L. E. Modesitt - Imagers Challenge

I did stagger back to Imagisle on Meredi night, and almost overslept on Jeudi morning. I thought Id had more dreams about fires, but I didnt remember them at all clearly. The newsheets I picked up hurriedly after breakfast didnt mention any large fires, either, but they might not have, because they were reporting that Ferrum was ready to declare war on Solidar, if our ships insisted on protecting the enemies of Ferrum. One of those enemies happened to be the Abierto Isles.

There wasnt much I could do about that and, fortunately, all I had to do on Jeudi, again, was watch justicing proceedings, and keep mental track of two more cases where the charges were dropped.

Jeudi night, after Mardoyt was tied up with the final scheduling of prisoners, witnesses, and evidence for Vendreis hearings, I checked the cases. One charge sheet was missing, and in the other case, the charges were listed as being dropped. That made sense, because the accused already had a record of a year on the road crew, if three years earlier. If his record sheet suddenly disappeared, a few too many questions might be asked.

By Vendrei morning, even after a more spirited hand-to-hand sparring contest with one of Clovyls assistants, I was feeling back to normal. But I tried to remind myself that there was definitely a limit to what I could image. Vendrei was like every other day that week, with more cases being disposed of quickly by the presiding justice. In only two cases were there Not Guilty pleas, and in one, the justice actually acquitted the accused. That might have been because the case probably never should have gotten that farthe girl had been fast and loose with her favors, but clearly not soliciting, and shed never used or had a weapon.

When Baluzt and I and the coach-wagons returned to headquarters Vendrei night, through a mist that was threatening to become a full-fledged rain, a patroller greeted me almost as soon as Id stepped down into the back alley.

Master Rhennthyl, sir, the subcommander would like to see you immediately.

Thank you.

Cydarth was standing by the window again, and I had to wonder if that happened to be his favorite position for meeting people. He turned. Master Rhennthyl, how have you enjoyed your week at the justice hall?

It has been informative in many ways, I replied.

Thats good. Both the commander and I felt that seeing the charging process and the trials would give you a better idea of what happens to offenders. Now that youve seen that, the commander feels that you need to see the street side of the Patrol. Starting Lundi morning, at seventh glass, youll be accompanying various patrollers out of the Third District station off South Middle. Captain Harraf will be expecting you.

Yes, sir. Seventh glass. That meant a very quick shower and breakfast snatched on the run. Third District was the station with the responsibility for the South Middle taudis... and an additional two milles from Imagisle.

Im most certain that you will find that duty more interesting, Master Rhennthyl. I wont keep you. If you would tell Lieutenant Mardoyt of your change of duty, I would appreciate it.

I will, sir. I inclined my head, then departed, making my way down the upper level hallway to Mardoyts study. I caught him as he was about to leave, probably for the court preparation room.

If I could have a moment, sir. The subcommander has decided that a week of observing your duties was sufficient. Hes assigned me to observe Third District next week.

What we doMardoyt smiled warmlyisnt terribly interesting. Necessary, but not intriguing.

Ive learned a great deal. And I had, if not exactly what Mardoyt would have wished.

Youre obviously an imager with a future, Master Rhennthyl, Mardoyt said. Thats clear from the ease with which youve picked up how the Patrol works.

You and the others have gone out of your way to make sure I understand, and I appreciate that.

Youve been most diligent in checking the charge sheets against the justice proceedings, I also understand.

I just want to make sure that I understand how things really work, Lieutenant. I smiled pleasantly.

Youre a very bright man, especially for an imager, Master Rhennthyl, and you have quite a future. That Seliora DShelim is quite a beauty, I understand. Like a fine blade or a good pistol. You know, a year or so ago, a young man, not much older than you, Master Rhennthyl... well... he was shot. He was Pharsi, and he wouldnt say anything, but there were only two girls who could have done it. One was Seliora. Mardoyt shrugged. He got it in the shoulder, but he lived, and no one in the Patrol thought there was any reason to get involved in a Pharsi love spat. Not when no one would say anything.

I wasnt surprised that Mardoyt had made his own inquiries, not after Grandmama Diestras cautions to me. I couldnt even say I was surprised that Seliora had shot someone whod attempted to force himself on her. Id seen her use the pistol to get me to safety.

Her family has done well, coming up from the taudis, Mardoyt went on, but I wouldnt be at all surprised if they still didnt have ties to some people there that the Patrol would like to put away for a long time.

Theyve never mentioned anything like that.

I suppose they wouldnt, not to an upstanding young imager like you.

It wouldnt matter. I laughed softly. We get all types at Imagisle, from the children of High Holders to those from the taudis. Some have even been brothers to taudischefs. At Imagisle, what you do is what matters, not where you came from.

I suppose thats true. He shook his head. Its too bad that the rest of LExcelsis and Solidar arent like that. Ive seen families suffer, sometimes even to the point of being ruined, when people find out their past. He shrugged. Sometimes, that past isnt even past. You never know.

I nodded. Thats true. I wanted to add something, but anything I said along those lines, such as that the most respectable-seeming officers were often nothing like that, would have revealed too much. Better to leave the lieutenant guessing. If you dont have anything else for me, sir, Ill be leaving.

Best of fortune at Third District.

Thank you. I walked out of the anteroom and down the corridor to the stairs, then I stopped and stepped back into the alcove beside the steps, erecting an image shield that matched the wallI hoped.

Before long, Mardoyt appeared, and walked past me and down the steps. At the bottom, he eased open the door, looked, and then closed it, before turning and walking back up and past me. His actions were more than suggestive, but certainly not proof. I waited until he entered the courtroom preparation chamber before slipping down the stairs to the charging area.

Gulyart was still at the charging desk, alone with several stacks of paper.

Would you like some help filling out some of those? I asked. Ive got a little time.

Gulyart smiled faintly.

I mean it. I pulled up a chair. Just tell me what you want done.

If you dont mind... Ghrisha would be glad that I got home before it gets too dark.

I followed his example, checking the record sheets that had been delivered, and then filing them, after making any necessary changes or entering changes on existing records sheets and then replacing them. Along the way, I sneaked a look at several areas of the files, but the sheets I was looking for werent there, including the one that should have been on Chardyn DSteinyn. Only after close to half a glass, when we were nearing the end of the pile, did I speak.

Someone mentioned a first patroller named Smyrrt who used to work for Lieutenant Mardoyt. I got the impression that something had happened to him.