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Go on, Justen. Don t worry about anything. Recluce will be fine. Don t worry
if the Whites conquer all of Candar. Don t worry if all trade with Recluce
gets cut off. Everything will be fine. Justen glared from his prone
position. Well, it won t be fine. I m sorry this happened. It won t happen
again, because as soon as I can, I m leaving.
Horas s shoulders slumped. You can t keep doing this, Justen,
The door opened again, and Cirlin stood there. It is rather difficult to
get any rest with the four of you arguing about whether Candar and the world
should be saved and if Gunnar or Elisabet should help Justen save it, and
whether Justen meant to hurt us. She turned to Horas. I know Jus-ten didn t
mean what happened.
Good intentions don t bring back dead people, Horas said, an edge to his
voice. Justen will go off and save the world, but I d like him to leave our
corner halfway intact.
That s the problem, and that s why Justen s right and you re wrong,
Father, Elisabet said.
Gunnar took a deep breath. Justen tried to hold back the insane grinning
feeling he felt.
Elisabet turned to her mother, then to her father. I will go! And you
can t stop me! You don t understand how important it is. You don t!
Elisabet& Gunnar s voice was low. Justen and I and Martan will go, and
as soon as we can.
You two& sighed Horas. More death and destruction?
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You act as if I have a choice, said Justen slowly. I don t.
You have to blow up your family? snapped Horas.
No. I have to right the Balance& except that the ancients didn t exactly
hand me a map.
You are going to save the world? And face who knows how many White
Wizards, when you couldn t handle even a few in Sarronnyn?
I know more now. Justen forced a smile. I think you saw that.
You ll destroy us all.
I don t have a choice. Justen kept his voice even.
But-
Horas, said Cirlin evenly, if Justen doesn t have a choice, he doesn t
have a choice. And if that s the way he feels, then we need to help him get to
Candar as quickly as possible. Before we start a civil war here on Recluce.
That s ridiculous, said Horas.
Oh? asked Cirlin. And what are we doing right now? Her eyes swept the
group.
A short silence filled the room.
I think I can persuade Heldra and her daughter to help with the stitching
on Justen s balloon, added Cirlin.
Horas shifted his weight from one bare foot to the other.
Father& I didn t mean it, Elisabet pleaded. But Jus-ten s right. I know
he s right.
We ll see, daughter. Horas looked at Justen. Heldra, unlike the rest of
us, is not likely to stitch your fancy silksheen on faith.
I ve still got some golds to pay them with.
That would definitely help. Cirlin s eyes traversed the four. Now that
we ve settled that, can we get some sleep? Or some quiet?
Oh, Mother& But Elisabet hugged Cirlin, very gently. Then she stepped
toward her father. I m sorry, Father.
It s all right. Horas took a deep breath. Mostly.
I m sorry, Father, Justen added. I wasn t careful enough.
Elisabet slipped her arms around Horas.
Gunnar gave a faint smile past her to Justen, and Justen nodded.
Cirlin shook her head. Such an amiable and agreeable group. So willing and
eager to see each other s views.
Horas coughed. Speaking of views& Since everyone s still up, and since no
one is about to listen to my views-
Oh, Father, said Elisabet, exasperation edging her tone.
I m going to put out cider and a perfectly good peach pie. Shouldn t go to
waste, I say, said Horas. His tone turned wry. After all, Justen might turn
his lenses or something on it.
If you ve got some ale, said Justen, easing himself into a sitting
position and ignoring the twinges in his ribs, I ll take you up on the pie.
Gunnar gave a faint, exasperated headshake.
I d like that, too. Elisabet led the way to the kitchen.
Horas stood aside, then gave Justen a long look and a sad headshake.
Justen swallowed, but struggled to his feet.
CXXXVI
I think the Council should consider an order for confinement of this&
what s his name? Ryltar glanced toward Claris.
You can stop the act, Ryltar, suggested Jenna, her eyes not meeting his,
but drifting toward the light-splashed terrace beyond the Council Room. You
know very well the engineer s name.
What is his name? asked Claris, her voice deliberately sweet.
Justen. You two make me sick with all your games, as if you d never heard
about&
Heard about what, Ryltar? That this Justen made money with some sharp
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trading? Or that he s apparently been a success as a trader while remaining
highly ordered? Or is there something else we should know? Has he decided to
compete with you on the Hamor routes? Jenna turned her head and favored the
wispy-haired counselor with a smile.
The marines say that he s strangely accomplished with weapons, added
Ryltar.
I believe your& cousin& noted that, even before this Justen went to
Sarronnyn. Is there something else? asked Claris.
What does it take? The man s order-mad. I m not talking about exile or
execution. I just want him confined so that he doesn t hurt himself or anyone
else.
I believe he is resting with his family in Wandernaught. His brother is a
Weather Wizard who is directly under Turmin s supervision. This rest is a
confinement of sorts, since he has been effectively removed from the
engineering hall.
I would like to request that he be physically confined and thoroughly
examined, not only by Turmin, but by several other mages in the Brotherhood.
Perhaps we should take that up at our next meeting, suggested Jenna. It
might help if you had some better reasons, also, Ryltar.
The next meeting is more than two eight-days from now.
As you have pointed out often, Ryltar, added Claris, we do not have to
act precipitously when we are not even sure something is yet a problem.
Fine. Next meeting. Ryltar stood and lifted the thin leather case and
walked out stiffly. The heavy door closed behind him with a thud.
He s angry. I don t believe I ve ever seen him that angry, observed
Claris.
He s not telling us something, and I don t know why. It s almost as if
he s afraid of this Justen. Jenna brushed a strand of hair off her forehead
and back over her ear. And he never answered my question about the Hamor
trade. None of it makes sense.
If Ryltar s afraid, it might be well for us to fear it also, Jenna.
Claris stood and glanced toward the closed door. Ryltar is so cautious that
he never wants to act. Now he does. What does that tell us? She nodded
politely. Good day.
Jenna suppressed a frown as she stood also and answered. Good day.
CXXXVII
Damned strange basket, if you ask me, confessed Seldit, glancing at the
oblong, waist-high woven basket standing in the middle of the cooper s
workroom.
Exactly what I need. Justen smiled briefly, running his fingers across
the triple-woven top ridge. You did this well.
Don t get much call for baskets this big, young fellow.
That s probably true. I owe you three for this?
We d agreed on three&
Justen caught the suggestion in the cooper s voice. But it took more time
and effort than you thought it would?
Not a lot, but& Mallin had to help me some nights to get it ready. The
engineer lifted his purse, opened it and set four golds on the bench. Here s
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