“You seem to know what happened here, Rhenn, but I’d like some confirmation,” Dyana said pleasantly.
“I’m going by recall, but as I remember the rules of the Collegium, the Maitre is always either the most senior of the highest rank, or selected among those with the highest rank, with the consent of the most senior. It would appear that the shields I erected around Dhelyn, along with the ability with the shells…” I decided not to voice more.
“Those skills are, frankly, those of a Maitre D’Image,” Jhulian said. “You may or may not have all of them, but Rholyn does not wish you to become Maitre, and he doesn’t want the issue opened.”
“I don’t want to be Maitre. It takes more than imaging ability. Nor would it be good for the Collegium or for me.” Skills of a Maitre D’Image? That was far more worrisome than encouraging.
Jhulian chuckled and looked to Dyana. “I told you so.”
“Are you renouncing any claim to be Maitre?” asked Dyana.
“No. I’m agreeing with what you indicated earlier, that I’m not ready for any higher position at the moment. I don’t even know enough about what I’m doing now.”
The two nodded.
“There’s another reason why it would not be wise for you to become Maitre,” Jhulian offered. “Do you know what that might be?”
“I have several thoughts on that. Do you wish to hear them?”
“It might not a bad idea,” suggested Maitre Dyana dryly.
“First, if people suspect that I might be the next Maitre, they’re likely to be more reasonable with Maitre Dyana. Second, trying to remove Maitre Dyana resolves nothing. Third, there’s a certain deniability. In crises, I can act, and Maitre Dyana can either ask if they’d like to deal with me or offer to step down. There may be others, but those the ones that come to mind.”
“There’s one other,” offered Jhulian. “You’ll have more freedom to act in your current position, and fewer people will be questioning and watching you.”
“More people are already watching me.”
“More than you know,” added Dyana. “But less than watch the Maitre.”
That wasn’t exactly comforting.
57
Over the rest of Meredi and all Jeudi, not a single master made mention of the meeting, not even with allusions or hints. It was as though it had never happened, or that no one wanted to remember that it had happened. I mentioned it to Seliora.
Her response was simple. “You’ve just proved, without question, that you can destroy any of them. If you were in their boots, would you want to dwell on it, or offend you? Or even talk about it?” Then she had added, “You’re going to need to work very hard on convincing people that you want their honest views, because too many people with power only look for others to agree. You don’t want that, because it’s no help at all.”
She was right on both points.
I still did the morning exercises and was back to almost full speed on the run, but I had to push myself there, because Dartazn was no longer there to lead the way, and I was faster than most of the others. Both days were cold, and the ground frozen, but clear, since none of the recent snow had stuck.
On Vendrei morning, after meetings with Marteon and Haugyl, I met again with Schorzat and Kahlasa, because she was receiving reports from the covert imagers in Otelyrn that Caenenan forces were being mustered and trained for something-possibly an annexation of Gyarl, since Tiempre was so involved in trying to hold the line against the still-advancing Stakanaran invasion that the Tiemprans had moved most of their troops to deal with Stakanar. The shifting of ships from the Solidaran southern fleet to deal with Ferrum was another factor. We decided that there wasn’t much we could do-or advise them to do-except watch and report.
Right after that, I received a letter from Veblynt, informing me that he would be in L’Excelsis on Mardi, and that he would plan to meet me at ninth glass at the Collegium administration building, so that I would not have to drive so far south, unless he received word to the contrary from me. Although I was more than pleased not to have to make another trip to his paper mill, I half-suspected that he might well intimate, at least in places where he thought it might do him some good, that he was being consulted by the Collegium.
I smiled. It was true, and if that did him good, so be it. That was a price one paid for seeking information. Besides, he’d helped my father when times weren’t what they could have been.
Since I received no message from either Alynkya or Frydryk, I skipped the midday meal at the dining hall and took a duty coach out north to Frydryk’s “town” estate. He was waiting for me in the study when I arrived, just before first glass.
“Greetings,” I offered as I stepped inside after leaving my cloak with the footman. “You’ve been traveling more than you’d planned, I heard.”
Frydryk offered a rueful smile. “Much more. The advocates in Laaryn made matters more complicated than they needed to be, and then there was the business at the shipworks. By the way, I need to thank you for that. Right after you mentioned all the problems with the Ferrans, I sent word to the shipworks about the possibilities. They found some indications, and they were ready.”
“I’m glad.” At least I’d helped to save part of the Solidaran shipbuilding industry. “Have you heard anything from Glendyl?”
“He sent a long and laborious letter.”
“And?”
“He wants me to hold the debt, without requiring interest, until the Council acts on the measure to fund the capital ships. He was very insistent.”
I was getting more than a little tired of Glendyl’s arrogance and machinations.
“You have the plans, don’t you, and the right to build the turbines if he defaults?”
“You had said…”
“I was wrong. I thought he was more reasonable. I’ve since talked to him twice, and each time he has been less tractable.”
Frydryk laughed. “For that admission alone, Rhenn, I’d call the notes.” He paused. “I did follow your advice and talked to Alynkya. She said I was being too forbearing.”
“I also have some indirect indications that he may owe others, so you might want to register the lien with the judiciary before you notify him. But if you do so in person, don’t do it when he’s near a weapon of any sort. He’s not the kind to be indirect, like a High Holder.”
“I appreciate the advice on that.”
“Have you heard anything about High Holder Haebyn?”
“Is he the one who’s been making all the fuss about the eastern water rights?”
“Among other things.”
“That’s all I’ve heard.”
We talked for a time, and then I took my leave and had another cold ride back to the Collegium. I left the administration building a little before fourth glass because we had to go to Juniae D’Shendael’s reception.
When I reached the house and went upstairs, Seliora was in her chamber debating whether to wear red and black or black and silver. I didn’t have to debate. I either wore grays of formal blacks, and since it was an evening affair, I’d be in black with a silver imager pin.
“I think the black and silver,” Seliora announced.
“You look good in both,” I said.
“I like red,” declared Diestrya firmly.
Seliora shook her head. “With you two…”
“Want to go with you,” Diestrya announced.
“This reception is for adults,” Seliora said. “Tomorrow night you’re coming with us to Grandmother Maelyna’s and Grandfather Chenkyr’s. Your cousin Rheityr might even be there…and your Uncle Culthyn.”
“Want to go tonight.”
“Where you’re going now is down to supper.” I picked up Diestrya and carted her downstairs, ignoring the short-lived wailing and the small fists beating on my shoulders. She did settle down, and I fed her the meal that Klysia had waiting. Then I went back upstairs and dressed in formal blacks.
We arrived at the residence of High Holder Shendael at a fraction before seventh glass in a Collegium coach-social engagements were considered duty, provided they were not excessive, and with the unspoken agreement that the driver received one or two silvers, an arrangement that Elreyt appreciated more than many, because he had three children. The timing seemed appropriate, since a cream-and-silver coach had just arrived, and the footman who opened the coach door was the same young woman who had greeted me earlier in the week.