Madness in Solidar (64 page)

They stood there for long moments.

Finally, Alyna said, “I'd better go.”

He nodded, then watched as she walked swiftly toward the ruins of the dining hall. He shivered slightly in the chill morning air, a definite sign that winter might indeed come early, although it was technically a month away.
Less than a month after tomorrow.

After he returned to his study, Alastar shook his head. He'd definitely been outmaneuvered. He'd known, but hadn't fully considered, that Taryn was the only senior maitre, besides Alyna, without a family, and that Shaelyt had no family either.

The question was exactly what Petayn had in mind. Alastar found it hard to believe that the acting marshal would attack either Lorien or especially the Collegium a second time. Yet the signs pointed to some form of attack. Would Petayn loose cannon on the Anomen D'Rex during the services? Or somehow seal it off and set fire to the interior? But that would take too long and might not be certain, especially since Petayn knew that Alastar would be there.
Unless he used some incendiary oils. Antiagon Fire!
Demykalon had said that the army had the formula and methodology … and they had Desyrk.
You don't know that's what he'll do …

Alastar went over what he recalled of the arrangements for the memorial service, thinking about who would be where. Petayn and Alastar would be at the front on the left. Alastar would have Taryn and Shaelyt, and presumably Petayn would have another officer, an aide at the very least. Lorien and Chelia, as well as Lady Asarya and Ryentar, would be on the front on the right, with a squad of Chateau guards. But if Petayn was going to be there …

He shook his head. That didn't make sense, but he couldn't dismiss the feeling that something was very wrong. The very thought of Antiagon Fire in the Anomen D'Rex … and the other aspect of that was that, since imagers were known to be the only means by which Antiagon Fire could be created … if anything happened to Lorien and his family … What was the best defense against Antiagon Fire? Imager shields, of course, or sand or earth could smother it. Water was worse than useless.

Each piece by itself made sense, but together?
What are you missing?

He considered other possibilities, but could come up with nothing. Finally, he turned to other matters. Although he continued to deal with those over the next two glasses, Alastar was still turning over ways to deal with the possibilities involved in an attack by the army when Akoryt arrived in his study just before first glass.

Once the tired-looking Maitre D'Structure had seated himself, Alastar asked, “What news do you have?”

Akoryt offered a sour smile. “The regiment did not leave army headquarters until after ninth glass this morning. They did not take the Boulevard D'Ouest to the West River Road. Instead, they are moving west toward the road bordering Poignard Hill. I'd guess they'll take that south until it reaches the West River Road, and then take the south river road—that's what it becomes—to Caluse and on from there on to Nordeau. The old road is still the best one all the way to Villerive.”

Alastar nodded, although he definitely had his doubts. “Just keep watching them. Have any of your scouts seen any sign of other army companies?”

“Not so far, sir.”

“Could you find a trustworthy but older second to ride over to the Anomen D'Rex to see what may be happening there? That's where the memorial services for Rex Ryen will be held tomorrow. I'd like to know if there are any army troopers near there.”

“I can manage that, sir.”

“Thank you.”

Once Akoryt left, Alastar decided to walk to the dining hall … or what would become the new dining hall. When he neared the construction/imaging site, he raised a concealment, since he wanted to see the progress without being seen himself. He had to say that he was pleasantly surprised. Although the plans had shown the foundation, he hadn't expected exactly what he saw. On the east side, the foundation wall was already complete, a long line of apparently seamless gray stone. Half the north foundation wall had been imaged into place, and stone footings outlined the footprint of the remainder of the building. Since the cellar level would be stone-floored, there would be considerable dry storage space, and there would be several meeting rooms on the main level, in addition to a wide hallway, the dining hall proper, and the kitchens and main-level food and dish pantries.

With a nod, Alastar turned and made his way back to the residence … and his small study.

He had only been there for a quint or so when Dareyn appeared at the door, holding up an envelope. “There's another message from the Chateau D'Rex, sir.”

“And the courier didn't stay for a reply, I take it?” Alastar rose, walked to the doorway, and took the envelope.

“No, sir.”

“He's canceling the afternoon meeting, then.”

“Again, sir?”

“We'll see.” Alastar used his knife to slit open the envelope, then extracted the letter, half-turning and tossing the envelope onto the desk as he began to read.

Maitre Alastar—

With all the preparations for the memorial service and a number of unforeseen events, I have not been able to complete the work on the tariff proposal.

I look forward to seeing you at the memorial service, and at a more formal meeting at the Chateau on Lundi at fourth glass.

The signature and seal were that of Lorien.

Alastar wondered just how many more times Lorien intended to put off meeting. Or was the latest missive just a ruse to keep Alastar from thinking about what else Lorien, or Lorien and Petayn, had in mind?

Should you ride to the chateau and bully your way in?

He shook his head. That would solve nothing. If Lorien was going to make a mess of matters, after all that he'd seen, nothing short of force would change his mind, and using more force against the rex with no obvious reason would endanger the Collegium with no real benefit.
Except that Lorien's willfulness—or indecisiveness—or whatever else motivates him is likely to endanger us all anyway.

Two quints later, Dareyn brought in another envelope, this one sealed in tan wax with the seal that Alastar now recognized as that of High Holder Vaun. He suspected he knew the general contents of it as well, but opened it and began to read.

Maitre Alastar—

When you met with the High Council this past Mardi, you suggested that a new tariff proclamation would be forthcoming from Rex Lorien in the near future. The implication was that it would be a matter of days. Several days have passed, and we have heard nothing from either you or the rex.

Might we inquire as to when we will see such a proposal, that is, if the rex has informed you of what he plans and when he will make the announcement?

