“Yes, Brandon?”
He scowled. “Well, why should we decide it’s the blood elements that are responsible? Can’t we say that people who have participated in more sharings have reached a higher degree of spiritual awareness than those who haven’t? Why can’t that be the relevant factor?”
Tal opened his mouth and Adrian jabbed him with a pen under the table. This was not the time to display to the council his demon’s sarcasm on the subject of certain tenets of Redemptionism. Nor would it be polite to Brandon.
Adrian said, “That’s certainly a point to consider. And I’m very interested in any other factors you may perceive here—over time, we’re going to have to look carefully at all the possibilities. But my suggestion for the present is, let’s keep Tal’s report quiet for now and concentrate on our other problems. Heaven knows we have enough to do, with closing out our agreements with Baret Station and readying for Blackout. Does that sound reasonable?” Fischer did not look happy. He said, “May I assume from that, Adrian, that you have no intention of taking out the Crown again until we’ve had time to study this further?”
“You may assume that,” said Adrian blandly. “After all, we’ve gotten all the political mileage out of it we could want, and isn’t that why we searched for the Crown in the first place? Opal will have a hard time claiming spiritual superiority over us now, gentlemen.”
There were some smiles at that, although not from Brandon Fischer. What Adrian did not say was that any potential rivals for the Protectorship would have an even harder time now; which was all to the good, they didn’t want another Uprising—but using a Curosa legacy for that purpose disturbed him.
Lord Salter spoke up. “Is it absolutely definite, then, that we’re abandoning our trade with Baret Two? Is the situation that difficult?”
Fischer said, “We expect the entire Western Continent to declare for the Republic any day now.”
“Well, so much the better, isn’t it?” said Lord Salter. “Things will quiet down, and we can deal with whoever’s in charge.”
“Things are not quieting down on the Eastern Continent,” said Adrian. “They’re getting worse. Were we gunrunners, we might find a profit here. But we’re not. And Baret Two has become too volatile a trading partner.”
He saw an ironic expression pass over Tal’s face, and he could almost read the thought: Not that we had anything to do with this. Don’t say anything, said Adrian mentally. Please. They’re doing what I want, don’t distract them.
Lord Salter said, “Some of our vastule-produced components can be used in Empire weaponry; so I understand.”
“It’s too dangerous.”
“I don’t see why.”
Adrian said, “Tal?”
Tal looked at Lord Salter. “Worthy though your aims are, it would destroy our agreements with the Republic and the Empire. In order to remain neutral we would have to supply both sides, and the Republic already has all the weapons it needs. We would end up supporting the losing side, and we don’t know how soon that side is going to lose. It seems more prudent to leave now, while we’re in control of our goods and our timing, than to race out pursued by Republican cannon.” He paused. “Or so it seems to me. Perhaps your lordship has a different view of the matter.”
Brandon Fischer pretended to a great interest in his blank sheet of paper while Lord Salter reddened. It was amazing how insulting Tal could be when there was nothing in his actual words you could object to.
“Well,” said Adrian pleasantly, “I think we all have the general picture. Is there any disagreement with the Blackout plan as I presented it earlier? Brandon, will you pass out copies?”
Afterward, Adrian took Tal aside. “I’d prefer not to be surprised in the middle of a meeting.”
“You like to surprise me. Continually.”
The Protector looked sour. “That’s very true. But I have few enough pastimes, don’t I?”
“You didn’t answer my point. About being checked over by a medtech. You don’t know what damage that creature might have done, Adrian.”
Adrian’s hand moved involuntarily to the back of his neck. There was a bandage there, under the collar. He said, annoyed, “When I want a doctor, a witch, or a medtech, I’ll send for them myself. And I don’t need demonic advice about my own bodily functions.”
He left Tal alone in the council room.
Text of a memo from the Lord Armorer to Inventory Distribution:
To: Raoul Simponella, Chief of Distribution
From: Benjamin Lawless, Lord Armorer
Re: Clarification of Rules Regarding Hand Weapons
Date: The Feast of Saint Kimberley, City Year 536
My most esteemed colleague:
As you point out, numerous citizens are traveling back and forth to Baret Station, under a time limit which makes control difficult. We would not want to interfere with the right of our citizens to defend themselves under the dangerous circumstances under which these Outsiders live. It is for this very reason that a weapons outlet was put on the Transport deck several years ago, so that citizens exiting our City could defend themselves and return safely. Our policy is that they then deposit the rented weapon in our outlet.
I have consulted my fellows, and we do not consider it relevant that the workers are stopped at the Station docks and their weapons confiscated by Station Security. They have paid our office for the right to carry them, and they may carry them where they will, practical or no.
Nor do we consider it necessary to issue a warning with each rental request, explaining this confiscation procedure to them. This has never been our policy before and the paperwork it would entail would force us to raise our rental fee.
As
