Treachery's Tools (22 page)

“Have you heard anything from our beloved Rex Lorien?”

“Not a word. If I don't hear anything by tomorrow morning, I'll have to ride to the chateau and chase him down, if I can. Sending messages that I want to see him is worse than useless when he doesn't want to see me, and I'm not about to put what I need to tell him in ink.”

“I can see that,” replied Cyran.

Immediately after the senior imager left, Akoryt appeared, just to let Alastar know that a small holder from the east of L'Excelsis had appeared with his eleven-year-old son, who was clearly an imager, and that he'd apprise Alastar of the boy's talents in a day or so.

Alyna arrived in the study at two quints past fourth glass. “How was your day, dear?”

“Outside of the fact that the chief factor was shot and killed after bursting into High Holder Laevoryn's mansion, or that the reason he did was that Laevoryn's son likely murdered Hulet's beloved nephew because the nephew fleeced young Laevoryn at bones? Or that the factors are ready to do something drastic against the High Holders? Or that Lorien's likely dithering over the High Holder petitions? Or that there's no trace of poor Frydrek? Not too bad, otherwise. And I've probably skipped over a few things. How was yours?”

“Only moderately exasperating. Some seconds who still don't want to learn basic geometry, and two thirds who burst into tears whenever I suggest that they should have known the answers to the questions I asked. One boy and one girl, by the way.” Alyna sat down in the chair closest to the window. “Now … tell me all the details you left out.”

Alastar did, and what he said took more than two quints before Lystara and Malyna appeared in the doorway.

“… and it's just a matter of time…” He broke off when he saw the two girls.

“What's just a matter of time, Father?”

“What happens after what has been a very long day. Speaking of time, we should be heading home for a good dinner.”

“You always leave us out of the interesting parts.”

“You'll find out why when you get older.”
Because the interesting parts are the ones that are often dangerous.

Lystara looked from Alastar to her mother and then back to Alastar. “Will you tell us then?”

“Yes.”

“How much older do we have to be?”

“When you're a maitre on your own.”

“Father … that won't be for years.”

“That's right.”

“Your father's right,” Alyna said firmly but quietly. “It's time to go. You two can lead the way.”

Neither Alastar nor Alyna said anything as they left the administration building and walked through the damp heat of the late afternoon up the west side of the double avenue on which the cottages for married maitres were located. The tall trees shading the stone-paved road kept the sun off them, but Alastar was still sweating within moments of leaving the building. He concentrated on trying to hear the conversation between the two girls.

“…
always
does that.”

“So do my parents,” replied Malyna. “I wish I could do concealments like you can.”

“Father and Mother would know. They always know.”

Alastar smiled to himself. That feeling wouldn't last.

Zaerlyn rose from where he had been sitting on the east side of the front porch as the four walked toward the steps. “This evening I won't keep you waiting.”

“We're home a little early,” replied Alyna. “We'll all be waiting for dinner. It's cooler out here.”

Once chairs were gathered together, Zaerlyn looked at his daughter. “Tell me about your day.”

“It was a day. We ran and got washed up and dressed and ate breakfast…”

Much later, after dinner and getting the girls to bed, the three adults met in the study, where Alastar briefed Zaerlyn on what had occurred as a result of Enrique's disappearance.

When Alastar had finished, Zaerlyn frowned. “I can't say I understand why young Laevoryn was so rash.”

“You mean that there are other better ways to deal with uppity merchanter types?” asked Alyna gently.

Zaerlyn flushed. “I wouldn't have put it that way, but … yes.”

“Factoria Kathila told me that Laevoryn is not all that well resourced for a High Holder, and young Laevoryn has been losing large sums, and losing them consistently,” said Alastar. “You wouldn't happen to know whether he's facing difficulties, would you?”

“Not really. Except that he doesn't have any factoring activities, and his lands are all here in old Bovaria…” Zaerlyn shrugged. “It could be that his son is one who can't stop gaming, and feared his father's wrath.”

“So he and some friends snatched Enrique, killed him, took his winnings, and disposed of the body?”

“It could happen, but it seems so stupid.”

“I've noticed, begging your pardon, that with some High Holders, arrogance makes them stupid. I think I mentioned the case before Lorien, where Lenglan beat his wife to death and crippled Farlan's son … and feels that it was self-defense?”

Zaerlyn laughed sardonically. “You did. And if some High Holders hadn't been that stupid I wouldn't be a High Holder today.”

“None of this is going to help the High Holders with Lorien, do you think?” asked Alyna, looking to Alastar.

“If he doesn't get too arrogant himself, it won't, but he's not saying anything, and it looks as if I'll have to force myself on him tomorrow. He needs to know just how bad matters could get.”

“Are things really that bad? Just because two or three young men vanished … you're acting as though Solidar is about to erupt in a war between factors and High Holders.”

“I could be wrong. I could be very wrong,” admitted Alastar. “But Cransyr seems determined to restore power to the High Holders, and make the factors totally subservient to them. Lorien doesn't understand how dangerous the situation could become. Almost all the grain and root crop stocks in the midsection of Solidar are in factors' warehouses, and someone is ordering large numbers of new rifles. I doubt it's the army.”

“Then…?”

“If I had to guess, and it's just a guess, those grain and produce factors are hiring and arming guards because they believe that they'll need them.”

“How bad could that be?” asked Zaerlyn.

“If Elthyrd is right, any High Holder who doesn't have a stock of golds laid up, or some very good neighbors, if not both, may face a very long winter and a spring without enough seed for planting. That's in the middle of Solidar and in the northeast. I can't speak to the south or the southeast. The factors may refuse to sell grain, and other produce, as well as iron, copper, or tin except for golds and at very high prices.”

“Why iron or copper?”

