Twenty-Seven

Karryl Ky Menin sat drumming his fingers on his desk. His usually placid face was troubled. He reached out to turn on the screen and scan the grounds, but hesitated, his hand halfway across the desk. Slowly, he drew it back and neatly folded both of his hands back in his lap. A detailed search of the grounds was simple displacement activity. He hadn’t been blessed with intellect for nothing. He would get to the root of what was sitting like a thorny burr in the back of his mind without trying to pretend to himself it wasn’t there.

One by one, he turned the players over in his head. Karin Men Darnak. Yes, she was worthy, but he didn’t think the problem lay there — at least not yet. And her husband, Yosset Clier, could be discounted altogether? Tarlain Men Darnak? No. The boy was young, idealistic, and besides, he was nowhere to be found. It might be worthy to find out exactly what he was up to, but whatever it was, it could easily be contained. There was no point being unprepared though. It was lack of preparation that always turned around to bite you. He would set some of his people to find out what the youngest Men Darnak was doing. The youngest Ka Vail had warned him about the father’s intent to help Leannis, but Ky Menin had to discount it. It was clear that the boy was simply trying to position himself to take over his father’s role.

He ran one palm back and forth across the surface of his desk. Back and forth, back and forth. He watched the motion, still thinking. That was it! Vacillation, uncertainty, he hated uncertainty. It was Aron Ka Vail. He’d sensed the man’s unease, his lack of commitment last time they’d been together. He drew his hand back toward his lap, but now it was closed. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned forward and switched on his screen. The boy had been right after all.

“Faran. Yes. I want word about what’s going on at Ka Vail’s estates. I don’t care. Just find out. Do it now. Yes. I’ll be here.” He withdrew his hand from the screen. The frown was gone. A slight smile played at the corner of his lips. Preparation, anticipation — these were the things that made existence run smoothly.

He leaned forward again and pulled open a drawer. There, lying neatly in a long, narrow box, sat another of the results of his careful preparation. For many long months, his teams had been working on the thing that lay there, perfecting, refining. He ran his fingers over the sleek surface, restraining himself from actually picking it up. The time would come, but it wasn’t yet. With one last lingering look, he slid the drawer shut again. Karin was due soon and it would do no good to announce his full intentions quite yet. He preferred to keep a couple of things in reserve. Karin’s and his own plans may coincide for the moment, but it was always much better to keep a certain something in reserve.

#

Karin stood in the doorway of Ky Menin’s lounge area, disbelief written across her face.

“He did what?” she said. “Then Jarid was right.”

“I know,” said Ky Menin with a sigh. “I sensed there was something wrong with the way he was behaving last time we met. I have some of my men bringing him here now. We can deal with him then.”

Karin crossed the room, her jaw set, and sat. “After all we’ve done, we can’t have that old fool getting in the way. We’ve had enough of old fools. There’s enough unease in the rest of the Guilds without Ka Vail upsetting the balance.”

Ky Menin nodded and crossed to sit beside her. He placed a hand on her leg and leaned in as he spoke. “Look, from the reports I’ve had of your father’s behavior, I cannot believe he’s any sort of real threat. Look at where we are, Karin. Just think about it. Storm Season, Kallathik unease, and now your father behaving as if he’s lost his senses completely. We’re in an ideal position.”

She looked unconvinced. Slowly, she shook her head. “No. You know the traditions as well as I do. Prophet or no, I still have to deal with the fact that I’m a woman. With Tarlain missing and Roge gone, they could just as easily turn back to the old man.”

Ky Menin sighed again and sat back. “You’re right, but then you’re not right. Traditions change. Everything changes. It doesn’t matter that you’re a woman any more, Karin. Things have to change. We’ve been bound in the traditions passed down from the First Families for far too long. Anybody with any sense knows where the real power in the Men Darnak household lies. You can’t believe otherwise.”

A subtle chime from Ky Menin’s household systems announced an arrival. Karin looked expectantly toward the door, and Ky Menin stood, smoothing down his tunic. The room’s sparse white furnishings echoed the simplicity of his dress. Clean, white, it would do. He nodded to himself. Any further conversation could wait. He turned back to Karin, still sitting expectantly on the couch.

