“Is she staying here?”
“No. She could, but neither of the girls is an imager, and she has a sister in Extela to whom she is very close. Also, the stipend she’ll receive, while not miserly, will go much farther there. She and the girls are leaving on the ironway later today.”
I suspected Aelys would just as happy to be away from Imagisle.
“You’ll also have to take over as preceptor for those junior imagers that Dichartyn was mentoring. You’ve effectively been doing that with Shault, but there are four others. Only Shault isn’t a tertius.”
I frankly hadn’t thought about taking on being a preceptor, since I’d only had to assist with Shault because of the circumstances of his past. Still…that wasn’t urgent. “Did you find out anything from Sea-Marshal Geuffryt?”
“Nothing anyone can act on. Not yet.”
“Would you mind I kept in touch with him?”
“I’d appreciate it if you would.”
“You’d like me to build and maintain contacts with the various military types, then?”
“Since Dichartyn did…” She raised her eyebrows.
“He didn’t mention those contacts. He did mention his liaison with the Civic Patrol. I’d prefer to wait a few days before dealing with Artois and Cydarth, though.”
“That might be for the best.”
“I’m still concerned about Caartyl.”
“You don’t care for him, do you?”
“From what I can tell, he’s been plotting since I was with Council Chateau security. You might see if Schorzat or anyone knows anything about a factor named Alhazyr-”
She looked at me, and I realized that was my job, among other things that I really hadn’t thought through. “More along your lines, Maitre, Juniae D’Shendael has been close to Caartyl-”
“I know. I’ve already talked to her. She was actually worried about you. She was playing Caartyl as part of her effort to change Council procedures to allow women Councilors.”
“You knew her when…before.”
“Yes.” The single word closed further discussion of Madame D’Shendael. After a pause, Dyana continued. “I’ve been able to avoid specifics about how the barges were destroyed.” Her voice turned wry as she continued. “Draffyd already suspected. He merely asked if I wanted the fact that you’d done it not mentioned. I asked him how he’d come to that conclusion. His answer was rather direct. He said you’re the only one who could have. He also said that if you weren’t a Maitre D’Image already, you would be soon, assuming you took better care of yourself.” She stopped, as if waiting for a response.
I nodded politely. There was no reason to point out that, even if my actions had been emotionally driven, taking better care of myself would have resulted in scores more imager deaths and far greater destruction of the Collegium.
“Good. That’s the only suitable response. You understand, I presume, what the meeting is all about?”
“To give everyone the opportunity to believe that they could influence what they should not-and that is something that most of them know.”
“Who doesn’t know, do you think?” she asked gently.
“Rholyn knows, but he would hate to admit that his greatest strength is dealing with the Council on a day- to-day basis. He will have to say something.”
“What about Jhulian?”
“He may say something about the legal aspects, but only if he believes that there’s a serious problem. He doesn’t flyspeck.”
“You best go into the conference room and wait. Please leave the door closed after you leave.”
I nodded and rose.
When I walked into the conference room adjoining the anteroom, I was the first one there. I took a seat in the middle of the table, but with my back to the windows, although, since it was still morning, those on the east side of the table wouldn’t be looking into the sun.
Jhulian was the first to join me. A thin blond figure, he was the Collegium’s legal expert as well as its sole justicer. “Greetings, Rhenn. I’m glad to see you’re back on your feet.”
“I’m just as happy to be sitting for the moment.”
Draffyd was next. He looked at me even before sitting down. “No more physical problems?”
“Not so far.”
Then came Rholyn, who was the Collegium’s Councilor. I’d even painted his portrait years before, and he hadn’t changed much since I had. Behind him came Schorzat, who seated himself across from me.
Before anyone could say anything, Maitre Dyana stepped into the conference room and closed the door behind her. The only senior Maitres not attending were Dhelyn, the master in charge of the branch of the Collegium in Westisle, and the heads of the other two regional collegia. There had never been that many imagers who were Maitres D’Structure or higher, but the fact that all of those in Solidar, save three, were gathered around a single table was more than a little sobering.
Dyana took her seat at the north end of the oval table, then let several moments pass before she spoke. “All of you know the situation facing the Collegium, and I see no point in detailing it. There are two matters that merit this meeting. First is the selection of a replacement for Maitre Dichartyn, which should not take long, and second is a discussion of the Collegium’s position with regard to the options open to the Council. That may take slightly longer.”
I noted that there was absolutely no humor or irony in the second charge to us.
“The head of Collegium security reports directly to the Maitre and is appointed by the Maitre. I would like to hear any thoughts you may have.”
After a moment, Draffyd spoke. “I’m certain you have evaluated all possibilities, but in the unlikely event you might consider me, I must decline.”
Dyana smiled. “So noted.”
Jhulian smiled as well. “I doubt that my expertise would serve the Collegium well in a security capacity. Also, my involvement in such matters, if it ever surfaced, would create great difficulties that it would be best that the Collegium not face.”
Maitre Rholyn cleared his throat. “In practical terms, I face the same problem as Master Jhulian. My elimination effectively narrows the choice to Master Rhennthyl and Master Schorzat. Rhenn is certainly talented, and there’s no doubt that few, if any of us, are as strong an imager as he is. But his expertise in handling security, particularly…ah…covert matters, has been limited. Would it not be better to have Schorzat move into handling all of the security duties, with Rhenn as his assistant?”
The faintest smile flickered across Maitre Dyana’s face.
“I must decline,” Schorzat said quickly. “All my knowledge is at Rhenn’s disposal, but I could not have survived what he and Maitre Dyana did, and whoever succeeds Maitre Dichartyn must have that ability. The head of Collegium security, especially now, can show no vulnerability. The only two imagers ever to survive direct hits by bombard shells are Maitre Dyana and Maitre Rhennthyl.”
“The position calls for a Maitre D’Esprit,” Rholyn pointed out.
“Rhenn’s abilities exceed those of a Maitre D’Esprit,” Jhulian replied.
That he was the one to reply surprised me, but it made a sort of sense, since he was the Collegium’s justicer and expert in legalities.
“It was felt that he should have a minimum of ten years with the Collegium before being granted the rank, even in a concealed status,” Jhulian continued.
“Because we are clearly under attack,” continued Dyana, “the luxury and grace of allowing Rhenn more time to widen his understanding of the Collegium itself and its relations with the Council is no longer possible.”
Schorzat nodded, in relief, I thought.
“There is no doubt, is there,” asked Dyana, turning to Draffyd, “of his abilities?”
Draffyd laughed softly. “When barely a tertius, with only moderate shields, Rhenn was shot with a sniper’s rifle as a result of the Ferran assassination teams who had killed more than a score of junior imagers. He had the presence of mind, and the ability, to image a block into his chest to slow the bleeding. While with the Civic Patrol,