“To make those High Holders who have factorages pay more. They're tired of paying more in tariffs and getting less, and they can't trust High Holders to pay their debts. So, if it's not bought with golds…”

“Won't Lorien do anything about that?”

“What? If he uses the army and kills unwilling factors, how will that help? There are too many factors spread across Solidar. The only people he
can
use the army against, effectively anyway, are the High Holders, and he doesn't want to do that, because he can't collect tariffs from the others, and he can't use the army against enough of them to seize enough golds to keep things going. That's because the holds are so spread out.”

“You don't paint the most cheerful picture, Alastar, but I see what you mean.” Zaerlyn paused, then cleared his throat. “I'll be leaving in the morning. I've already told Malyna. I'd planned to stay longer, but … she's settling in…”

Alastar thought he understood. Alyna nodded.

“… and I have to say, with what you've told me, I need to get back to Rivages as soon as I can. Maraak and I need to work out something to obtain coal-bearing lands—even if the cost is significantly higher than we had planned to pay.”

Alyna frowned.

“There is a holding … we'd thought the price too high. Now … it's better to pay and have an assured supply.” After a pause, Zaerlyn went on. “Some High Holders may be … may live in the past. I don't want to be one of them. No matter what happens, we're likely to lose access to the coal we're now getting, and the land isn't going to get cheaper. We'll also have to make provisions so that we can put guards on our barges if we need to.” He looked at Alastar. “That is, if you're right.”

“I hope I'm wrong, and I'm trying to keep things from getting worse, but using imaging or imagers directly right now would be like throwing gunpowder and lamp oil onto a bonfire. Both the factors and far too many High Holders absolutely believe that they have been wronged and want things to change, and they want the Collegium on their side.”

“Which side do you favor?”

“Neither. Too much of Solidar is effectively still governed by High Holders. The factors would like nothing more than to destroy all of the High Holds and the High Holder system, and that would be a disaster.”

“You don't sound happy with either, Alastar.”

“Too many High Holders revere and want to maintain absolute unbridled power, and too many factors believe in obtaining as many golds as possible regardless of the costs to everyone else.”

“Are imagers any better?” Zaerlyn's voice was level.

“At heart, no. In practice, at the moment at least, yes. To survive we've had to hold the powers we have in check and work for everyone's betterment, as we could. We've had to compromise and even bend and scrape and bow. We've had to kill innocents and let some of our own innocents be killed so that High Holders and factors would realize that we only used our abilities in self-defense … to maintain our independence without seeking power over others.”

“You're rather eloquent for a man—”

“Zaeryl.” Alyna's voice was like ice. “Don't.”

The High Holder paled.

“Everything Alastar has said is true. You don't have to like it. You don't have to agree, but your survival and Mairina's depend on what Alastar can do to keep the anger and rage on both sides from turning into complete carnage. Cransyr's arrogance makes him stupid. Lorien is barely competent, and has only survived because Alastar and Chelia are there to guide him. The factors are fed up with being trampled on by High Holders, and they control too many of the supplies High Holders need and have too many golds to be forced back into a subservient position.”

Zaerlyn bowed his head. “My apologies.” He looked at Alyna. “Some have said you're almost as powerful as Alastar. You two are—”

“No. We're not. We might be strong enough to keep the damage within some bounds, but there will be damage. It's already too late to avoid.”

“But … only a few young men have died. Surely…”

“Those deaths,” replied Alastar wearily, “are not a cause. They're a symptom.” Even as he spoke, he wondered if he was seeing more than was really there. “Do you honestly think that the factor who bought those coal lands would ever return them willingly to Staendyn? In his boots, would you? Do you think any factor is going to loan golds to a High Holder the way things are going, knowing he may never be repaid. Or would you extend golds to most other High Holders, if the only way to get repaid was by bringing the matter before the High Justicer? Within weeks, the price of flour and bread will climb again. Will the High Holders pay the prices the factors want? Will the factors reduce prices after what the High Holders are demanding?”

“Nothing will happen that quickly,” said Zaerlyn.

“Possibly not,” conceded Alastar. “But will that make matters better when winter comes? When wagons have trouble traveling even the high roads? When what has been laid aside gets even more scarce and the prices get higher? If Lorien demands lower prices, the factors won't comply. They'll lower prices on a bushel and find another way to charge more, and the army can't be everywhere. Neither can imagers.”

“I hope you're wrong.”

“So do I, but I have my doubts.”

“I think we've whipped this horse enough,” said Alyna quietly. “We're going to have problems, but none of us know whether they'll be difficult or even more so. Zaeryl has a long ride tomorrow.” She looked to Alastar. “And you have to explain all this to Lorien.”

A faint smile crossed Zaerlyn's lips before he said, “I agree. We've said all we can, knowing what we do.” With that, he nodded to Alastar, then turned and left the study.

Once a tired Alastar and a weary Alyna had retired to their sitting room, she looked at him. “Now you see, I think.”

“About Zaeryl, you mean? That while he can understand in his mind what might happen, he's still a High Holder at heart, albeit more enlightened than most?”

“More enlightened than the vast majority of them.”

“I don't think he still understands how bad this could get. It's not like a war, or the rebellion of the army, or a few High Holders trying to force the rex not to raise tariffs.”

“Those weren't exactly good.” Alyna sank into one of the armchairs.

“They all occurred in or around L'Excelsis. What happens if there are fights and riots in a score of cities and towns? The Civic Patrols don't have enough men to deal with that sort of thing, and the army commanders are predominantly from High Holder backgrounds, while most of the field grade officers are from merchanter or factor backgrounds.”

“Zaeryl did point out that nothing has happened yet.”

“You think I'm overreacting?”

“You're usually right about this sort of problem.”

“But because no one else sees it all, including your brother, they think I'm overreacting?”

Alyna nodded.