Imager’s Intrigue

68

Before I went in to see Maitre Dyana on Samedi morning, I did read the newsheets so that I’d know how the incident was being presented.

Veritum and Tableta both had stories on the deaths of Geuffryt and Valeun. Veritum reported the “Navy” version, but speculated that Geuffryt had been about to be removed for incompetence, because of his failure to discover all the Ferran infiltration that led to sabotage and explosions. Tableta noted that a high-ranking imager had been present and suggested that the Collegium had been demanding Geuffryt’s removal because of his failure to stop the Ferran bombardment of Imagisle. Both stories showed Caellynd’s ability to deal with the newsheets.

Gherard wasn’t in the anteroom, and the door to the Maitre’s study was open. So I walked in and sat down.

“Caellynd sent me a note.” Dyana wasn’t wearing a scarf of any sort, and those were her first words. “By Navy courier.”

“Might I ask what he had to say?”

“You can. It was very polite. He wrote that he appreciated your tactful handling of what could have been a difficult situation for the Naval Command, and that he hoped that the Collegium and the Naval Command could resume working together constructively and cooperatively.” She leaned forward and handed me the heavy notecard with the Navy seal.

I read it slowly and carefully, but what Maitre Dyana had said was almost word for word what Caellynd had written, except for the last words, which were:

I have always held the Collegium in the highest respect, and, even more, I continue to do so.

“You doubtless understand what lies behind the words,” she went on, “but I feel compelled to point it out. He understands fully that you, and the Collegium, will not allow the Naval Command to hide behind procedural niceties to avoid acting when acting is necessary.” A brief and wintry smile followed. “That creates a secondary problem. Would you care to describe it for me?”

I would have preferred not to, but some things had to be faced. “We can’t afford to be wrong about anything for a long, long time. Otherwise, we’ll become feared for our power alone, and everyone will turn against us.”

“Exactly, and that will limit what we can do. That may mean that at times we will have to let minor offenses against imagers or others go unpunished, especially if there is no hard evidence, or if punishing the offender will create the impression of unbridled or arbitrary power on our part. What else?”

“I need to become even less visible.”

“How do you plan to do that? You haven’t been noticeably successful thus far.”

“I’ve thought about that. If matters in Ferrum go well, I intend to follow the example set by my preceptor some years ago.”

“You seem rather confident,” Dyana said. “What if your plan doesn’t work?”

“That’s not the question. The question is how well it’s worked and how many junior imagers and gunboats we’ve lost.”

“If it has worked poorly?”

“It might be best if I took Dhelyn’s position in Westisle.”

“That would be acceptable.” A wry smile followed. “Not perfect, but acceptable. If…just if…Dartazn succeeds in implementing your plan in Cloisera in a moderately successful fashion, what would you suggest I recommend to Caellynd and the Council?”

“Send two communiques-one to the Ferrans and one to the Oligarch of Jariola.”

“I assume the one to Ferrum should state that they surrender immediately or face greater consequences and the one to Jariola should tell them to reclaim their own territory and nothing more…or face the consequences.”

“Something like that.”

“You know that over time, Ferrum will try for the coal fields again.”

I nodded. “But if they kept the coal fields, then they’d try for something else.”

“I can’t take anything like that to the Council yet,” Dyana pointed out. “Not until we know the results.”

“I know, but I thought you’d like my thoughts before you have to act.”

“Rhenn…we don’t need any more action.”

I merely nodded. I knew we didn’t, but sometimes what one needed wasn’t what life, and survival, permitted. Maitre Dyana, for all her words, knew that as well, and knew I knew it.

I stood. “Unless something else comes up, I’ll see you on Lundi.”

“I hope it’s Monday. I’m moving to the Maitre’s dwelling this weekend.”

“The rebuilding is finished?”

“Mostly. The main floor and the bedrooms are completed. That’s more than enough for me, and the Collegium needs the symbol of the lights in the Maitre’s domicile.” She rose from behind the desk.

“Do you need help? We could-”

“What you could do is spend time with your wife and daughter.”

I didn’t argue.