Read Online Imager’s Intrigue by Jr. L. E. Modesitt - Free Book Online

all of us.
    Once Desalyt had turned the coach off Nordroad and we were headed southwest on the Boulevard D’Ouest toward the Nord Bridge over the Aluse, I finally asked, “What happened?”
    “Are you trying to soothe me?”
    “No. I can see you’re upset about something. I thought you might want to talk about it.”
    Seliora glanced down at Diestrya, then shook her head. “Later.”
    After we’d covered another few blocks, I said, reluctantly, “I’m going to have to stop and see Master Dichartyn before dinner.”
    “Again? You’ve had to…” Seliora broke off the sentence.
    “He doesn’t ask unless it’s important.”
    “Important to him.”
    “I know.” I offered a helpless shrug. Maitre Dichartyn was my superior in the Collegium.
    Once the duty coach came to a halt at its post on the west side of Imagisle, I did hurry down to the administration building.
    Master Dichartyn was standing by the window of his study when I entered, but he did not speak until I closed the door.
    “You’ve seen the newsheets, have you not?”
    “I have. To which problem are you going to direct my attention?” I didn’t feel like guessing.
    “Grain ware houses. You might recall that I mentioned a High Holder Haebyn. The two ware houses that were destroyed and damaged were his.”
    “So we now have a subterranean conflict between eastern High Holders and freeholders? I assume the grain factors are on the side of the freeholders. Are they?”
    “Wouldn’t you rather deal with a freeholder than a High Holder?”
    “Is this because river flows are down, and the freeholders have bought out water rights? Or is it because grain production is up and the freeholders can underprice the High Holders?”
    “Something along those lines,” Dichartyn replied. “In dry years, the High Holders have more water, but in good water years the freeholders can underprice the High Holders to the point where the High Holders lose golds.”
    “That’s very interesting, but what’s the connection between that and the Collegium and one Civic Patrol Captain?”
    “Nothing…yet. Except for one thing: the report of Broussart’s death was in error. He was apparently called away and let one of his assistants take his wife and daughter to the opera.”
    “You’re suggesting that he planned the explosion to implicate Haebyn? And he killed his own wife and daughter to do it?”
    “He and his wife were not on the best of terms. Apparently, his wife and the assistant were.”
    I could see that Dichartyn had been busy. “You won’t find much in the way of proof. Captain Jacquet won’t, either.”
    “No. I don’t expect anyone will. I just thought you’d like to know.” He smiled. “One other thing, Rhenn. I don’t believe your wife has ever been to a Council Ball, has she?”
    “No, sir.”
    “It’s time we remedied that.” He handed me a heavy parchment envelope. “That’s an invitation for you and your wife as a guest of High Councilor Suyrien. You do have formal wear, and I’m certain Seliora will be radiant.”
    “What am I supposed to be looking for?” I asked dryly.
    “If Suyrien and I knew, Rhenn, both you and Seliora wouldn’t be there.”
    “What should I tell her…besides that?”
    “That’s all.”
    “There’s one thing you should know, sir, if you don’t. Some of the elveweed coming into L’Excelsis is tainted or poisoned…” I gave him a short explanation, but not what I’d asked Seliora’s family to find out. Then I left and hurried to see if I could find Draffyd, but he’d already left the infirmary.
    When I reached the house, Seliora met me in the front foyer. “Dinner’s not quite ready. Klysia said it won’t be long. There’s an envelope on the receiving tray, but I didn’t know who it was for. I thought I’d wait to open it until you got here.”
    I glanced down to see Diestrya clinging to Seliora’s trousers. I reached down and scooped her up. “There! Dada’s got you.”
    She