Madness in Solidar

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  She rose from one of the chairs in front of the desk as he entered. “Dareyn said it was all right if I waited here.”

  “Perfectly all right.” Alastar smiled.

  “I’ve finished the plans. I don’t see any reason why we can’t start on the foundation for the dining hall or the administration building tomorrow.”

  “The dining hall first, I think,” Alastar replied. “You can start, as you can, tomorrow, but we have another problem. Just a small one,” he said ironically. He went on to explain, everything from the meetings to Lorien’s stalling, Petayn’s regimental “relocation” and even the memorial services. When he finished, he asked, “Do you think I’m overreacting?”

  “You may not be taking the threat seriously enough.”

  “Go on.”

  “What if the threat isn’t against the Collegium at all? What if Petayn is playing Lorien? Or both of you? Think about who will be at the memorial services on Samedi.”

  “Lorien, Chelia, Lady Asarya, Ryentar…”

  “… and you. What happens if something goes wrong … or if the army takes the chateau while you’re all at the services and then bombards the anomen?”

  “There would be quite a few people killed. Their cannon aren’t that accurate.”

  “Who were you thinking of accompanying you? Two or three thirds.”

  “Probably two. Akoryt has most of them scouting what the troopers are doing.”

  “You need to take more than seconds or thirds to the service. Shaelyt and I could accompany you.”

  Alastar shook his head. “We don’t know what Petayn will do. I’d feel more comfortable with you and Cyran here.” He paused and said in a lower voice. “Cyran will listen to you, and the others will listen to him.”

  “Shaelyt won’t be enough to support you.”

  “I’ll take Taryn as well, then.”

  “That’s good. He has solid shields.” She paused. “Do you still think we should start building tomorrow?”

  “I doubt very much is going to happen the day before memorial services. I don’t think you should do any building on Samedi, though. Tell everyone you’ll need to measure and check the foundations … or something like that.”

  Alyna smiled. “That’s not a bad idea, although I’ll have to stake the foundation lines today. Otherwise, they won’t be anywhere close to true.”

  While she spoke, Alastar was very much aware just how close she was … and how much he wanted to reach out and draw her into his arms—and far more than that.

  Suddenly, she wasn’t talking, and neither was he. They just stood there looking at each other.

  Then she smiled and said softly. “Not yet. Not now.” She stepped back, just a half step, before adding, “We’ll start at seventh glass tomorrow morning.” Blushing, she went on, “Imaging the foundations of the dining hall.”

  Alastar managed not to grin, although he found himself smiling. “I thought I was the only one who had words come out inadvertently.”

  Alyna shook her head ruefully. “You make care very difficult, Maitre dear.”

  “You make me forget I’m Maitre.”

  “That isn’t good. Not now.”

  “I know.” But it’s hard not to think about how much she means … after not caring for so long.

  “So do I.” She smiled again. “I’ll see you tomorrow. You are having a meeting of senior maitres in the morning, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. Everyone should know what’s happening.”

  “And what might happen.”

  “That, too.”

  “I need to go.”

  Alastar almost reached for her hand, but instead gestured toward the study door. “I’ll walk out with you.”

  “I’d like that.” She actually took his hand.

  Alastar could feel that her hand was trembling, and he squeezed gently. “So would I.”

  When they passed Dareyn, Alastar had the feeling that the elder secondus looked away. Once outside on the front porch, he glanced to the west. “Looks like rain coming in.”

  “It does.” After a brief pause, she added, “I hope we never have to resort to talking about the weather, except when it matters. Not to come up with words when we have nothing to say.”

  “I’ll remember that,” said Alastar with a smile.

  “That would be good.” She stepped away, then offered a last smile before turning and heading down the steps and along the paved lane toward her cottage.

  He watched until she was out of sight.

  “Maitre Alyna smiles more these days,” said Dareyn when Alastar walked back to the study.

  Alastar almost said, So do I, instead replying, “I don’t have any way to compare.”

