"Whether you like it or not, Jarid Ka Vail, you are a subordinate within the Guild of Primary Production. I hold the rank here. As long as your father or your brother still live, and we have no evidence to say otherwise, then you remain just that, a lesser functionary. I suggest you start to do what I say."
Jarid rose slowly and turned to face him. "And who are you?" he said, the sneer evident in his words. "Who are you, Yosset Clier? You don't even come from a named family. The only reason you have position is because of your links with the Men Darnak family, because of Karin."
"Jarid, no," she said from across the room.
"No," he said, swinging around to face her. "I will talk. This fool is like all the rest. It's not those most capable who get the positions within the Guilds, is it? It's all families and associations and positions of birth. Well damn it, no! Listen to what you're saying. You should know better than anyone. We can put up with his self-important speeches for as long as we want, but it doesn't change anything. We all know what's happening here."
"And what is that?" said Yosset quietly, still not turning around.
Ky Menin suddenly loomed from the shadows to one side of the room. "Actually, Yosset, what Jarid is saying is right. We've been long overdue for a real change, and this is our opportunity. Let us seize this chance to drive our positions forward. If you can't deal with that, then I don't believe you deserve a place in what's to come."
Clier stared out the window, holding back his reply.
"In fact," continued Ky Menin. "I have decided that it makes more sense for Jarid to work together with me in the Guild of Technologists."
"Such a clear night," said Clier. He slid open one of the large windows, then moved to open another one.
"What are you doing, Yosset? Have you lost your senses?"
"Nights like this, after a good storm, everything is so clear." He turned to face them, a slight breeze from the window plucking at his clothes. "Don't you think?"
There was a frown on both Karin and Ky Menin's faces.
"What are you talking about, Clier," said the Guildmaster.
Yosset laughed. "You see, I don't believe Jarid can work with you at all, Ky Menin. I believe he has already promised his services to someone else."
Ky Menin tilted his head, an expression of puzzlement on his face. "What?"
Taking his time about it, Yosset reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. Carefully, unhurriedly, he opened it, read what was there and then looked up at Karin. For a moment or two, she looked puzzled, and then her eyes widened and she blanched.
"Where did you get that?" she said.
"Oh, I too have my means, my dear wife. You see, Karryl, written here, in Karin's own fair hand is her plan to have me dealt with, and then to form an alliance with young Jarid here, whatever form that alliance may take."
"Is that true?" said Ky Menin, taking a step forward, a thoughtful expression on his face. Yosset was surprised at how calm the Guildmaster seemed.
All the smugness had dropped from Jarid's face. "There's nothing you can do about it, Clier. Nothing." He took a step forward.
"Oh, but you're wrong, Jarid," Yosset replied. "As much as I have been devoted to my wife, as much as I have loved her and tried to please her in every way I could, it appears that was not enough. I had hoped that perhaps one day she would return those feelings, but I can see now that it was never going to happen. This time she's gone too far." Suddenly his voice adopted a hard edge. "This time you've both gone too far."
Jarid laughed. "It's too late for you, Clier," he said. "What are you going to do?" Taking another step, he pulled something from his pocket.
Clier recognized it immediately as one of the small hand weapons. He knew just what it could do.
"Jarid, no!" said Karin.
Swallowing back his doubt -- he was committed now, committed to act for one of the first times in his long existence within the Guild hierarchy -- Yosset took a step back toward the open window. "Markis!" he called.
Out of the darkness behind him, a figure appeared. In one hand, he carried one of the Kallathik spears.
"Markis?" said Jarid. He frowned trying to make out the figure standing in the gloom.
"Don't you know me, Jarid?" said Markis. "You should know me now."
