Imager (42 page)

“You didn’t mention Shomyr.”

“He’s too kind, I would judge, and Mehtyr’s too young, and L’Excelsis still respects men in power, at least in officially sanctioned positions. There’s only one high woman maitre in the Collegium, and look at the attacks Madame D’Shendael has undergone.”

“You
knew
this?” Her voice was steady, but I could sense . . . something . . . behind it.

“Not until you said what you did about your grandmama. Then, all the pieces fit. I think I was feeling some of it, but I hadn’t thought about it in that way before. I was just interested in you, even from that night last Fevier when you asked me to dance . . .”

I looked to Seliora, seeing the brightness of unshed tears. “To fall in love, and then to find that everyone looks to you . . . you’re braver than I might be.” I stood and eased around the table, drawing her to her feet and putting my arms around her.

For a long moment, she was as stiff as if she had been carved from ancient oak.

Then she clung to me, shuddering silently. Finally, she lifted her head and murmured softly, “I didn’t want that. I wanted you. I want you.”

“You and your grandmama are alike in one way,” I said quietly, still holding her.

She looked up at me, questioningly, still, holding me.

“You’re both honest. She could have said nothing, just encouraged you, made things easy. You could have said nothing. Neither of you did. For that, I respect you both.” I kissed Seliora gently.

What I didn’t say was that her grandmama knew how to use honesty to the greatest effect . . . or that I might need Seliora and her family every bit as much as they needed me. But then, I doubted that I needed to say it. Seliora already understood that, whether she consciously knew it or not.

“You don’t mind?”

“No. Not in the slightest.” Perhaps strangely, I didn’t. I’d already learned that having needs didn’t make a person less—or more.

The kiss and embrace that followed my words made any words superfluous.

We had barely reseated ourselves and gained a measure of composure when I heard footsteps on the wooden floor of the short hallway from the main upper hall.

Seliora gave me a wry smile as she blotted her eyes. I only had to swallow several times.

Grandmama Diestra stepped out onto the porch, favoring one leg. She looked at Seliora, then at me. “I see you told him, girl.”

“No, Grandmama. I offered him a few words, and he told me.”

She looked at me. “Is that right?”

“Yes, madame.”

She nodded. “You two are right for each other. That doesn’t mean it will work out. Working it out means working it out. You’re right for this family, Rhennthyl, and this family is right for you. Will that work out? I don’t know. What I do know is that inside a family, or between a husband and a wife, secrets destroy trust. So does a failure to talk honestly and directly, but not hurtfully. Marriages and families are built on trust.”

What could I say to that?

“What do you have to say about that, Rhennthyl?”

“Seeing what you want to see is another form of dishonesty. Are you seeing what you want or what really is?”

Diestra laughed. “That’s a good question. Self-deception would destroy everything I’ve built, and I’m too old to bother with it. You’ve seen the dangers of self-deception in others. What about in yourself?”

“I’m too young to be expert in it, but it would be easy enough to fall into that habit.”

“Fairly put.” She nodded. “Whatever you two decide, decide it honestly.” With that, she turned and left.

For a moment, Seliora and I just looked at each other.

“Is she always that direct?”

“When no one but family is present . . . always. With outsiders, sometimes. She was talking to you as family.”

I took a long slow breath. “I’ve been avoiding it, but . . . you need to meet my family. It’s not you; it’s me. Mother has been after me to ‘find the right girl’ for years. But part of me worries that no one will be right so far as she’s concerned because she’s so into form and formality. Since I’m trying to be honest, there are two parts to that. The first part is that I don’t want to face disapproval. The second part is that I don’t want to put you through an examination and silent inquisition.”

Seliora laughed.

“I didn’t think it was funny.”

The laugh turned into a gentle smile. “It’s not. I worried horribly when you had to meet the family. I was laughing about your calling it the ‘silent inquisition.’ That is what mothers often do. So do sisters and cousins. I’ve done it to Odelia. Most men don’t notice, or they pretend not to.”

“Her previous escort?”

“He wasn’t suitable.”

“After what Grandmama Diestra just said, I’d hate to think what she’d have said . . .” I shook my head. “She wouldn’t have said anything, would she? I just wouldn’t have ever been able to get in touch with you, except by literally kidnapping you, would I? And that would have been anything but wise.”