  “Trust me, sir. She looks happier since you became Maitre, especially the last few weeks.”

  “I understand she and Maitre Fhaen were barely cordial.”

  “Like winter between them, but most of the maitres seem happier since you took over. Most of the imagers, in fact.”

  “Even with all the troubles?”

  “All times have troubles, sir. It’s not the troubles, but how you face them.”

  “That’s true, but I’m afraid we’re not finished with facing them.”

  “You’ll find a way, sir.”

  Alastar certainly hoped so.

  36

  For the next several glasses Alastar busied himself with various small tasks that had languished, while he pondered on just what Lorien had in mind, on what exactly Petayn had planned, and while he waited for Akoryt to return with any news about the army. It was less than a quint before sixth glass, just after Alastar had hurriedly eaten some supper with a tableful of thirds, by the time Akoryt returned to the Maitre’s dwelling.

  Belatedly, Alastar imaged two lamps into light as he ushered the red-haired Maitre D’Structure into the study, then sat behind the desk. He leaned forward. “What have you discovered so far?”

  “Not much. There’s definitely a regiment readying to move out. They’ve got supply wagons and cannon lined up—”

  “How many cannon?” interrupted Alastar.

  “Not that many. Five, from what Akkard reported.”

  “Are they the new ones, like the ones that fired on the Collegium?”

  “They look the same.”

  “What about supply wagons?”

  “There were five of those, too.”

  “Spare mounts?”

  “Not that Akkard saw, but they looked to be leaving tomorrow. There wouldn’t be much reason to load the wagons if they weren’t leaving.”

  Alastar reached for the message that Lorien had sent, reading the lines once more, and going over the words, especially the ones saying, “the first units are already moving south.” He looked up. “They didn’t see any sign of companies moving out of headquarters, then?”

  “No, sir. Not unless they moved out before first or second glass.”

  Alastar frowned. “And there have been no troopers on the West River Road?”

  “No, sir. Why?”

  “I told you about the message from the rex. He reported that Marshal Petayn said that units were already moving south.”

  “We haven’t seen any sign of that.”

  “I believe you. The only question is whether the rex or Petayn is lying … and if either is … why?”

  “I gathered that you recommended strongly that the army send troopers to the Southern Gulf. Maybe he wants to shade things so that you won’t get upset.”

  Alastar didn’t immediately recall saying anything about his recommendations to Akoryt, but he might have … or Akoryt might have learned that from Cyran. “That’s possible, but he said that Petayn wrote that … and if the units haven’t left, then that’s a double lie … and one Lorien knows I’d likely discover.”

  “Maybe Petayn thought the units would be ready sooner than they were … or he exaggerated to keep Rex Lorien from getting upset. Or maybe he’d promised to have them on their way by today.”


  “Those are all possibilities. The discrepancy bothers me.” Alastar offered a shrug of both frustration and resignation. “All I can say is that the thirds and whatever seconds you’re using need to keep their eyes out for army companies that may not be where they should be.” Alastar almost laughed at his own words. “Except how can anyone tell where they should be? In any case, have someone follow that regiment tomorrow … and send word if companies split off.”

  “We can do that, sir. We may have to cancel more instructionals.”

  “Go ahead. For the moment, this is far more important.”

  Akoryt nodded.

  “Has anyone seen any signs of Desyrk?”

  “No. I wouldn’t expect to, would you?”

  “We can hope,” replied Alastar dryly.

  “Is there anything else?”

  “Not for tonight. Go home while you can.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  After Akoryt departed, Alastar remained in the study, thinking, but that didn’t last long because there was a loud knocking. When Alastar reached the door of the residence, he found Cyran standing on the porch. He motioned the senior imager inside, and the two went to the study, where Alastar again settled behind the desk. “You’re here later than is your custom.” Much later.

  “I saw Akoryt leaving after seventh glass,” said the senior maitre blandly.

