Four

Men Darnak's chambers were functional and sparsely adorned. A wide desk scattered with papers and files dominated the room. A screen sat at one end of the desk. The only concession to taste was the row of portraits depicting Men Darnak's predecessors hanging along one wall. Sandon knew these had another purpose, to subtly reinforce Men Darnak's authority, the power of history and succession. Everywhere else, the stone walls remained bare in defiance of convention. Behind a door to one side lay the Principal's private sleeping chambers and on the other, his library. Since the groundcar accident more than ten years ago that had robbed him of his wife, Men Darnak had existed almost like a hermit, spending most of his time in these chambers, paying scant attention to anything other than the smooth functioning of the Guilds and the progress of his children. The Principal was strong; his control of the Guilds, the smooth operations of the Principate, all attested to that, but recently he’d been showing signs of things that troubled Sandon.

Men Darnak moved to a position behind the desk, and Witness Kovaar moved to stand at one end, his hands folded before him. Kovaar wore dark blue unadorned robes that concealed most of his frame. The priest was gaunt beneath the obscuring cloth and his high cheekbones and hollow cheeks gave him a slightly sinister appearance. On the few occasions Sandon had bothered to listen to the man speak, his voice had been high and reedy, gaunt like his appearance. For some reason, Kovaar seemed to want to keep silent in Sandon’s presence, and Sandon hesitated to think of the conversations the priest probably held with Men Darnak in the many hours when Sandon wasn’t actually around. The superstitious nonsense fostered by the Church helped to keep the general population in their place, but it had no proper role in the Principal’s chambers. Sandon looked straight at Kovaar, making it clear that his presence wasn't welcome, but Kovaar returned his look without expression.

Sandon pressed his lips together. The Principal, seemingly unaware of the brief, silent interchange, motioned Sandon to shut the doors behind him.

“So, Yl Aris. What is important enough to warrant dragging us away from the celebrations?”

“It's Tarlain, Principal.”

Men Darnak sighed. “And what has my dear son done now?”

“It's not what he's done, but what I think he's about to do. I just witnessed a fairly heated discussion with Karnav Din Baltir....”

“And?”

“I didn't catch all of it, but he was talking about 'acting' before Roge had cemented his power. That can’t be a good thing.”

“Acting? And what has Tarlain got to act upon?” Men Darnak shot a glance at Witness Kovaar then fingered his beard thoughtfully. “Was there anything else?”

“From what I could gather, it involved the Kallathik somehow.” Sandon waited patiently while Men Darnak sat, then shuffled through the top drawer on his desk. He was used to these apparently unrelated activities from the Principal when the man was thinking. He knew better than to interrupt the old man’s knife-edge flow of thought.

“And what exactly might that be I wonder, hmm?” said Men Darnak without lifting his gaze. “Well, let us find out.” He turned to Witness Kovaar. “Fetch Tarlain would you? You wait here Yl Aris.”

“But, Principal, wait,” said Sandon. “Don't you think it would be better if we found out what—?”

Men Darnak cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Go,” he said to Kovaar who stood hesitating by the door.

Men Darnak called up something on his screen and started scanning while Witness Kovaar disappeared to find the Principal's youngest child. Sandon was left standing, staring across at Men Darnak's snowy mane. The Principal made no suggestion that he should sit, despite the three chairs arrayed in front of the broad desk. For the moment, Sandon might well have simply not existed. He sighed.

“If I might suggest, Principal—”

“You will suggest nothing, Yl Aris!” Men Darnak snapped.

Sandon bit his lip and clasped his hands behind him, knowing better than to push the point when the Principal was in a mood such as this. There had been more and more of these moods of late, and he had no desire to feel the Principal’s ire right now. He needed him thinking with his usual calm rationality. With the transition already announced, the entire political dynamic was too finely balanced.

He didn't have long to wait. Kovaar reappeared a few minutes later with Tarlain in tow. The priest resumed his position by the desk's edge, folding his hands in front of him, and without further ceremony, Men Darnak spoke quietly without lifting his gaze.

“So, Tarlain, what's this I hear about the Kallathik?”

