"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."