“This will be Ka Vail. You wait here. I won’t be a moment.” He glanced about the room one more time. “This, I think, will be the ideal setting.” He said the to reassure her, just as much as to echo his thoughts. He gave her a quick nod before going to meet his guests.

Moments later, he returned with a flustered looking Aron Ka Vail, escorted by two of Ky Menin’s own Guildsmen. Ky Menin nodded to his men, and they quickly withdrew, leaving the three of them, Ky Menin, Karin Men Darnak, and Aron Ka Vail, alone in the clean, functional living space.

“What is it, Karryl?” said Ka Vail. “What urgent matter forces you to have me escorted here? What of my own business? Don’t you think I have things to attend to?”

“This is all our business, Aron,” said Ky Menin slowly. “I suggest you have a seat.”

Aron Ka Vail hesitated, frowning. “No. I suggest you tell me why you’ve had me dragged here.” He glanced across at Karin. “And why the good lady is here too.”

Karryl’s voice showed traces of his impatience. “Sit, Guildmaster Ka Vail.”

Ka Vail’s frown deepened, but he did as he was bidden. “All right. What is all this?”

Ky Menin waited until he too had taken a seat, and he steepled his fingers in front of him. “It has come to my attention that you’ve set certain things in motion, Aron, that you’ve done things that are counterproductive at best in our current circumstance.”

Ka Vail looked across at him with open hostility. “What are you talking about, Karryl? No more word games. I’m tired of them now. I think we’ve had enough.”

Ky Menin leaned forward, speaking quietly. “You know exactly what I mean. After all we’ve been through up until now. Leannis Men Darnak. That’s what I’m talking about.”

“What?”

“You’re helping him and his men. Providing him support.”

“And so what? I fail to see your point.”
Karryl took a long low breath that was just short of a sigh, and he sat back in his chair. “I also know that you’ve had a constant flow of information about what’s been happening at the mines. Apparently — well, this is how I hear it — the Kallathik are agitating and more. Is that so?”

“Yes, there has been some trouble, but what of it? We have trouble every Storm Season. Again I fail to see your point.”

Karryl shook his head slowly. “You should know better than that. How can you lend your resources to helping Men Darnak…especially now? Where is the trust, Aron?”

The older Guildmaster narrowed his eyes and stood slowly. “You tell me where the trust is? I cannot believe you are doing this, Karryl. You’ve had me escorted from my own estates for no other purpose than to level a series of pointless accusations — and in front of her.” He waved his arm dismissively in Karin’s direction. “Leannis Men Darnak deserves our respect. More than that shown by his sniveling offspring. You would do well to show some respect too, Karryl Ky Menin, before you say something you might regret.”

Ky Menin smiled. There was nothing soft about the expression. “I suggest you take your seat, Aron.”

“I will not!” said the old man. “I’ve heard enough. I will lend my support to whomever I want, whenever I want. And you have no place telling me otherwise. Nor have you any place telling me how to run the business of my Guild. My Guild, Ky Menin.”

“Sit down, Aron.”

“No, by the Prophet, I will not!”

Karin suddenly stood. “Who do you think you are, old man?” she said. “Sit down and do as you’re told.”

Ka Vail blanched and swung to face her. “And you would do well to learn your place, woman.” He advanced on her. “Respect. I’ve seen your capacity for respect. Your own father…” He shook his head. “It was a poor aspect when fate brought you into this world. I’ve seen you, girl. I’ve watched. I’ve seen what you’ve done. What about your father, eh? What about that fine old man who has done so much for you, who has done so much for all of us? By the Prophet, woman. He’s your father.” The old man was shaking visibly.

“He’s an old fool, and so are you, Ka Vail,” she said.

Ka Vail leaned in close to her. He spoke through clenched teeth. “And you are a mistake in the world. You are a corrupt, diseased thing out of your proper place. There is nothing of either your father or mother in you. Thank the Prophet she is no longer with us. She is better off dead than to see this.”