Tarlain shot Sandon the briefest accusatory glance. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

Men Darnak slammed his palm down on the desk in front of him and stood. “The hell you don't.” He drew himself to his full height and glared across the room at his youngest son. Tarlain glared right back.

“Just because you think you have eyes and ears everywhere, don't think you know everything,” said Tarlain. “If you paid a little more attention to what was really going on in the world and less to your spies, you might know a little more than you think you do.”

A muscle worked at the side of Men Darnak's jaw. He spoke the next quietly. “What is this thing you're planning, Tarlain? I've worked too long putting everything in place to have you upset it all. We have an entire social order to run and maintain. There’s no place for petty idealism. Everything we do depends on what happens here. On what happens right here. You might just be old enough to understand that. If you took the time to listen and consider, you’d know the truth of it. Yl Aris here understands the need, so don’t question the work he does for me. Tell me what you’re up to. What does this have to do with Roge and Din Baltir?”

Tarlain gave Sandon another accusatory look and strode across to stand right in front of the desk. “At least Guildmaster Din Baltir knows what's really going on in the world. You, Father, must be blind not to see the discomfort and suffering all around you. There are signs everywhere.”

“Where? What discomfort and suffering? Haven't I given you a good life? The Atavists — is that it? They choose their own lives. Or is it the Kallathik you're talking about? They've existed the same way for centuries. Long before the arrival of the First Families. They’re little more than animals, Tarlain. Why do you want to suddenly take them on as your cause? Isn't there enough to keep you busy in Welfare?” He shook his head. “I would have thought more of Din Baltir. What's he been doing...filling your head with more of those stupid notions about what’s good and right, no doubt?”

Tarlain placed both hands on the edge of the desk and leaned forward. “Say what you like, but this is nothing to do with Guildmaster Din Baltir. I know you can't see it, Father. I know how you think, what's important to you. And it's that which blinds you. You want to pass everything to Roge regardless of what's going on about you in the world. All Roge sees is his own power. And we know where he gets that from.”

Men Darnak laughed. “And we know where you get your romantic ideals too. You're your mother's son, Tarlain. I'll give you that.” He smiled at the boy and then the smile drifted away. “How can you even talk about acting against Roge? Haven't I done enough? I’ve done everything to ensure that you, that all of my children, have had everything. I spoke about a division of power, with Roge acting as Principal. There was place for you there. I’ve done enough for all of you, Tarlain. And now, now you choose to — no, damn you. How dare you!”

Tarlain stood his ground. “I've said nothing about working against Roge. Nothing at all. All I want is to be free to act on what I think is right. We need change. If we don't change, things get worse and more suffer. It’s a self-fulfilling spiral. These times are hard, Father, and they’re going to get harder. And the only sort of reform Roge is likely to become involved in is to improve his own position — no one else's. You have to be able to see that. Yet you still expect me to sit back and turn a blind eye. I can’t do that.”

Sandon watched the young man with renewed respect. He had always picked him as the softest of the three. Before today, he would never have expected the boy to face up to his father like this. The others, perhaps. Especially Karin. Men Darnak, however, was not accustomed to having people stand up to him.

“You will sit back and do precisely that — nothing! Do you hear me, Tarlain? Tell him, Kovaar. Tell this foolish young man the way of the world.” He strode to the other end of the desk and stood there with set jaw, glaring at Tarlain. Sandon frowned. There was something wrong here. The old man never reacted like this. There were the flashes of fury, but normally they were swiftly swept aside by the Principal’s normal calm.

Witness Kovaar cleared his throat. “The Prophet dictates that there is an order to all things. Each person has their place and their role in life. It is everyone's duty to fulfill his or her given role. To work against that is to work against the natural order as written in the Words of the Prophet.”

Tarlain rounded on the Principal. “Is that it? Blind acceptance? You only use this stuff to bolster your position. Nothing more. You can't really believe this nonsense, Father, this meaningless prattling.” He waved his hand dismissively in Witness Kovaar's direction “I expected more of you.”

“Be careful what you say, Tarlain,” said Men Darnak, his voice gone flat, his hand bunching into a fist.

“No, Father! I'm sick of being careful about what I say and what I do. This time you're going to listen to me.”

