"She has not returned, Marika. I have become concerned. Sisters from TelleRai were here this morning, seeking her. I had thought she might have gone there."
"And?" Time to be cautious. Time to have a care with Grauel, who persisted in using the formal mode.
"They flew west, seeking some trace. I believe they called for more darkships to join in the search. They were very worried."
"Why?"
"The ... You do not know, do you? A convention of the Communities has been called to bring the Serke and brethren to account. The most senior must be there. The Reugge are the principal grievants."
Marika struggled up from her cot. "That's happening? Gradwohl is missing? And you've kept me drugged? Grauel, what ... ?"
"Her orders, Marika."
"Orders or not, that's over. Bring me food. Bring me fresh clothing. Bring me my weapons and prepare my saddleship."
"Marika ... "
"I have to go to TelleRai. Someone has to represent the most senior's viewpoint. Someone has to be there if the worst has happened. If the brethren have slain her and the wrong sisters hear of it first, her whole dream will die. Get me out of here, Grauel. I'll send for you as soon as I get there."
"As you command."
Marika did not like Grauel's tone. She let it slide. "How is Barlog doing?"
"Recovering. The most senior was able to save her."
There was an accusation behind those words. "I am sorry, Grauel. I was not myself that day."
"Are you ever, Marika? Are you now? Have you slaked your blood thirst yet?"
"I think so."
"I hope so. They say this convention is an opportunity to end what has been happening. I would not want to see it fail."
"How are Bagnel and Kublin doing?"
"Bagnel is recovering nicely. The most senior treated him, too, inasmuch as he seems to be the sole surviving Brown Paw Bonder from this enclave. Kublin is in chains. There were those who wanted to do him injury. I have protected him."
"Maybe you shouldn't have. I'm not sure why I brought him in. When the darkship comes, bring him to TelleRai. He may prove useful during the convention."
"Perhaps."
"What is the matter, Grauel? I feel ... "
"I fear you, Marika. Since you returned from this vengeance, even I can see the look of doom upon you. And I fear you the more because Gradwohl is not here to temper your ferocity."
"Be about your business, Grauel." Marika stood. Her legs were weak. She ducked through her loophole to check her grasp of the otherworld, fearful she might not be strong enough to get to TelleRai in time.
She would manage. She was not weak in her grasp of the dark.
She visited Bagnel briefly. He apologized again. "It was despicable," she agreed. "But I think we're about to conclude that era. Keep well, Bagnel." Outside, as she prepared to mount her saddleship, Marika told Grauel, "Bring Bagnel, too."
"Yes, mistress."
Marika looked at Grauel grimly. She did not like it when the huntress took the formal mode. It meant Grauel did not approve.
Irked, she lifted the saddleship without another word.
She sped southward, paused briefly where Gradwohl had gone down. She found no trace of the most senior's body. She did find Gradwohl's saddleship, broken, in a tree. She dragged it out, dismantled it, threw the pieces into the river. Let them become driftwood, joining other flotsam come down from the dying north.
The sisters at TelleRai were not pleased with her advent. Many had hoped she had perished in the raid. More feared the most senior had perished sometime afterward. They dreaded the chance the savage northerner would lay claim to the most senior's mantle.
As strength goes. They were convinced none could challenge the outlander.
"I will not replace the most senior," Marika told anyone who would listen. "It has never been my wish to become most senior. But I will speak for Gradwohl till she returns. Her mind is my mind."
Word of what had happened at the enclave in the wilderness had reached TelleRai. Though Marika did not claim responsibility and no one made direct accusations, there were no doubts anywhere who had been responsible for the slaughter. Terror hung around her like a fog. No one would dispute anything she said.
Grauel and Barlog, Kublin and Bagnel arrived a day after Marika, near dawn, with the first group of survivors brought out of the ruins of Maksche. Marika had insisted that every survivor, including workers and Reugge bonds, be evacuated south. That earned her no friends, for it would strain the resources of the TelleRai cloister.
Barlog was somewhat recovered. She was not pleasant at all when Marika visited her.
There was a small fuss when Marika insisted Bagnel be assigned guest quarters. She had Kublin imprisoned. She did not visit him.
Grauel and Barlog retired to their new quarters to rest, or to hide. Marika was not certain which. They were attached to Marika's own, where she paced outside their door, wondering what she could do to recover their goodwill.
Someone knocked on the apartment door. Marika answered it, found a novice outside. "Yes?"
"Mistress, second Kiljar of the Redoriad wishes to speak with you."
"Is she here?"
"No, mistress. She sent a messenger. Will there be any reply?"
"Tell her yes. The second hour after noon, if that is convenient. In the usual place. She will understand what I mean."
"Yes, mistress."
Shortly after the novice departed, sisters Cyalgon and Tascil, the order's sixth and third chairs, in TelleRai for the convention, came calling. Marika knew Cyalgon. She had been with the party that had gone to the Redoriad museum. She presumed upon that now. After the appropriate greetings, Marika asked, "To what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
Cyalgon was direct. "First chair. You say you would refuse it. We wish to know if this is true or just a ploy."
"I have made no secret of the fact that I have no wish to bury myself in the petty details that plague a most senior. But for that I would not mind having a Community behind me."
"Perhaps something might be arranged."
"Oh?"
"Someone might assume the weight of detail."
"I will not become a figurehead in any task I assume. In any case, I would prefer being the power behind. I am young, mistress. I still have dreams. But this whole discussion is moot. The Reugge have a most senior."
"It begins to appear that Gradwohl is no longer with us."
"Mistress?"
"Even experts at the long touch cannot detect her."
"Perhaps she is hiding."
"From her own sisters? At a time like this? She would have responded if she could. She must be dead."
"Or possibly a prisoner? Suppose the brethen captured her. Or the Serke. They could have lifted her off-planet. She could be alive and there be no way to touch her."
"Amounts to the same thing."
"I fear it does not. I fear I do not want to be party to what could later be interpreted as an attempt to oust a most senior who has been very good to me. I think I would like stronger proof that she is not with us. But I will give the matter some thought. I will speak to you later."
They had not gotten what they wanted. They departed with shoulders angrily stiff.
"Starting to line up for a grab-off," Marika snarled after they departed. "I suppose I will hear from them all. I wish I knew them better."
She was speaking to herself. But a voice from behind said, "Perhaps if you had paid more attention to your duties here ... "
"Enough, Grauel. I am going out. Take the names of any who ask to see me. Tell them I will contact them later."
"As you command, mistress."
Irked, Marika began assembling her saddleship.
III Marika swept in over the Redoriad cloister as fast as she dared, hoping to remain unnoticed. Vain hope. There was an inconvenient break in the cloud cover. Her shadow ran across the courts below, catching the eyes of several Redoriad bonds. By the time she reached Kiljar's window, meth were running everywhere.
"You came," Kiljar said.
"Of course. Why not?"
"I received your message but doubted you would make it. My sources suggested there is a lot of maneuvering going on inside the Reugge."
"I have been approached," Marika admitted. "But only once. I will tell them all the same thing. First chair is not open. If it were, I would not take it. Though I do want someone philosophically compatible to be most senior. I am busy enough with the brethren and Serke."
"That is what I wanted to discuss with you."
"Mistress?"
"Do not become defensive, Marika. It is time you assessed your position. Time you shed this hard stance."
Marika's jaw tightened.
"Were you not satisfied with what you wrought at that brethren enclave?"
"No, mistress. That was not sufficient at all. That was an insect's sting. I am going to devour them. They destroyed a city. Without cause or justification. They will pay the price."
"I do not understand you, Marika. Victory is not enough. Why do you make this a personal vendetta?"
"Mistress?"