Her hand flashed out and connected with his cheek. The noise of skin on skin echoed from the walls. She turned, strode away from him and sat, keeping her gaze turned away. Ka Vail stood where he was, trembling with his anger, looking at neither of them, a red mark blossoming on his cheek.

“What are you doing with Men Darnak?” asked Ky Menin from where he sat.

Ka Vail spun to face him. “I’ll tell you nothing more.” He swallowed before speaking again, clearly having difficulty speaking. “And now I’ll leave you both.”

“You’ll do no such thing,” said Ky Menin, calmly. “You will sit and you will tell us precisely what we need to know.”

Ka Vail gave a short soundless laugh and headed for the door, shaking his head. He had not taken four steps before two of Ky Menin’s men were standing in the doorway, blocking his path. The old man stopped and turned to face Ky Menin.

“What is this, Karryl?”

“You will do exactly as I ask,” said Ky Menin.

“I will do nothing of the sort.” He tried pushing past the two blocking his way, but they stood firm. Ky Menin gestured to them, and they led the old man back to the chair and sat him forcibly back down. Ka Vail brushed at his sleeves, looking first at Ky Menin, then up at the two men who now stood on either side of him, and finally over at Karin, who was now looking over at him with a slight smirk on her face.

“And so we have to deal with another traitor,” she said quietly.

“You should know all about treachery,” he shot back at her. His face was red, the anger visible in his hands, but the presence of the two men beside his chair was obviously enough to dissuade him from further action.

“Now,” said Ky Menin. “Where has Men Darnak gone?”

Ka Vail sat with jaw clamped tight, staring with open hostility across the intervening space. Ky Menin sighed.

“Listen to me. It would be in everyone’s best interests for you to work with us, Aron. You can still be useful in the times to come. I will say this to you only once. If you are going to insist on being difficult, then I am just going to have to look at other alternatives. In the meantime, I still need the answers to my questions. No Men Darnak? Then what of the information you have from the mines?”

Still Ka Vail sat where he was, refusing to answer anything.

Again, Ky Menin sighed. “I’m afraid you leave me no choice.” He shook his head briefly, motioned to his men to keep the Guildmaster where he was, and disappeared out to his offices. Despite the play of disappointment, he was actually quite looking forward to the opportunity this suddenly gave him. When he finally returned, Karin was looking at him expectantly. He returned her look blankly.

Aron Ka Vail sat stubbornly. He didn’t even look up as Karryl re-entered. Ky Menin nodded to himself and crossed to stand in front of the old man.

“Are you sure, Ka Vail?” he said.

Nothing.

Slowly, deliberately, Karryl lifted his hand. Within it, he held a snub, shiny metal cylinder with three small projections at one end. At the opposite end, there was a dial, regulating settings. Karryl fiddled with the dial briefly, then leaned forward and pressed the three projections gently against Ka Vail’s temple.

“What are you doing?” said Ka Vail.

Karryl ignored the question, and with a gentle pressure of his thumb, depressed a small stud at one end of the device. There was a quick cracking sound and the old man cried out, flinching back against the chair. Karryl glanced over at Karin. She was leaning forward, watching, her tongue pressed lightly against her upper lip. He turned back to the old man.

“This is a new tool I’ve had my people develop, Aron,” he said. “As you can see, it appears quite effective. Now, are you going to tell us what we want to know?”

The old man was visibly paler, blinking, his eyes watering. He said nothing.

“Very well.” Karryl reset the dial and leaned forward again. The old man shrank back against the chair. Karryl motioned to his men to restrain him, then pressed the device to the old man’s temple. A quick pressure of his thumb, the cracking sound and the old man jerked, every muscle in his body tensing as he cried out, louder this time, the sound of pain in his voice.

“You-you, cannot do this,” stammered Ka Vail, then groaned deep in his throat.

“Oh, but I can,” said Karryl. Again, he adjusted the dial. Without even waiting for a response, he thrust the toy forward and activated it. The old man screamed this time, tears running out of his eyes, slumping down in the chair. Another low groan issued from his mouth.

“You can save yourself the pain,” said Karryl.