“No, Tarlain!” Men Darnak thundered. “You will listen to me!” Witness Kovaar looked down at his hands, clearly uncomfortable.

The Principal lowered his voice almost to a whisper. “You will return to the celebrations and you will forget all this nonsense. Despite what you may think, this is not the time for change. There is enough at stake with Roge’s position. He needs guidance and support. I’m aware of that. I don’t need you to tell me. I’m fully aware of what each of you need. By the Prophet, Tarlain, haven’t I raised you? Now, I’ll tell you exactly what you are going to do. You will take up your indenture with House Din Baltir and do as I say. That will be an end to it.”

Tarlain shook his head, a hard set to his jaw.

Men Darnak narrowed his eyes. “I'm warning you, Tarlain. Heed my words. There is too much at stake here.”

“Are you threatening me, Father? Threatening me with what? What could you possibly do?” Tarlain's words were calmly rational. “No, I don't think so. I intend to do what I have to, regardless of what you say.”

They stared at each other.

“Then you can go, dammit!” shouted Men Darnak. “I will not have you upsetting the transition.” He held his hands clutched tightly in front of him. Then he seemed to suddenly regain his composure. “Just get out,” he said quietly. “Go, Tarlain. Just go, before I say something I’ll regret.”

“Principal, don’t you think we should —?” Sandon said.

Men Darnak cut him off with a wave of his hand. “Enough, Yl Aris!”

“But Principal...” said Witness Kovaar.

Men Darnak whirled on him. “No, Priest!” He turned back to face his son.

Tarlain stood where he was, simply glaring back at his father.

Men Darnak stared back in disbelief. “And still you would defy me, boy. Then you really can go, damn you. Leave! I forbid you to have anything to do with the duties of the Principate. You can take up your tenure with House Din Baltir and the Guild of Welfare, if the Guildmaster will still have you. If you want to continue following your stupid ideals, then you can do so in Welfare, but you will have no dealings with the Principate. None!”

Their gazes locked for what seemed an eternity, and then Tarlain turned on his heel and strode from the chamber, slamming the door behind him. Men Darnak gave a wordless growl from deep within his chest.

Witness Kovaar cleared his throat again. “Principal, do you think that's wise? Would it not be better to have the full support of Welfare for Roge's transition? Tarlain would — ”

“Tarlain would what? And you as well? Isn't it sufficient that my youngest son would attempt to counsel me?” hissed Men Darnak. “Enough, Priest.” He moved back behind the desk, and sat heavily. “Fetch Din Baltir, Sandon. I have to be sure that this isn't coming from him. Right now I need to be assured of his support. With Storm Season upon us, we’re going to need everything we can get from Welfare.”

Sandon quickly turned to do as he was told. It would do no good to keep Men Darnak waiting just now. As usual, despite the emotion, the old man seemed to understand exactly what was needed. As he slipped out the door, he saw Kovaar bending over, talking quietly. He pulled the door closed behind him, narrowing his eyes at the thought of the priest’s interference. Whatever Witness Kovaar was saying, it could do absolutely nothing to help the situation. Nothing.

He wasted no time making his way into the hall where the crowd still swirled, glasses clutched in their hands as they were topped up by an endless supply of functionaries who appeared as soon as the contents of a single glass started to diminish. He paused for a moment in the doorway, attempting to regain his composure, looking for some sign of Tarlain, but the boy was nowhere to be seen. He quickly spotted Din Baltir standing alone, looking thoughtfully at his glass. Sandon cut through the crowd and stepped in front of the Guildmaster, smiled, tilted his head and reached up to place a hand on the man’s upper arm.

“A quiet word, Guildmaster Din Baltir. Are you enjoying the celebrations?

A frown flickered across the man’s face. “Why yes, Yl Aris. Thank you.”

“Ahh, I’m glad. Actually, if you’re not too busy, the Principal would like to spend a few moments with you in private.”

Karnav Din Baltir’s frown deepened. He swallowed and looked nervously about. “You’re sure?”

“Of course I'm sure, Guildmaster. If you'd follow me, please.”

Din Baltir cleared his throat, grimaced and placed his glass on a passing tray. “All right, if I must,” he said. Sandon led the way through the crowd.