“You understand more than you want to admit.” After a pause, Seliora added, “When do you think the examination over dinner will take place?”

“I’d guess that Mother will want it on the twenty-eighth. Samedis are about the only truly free night I have right now, and I’d be surprised if Father will be back by this coming weekend. Mother is in Solis visiting Aunt Ilena. I’ll have to write her about it, and she won’t get a letter before Mardi, and it might not be until later in the week . . .”

Seliora nodded. “You’ll let me know.”

“I will indeed.” The letter to my parents was one letter I wasn’t looking forward to writing in the slightest.

Seliora turned and faced me, looking solemn. Then her grin appeared. “Since we’ve been ordered to be honest, tell me what you like best about me.”

That was scarcely a trial. “I was stunned and bedazzled by the fact that you asked me to dance . . . and I still am. And what do you like about me?”

“That you could take the disappointment of leaving the guild and rebuild your life without self-pity . . .”

We spent more than a glass in that fashion, growing more serious as we talked, before I realized that I needed to go, a revelation hastened by several rolls of thunder from the approaching storm. Our parting was brief, if amorous, and I did manage to hail a hack and climb inside before raindrops began to splatter on the stone pavement of Nordroad.

I gave the hacker a three coppers extra, then hurried from the hack toward the bridge, with the rain pelting down around me. Along the way, I learned that even strong shields didn’t stop rain . . . or not much, and I wondered why. I’d have to experiment with that—but not dressed as I was.

Plaques held too close to the waistcoat can be so close
as not to be able to be played.

Once I returned from services at the Imagisle anomen on Solayi, I drafted and then re-drafted a letter to Mother. Then I wrote it once more and set it aside. On Lundi morning, after exercises and a run where I finished somewhat closer to Dartazn, I struggled back to my quarters, showered, shaved, and dressed. Then I read the letter a last time.

Dear Mother,

For some time now, you have been suggesting that I needed to find a young lady who was intelligent, congenial, and suitable. In view of your wisdom in this matter, I have quietly been pursuing that objective and believe I have discovered such a young woman. Inasmuch as you have suggested that you would like to have me and a suitable young lady of my choosing for dinner, I would like to ask if that invitation remains open for me and Mistress Seliora D’Shelim.

Rather than write too much about her, I will only say that she comes from a well-off and commercially successful family and is quite intelligent. She has a solid knowledge of the textile field and numerous manufacturers, and I believe you will find her most charming.

I signed, sealed, and addressed it, then tucked it into my uniform—we were allowed to wear the Council uniforms to breakfast—and headed to the dining hall. On the way into eat, I picked up one of the newsheets—
Veritum
—and scanned the lead story on the diplomatic communiqué sent from the High Priest of Caenen to the Council—and clearly leaked to the newsheet. Part of the quoted text read, “. . . we strive for a vision of Duality that is true to our faith but a vision that also encompasses peace and prosperity for all Terahnar . . .” The story also noted that the Caenenan forces near the border with Tiempre had “completed their training maneuvers” and were returning to their regular bases.

Another story near the bottom of the front side of the sheet reported on a series of explosions in near-abandoned dwellings in taudis in Nacliano near Estisle, Liantiago near Westisle, and a particularly large explosion in the “area known as the hellhole” near L’Excelsis. Civic patrollers found a number of bodies, as well as materials and weapons linked to a “certain foreign government.” The exact causes of the explosions were unknown, but thought to be the “accidental” detonation of unstable explosives.

At that moment, Dartazn gestured, and I joined him, Martyl, and Nansyar, a third I knew only by name and face.

“I see you were reading about the strange and wondrous events in the world.”

I nodded as I poured some tea. “The events in Caena were strange and wondrous, but not unexpected. I’d hope that the cost wasn’t another name on a plaque.”

“As do I,” added Martyl, “but that’s something we’ll just have to wait out.”

“What do you think about the taudis explosions?”

“Pure happenstance.” Dartazn’s words were edged with irony overlaid with gentle sarcasm. “What do you think?”

“About the same.”

Nansyar glanced from Dartazn to me, and then to Martyl. “I hate it when you covert types do that.”

“We all have our little secrets,” said Martyl, with a laugh. “You don’t tell us what goes on in the armory laboratories.”