  “And you wondered what else was happening because that’s late for him to be reporting something unless it’s important?” Alastar offered a grin he didn’t really feel.

  “I thought I might be helpful.”

  “You will be. I’ll be telling the senior maitres all about it in the morning, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t know now.” Alastar cleared his throat.

  “Is there a problem with the rex?”

  “You mean another problem? Yes, and there’s likely one with Petayn and the army as well.” Alastar went on to explain, waiting for Cyran’s reaction when he finished.

  “It doesn’t seem to me that the rex would lie about what Petayn wrote him,” said Cyran slowly. “It also doesn’t seem that likely that Petayn would lie in writing to the rex.”

  “Then, if Petayn is telling the truth, where are those companies that already left headquarters? Akoryt’s scouts haven’t seen any sign of them, and it appears as though a regiment is preparing to depart tomorrow.”

  “What if Petayn didn’t write the message to the rex?” asked Cyran.

  “I don’t see that. Every message has to have the marshal’s seal. Lorien would know that, and I can’t see anyone stealing the seal and forging his signature just to say that a regiment is departing earlier than anticipated.” Alastar worried his lips. “I have to believe that Petayn moved those troopers somewhere that Lorien might discover and wanted to mislead the rex.”

  “Somewhere south of the chateau … or near it?”

  “That’s my worry, and there’s so much woodland there—the hunting park and other lands—there that there’s no way to tell. We don’t have enough imagers to scout the entire area.”

  “Do you think he’s mad enough to try to become rex?”

  “It’s possible. It’s also possible that he has something else in mind.”

  “Another attack on Imagisle?”

  “That’s also possible. That’s why I don’t want too many imagers away from here. Shaelyt and Taryn will go with me and four seconds and thirds to the memorial services for Rex Ryen. Everyone else will remain on Imagisle, just in case, with you in charge and Alyna and Akoryt assisting you. Whatever might happen, the first time we’re likely to find out is on Samedi afternoon.”

  Although the two talked for another quint, at the end, Alastar found they had merely rehashed what they’d discussed, and he finally said, “This isn’t getting us anywhere. You need to go home and get some rest.”

  “Some rest? After this? You know how to ruin a man’s sleep, you know?”

  “If it makes you feel any better, it’s not helping my sleep, either.”

  Once he saw Cyran to the door and returned to the study, he sat behind the desk. He wasn’t in the slightest sleepy, and he had no intention of going up to bed to toss and turn.

  Finally, he turned to Gauswn’s journals. He opened the third and final leather-bound book to the last entry about Quaeryt, marked with a black ribbon, and reread it slowly.

  The memorial for Quaeryt and Vaelora was yesterday …

  The same questions he’d had the first time he’d read the passage came to mind. They died at the same time? Or were they murdered? To Alastar, a double murder, especially of that couple and at the Collegium, seemed totally unlikely, since there was no mention of that anywhere in any history, and he was certain that there would have been. Yet … dying at the same time…? After a time, he continued to read.

  … The entire Collegium was still. Across the river, it was as though nothing had happened. Rex Clayar did declare mourning for the Chateau D’Rex … I cannot help but deplore the fact that the magnitude of what they accomplished has already been largely forgotten, or attributed to others, even by those within the Collegium. That was their wish …

  Their wish? They wanted their accomplishments forgotten?

  … Yet, as Maitre Quaeryt once said to me, the evidence of history suggests that such is the fate of any lost one who is a son of Erion, that the greater the deeds, the less remembered he will be … that only those who attempted great deeds and failed are remembered.

  Elsior—he is now Maitre, if reluctantly—echoed that thought this morning before the memorial. He said that Maitre Quaeryt and Lady Vaelora had been and would always be the greatest figures in the history of Solidar, and the most forgotten, because, had anyone besides a handful of imagers known, they would not have succeeded.

  And that was it. The last forty pages did not mention anything about Quaeryt or Vaelora, and very little about Elsior.

  After he closed the last volume of the journal, Alastar sat in the study for a long time.

