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little trouble in enforcing this ordinance."
Thorn waved his hands in a scissor-like motion.  All right, all right; there,
it is done."
For a moment, it seemed that all life had gone from the Prelate's face, as if
it had become a pasty, imploding mass of inanimate dough. A rasping, hacking
sigh escaped Thorn's lips and he sank to his knees. When he stood, Dalquist
noted that the Prelate's gaze had regained some of its accustomed intensity.
"Do you admit, Lord Prelate, that you have been holding Questor Grimm Afelnor
in a spell of Compulsion? Crohn asked, as if he were a lawyer prosecuting a
case.
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"I do, Thorn said, although his voice was far from conciliatory,  but I am
damned if I know what business this is of yours."
"As you well know, Lord Thorn, that is a severe breach of House and Guild
protocol. Ordinance "
"Since you are so fond of quoting House articles, Crohn, Thorn said,
interrupting the Senior Magemaster,  I will quote one for your benefit:
Ordinance 1-8.  In matters of House Policy, the decision of the Lord Prelate
shall override all other Ordinances within these Articles, except where
contra-indicated by Ordinance 35-17 or Ordinance 18-4.'
"I believe we have now disposed of the former case, and the latter, which
concerns High Treason, can only be decided by majority decision of the
Presidium.
"It may be outside the bounds of normal House procedure to cast a spell of
Compulsion on an Acclaimed Mage, but it is neither a breach of the Articles of
Association, nor of the Guild Code of Practice. I have no need to justify my
behaviour to you, or to anyone else."
The Prelate seated himself and crossed his arms. Although he still looked pale
and dissolute, Dalquist could see he had now regained much of his composure
and force of will.
"Lord Thorn, said Crohn.  What you say may well be correct in all details "
"It is, Crohn, and you know it."
" but this is not the only reason that Questor Dalquist and I wished to
converse with you. There is also the matter of the training of Questors to
consider. We believe you are taking unwarrantable risks with the mental
well-being of Neophytes, through reckless selection of inappropriate
candidates and the institution of a new and vicious regime of training. From
conversations I have had with other Magemasters, I am convinced that the aim
is no longer to frustrate and goad the potential candidate into his Outbreak,
but to brutalise and bully him to the very limits of his endurance until he
can bear no more. I believe you cared not a whit for the delicate mental state
of Neophyte Erek Geran, and that your sole intention was to produce a
powerful, loyal Questor at all costs, regardless of the risk to the boy's
health and sanity. We all know the results of Erek's Ordeal, despite your
attempts to muddy the waters with your claim that Senior Magemaster Urel had,
in his zeal, exceeded his orders."
"I stand full-square behind that assertion, Senior Magemaster Crohn, and I
challenge you to prove otherwise."
Dalquist said,  Of course, it is convenient that Magemaster Urel is no longer
available to refute your claims."
"Remember to whom you are speaking, Questor Dalquist! Thorn snapped.  I would
be well within my rights to have you dismissed for your slanderous
accusations, and I have a strong inclination to do so, be you a Questor of the
Seventh Rank or no."
Dalquist bristled with righteous indignation, and he prepared to challenge the
Prelate to carry out his threat, but he felt Crohn's warning hand on his
shoulder.
"I have some knowledge of the Questor Ordeal, as you will be aware, Lord
Prelate, the Magemaster said.  You will remember that I remonstrated with you
on several occasions about the treatment of Neophyte Grimm Afelnor during his
Ordeal."
"Treatment that you visited upon him, Magemaster Crohn. Thorn wore a faint
smile on his lips, and his voice was now cool, low and dangerous.  I wonder
why you waited until now to make your protest."
Dalquist feared that the momentum had shifted towards the Prelate. The moment
was slipping away.
Crohn frowned.  I acted on your direct and explicit instruction, Lord Prelate.
I would be more than willing to testify as much to the Conclave, or even to
the Presidium. When I trained Questor Grimm, I was unaware of the normal
procedures. My recent discussion with Questor Dalquist has convinced me that
the severity of Afelnor's Ordeal was exceptional, and a breach of normal
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practice."
Thorn leant back in his throne and smiled.  Grimm Afelnor is a full Questor,
and I have just recommended him for accession to the Sixth Rank, despite a
most unfavourable report from Questor Xylox. I do not think Questor Grimm
would agree that I have been brutal or callous. The grandson of the Traitor,
the progeny of a humble blacksmith, is now a wealthy nobleman and near the
peak of his calling before he has entered his third decade. Do you think the
members of the Conclave or the Presidium will see this as vindictive treatment
on my part? His Ordeal was successful, so it is plain that your wild claims of
reckless disregard do not hold water."
Thorn leaned forward, his gaze level and self-assured.  If I am forced to
testify before the Presidium, I shall, of course, tell the truth. Following
the tragic loss of Neophyte Erek Geran and Senior Magemaster Urel, I took a
more active interest in the training of Neophyte Questors. I assessed Neophyte
Grimm Afelnor and recognised phenomenal self-control within him. I judged that
he was able to withstand a stricter regime of training. The fact that he
passed the test with flying colours proves that my judgement was sound. You
cannot possibly equate the outstanding success of Questor Grimm with the sad
fate of Neophyte Erek, a debacle over which I had no control."
Dalquist recognised how cogent and persuasive this argument would sound if it
ever came before a tribunal. The addled and aged Senior Magemaster Urel had
gambled and lost, whereupon the canny, analytical Prelate Thorn had made a
reasoned and valid judgement, to the mutual benefit of Grimm Afelnor and Arnor
House. A pauper boy found rank, wealth and privilege in one of the few ways
open to him: the beneficence and bounty of the Guild.
Thorn leaned back again, his expression satisfied.  Gentlemen, I accept that [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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