“I defer to you, Maitre. All this is new to me.”
By the time Charyn and Alastar finished the walking tour, close to three quints later, and entered the administration building, Charyn was shivering, despite the gloves and heavy coat.
“You look like you could use something hot. Tea?”
“Just being in a warm place will do, I think.”
“We’ll go to my study, and you can ask any questions the tour has brought up, as well as any others.”
Once inside the building, Alastar and Charyn walked a short way southward along a wide corridor before turning in to a large anteroom, where several armless wooden chairs were set against the wall. An older man in gray sat at a table desk set outside the open door into what appeared to be a large study.
“Maercyl, Rex Charyn and I are not to be disturbed, unless the matter is extraordinarily urgent.”
“Yes, Maitre.”
Charyn didn’t see any sign of surprise on the part of the older imager at the table desk.
Alastar gestured for Charyn to enter the study, then followed and closed the door. Rather than sit behind the desk, he took one of the chairs in front of the desk. Charyn took another, turning it slightly to face the Maitre.
“The side door there leads to the conference room where the senior imagers meet, usually once a week, unless something unforeseen comes up.” Alastar paused. “Have you any questions?”
“A few. I’m not certain where to start, however.”
“Anywhere you like.”
“Are there really only four hundred imagers in all of Solidar?”
“There are probably a few more, but they’re likely the ones who can only image a few small things. You should remember that, out of that four hundred, less than one in ten can do what Malyna did. There were only fifteen imagers involved in the battle that ended the High Holder revolt, and those fifteen were almost all of those who could protect themselves against bullets. There might be a few more today, but powerful imagers are very rare.”
“Why did you offer protection to my father?”
“We felt that no one should get in the habit of shooting at rulers, or High Councilors, or factor councilors, for that matter. Also, we failed to make that offer during the revolt, and it cost us dearly.”
“I wasn’t aware that anyone had shot at the regial family.”
“A threat was made, which we failed to recognize. You can ask your mother for details, if you wish.”
And if she’ll reveal what it was. “How strong an imager is Aloryana?”
“We don’t know. She’s had no training, and we have not yet tested her. The fact that she can image metals and re-form jewelry suggests she could be a maitre. How strong a maitre and how long it will take her to reach her full abilities are another question.”
“Will she be safe here?”
“No one is absolutely safe anywhere. It’s more than fair to say that she will be far safer here than in the Chateau D’Rex.”
“You seem rather sure of that, Maitre.”
“You don’t think that those behind your father’s assassination will just disappear, do you?” asked Alastar.
“No, Maitre, I don’t. At the same time, the ease with which they killed my father suggests that there’s very little that can be done to stop an assassin who does not mind dying to kill someone.”
“At the Chateau D’Rex, that is true. Here on Imagisle there are thirty maitres, and she will be living with three.”
Charyn couldn’t dispute that.
“As for you, the repetition of such an occurrence might be made much more difficult. Do you have a personal secretary?”
For a moment, Charyn was taken off-guard. “A personal secretary? Someone to draft messages and the like? No. I’d never thought … You’re not suggesting an imager in that position?”
“I am. At least for a time. There is a young imager maitre who has very strong shields, good reactions, pleasant manners, and a very good hand. He is also quite bright, and might well benefit from some time in the Chateau D’Rex.”
“He’d also know everything that happens,” replied Charyn dryly. “If he is truly to be my personal secretary.”
“True, but would that be so bad at present? Your ministers already know. Are we any less interested in your welfare than they are?”
Charyn almost protested, but then held his tongue, considering that the Maitre just might be right on that account. “How do we arrange this?”
“Howal D’Ryter will arrive for an appointment to visit you about the position tomorrow or the next day. If you find him satisfactory, you offer him the position and quarters somewhere in the chateau, since he needs to be at your beck and call…”
Charyn listened as Alastar explained. Although he had some misgivings, he didn’t want to make the same mistake that his father had.
It was well after third glass before Charyn was in the coach headed back to the Chateau D’Rex, accompanied by the two imagers and having said his good-bye to Aloryana, who seemed almost relieved to be at the Collegium.
How long has she known she was an imager?
Charyn had the feeling it had been months, if not longer.
Once he returned to the chateau, he immediately made his way to his mother’s sitting room, entering and closing the door.
“How is she?” asked Chelia from her armchair, setting aside the history she had been reading.
“She seems to be fine. She has a room to herself, just one chamber, but it is quite spacious, almost the size of her sitting room, and the Maitres’ daughter, Lystara, appears quite welcoming.”
“The daughter, she is an imager?”
“According to Malyna, Lystara is already a junior maitre and is more powerful than Malyna.”
“Good.”
Charyn frowned.
“Aloryana will be safe, and she will find out quickly that she must work if she is to be successful.”
Charyn nodded. After a long silence, he finally said, “I hate to ask this, but … did Father ever tell you if he talked to Ryel at the ball … and what he might have said about his request to leave the High Council?”
