permanent head of the organization with a fixed term of office that is at least two years and not more than five, who cannot succeed himself for more than one term.”
“He doesn’t want the Ferran mercantile structure creeping into Solidar under the guise of cooperatives.”
Dichartyn nodded. “Not surprisingly, the factoring associations oppose the proposed law. The guilds, of course, support it, and the High Holders are split. Suyrien is leaning to support it as a compromise, but he hasn’t said so publicly.”
“Has the Ferran envoy commented?”
“In recent years, no Ferran envoy has commented on much of anything. Publicly or privately.” He looked to me.
There was no point in replying to that. Envoy Vhillar had more than deserved what he’d gotten. “What else is happening that you haven’t told me?”
“Besides the fact that you gave Draffyd pause with your medical imaging?”
“I didn’t know what else to do.”
“As I recall, when you get into those positions, usually trouble follows.”
“That was why I went to Draffyd.”
“He was grateful. He did admit you might make a competent imaging medical surgeon, but he wouldn’t want to put a scalpel in your hand. You have the dexterity, but not any practice.”
“I wouldn’t, either.” The thought of cutting into people, even for a good reason, wasn’t all that appealing. “What else?”
He shrugged. “Everything is very quiet at the moment.”
“That’s the most disturbing thing you could have said.”
We both laughed, and before long I was headed back to our house to spend what I hoped would be a quiet afternoon and evening with my family.
12
The rest of Samedi was quiet and pleasant. So was Solayi, until I had to stop by Third District station for a glass or so in the afternoon. As I’d suspected might occur, there had been five more elver deaths, three in the taudis areas, and two others, one just off the Plaza SudEste and one in a quiet area only a block from the Anomen D’Este, where my family attended services. There wasn’t much to do but record the deaths. The rest of Solayi was pleasant, or as pleasant as it could have been with the drizzle that oozed over the city in late afternoon and turned everything chill and gray.
The beginning of the week was routine, even for Seliora, with only few more orders coming into NordEste Design. As for Third District, on Lundi, Mardi, and Meredi, the patrollers reported another six deaths from elveweed, three in the taudis and three outside. Thefts and assaults were down, and there was only one killing, at a tavern off Sudroad, near the Guild Square. That was also low for half a week, but I wasn’t complaining.
When I arrived at Third District Station on Jeudi, my first question to Lyonyt, seated behind the duty desk, was, “How many last night?”
“Just one, sir.”
That was about what I’d expected, because elvers tended to come into coin near the end of the week, either through casual labor or from pilfering money from those with whom they lived and who were generally paid on Vendrei.
At that moment, Zylpher, one of the junior patrollers in Third District, rushed through the door. “Captain! There’s been another explosion! This one was in the Banque D’Excelsis, the one on the Midroad just south of Plaza D’Este. Khallyn had me take a hack. It’s waiting outside.”
That branch of the Banque D’Excelsis was in Third District, if barely, and that meant I’d need to look into it, and in a hurry. “Lyonyt, send a messenger to headquarters and have them send an explosives expert to the banque. Also, tell the lieutenant that’s where I’ll be.”
“Yes, sir.”
I hurried back out through the door I’d entered moments before, followed by Zylpher.
The hacker took us up Elsyor, but with all the congestion near the Plaza we got out a block away, where I hurriedly paid the driver and then half-walked, half-trotted the distance to the banque.
People had stopped and were looking at the front of the banque. Khallyn and two banque guards had stationed themselves before the entrance to the building. I stopped for a moment to survey the scene. The damage appeared to consist of a set of iron doors bent apart and a great deal of broken and shattered glass scattered everywhere. What I didn’t see were metal fragments or anything like shrapnel or grapeshot.
As I stood there, a messenger hurried up to me. He wore the orange and black sash of one of the private services. “Sir? Are you Patrol Captain Maitre Rhennthyl?”
“Yes.”
He extended an envelope, unsealed. “This is for you, sir.”
“Can you tell me who sent it?”
“No, sir. He didn’t give his name. He paid a gold for an anonymous private delivery.” With that, the young messenger was gone.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to open the envelope, thin as it was, but I eased shields around it as I slipped out the single sheet. The lines were written so perfectly they might have been engraved.
The explosion was to get your attention…and that of your superiors. Ask the banque’s director about the missing funds in the account of the Portraiture Guild and about the recent drowning of a clerk and the accounts he tended. You might also find certain fund transfers of some interest, particularly those sent to Councilor Caartyl from the Banque D’Solis and a smaller amount from the Banque D’Ouestan to a Cydarth D’Patrol.
Khallyn and Zylpher both looked at me.
“Some information.” I slipped the envelope into the inside pocket of my tunic. “Zylpher, if you would take Khallyn’s place here?”
“Yes, sir.”
When I stepped through the bent doors, followed by Khallyn, another burly guard stepped forward as if to block our way, then took in the uniforms. “Sir…”
“Patrol Captain Rhennthyl and Patroller Khallyn.” I smiled politely.
“Yes, sir.”
“I’d like to see the director about this.” I gestured back to the front of the building and the windows that had shattered against their iron bars.
He didn’t look very happy, but I hadn’t met a guard yet who wanted to turn away a Civic Patrol Captain who also wore the emblem of an imager, although I doubted he knew I was a master imager as well.
As I stepped past him, a thin man in a blue pinstriped jacket and trousers, with a cravat patterned in silver crescents, stepped forward. His face was dominated by sweeping waxed black mustaches and slightly bulging green eyes. “Officer…everything is in hand here.”
“Captain, Captain Rhennthyl. Also Master Imager Rhennthyl. Physical violence against an inhabited structure and injuries to inhabitants is a criminal offense, even when it involves the interior premises of a private enterprise.” I smiled politely. “Perhaps you could tell me exactly what happened here. Oh…and you are?”
“Director Tolsynn. This is my branch.”
“Good. What happened?”
“We hadn’t opened for the day. A wagon stopped in front, and two men jumped out and rammed the door ajar. They forced something between the doors and drove off. It exploded. Some of the clerks were cut by splinters and glass, but no one was seriously injured. A few have cuts and scratches.”
“Did anyone see the men well?”
“I only saw that they wore dark brown, with hoods. Cheluryn was the closest clerk. And Mhanyn. He was the guard. He was about to unlock the door.”
“If you’d have them talk to Patroller Khallyn…” I nodded to the dark-eyed patroller. “I’ll need some more