Men Darnak barely looked up as they entered. He gestured for Din Baltir to take one of the three chairs arrayed in front of his desk and waited until the Guildmaster had settled comfortably.

“Guildmaster Din Baltir. What can you tell me about this proposed action against Roge?”

Din Baltir paled. “Why, Principal. What proposed action?”

“I have just spoken with Tarlain.”

“B-but Tarlain said nothing about acting against Roge. I don't see how — ”

“I have just talked to the boy myself, Din Baltir. Would you deny it?”

“Principal, you know your son. The young man's an idealist. Not a bad thing in one so young. Especially with the work that we do in Welfare. It’s an important attribute. But consider… I would not take the things he says too seriously.”

“And what would you suggest I do?”

“Why, these things pass with time. He’ll soon learn of the realities of the world. Get him busy with the Guild, with the Principate and he’ll have other things to worry about than any concern about Roge and what he’s doing.”

“So you admit it!” There was a gleam of victory in Men Darnak's eyes.

“I admit nothing, Principal. I admit nothing more than idle talk. I have children of my own. The boy's your son. You should know his nature.”

Men Darnak leaned forward. “And now you presume to tell me what I should and shouldn't know about my children.”

Din Baltir glanced nervously around the room, seeking some sort of support, but finding none. He finally looked back at Men Darnak.

The Principal fixed him with his steely gaze. “Well, what if I told you that Tarlain has no further function within the Principate? How would you like that?” He sat back looking as if he'd just won some major point. “Does that surprise you, Din Baltir? I would think that Welfare might want to reconsider its position regarding Tarlain Men Darnak.”

Din Baltir's shoulders slumped. He gave Witness Kovaar a pleading look.

“Principal...” said Kovaar.

“What!”

“What the Guildmaster says is reasonable. The boy is young. It may be not a bad thing that one of such idealism is associated with Welfare.”

“So that he can stay around, waiting to seize the opportunity to work against everything I have set in place? Tradition guarantees Roge his place. I will not have Tarlain attempting to undermine that. Ignoring the traditions so blatantly would do nothing to ease the change.”

“But, Principal — ”

“What is it, priest? Again? Or perhaps there's collusion between the Church and the Atavists. Or might it be the Kallathik themselves? What exactly is it, Witness Kovaar? Everything's perfectly all right as long as a Men Darnak is in power — is that it?”

Sandon frowned. What was the Principal getting at?

“Principal, I — ”

“Enough,” snapped Men Darnak. He turned back to address the Guildmaster. “I don't know what this has to do with the Kallathik, but you would be wise to consider your position carefully, Karnav Din Baltir.”

The Guildmaster's mouth was set in a thin line. “It appears that I must, Principal,” he said quietly.

“That's all, Guildmaster,” said Men Darnak. Din Baltir rose, looked quickly at Kovaar, glanced over to where Sandon stood, and then dropped his gaze. He nodded once and then left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Men Darnak rubbed his hands together. “Now that that's done with, we can return to the celebrations,” he said.

Sandon cleared his throat. “Principal,” he said. “I urge you to reconsider. The implications of — ”

Men Darnak turned on him slowly, fixing him with an icy blue stare. His eyes were full of cold glinting fire. “You would question me too, Yl Aris? What is this? Does every single person in this place think I'm incapable of making decisions any more?”

“I just believe — ”

“You believe what?”

Sandon swallowed before speaking. “Principal, I think you might want to reconsider.”

“No, damn you,” said Men Darnak, slamming his hand on the desk. “I've had enough. I will not be questioned by you, either. What, are you in league with the boy too? Is that it?”

“Principal, I — ”

“That’s it, isn’t it? You. You and the boy are plotting together. Then dammit, Yl Aris, you can go as well. Go with him, if you want. Go and be with the boy. That's it. I don't want to see you again.” He sliced his hand through the air in emphasis. “Finished.”

“But, Principal — ”

Men Darnak had already stood, crossed the room and flung the door wide. He was gone, down the passageway back to the Hall before Sandon could utter another word. His mouth hanging stupidly open, Sandon stared at the open doorway.

Chapter Five