After that, we talked about how the communiqué might affect the situation between Ferrum and Jariola. About all we agreed upon was that the cooling down in Otelyrn would allow the Navy to move most of its warships to the waters off Jariola and Ferrum. Then we took the duty coach to the Council Chateau, where I did post the letter, but where nothing unusual or of import occurred on Lundi . . . or Mardi.

On Meredi morning, though, right after we arrived, Baratyn gathered us together. He smiled, not unkindly, as he glanced at the three of us. “We are approaching the end of Agostos, and I imagine some of you know what that means.”

Dartazn nodded solemnly. Martyl showed no expression, and I just stood there, not having any idea what Baratyn meant.

“On the last Friday of Agostos, Vendrei, the thirty-fourth, is the annual Harvest Ball of the Council. You will be present, and in addition to keeping your eyes open and your abilities ready, you will be expected to dance, when necessary and if asked, or if you see a lady in an embarrassing situation and clearly needing a partner. This takes precedence over all other personal and professional engagements, unless directly mandated otherwise by Master Dichartyn. Is that clear? Good. Now for today. The Council will be debating the communiqué from Caenen, and the Executive Council has decreed that no visitors or petitioners will be received.”

After Baratyn dismissed us to our assignments, I turned to Dartazn. “Why is this ball on a Vendrei?”

“I’m glad I wasn’t the only one to ask that. I did, two years ago. Master Dichartyn was not kind.” He smiled. “It was originally a function only for High Holders, and having it on Vendrei made the point that the common working and trade types could not have attended even if they so wished.”

“Even when the Councils then had guild and factor councilors?”

He nodded. “The Executive Council was composed of High Holders for the first century. It was also a way of emphasizing their . . . superiority.”

I’d forgotten the early makeup of the Executive Council. “Thank you.”

Right after a very short break for a bite to eat just after noon, Baratyn walked over to where I was watching the upper west corridor.

“Master Dichartyn sent a message. You’re to report to his study as soon as you return to the Collegium this afternoon.”

“Yes, sir. Did he say why?”

Baratyn offered a wry smile. “He never does.”

I hadn’t seen Master Dichartyn since the previous Vendrei, but that was no surprise.

Once I got back to the Collegium, I didn’t go straight to the administration building, but made a very slight detour through my quarters to pick up the felt bag Seliora had given me. Then I continued on to his study.

The door was closed, and I knocked.

“Come in, Rhennthyl, and close the door.”

I did, and then took the seat before his desk.

“What have you been up to?” Master Dichartyn still looked tired. “What have you discovered?”

“Were all the explosions mentioned in
Veritum
what you used to deal with spies?” I asked in return.

“Rhennthyl . . .”

I ignored the stern tone and dropped the bag with the bullets in it on the writing desk. Even through the cloth, they made a satisfactory clunk. “These were fired at me on Samedi night.”

“I’d appreciate it if you would provide a somewhat longer explanation, Rhenn.”

I did, without details about exactly where I had been or with whom, just that I’d been hailing a hack on Nordroad at the time I’d been fired upon.

When I had finished, he took the bag, eased the bullets out of it, and examined them. Then he looked at me again. “What flattened them?”

“My shields. What else? The Ferran, if that’s who it was, is a very good shot.”

Master Dichartyn gave a low whistle. “If I’m not mistaken, those are from a Ferran sniper’s rifle—but a midrange weapon, with a more massive bullet. It’s designed to penetrate more than flesh—unarmored carriages, for example. It is a good thing you’ve been working on your shields.”

At that point, I wanted to strangle him. I forced a smile. “I understand your position, sir, and the idea that there are things I should not know because I have no need to know. I am very junior in your organization. There isn’t anyone any more junior. But . . . if you will pardon me, I am getting very tired of being a target and not knowing why.” I wanted to point out that I doubted many imagers could have survived those bullets, and that it might not be a bad idea to give me more information if he wanted to keep that talent around the Collegium. I didn’t. I wanted to see what he’d say. Besides, it was clear that withholding information worked two ways, and not telling him that I knew what he wasn’t saying might work to my advantage. The way things were going, silence couldn’t work any more to my disadvantage than offering more than he asked for. For the sake of the Nameless, and with a quick silent prayer not to let me fall prey to the Namer, I hoped so.