  If what Gauswn wrote happened to be correct, and it most likely was largely so, with any misrepresentation more likely through omission than commission, then it appeared as though Quaeryt and Vaelora had put into practice the idea that achieving the impossible was in fact possible … if one didn’t care who claimed the accomplishment. That was in fact a total rejection of Naming in any fashion, yet Gauswn had also noted, from what he had said and observed, that Quaeryt doubted the very existence of the Nameless. For a man, especially the greatest imager who ever lived, to reject all glory without even the support of the tenets of the Nameless … that made Alastar feel very small indeed.

  37

  Alastar met with the senior imagers promptly at seventh glass on Vendrei morning and briefed them on the situation, but not on the speculations he had shared with Alyna and Cyran, also informing Taryn that he and Shaelyt would be accompanying him to the memorial services on Samedi.

  “That sounds like Marshal Petayn has ideas about who should rule Solidar,” said Obsolym. “He always did have grandiose ideas.”

  “I thought you didn’t know him,” said Alastar.

  “I don’t. Desyrk said something like that. I thought it came from his brother, and he was likely to know.”

  “Has anyone else heard anything about Petayn?” asked Alastar.

  The others shook their heads.

  “So that’s the situation. Akoryt’s men will let us know where the troopers are and where they’re headed once they leave headquarters. So far they haven’t come across any other companies of troopers, but I’m inclined to believe that there are others somewhere west or south of the Chateau D’Rex.”

  “You’re basing that on the letter from the rex,” said Obsolym. “Can you trust either Lorien or Marshal Petayn?”

  “Only to act in what they perceive as their own interests,” replied Alastar. “But it wouldn’t be in either’s interest to lie about what Petayn reportedly wrote to Lorien.”

  “Unless they’ve decided to wor
k together,” Obsolym pointed out.

  “That’s also possible, but can any of you see any reason for them to lie about when the troopers began to leave headquarters?”

  “To keep you off-balance?” suggested Taryn.

  “That’s possible,” said Akoryt, “but it would put either Lorien or Petayn in a dangerous position unless the Maitre is killed and the Collegium greatly weakened. That’s quite a risk for no real advantage.”

  “What if they’re both telling the truth?” asked Alyna. “That means there are more troopers out there that Petayn has misled the rex about, and that Petayn is acting against the rex and doesn’t think we’ll be able to stop what he has planned.”

  “It’s impossible to say for certain,” Alastar said, “but that strikes me as the most likely. It’s probably connected with the memorial services tomorrow. We may have to change our plans. That will depend on what Akoryt’s scouts report. I’ll let you all know as we learn more.” Alastar didn’t want to say more at the moment. “If that’s all … you can get on with your day.”

  As he stood, he smiled. “And building the foundations for the new dining hall.”

  Alyna lagged behind the others in leaving, and Alastar walked out to the front porch of the residence with her, where, once the others were out of earshot, she turned to him. “Petayn knows what imagers can do.”

  “You’re suggesting that either what he plans has nothing at all to do with us … or everything, and it’s going to require massive force on his part?”

  “What will become of the Collegium if you’re gone and so are most of the senior masters?”

  “It’s unlikely that anything he can do will take out you, me, and Cyran.”

  “He doesn’t have to do that. All he has to do is remove you. You’ve pointed out that Maitre Zhelan won’t come to L’Excelsis. Even if he does, he won’t be as strong, and he’s much older. That would leave Cyran, sooner or later. Cyran’s not a leader. The Collegium in L’Excelsis will become even weaker. It may never recover. It certainly could not remove Petayn … and even if it did, who would accept any rex that we suggested?”

  “You wouldn’t allow that.”

  “Solidar won’t accept a woman Maitre … or a woman senior imager if Cyran is Maitre.” Alyna looked directly at Alastar. “Whatever happens tomorrow … you have to survive … and in good health. If Taryn and Shaelyt have to sacrifice themselves to save you, let them.”