Imager

62

When I returned from the Council Chateau on Jeudi, I found a letter awaiting me in my letter box. It was addressed to me in Mother’s perfect script, and she must have dispatched it by special messenger, rather than by regular post. After looking at it several times, I broke the seal right there in the corridor, opened it, and began to read.

Dear Rhennthyl,

I was delighted to receive your letter, which arrived at the house in my absence, and I am most certain that your father will be equally pleased, especially if you have found a young woman of suitable background and intelligence. Knowing that you have found someone suitable in background and demeanor would bring great happiness to both of us.

Of course, we would be more than delighted to meet her over dinner here at the house, and, if you have no objections, we would suggest next Samedi, the twenty-eighth, at fifth glass.

Khethila was pleased that you stopped by the factorage, as am I. It never hurts to have a male relative of such import appear. Upon reading your letter, which I did share with her, she mentioned that you had declined an invitation to dine with her, and that the reasons for that demurral were obvious in light of your letter. Like your father and me, she looks forward to meeting Mistress Seliora D’Shelim.

The implications were clear enough. While I knew Seliora was certainly up to the not-so-silent inquisition, I wasn’t certain that I would be.

The only other notable aspect of Jeudi was my meeting with Maitre Dyana. She was as composed, as direct, and as contemptuous of foolishness and thoughtless questions as ever, as when I offered a question as to why there was such sudden urgency in my learning about poisons.

“Why indeed? Dear boy, please think. You have shields as strong as any imager, and stronger than most. They could be far more effective if you would practice finesse as well, but you are young, and finesse is seldom appreciated by the young and strong, not until they have been defeated by old age and treachery, both of which are far more effective than thoughtless youth and strength.”

She’d as much as admitted that, were I careful, my shields would protect me against direct attacks. “That suggests that I will be placed in situations where I will be vulnerable to such treachery.”

“Brilliant. Positively brilliant. Now . . . might we continue?” Without waiting for a response, she pointed to the goblets lined up on the conference table of the chamber where she had instructed me before. “What you need to do is image the tiniest bit of the wine or whatever you suspect onto a test paper strip and watch. The paper strips are treated. If it’s a cyanotic poison . . . the strip will turn green, if joraban, a maroon . . .”

I could see a problem there.

“Yes?”

“If there’s joraba in red wine . . .”

“You don’t need to worry about that. You can only put joraba in clear liquids. Its nature is such that it tends to change the colors of anything. But . . .” She shrugged. “. . . that does mean you need to be aware of the proper colors of various wines. That is one reason why High Holders are such experts on vintages. Those who are not often suffer strange and fatal maladies . . .”

I had no doubt that the coming sessions with Maitre Dyana would be even more painful.