The signature and seal were those of Vaun, as the acting head of the High Council.

An inquiry so soon after his meeting with the four High Holders suggested that several if not all of them were more than a little concerned.

Should you answer? How?
Alastar shrugged, then sat down and began to compose a reply. Almost a glass later, and after several discarded versions, he read over what he had written a last time before he signed and sealed it.

Councilor Vaun—

I last met with Rex Lorien on the matter of the tariff proclamation and its contents on Meredi afternoon. At that time, he expressed some dissatisfaction with the draft provided by Minister Salucar and with my suggestions for revising that draft. He did not express reservations over the tariff level previously discussed, but about the wording of the document. He subsequently canceled further meetings this week, saying that he did not wish to deal with the matter until after the memorial services for his sire on Samedi. He has set our next meeting for Lundi afternoon.

Under the circumstances, I trust you can understand why I have been reluctant to press him until after the services have been conducted, but I am confident that matters will be resolved shortly.

How they'll be resolved is another matter.

After signing and sealing the reply, he gave it to Dareyn to arrange for an imager courier to take it to the Chateau D'Council.

Then, at a little after third glass, with no word from Akoryt, not that Alastar expected any until much later, he decided to go and see how Alyna and her team of imagers had done in creating the foundations for the new dining hall, since from what he could make out from the front porch, they appeared to have finished for the day.

He was a good hundred yards away when he saw Alyna walking toward him. They met near the south end of the green on the edge of which the imager cottages were situated, not all that far from the one she shared with Tiranya.

“You didn't come by earlier,” she said with a smile.

“I did. I used a concealment. I didn't want to distract anyone. That was when you'd finished the east foundation wall and half of the north wall. How did it go?”

“The foundation is complete. We're all tired. It would have been easier and more accurate, if I had better surveying equipment. We had to redo some parts of the footings several times.”

“I'm sorry…” Alastar didn't know what else to say. He hadn't even thought about surveying equipment.

“You don't have to be sorry. I never even mentioned it to you. It just became obvious … well, more obvious, today.”

“Would better equipment help for the administration building?”

“It would help, but it's not necessary. You don't need to worry about telescope diopters and things like that. Not now.”

Alastar still didn't even know what a telescope diopter was. “We'll talk about that later.” He paused. “Where is your equipment?”

“Warryk took it back to the cottage while I was inspecting the last wall. Now,” she said with a wan smile. “If you don't mind, dear Maitre…”

Belatedly, Alastar realized that she was pale and that there was a tiredness in her eyes and frame. “You need some food and rest. I can get something—”

“Tiranya sent word she has an early supper ready. Then I'm going to collapse into bed.”

“I'll see you in the morning at the seniors' meeting. No work on the dining hall tomorrow. None.”

“I already let them all know that.” She reached out and touched his hand with hers.

Even in that brief instant, Alastar could feel how cold her hand was, far colder than it should have been, given that she was wearing a heavy gray jacket over her grays. “You need food and to get warm. I'll walk with you.”

“It's not that far,” she protested.

“Even so…” He took her arm.

He would have enjoyed the fraction of a quint it took to get to her cottage far more if he hadn't been worrying that she had overextended herself in imaging.

Tiranya opened the door even before they reached the steps. “Good. I'm glad you brought her back, Maitre. Warryk said she'd overdone things. Again.”

“I'm fine,” Alyna said indignantly.

“You'll be better after you eat and rest,” replied Alastar, releasing her arm. “I'll see you in the morning.”

“Until then.” Alyna smiled, but the expression faded as she turned to enter the cottage.

From the doorway, Tiranya mouthed, “Thank you.”

Alastar smiled and nodded in return.

The walk back to the Maitre's residence was longer than the walk out had been … and colder, colder than it should have been, even with the light north wind.

Akoryt didn't arrive at the Maitre's residence until a quint before sixth glass. He appeared even more tired and worn as he dropped into one of the chairs before Alastar's desk. He said nothing for a moment. “There haven't been any army troopers near the Anomen D'Rex today, except for the pair stationed at the main doors … unless the half score of workmen were troopers in workmen's clothes.”

“What were they doing?”

“Wyckal said that they were mostly cleaning and sweeping the square. A small wagon was there when he arrived to watch, but one of the workmen drove it off, then came back to pick up the workers at fourth glass.”

“That could mean anything.”

“It could.” Akoryt paused, then added, “The regiment that departed from headquarters this morning has stopped at Lake Shaelyt.”

“Lake Shaelyt?” Alastar hadn't even known there was a lake by that name. “The same name as the maitre?”

Akoryt nodded. “He was likely named after the lake. It was named after an officer who died in the Wars of Consolidation. That's what I heard. It's about five milles south of the Chateau D'Rex, maybe a little less.”

“Just five milles? In a day?”

“They did leave late, and it's almost ten milles from headquarters.”

“But only about four, perhaps less, from Imagisle. Have someone watch them all the time. If they turn and head back north, either along the West River Road or the … Poignard Hill road, we'll need to know immediately.”

“I thought so. I've already arranged for that.”

“Excellent.” Alastar shook his head. “I can't believe Petayn would do something like this.”

“What if it's something different, sir?”

“I can't think of what that might be … and that worries me.”
And it means you're missing something. But what?
“Do you have any thoughts on that?”

“Could the sea marshal be behind all this?”

“Anything's possible, but Wilkorn? Under what the rex proposed, he'd be getting a bigger navy, if not one so large as he'd prefer, nor as quickly as he'd like. Even so, I can't see him doing something like this … or Petayn listening to him. As for the other officers, I don't even know any of the other commanders.”