So the Senator came. It was early for lunch, and the vast dining room was less than half full. The faux candlelight and the isolated corner table Gareth had suggested should provide enough privacy.
“Paladin Sinclair,” Mallowes said warmly as he sat down at Gareth’s table. “Are you growing accustomed to the sound of that yet?”
Gareth shook his head rapidly, his eyes darting, and he responded as if his mind were elsewhere. “Ah, no. No, I suppose I haven’t.”
Mallowes’ eyes narrowed. “Is there something wrong? You seem distracted.”
Gareth leaned forward, started to speak, then leaned back as the waiter arrived.
Mallowes took charge. “I believe we’ll both have the special today. The faster you can bring it to us, the better. Thank you.”
The waiter was gone.
“I’m in trouble,” Gareth said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Trouble? Of what sort?”
“Levin. Jonah Levin. He’s investigating the death of Victor Steiner-Davion.”
“So I have heard. He spoke to me about his investigation, albeit briefly. What on earth does that have to do with you?”
“He thinks I had something to do with Steiner-Davion’s death.”
Mallowes barked, a noise that sounded more like a forceful sneeze than the laugh it was supposed to be. “How did he come to such a ludicrous conclusion?”
“He thinks he has evidence. There’s a man, someone you once referred to me. Henrik Morten. He was involved somehow, and he’s been lying to Levin about me.”
“Morten? I hope you’re no longer involved with that character.”
“No! Not for years! But that’s not what Morten’s saying. He’s acting like we’re old pals.”
The waiter returned, bringing bourbon for the Senator and a tall glass of water for Gareth. The Senator took a leisurely sip before speaking.
“Is that all Paladin Levin has? The word of a scoundrel? I should think that is not nearly enough to form any sort of substantial case.”
“No. He has more.”
Mallowes frowned and ran a finger around the lip of his glass. “Please pardon me for this next question, but I’m afraid it must be asked at this point in the conversation. You did not, in fact, have anything to do with Paladin Steiner-Davion’s death, did you?”
Gareth recoiled as if hit. “No!” he said, loud enough to draw the attention of the few nearby diners. He dropped his voice again. “Of course not! How could you ask?”
Mallowes patrician manner did not alter in the least. “Please, my boy, remain calm. I only ask so that I may have your word. Now that you have given it, I have utmost confidence in your innocence. What may I do to assist you?”
“Do you know what will happen if Jonah decides to bring charges? Or even if he just decides to air his suspicions? I’m a new Paladin; most of The Republic knows nothing about me. Their first impression of me will be that I had something to do with Victor’s death! It’ll ruin me before I get anything done!”
“We can’t have that.”
“But I don’t know what to do about it. I’ve spoken with Levin, more than once, and he is intractable. He hasn’t believed a word I’ve said. With the election coming up, I think he’d only be too happy to bring me down in the eyes of the other Paladins.”
“You mean to say Jonah Levin is actually playing politics?” Mallowes chuckled. “It’s about time. Most people don’t live in government as long as Levin has without being pulled into the game.”
The Senator took another sip at his drink, then stared off past Gareth’s shoulder as if he were pondering the matter. Gareth was fairly certain, though, that the Senator already knew exactly what he was going to say next.
“I may be able to help you,” Mallowes said finally. “I have a certain relationship with Paladin Levin—did you know I was involved in his appointment?”
Gareth stifled a laugh. Mallowes was present when Jonah was made a Knight, but other than that he had nothing to do with the occasion. “Yes. I believe I have heard something like that.”
“Our history runs back many years. Not as deep as yours and mine, of course, but substantial nonetheless. I may be able to persuade him to focus his investigation on a more likely suspect.”
“You could do that?”
“I’d consider it my duty. Paladin Levin should pursue the actual assassins, rather than waste his time on an innocent man like you.”
“If you could do that… I don’t know how I could thank you enough.”
“Thanks are not necessary. I hope you don’t mind my saying, but I have invested a substantial amount in your career and its success. I don’t wish to see you stymied at this juncture. Especially with the election coming up.”
Now we get to the heart of it, Gareth thought.
“Have you given more thought to the election?” Mallowes asked.
“I’ve tried. Levin has made it difficult.”
“At least he has probably helped make clear one person for whom you should not vote,” Mallowes said with a wolfish grin.
Gareth managed a weak chuckle. “Yes. At least there’s that.”
“Would you be willing to listen to my advice?”
“After what you’ve offered to do for me? I’d be ungrateful not to.”
“Quite so. I do not, at this point in time, wish to offer any specific names for your consideration. All I ask is that, when you vote, you remember the role of the Republican Senate.
“Some of your fellow Paladins, unfortunately, seem to believe the Senate is a mere advisory body, one easily ignored. That is far from what Stone intended. Our families have ruled worlds far longer than Devlin Stone or anyone else, and our experience must be valued. We are to share power equally, even to the point of having a strong voice in military matters, a voice the Paladins have denied us.”
I’m not sure that was truly what Stone intended, Gareth thought, but said nothing.
“We must be given heed. One way or another, the Paladins will pay attention to the Senate. Either this election will put an Exarch in place who will be responsive to our needs, or, after the election, the Senate will pursue other avenues to ensure our place is maintained. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“Yes. I believe I do.”
“And can I count on your support in this?”
“After all you’ve done for me, especially if you can change the course of Paladin Levin’s investigation, I’m certain you can count on my support in this and many other matters.”
Mallowes leaned back in his chair, a man overly comfortable in his own skin. “I had hoped that would be the case. I knew my investment in you was well made.”
“Thank you, Senator,” Gareth said, though the words almost stuck in his throat. It was difficult to express gratitude to a man who believed he had purchased your loyalty. “I’ll do all I can. I’m just… I can’t be certain it will be enough.”
“My dear boy, I’m sure any effort you contribute to our cause will be more than sufficient.”
“But I’m only one Paladin, one out of seventeen voting members of the council. I can’t make the council more responsive to the Senate by myself.”
The Senator sat still, moving only a finger as he rubbed his glass. The waiter finally brought them their lunch (Gareth had learned that telling them to hurry made them much slower) and retreated after the steaming plates were laid to rest. Mallowes still seemed to be weighing something in his mind.
Finally he came to a decision.
“You will not be alone.”
“I won’t?”
“No.”
“How can you know?”
Mallowes allowed himself two bites of his lamb before he spoke. “I am not the only one in the Senate concerned about the current state of affairs. I am not the only one who has taken action to help us reclaim what is ours. Some of us became aware of the danger we were in a long time before The Republic got its rude awakening in the recent troubles. We’ve been involved with finding a solution to the leadership crisis for over a decade now.”