“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
“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.”
