the Collegium. On merit, and because he had Peter of Navaya as
a sponsor. "He means to employ a battery of limited, secured loans."
Sublime was inclined to avoid securing his loans with anything more
substantial than a signature. But ink was no longer enough for Brothe's
moneylenders.
"Property?" The Church was the biggest landowner in Firaldia. Since
earliest Old Brothen times land had been
the
critical measure
of wealth. Only land could provide a stream of income.
"Fiducian Cuito would rather pawn art treasures and rare books from
the Krois Palace. He won't say why, but he's sure the Church is going
to receive a substantial windfall before long."
"Then something's going on under the table. And Sublime's kept it
inside his inner circle."
"Exactly."
"Considering the time of year and general economy, I'd say they're
going to steal something. Or sell something. Big. They've already sold
all the seats in the Collegium that they can. And all the livings that
anybody will pay for." A thought. "Could it be a fat bequest?"
"I don't know of anyone with one foot in the grave and the
inclination to bribe the guardians at Heaven's gates."
"Would they hurry somebody off to the Promised Land early?" Sublime
had not yet been accused of murder for profit. But his predecessors had.
"We don't have access to their records. We haven't heard of any
pending legacies."
"Keep an eye on it." Hecht settled in to listen to other reports,
not just about Clearenza. He had some responsibilities regarding the
ongoing effort to suppress diehard Praman partisans in Calzir.
Calzir would never reclaim its independence. If Sublime recalled his
garrisons the Grail Empire and Navaya would flood the vacuum. Making
Sublime's two biggest competitors even stronger.
Fate conspired to thwart Sublime at every turn. But he refused to
see the stumbling blocks as an expression of God's will.
Few men took their own reverses as God's will. Instead, they worked
hard to adjust God's will to reflect their own.
Sublime probably spent a lot of time asking God why it all had to be
so hard.
Moving close, Titus Consent asked, "Can I see you privately after
we're done?"
"Absolutely. I need a word with you, too. Colonel Smolens, are you
confident enough to take over if I take a few days off?"
Smolens showed surprise, then curiosity. "I know my way around, now."
"Your biggest problem would likely be having to deal with our
masters. None of them are the least bit reasonable."
"No problem, Captain-General. I can pretend they're my extended
family." Buhle Smolens was perfectly formal. He demonstrated the ideal
military courtesy, uphill and down, always. He had brought his family
to Brothe. Nobody had met them yet. Smolens mentioned them only in
passing. His eldest son supposedly wanted a subaltern's position, if
one came open.
Smolens had several interesting ideas for installing a more
professional attitude in the Patriarchal armies. His big fault was his
conviction concerning the earthly and moral supremacy of the Episcopal
vein of the Chaldarean faith. Though he did not buy the doctrine of
Patriarchal Infallibility.
Hard to do with Sublime V in front of you every day.
Tabill Talab was troubled. He wasted no time once Hecht recognized
him. "I'm having a problem no one else seems to notice. I feel a bleak
future closing in. For everyone."
Talab was the eternal pessimist, chosen to balance Titus Consent's
overconfidence. "Do explain."
"I talk to our couriers. I talk to merchants. I talk to refugees. I
ask for reports from our agents in the republics because their ships
visit all the ports of the Mother Sea."
Hecht nodded. No point hurrying the man. Talab could get where he
was going only along an engineered path.
"No matter where the reports originate, they always mention
upswings in the activities of the Night. Not big stuff. Not yet. Just
more sightings, more encounters, more malicious mischief getting more
virulent."
"Only the minor spirits remain
a sponsor. "He means to employ a battery of limited, secured loans."
Sublime was inclined to avoid securing his loans with anything more
substantial than a signature. But ink was no longer enough for Brothe's
moneylenders.
"Property?" The Church was the biggest landowner in Firaldia. Since
earliest Old Brothen times land had been
the
critical measure
of wealth. Only land could provide a stream of income.
"Fiducian Cuito would rather pawn art treasures and rare books from
the Krois Palace. He won't say why, but he's sure the Church is going
to receive a substantial windfall before long."
"Then something's going on under the table. And Sublime's kept it
inside his inner circle."
"Exactly."
"Considering the time of year and general economy, I'd say they're
going to steal something. Or sell something. Big. They've already sold
all the seats in the Collegium that they can. And all the livings that
anybody will pay for." A thought. "Could it be a fat bequest?"
"I don't know of anyone with one foot in the grave and the
inclination to bribe the guardians at Heaven's gates."
"Would they hurry somebody off to the Promised Land early?" Sublime
had not yet been accused of murder for profit. But his predecessors had.
"We don't have access to their records. We haven't heard of any
pending legacies."
"Keep an eye on it." Hecht settled in to listen to other reports,
not just about Clearenza. He had some responsibilities regarding the
ongoing effort to suppress diehard Praman partisans in Calzir.
Calzir would never reclaim its independence. If Sublime recalled his
garrisons the Grail Empire and Navaya would flood the vacuum. Making
Sublime's two biggest competitors even stronger.
Fate conspired to thwart Sublime at every turn. But he refused to
see the stumbling blocks as an expression of God's will.
Few men took their own reverses as God's will. Instead, they worked
hard to adjust God's will to reflect their own.
Sublime probably spent a lot of time asking God why it all had to be
so hard.
Moving close, Titus Consent asked, "Can I see you privately after
we're done?"
"Absolutely. I need a word with you, too. Colonel Smolens, are you
confident enough to take over if I take a few days off?"
Smolens showed surprise, then curiosity. "I know my way around, now."
"Your biggest problem would likely be having to deal with our
masters. None of them are the least bit reasonable."
"No problem, Captain-General. I can pretend they're my extended
family." Buhle Smolens was perfectly formal. He demonstrated the ideal
military courtesy, uphill and down, always. He had brought his family
to Brothe. Nobody had met them yet. Smolens mentioned them only in
passing. His eldest son supposedly wanted a subaltern's position, if
one came open.
Smolens had several interesting ideas for installing a more
professional attitude in the Patriarchal armies. His big fault was his
conviction concerning the earthly and moral supremacy of the Episcopal
vein of the Chaldarean faith. Though he did not buy the doctrine of
Patriarchal Infallibility.
Hard to do with Sublime V in front of you every day.
Tabill Talab was troubled. He wasted no time once Hecht recognized
him. "I'm having a problem no one else seems to notice. I feel a bleak
future closing in. For everyone."
Talab was the eternal pessimist, chosen to balance Titus Consent's
overconfidence. "Do explain."
"I talk to our couriers. I talk to merchants. I talk to refugees. I
ask for reports from our agents in the republics because their ships
visit all the ports of the Mother Sea."
Hecht nodded. No point hurrying the man. Talab could get where he
was going only along an engineered path.
"No matter where the reports originate, they always mention
upswings in the activities of the Night. Not big stuff. Not yet. Just
more sightings, more encounters, more malicious mischief getting more
virulent."
"Only the minor spirits remain
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