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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.

Five

Tarlain looked around his simple room running an array of choices through his head. The anger was gone now. It had faded, changed, transforming into something more like concern. As he performed the mental inventory of his possessions, details and memories washed up to fill his thoughts. There were memories here aplenty: the souvenirs gathered on various trips; his books; a painting of the twin suns he'd done during his artistic phase. He remembered his father leaning over his shoulder, offering advice as he put the finishing touches on the work. A deep sigh came unbidden from within. None of it mattered any more. None of it.

He'd noticed a change in the old man over the past few months. He had become more distant, more removed, locked up in his own thoughts and political machinations seemingly without any more time for his children. Over the years Leannis Men Darnak had been a caring, gentle father, always eager to take time from the affairs of the Principate to wile away the time with them, guiding, listening to their dreams, telling them stories. Tarlain supposed there really was a time when you grew beyond that, but the distance he felt now was different, strange. It was almost as if something had stepped between them, blocking the man he knew from clear sight, obscuring the light and turning the memory into something darker. There was another thing that worried him; his father had always been volatile, but this was different, something not quite rational, almost�unbalanced.

Tarlain sighed again. He wasn't sure where he would go, but go he must. If he was to achieve anything, he had to get out from under the watchful gaze of both Roge and his father's network of informants. Particularly that Sandon Yl Aris. The man was everywhere, listening, observing, smiling, taking note. He had no doubt