Xylox, whatever his faults, was ever true to his dicta, and Dalquist could not imagine him expending a vast amount of thaumaturgic power just to teach a recalcitrant junior mage a lesson.
That left the Lord Prelate. At sixty years, Thorn was still young for a mage, who might reasonably expect to live to an age of a hundred and thirty years or more. He was a Mage Questor of the Seventh Rank, with almost four decades of experience. Whilst it was not unknown for Neophytes and Adepts to be placed under spells of Compulsion to reveal nothing of their training to Seculars or Students, it went against all House protocol to place such a spell on a full Guild Mage, who might reasonably be expected to fulfil his sworn Oath under all circumstances. Loyalty to the House and the Guild was burnt into all magic-users at an early age, but by more conventional means.
Dalquist rubbed his chin.
Just what are you trying to imply, Rufior? he chided himself. Why would Lord Thorn feel the need to impose his direct will on the House's most junior Questor?
This is going nowhere. I need more information. For example: has the Questor Ordeal really been increased in severity since my day, or could Grimm have been exaggerating?
Senior Magemaster Crohn might be the key. He had been Grimm's personal nemesis during the Neophyte's Ordeal. Had he been suborned to exceed the normal bounds of discipline in order to produce a new Questor at all costs, or had it been his own idea? It would require the height of tact and diplomacy to discover the truth from such a senior and well-respected mage, but Dalquist believed himself equal to the task. He was an experienced and careful mage, and he was not about to raise major ructions in the House, based only on vague suspicions and doubts.
****
Dalquist located Crohn, at last, in one of the Scholasticate classrooms, wading through a tall pile of papers. It could not be denied that the man was a dedicated and thorough educator.
The Senior Magemaster looked up, and his face brightened as he rose to his feet. "Questor Dalquist, how may I help you? How go your studies?"
Although the Questor's mind was turbulent, he remembered his Mage Speech. One of the advantages in this formal, cumbersome mode of discourse was that the slow, wordy manner of delivery gave time to think of just what to say.
"None too well, I fear, Senior Magemaster. As you may imagine, I have already forgotten much of what I learned about runes."
Crohn wagged an admonitory finger. "That is the trouble with you Questors: in one ear, and out of the other. I would remind you that we have an urgent need for more Magemasters; or would you prefer to pollute Arnor House with unorthodox-thinking Outsiders?"
Dalquist smiled and shook his head; it was, as Grimm had averred, impossible to imagine this irascible old man as a heartless sadist, despite his irascible, mercuric nature.
"No, Magemaster Crohn, the post should remain within the rolls of the House. I still wish to persevere in this. I know how important it is to provide a good education for our Students."
A lively discussion ensued, as the two mages deliberated over niceties of education. Dalquist bided his time, hoping to make his visit appear natural and unforced, but he was just waiting for a hiatus in the conversation to present itself.
At last, Crohn fell silent in his discussion of Scholasticate minutiae, and the Questor saw his moment.
"Senior Magemaster Crohn, I have, as you may well imagine, an abiding interest in the methods by which we turn our young proteges into Questors. Naturally, such a technique is used only on charity cases, but I note that our rolls for the coming year include many more such Students than we have had for many a season. I therefore wish to ask you if there are any new innovations in this field. I am well aware that this particular discipline is not within my current purview, but I feel strongly that I might now be well employed in this specific, important subject."
Crohn blinked. "My apologies, Questor Dalquist; exactly what is it that you wish to know?"
"Does the House now have a different policy with regard to potential Questors than it had in my year? I note that Questor Grimm, for example, under your tutelage, rose to the rank of Mage Questor in seven months, whilst my own Ordeal lasted two years under Questor Urel. Is some new method being employed?"
Crohn sneezed, as a fly flew under his impressive nose. "My apologies, Questor Dalquist," he said, regaining his habitual composure. "I must say that I am not sure such a disclosure is appropriate for an Associate Magemaster."
"What of an Associate Magemaster who is also a Questor of the Seventh Rank?" Dalquist demanded, raising the stakes. "With the greatest respect, Senior Magemaster, what do you know of the especial problems of a Neophyte Questor? Who better to bring him to the peak of performance than another Questor?"
"So?" Crohn sounded cautious, guarded in his response. The omission of Dalquist's name and honorific was more than sufficient evidence to the Questor of the senior tutor's disquietude concerning the subject.
Dalquist affected a light-hearted laugh, hoping to disarm Crohn."Senior Magemaster Crohn, I do believe that you doubt my motives in this regard!"
"Very well, Questor Dalquist," Crohn said, after a considerable pause. "I can see the rationality in your suggestion, and I would welcome your insight into the Questor psyche, should a suitable candidate become available."
The Questor chose his next words with care. "I wanted to ask you about that, Magemaster. Of course, I am well aware that only Neophytes with charitable status are considered, but how are such boys chosen from amongst their peers? As a Questor, I may well be able to aid you in selection."
"Naturally, the most powerful youths are chosen," Crohn said. "Intelligent boys, and the most diligent and determined of Students."
The Questor found Crohn's statement somewhat glib and uninformative. Although it might be considered the height of discourtesy for one mage to scan another's aura, especially that of a senior practitioner of the Art, Dalquist had no need to resort to his Mage Sight to determine that Crohn was holding something back. The Magemaster seemed to be avoiding eye contact, despite his normal, level gaze, and he tapped the brass head of his Mage Staff into his left palm in a distracted fashion.
"Are they the only criteria for selection, Magemaster Crohn? It seems to me that emotional stability would also be a prime factor. It seems to me that a flighty or emotional lad might pose a serious risk."
The older man's left palm reddened as he increased the rate and force of tapping, and Dalquist knew Crohn was wondering just how much he could safely reveal. An unfavourable word from Crohn to Lord Thorn could make life uncomfortable for even a Seventh Rank Mage, but the Questor believed the Senior Magemaster was, at heart, a just and decent man. Crohn might have put Grimm through hell, but Dalquist no longer believed the old magic-user was an unthinking sadist.
To Perdition with it! Let's see just what it takes to persuade Crohn to talk.
In fact, a pair of words sufficed: "Erek Garan."
Crohn's eyes widened, and the tapping stopped. "Just what do you know about Neophyte Erek, Questor Dalquist?" His voice was just a shadow of the stern, commanding tone he must have intended, and his face looked haunted.
"Senior Magemaster Crohn," Dalquist said. "I suspect I understand why this subject disturbs you. Would you care to sit down, and may we forget Mage Speech for a while? It tends to cramp my mind."
Crohn looked around him, as if he guessed some unseen spy were watching and listening from the shadows but, with an anguished look on his face, he nodded and slumped into his seat. Dalquist dragged a chair over to the desk and sat opposite him.