“He did talk to him. I asked him what he said. He told me we’d talk about it later. He didn’t seem as though it had been either particularly pleasant or unpleasant.”
That could mean anything. Charyn had been hoping, but there wasn’t anything more to be said about it to his mother. “I’m also going to be taking on a personal secretary…”
Charyn settled into the chair across from his mother. He needed to explain … and to hear her reactions, and doing both would take some time.
26
The first thing Charyn did after breakfast on Meredi was to seek out Norstan, who was, as he should have been, in his small study. The seneschal stood the moment he saw Charyn. “Sir.”
“Do I have any callers today?”
“None that you have approved. There are several who have requested an audience.”
“Who are they?” asked Charyn cautiously.
“One is Hisario D’Factorius.”
“The Factor Hisario? The shipping factor from Liantiago who is on the Solidaran Factors’ Council?”
“The very same one, sir. Your sire refused to meet with him privately.”
“Did he say why?”
“No, sir.”
That was a stupid question. Father almost never explained himself to anyone outside the family. And seldom enough to family, Charyn knew all too well. “Let me think about that. Who else?”
“Argentyl. He claims to be a master silversmith, and head of the Metalworkers’ Guild.”
“Did he give a reason?”
“He claimed that he represented all the guilds in L’Excelsis.”
“He just might,” mused Charyn. “Grant him an appointment at eighth glass tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, sir.”
Charyn ignored the veiled disapproval in Norstan’s voice. “And I might as well see Factor
Hisario at ninth glass.” After a pause, he added, “There is one other matter. A young man by the name of Howal D’Ryter will be calling on me. I’ll see him whenever he arrives.”
Norstan frowned slightly.
“He comes highly recommended, and I find I may need his talents.”
“I have not seen any such commendations.”
“I don’t believe you have, Norstan, but I’ll see him in any case.”
“Yes, sir. There is one other matter, sir.”
Charyn nodded.
“A rather large number of missives addressed to you have arrived. I took the liberty of placing them on the desk in your study. The ones addressed to Lady Chelia went to her study.”
“Messages of condolence, most likely.”
“I could not say, sir.”
“Thank you.”
“One other matter, Norstan. I haven’t seen any newssheets, either Tableta or Veritum.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll look into it.”
After leaving Norstan’s study, Charyn saw Vaetor in the entry hall.
“Has Minister Alucar arrived yet?”
“I don’t believe he has.”
“Please check and see if he has. If he’s here, I’d like to see him in the study. If not, I’d like to see him when he arrives.”
“Yes, sir.”
Charyn used the grand staircase to get to the study, where he continued his efforts to sort through the stacks of papers by putting the unopened envelopes in a new pile, and then opening each and reading it quickly. He had been right. All of the more than twenty were in fact missives of sympathy and condolence.
Less than a quint later, Alucar arrived, and Charyn motioned for him to take one of the chairs.
“I had thought you might need my services earlier, sir,” offered the minister as he seated himself.
“I probably did, except it’s taken a while to sort through various matters. On Solayi, you asked if there had been more threatening missives. So far there have not been. Now … we had also discussed tariffs … and possible shortfalls. You only offered general figures. I assume you calculated what tariff increases would be required for the projects you and Aevidyr proposed … and for increasing the numbers of warships to be built?”
“Your sire forbade me to present any figures.”
“So you did the calculations and kept them until he asked for them … if he did?”
“There are rough figures,” Alucar said carefully.
“Good … I need to know what building ten more warships a year would cost, plus all roads and river walls you two feel are absolutely necessary and anything else. Then figure out what that would require in tariffs. That is, how much of an increase would be necessary.”
“You’re not going to … after everything … in a single year, Your Grace?”
“No. I’m not.” That wasn’t quite true. “But I need to know what they all are likely to cost. Ignoring the costs isn’t going to make the problems go away. At least, it hasn’t so far. And if I’m going to appear even halfway intelligent when I meet with both councils, I need to know just what we’re talking about.”
“Do you want the total increase?”
“I want to know what the increase will be for each ship. How much will the first extra ship of the line cost each High Holder, and whatever it’s likely to cost the average factor. How much will the river walls here in L’Excelsis cost, the improved roads and streets in Estisle and Nacliano. Then you can do a total.”
“The numbers will only be estimates.”
“I know that. Everything will cost more than the estimates, but we have to start somewhere.”
“This will take several days…”
“I’ll need the best figures you and your clerks can work out by Lundi the sixteenth.” Charyn paused. “It also might help to be able to present those figures in terms of how much the increase would be in terms of coppers on the golds of their existing tariffs.”
Alucar nodded. “For some, such a comparison will be more useful, especially for the factors.”
“And add any other figures you think might prove useful.”
“Numbers can be useful, but they can also be useful to those who oppose you.”
Charyn smiled. “They already have their numbers.”
Alucar actually smiled in return. “I’ll see what we can do.” He inclined his head. “By your leave?”
