Taking another sip, he lowered the bottle and swung it back and forth, suspended merely by one finger of his right hand. Hmm, Karin Men Darnak. The problem was, that until everything had settled, until the lines of power and control had been re-established, he needed to rely on Yosset Clier for support. There was no way he could do that if he was caught interfering with his wife. Things might be changing, but there were still clear boundaries. It didn't remove the possibility; it just meant that he'd have to be more careful. He wasn't worried about her in that equation. Jarid was absolutely sure that she knew what she was doing.
He lifted the bottle for one last sip, and then held it in his lap, running one hand up against the cold, damp surface. He'd just have to be careful. That was all. And Jarid Ka Vail was always careful, wasn't he?
As for the Men Darnak boy, Yosset had said that he would be released once everything had settled down. There was no way in the world that Jarid was going to let that happen, no matter what Karin's odious little husband thought. The boy would always remain a threat, and the best way to deal with threats was to remove them completely. There was no word yet what had happened to the old Principal. And there was another problem. Who would really become Principal now?
Perhaps... no, the thought was unimaginable.
It might just pay to foster the relationship with Karin. If things worked out the way he wanted, if Yosset Clier was suddenly out of the way, there were possibilities. He half smiled to himself as he planted the bottle on the table and leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his neck. In a little while, he would go and question Tarlain Men Darnak, but not for a little while. There was plenty of time yet. Plenty of time to enjoy the victory and to shape the ones to come. Plenty of time to let the Men Darnak brat sweat, waiting for the inevitable. His position would do nothing to help him now. Nothing at all could help him now.
#
The darkness had drawn in by the time they arrived. Jarid was sitting, contemplating, not even having bothered to light lamps to chase away the gloom. He was still fumbling with a light when the man led Clier, Karin and Guildmaster Ky Menin into the room. At last, the light flooded through the room, revealing him standing there, watching them as they descended the stair.
"So, Jarid," said Clier. "It was a good victory. I think we have them under control for the moment. They will have withdrawn to assess, count their losses. It shouldn't take us much with the Guildmaster's new weapons to clean up the rest. What do you think?"
Jarid waved them in, looking smugly pleased with himself. The lingering look with which he graced Karin did not escape Clier's attention. All well and good. Let him have his little fantasies. There was a game to be played out here. Yosset looked around the room, checking for anything that might be of concern, noted the broad panoramic windows that he'd stared out of so often when meeting with Aron Ka Vail, gave a merest glance at the darkened landscapes outside, barely visible with the light within the living space, then returned his attention to the boy. Everything should be in place by now. He remembered those windows very well.
"We have agreed," said Clier, "that we are now in a position to be able to find out what we need to know about the opposition's movements. Guildmaster Ky Menin assures me that he has the means to do just that. If you would have your men release Tarlain Men Darnak to us, we can get on with it. Where are you holding him?"
Jarid crossed to the couch and flopped down on it, put his feet up and gave an insolent smirk. "I don't think that's going to happen," he said.
"What?" said Yosset, barely able to believe the boy's brashness.
"I have other plans for the Men Darnak boy."
Yosset stepped forward. "I don't think you understand your position, Jarid."
"Oh, I understand it well enough," Jarid countered, shooting a quick grin in Karin's direction. Yosset glanced at Karin's face, but she was betraying nothing. Meanwhile, Ky Menin stood in the background, simply watching.
Yosset nodded. He walked across the room to stare out the window into the darkness. He would play this to its conclusion, whether they thought they could manipulate him by bringing him here or not.