He could barely hear the old man’s voice as he spoke, haltingly. “I don’t care what you do to me, Ky Menin. What I’ve done is right. Leannis Men Darnak will have any help I can give him. My men are with him, and they will protect him. They will take him as far away from you and her — ” He gestured with his head toward Karin. “ — as they can. Darthan will take him in. Then they will come back and deal with you.”

Ky Menin smiled gently. “You’re an old fool, Ka Vail.” He leaned forward and activated the device again. As the old man screamed, his smile became broader.

“Guildmaster!” One of his men had released his hold on Ka Vail and had stepped back. “You cannot do this!”

“And who are you to question what I choose to do?” said Ky Menin, taking a step forward. “Do you need to learn your proper place too?” He took another step.

The man stood where he was. “I have a duty, Guildmaster. You cannot do this. By the Prophet. I have been with you for several seasons and I have seen what happens, but nothing warrants this. Nothing.”

The smile remained on Ky Menin’s face and he nodded twice. He said one simple word. “So.” With a quick flick of his wrist, he adjusted the dial on his new toy and reached out to touch it to the man’s skin and activate it in one single motion. A loud crack, and the man collapsed to the floor, not even issuing a sound. Ky Menin looked down at the crumpled heap on the floor, then back at the device with interest. Far more effective than he had imagined. He gave a satisfied nod, and then looked at the other man still hovering by Ka Vail’s side. He could see fear in the man’s eyes, but the man said nothing, merely swallowing under Ky Menin’s gaze. Careful to put the dial back to a lower setting, he moved back to stand in front of the older Guildmaster. He leaned forward, bringing his face closer to Ka Vail’s fearful features and spoke in a low, deadly voice.

“You’re finished, Ka Vail. You have no more useful function, and by the time I’ve finished with you, you’ll serve as a reminder to anyone who wants to work against us. The Guild, your Guild, will fall into place, and you’ll be powerless to stop any of it.”

Aron Ka Vail spoke haltingly, grimacing every couple of words as the pain washed through him afresh. “You’re the one who is finished Ky Menin. The Kallathik will march and others will join them. You can do nothing to stop them. Better that they seize control at least temporarily rather than you have your way. You forget my sons. They will make you pay for this. You will pay.”

Karin laughed. Ky Menin stood and barked a short, sharp ugly laugh as well.

“Your sons! You really are an old fool Ka Vail. How do you think we know about what you’ve been doing? Your sons! One’s a halfwit, and the other is working with us, you pathetic old man. At least Jarid is bright enough to see that things have to change. And change they will.”

“J-Jarid?” whispered Ka Vail, haltingly.

“Yes,” said Ky Menin, leaning in closer for emphasis. “J-Jarid. Your beloved younger son.” He gave a short laugh again, and applied the device quickly to the old man’s forehead. Once more, the sharp crack, and the old man collapsed into a heap in the chair.

Ky Menin stood up, looking over to Karin. She was sitting calmly, watching the proceedings.

“What now?” she asked.

“Well, we can get rid of that,” said Ky Menin, waving his hand at the unconscious form of Ka Vail. “If what he said is true, we will have to organize the Guilds ourselves. We have to put the Kallathik and anyone else in their place. We have the means of doing it. We can call the Guilds together for a meeting at your estates. Get Jarid to help you. He will be eager to assist with the old man out of the way. I’m sure that if he shows himself cooperating, he might just believe it will cement his position within Primary Production. We should use that.”

Karin nodded, glancing back over at the unconscious Ka Vail. “And what about him?”

Ky Menin didn’t even bother looking at the old man. I’ll get my men to dump him somewhere outside the estates. He may not get far in the storms, but I think he’ll serve us better alive. No matter if he doesn’t make it though. Word will get out. They’ll see what happens to those who choose to work against our interests.”

Karin stood and crossed to join him. She reached out and took his hand. “I always believed you were the cleverest among them, Karryl,” she said. There was a brief, amused, twitch of her lower lip, and something else resting in her gaze. The way she was looking at him...

Carefully, Ky Menin extricated his hand from her grasp. “Come on,” he said. “We have things to prepare.”

The slight narrowing of Karin’s eyes did not escape his notice.

Chapter Twenty-Eight