“Go do your best.”
No sooner than Alucar had left, Bhayrn strode into the study.
“You’re quite the portrait of the studious and hardworking rex. With all your concerns, I thought you might have forgotten that you have a brother … since I haven’t seen you in days.”
Because you sleep late and avoid me the rest of the time. Charyn wasn’t about to say that. “There have been a few matters to deal with.”
“I have a very minor one. Now that you are rex, might I be able to go riding again?”
“If you want to die well before your time, I’d recommend going riding immediately.”
“They’ve already killed Father. What else can they do?”
“Kill you and kill me.” Charyn shook his head. “Have you already forgotten? Both the assassins were shooting at all of us. If Maitre Malyna hadn’t shielded us, we’d likely both be dead.”
“You’re rex now. Don’t coddle the bastards. Send the army after them and shoot them all down.”
“Shoot whom? You tell me who hired the men who killed Father, and I’ll be happy to oblige you.”
“All the factors, of course.”
Is he serious? “There are thousands of them. Where do you suggest I begin?”
“With the ones who shot at me and killed Father.” Abruptly, Bhayrn laughed. “I love it when you get so serious you don’t see I’m twisting your thumbs.”
Charyn decided to say nothing and see what his brother would come up with next.
“Father agreed to build more ships. You aren’t going to change that decision, are you?”
“Father agreed to build one or two more ships. There aren’t enough golds to build more than that this year.”
“So what’s the problem? You aren’t going to change what he said, are you?”
“That might not be the wisest course.”
“You haven’t gotten any more of those messages, have you?”
“That means nothing. It’s only been four days.”
“You still have two imagers here.”
“They’re barely sufficient to protect the chateau, and I can’t very well send one of them to protect you so that you can ride as you please.”
“You go where you want.”
“In a closed coach … and with guards. The only place I’ve been since Father was killed was to take Aloryana to Imagisle.”
“How long am I supposed to be walled up in the chateau?”
“I’m not walling you up. If you want to ride around and take the chance of getting yourself killed, go ahead. Personally, I’d suggest not trying that, at least not until after Father’s memorial service. Possibly until after I meet with the High Council and the Factors’ Council of Solidar.”
“You’re some help.”
“I’ve persuaded the Maitre of the Collegium to keep providing imagers to help stop more assassins. I’m doing my best to figure out how to get us out of this mess. If you have some specific suggestions, I’ll listen. If not, I need to get back to unscrambling everything.” Charyn looked levelly at his younger brother.
After several moments, Bhayrn finally said, “I’ll think about it.” Then he turned and left the study.
For the next glass, Charyn went through the petitions, jotting down a few notes on each and putting those on top of each petition, so that he could go over each quickly with Sanafryt. He was about to send for the Minister of Justice when someone knocked on the study door.
“Yes?”
“Howal D’Ryter to see you, as you requested, sir.” The voice was that of Norstan.
Charyn
smiled. Did Norstan think he was looking for a successor to the seneschal?
You’ll need to make it clear that you’re not. “Have him come in.”
The door opened, and the imager walked in, wearing gray trousers, a white shirt, and a black jacket. Howal was of middling height, possibly a digit or two shorter than Charyn himself, and likely a few years older. He was muscular, but not stocky, and his light brown hair was short and neatly trimmed, unsurprisingly, given that seemed the requirement for male imagers. His eyes were pale green and met Charyn’s, even as he inclined his head. “Your Grace.” He straightened and handed a sealed missive to Charyn.
Charyn took it, then used the letter knife to cut under the seal and open the envelope. Two single sheets were inside. The first simply read:
Charyn,
Howal seems very nice. Be kind to him.
The signature was “Ryana,” which was what Bhayrn had called Aloryana for years, until she had forcefully insisted he stop.
The second sheet, from Alastar, was a more standard communication, stating that Howal should be a good fit as a personal secretary, as well as for other duties, “as previously discussed,” and giving a physical description. The description matched the young man in front of Charyn.
“Before we begin,” said Charyn as he set the letter from Alastar on the desk, “might you be able to provide a small and quiet demonstration of those other abilities?”
“Of course, sir. I believe you must have dropped this, sir,” added Howal, as a duplicate of the letter knife appeared from nowhere in the imager’s other hand, except that the duplicate was a miniature less than a third the size of the one on the desk. Howal reversed the knife and extended it to Charyn hilt-first.
Charyn reached for it, except his fingers hit an invisible barrier just short of the missive.
“Very impressive, and neatly done,” murmured Charyn, adding in a louder voice, “Thank you.” Since the barrier seemed to have vanished, he took the second letter knife and set it on the desk beside the first, and then took Alastar’s letter and slipped it and Aloryana’s note back into the envelope. “As for addressing me, ‘sir’ will do,” replied Charyn, gesturing toward the chairs in front of the desk and seating himself. He waited until Howal was settled before continuing. “I know your current location and occupation, but what I don’t know is where you grew up and similar matters.”
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