“Rhennthyl . . .”That single word carried great exasperation.

I ignored it and replied politely, “Yes, sir?”

He looked at me, attempting intimidation.

I returned the look, not bothering to look away. I didn’t feel antagonistic; I just didn’t feel like being subservient. I also held full shields, if very close to me.

After a moment, he nodded, then spoke. “You know how few imagers we have, and even fewer have the capabilities you and those like you possess. How can we question everyone about everything? Even if we had enough imagers, or could use all the civic patrollers, do you think that the citizens of L’Excelsis would put up with it for long?”

“No, sir. They’re wary of us as it is.”

“Every action has a link to something, and if we can make our enemies act, then that proves their danger and also provides that link. One of our duties—mine and yours—is simply to be targets, to offer our enemies someone and something at which to strike, so that we can discover them and destroy them. Why do you think Maitre Dyana and I have spent so much time and effort on building your shields and your techniques with them?”

“So that I can be a target and survive, clearly.”

“And so that others can as well,” he said gently. “Every single time you, Martyl, Dartazn, or Baratyn, or the others, remove someone who is a danger, you reinforce the Collegium, and Solidar. Every time you survive an assassination attempt you do the same.”

“Sir . . . won’t people learning that make them even more afraid of us?”

“Think about it, Rhenn. How many people does an assassin dare tell? And what did that hack driver see? He saw you fall or get knocked down. You got up and took the hack. That’s dangerous? The only one who’s likely to feel fear is the assassin.”

He did have a point there.

“Is that all you’ve discovered?”

“I’ve also learned a few other things, sir. Diazt’s brother—he was a taudischef in the hellhole—took out a contract on me . . . for ten golds. After I killed the first assassin, he tried to recover the golds and was garroted. The garrote rope held a silver knot, but there have been two attempts on me since then, presumably not from Diazt’s family or the source of the silver knot.”

“Where did you find this out?”

“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone, sir. It was hard enough to find it out as it was, and I’d like to be able to ask again, if I need to.”

“If that’s the way it is, that’s the way it is.” He paused. “You didn’t promise anything that might compromise—”

“No, sir. There’s no crime or wrongdoing involved.”

“How did you . . .” He shook his head. “All I can say, Rhennthyl, is that you had best keep improving your imaging abilities.” He paused. “Unless you hear from me, you’re to meet with Maitre Dyana tomorrow evening at seventh glass in the corridor outside the dining hall. You need to learn about poisons. A great deal, before it’s too late.” He stood, stifling a yawn.

“Oh . . . one other thing, sir. I did discover the name of the woman in the miniature. A later etching is in one of her books.”

“You don’t give up, do you?”

“Would you, sir?”

He gave me a wry smile. “I’d appreciate it if you’d keep that to yourself. The fewer who discover we know that, the better the chance we have to use that knowledge to find out who’s shooting at you, and those other junior imagers who have not been fortunate enough to have your skills.” He stifled another yawn. “Good evening, Rhennthyl.”

There wasn’t much else I cared to say. I nodded. “Good evening, sir.”

Then I went back to my quarters and changed into my imager grays before going to dinner. When I got to the dining hall, I found Martyl with Menyard and Reynol, and we sat near the head of the table. I was more than a little surprised to see Master Dichartyn at the masters’ table, because he almost never was there for dinner, not that I’d expected it, since he had a wife and children. With him was another man I’d never seen, perhaps ten years older than I was.

“Who’s the master with Dichartyn?” I asked Martyl.

“He has to be another master, but I’ve never seen him. He might be from Estisle or one of the other Collegia.”

“Or a regional,” added Reynol.

“Regional?” I’d never heard of the term.

“Could be,” mused Martyl. “They report periodically to Master Dichartyn.”

“What’s a regional?” I finally asked.

“A regional representative of the Collegium. All the cities that don’t have Collegia have them, and some of the larger towns do. They’re . . . well . . . let’s say that they operate sort of like field types do, except inside Solidar.”

For a moment, I just sat there, holding my wineglass. Then I took a sip. There was nothing in any of what I had read about regionals, but then there was nothing about silent guards or covert imagers, either. The more I learned, the more I realized how little I’d known . . . and perhaps still did.