on people's actions. Anyone who gives a demonstration of what his cannon can do is not someone I'd trust as far as I could throw one of those cannon. If it's a boast, he's not to be trusted, and if it's a promise it's the kind you don't want to receive. Other than that, I couldn't tell you.”

“Intuition?”

“Intuition is nothing more than the combination of knowledge, judgment, and feelings.”

“Meaning?” asked Alastar almost, but not quite, playfully.

“Lack of knowledge and poor judgment will undermine the best feel one can have.”

“Demykalon is knowledgeable and most likely has a good feel for people.”

“Then his judgment is suspect.”

Alastar raised his eyebrows.

“He thinks Ryen is a fool and that you will not act. That shows poor judgment. Ryen may not be the best rex. He may not exercise the best judgment, but he understands that the High Holders will bow only to power. In that, he is no fool.”

“And what about you?” Not for the first time in dealing with Alyna, Alastar wished he had not offered his words.

“I'm a Maitre D'Structure through your understanding and judgment.”

“And, most important, through your own abilities. I've also only seen good judgment and much knowledge.”

Alyna dropped her glance for just an instant before looking directly into Alastar's eyes.

The directness of her study stunned him, yet he did not look away. He found himself smiling, and then saw that she was as well.

She laughed so softly and so briefly that the sound seemed to vanish more quickly than it had come. “Zaeryl hated that.”

“Because he could not meet your gaze?”

She nodded.

“You are rather intense.”

“As are you, Maitre.” She paused. “I haven't eaten since breakfast…”

“Oh … I'm sorry.” He stood. “You should go and get something. We'll be leaving the Collegium just before fourth glass. The others will be mustering at the stables at least two quints earlier.”

Alyna rose with all the grace that he so admired. “I'll be there.”

Once more, he just watched as she left the study. He couldn't help but wonder at the attraction she held for him. He couldn't define it, and it was far more than physical interest.
The intensity, the quiet directness, the intelligence, the ability, the range of understanding?
He laughed.
How many people have those traits, let alone an attractive woman?
Still, whatever might occur between them would have to wait until they dealt with Demykalon, Ryen, and Guerdyn. That might be a long time, given what had seemed a simple difference over tariffs had become.

At two quints past third glass, Alastar left his study and walked to the stables. All the members of his group were there—Alyna, Khaelis, Lhendyr, Warryk, and three thirds. All wore sabres, not that Alastar wanted the blades used, even his own, except as a last resort.

“We'll be riding out in about a quint. We'll be crossing the Bridge of Desires under a concealment. That means you'll all need to stay close. Are there are questions?”

“Sir?” ventured Khaelis, “You haven't said what we'll be doing.”

“No … I haven't. There's a possibility that you may have to do some imaging against those who intend to do harm to Imagisle.”

“How will we know—?”

“If that is necessary, there won't be any doubt, and I'll be giving direct commands.”

“How long will this take, sir?”

“I wish I could tell you. If we have to act, I'll begin with commands that will require less force, such as imaging salt into the eyes of troopers, or fine pepper.”

Even as the three thirds nodded knowingly, Lhendyr and Khaelis exchanged puzzled glances.

The Maitre D'Aspect's question reminded Alastar that the skills he'd been having Cyran teach the student seconds and thirds obviously hadn't been taught to some of the older maitres when they'd been seconds and thirds. “If someone has salt in his eyes and is inhaling pepper, he'll be far less dangerous. You might want to practice imaging a cloud of fine pepper while we wait—away from the rest of us, please. Or a fine mist of water and salt. If we come up against a mounted force, I may command you to image away the girths and cinches securing their saddles. If required, you may have to use iron darts through the eyes to kill people. I hope that's not necessary, but it could be.”

Then Khaelis asked, “Are we going to face army troopers?”

“If you face anyone, it will be troopers,” admitted Alastar.

“What did we do—”

“It isn't what we did; it's what we didn't do.” Alastar saw no point in shielding the junior maitres any longer. “We could not convince the High Council to agree to the rex's new tariffs, not without killing most of the Council. The rex has threatened to make the Collegium his enemy for not doing that.”

“For not killing people?” asked Lhendyr incredulously.

“We may end up killing people anyway,” replied Alastar, “but the Collegium cannot afford to be the one to begin the slaughter. If you have more questions about why, I'll be happy to answer them later.”

“That's because too many people haven't seen what imagers can do in generations,” added Alyna.

“And don't think that people should already know,” added Alastar. “Most people don't look beyond what they have seen, and few believe anything they hear if it isn't in accord with what they wish to believe.”

Alyna nodded. The three junior maitres exchanged glances. There were no more questions.

A quint later, two quints before fourth glass, Alastar led his small group out across the Bridge of Desires under a concealment. He did not want to risk waiting to leave Imagisle until the last moment. After crossing the bridge, carrying the same strong shields he always did, he turned north and rode several hundred yards, to a position from which he could see both the Bridge of Desires and the spur of land that held the army troopers and, most likely, their cannon. A block and a half farther north, he turned in to a wider lane flanked by a bistro and a bakery. There, he positioned the seven riders so that he could watch the bridge without being seen by someone riding down the West River Road. Only then did he drop the concealment.

A small boy whom Alastar had not noticed in the doorway of the bakery gaped as he took in the sudden appearance of the mounted imagers, then hurried back inside.

A quint passed, then another, before Lhendyr turned in the saddle and said something to Khaelis. Alastar had a good idea that the young Maitre D'Aspect was questioning why they were waiting for something that was obviously not going to happen,

“No patience,” murmured Alyna.