Off-Grid
The Tree House
Four Haosa, one Talented in Back Sight, another in Psychometry, and two Persuaders, had been called to Pacazahno by Arbour. There had been vandalism at the school, which was a near-enough miss that Tekelia shivered on hearing the news.
More news was that Majel ziaGorn, the Deaf Councilor himself, was to survey the site, with his team of Civilized Talents, and evaluate the damage.
That was worrisome, in Tekelia’s opinion. Unless they were very proficient with their shields, or of relatively low Talent, Civilized investigators were more likely to make a muddle than forward discovery.
Still, however problematic bringing a Civilized team with him might be, it turned out that Councilor ziaGorn had a very good reason for going to Pacazahno himself.
Deaf businesses had been assaulted in the city and the port, and the Chair of the Citizens Coalition, who was likewise Majel ziaGorn, was naturally curious as to whether the mischief at Pacazahno was linked to those other events.
And that was, in Tekelia’s opinion, a very good question, indeed. Which was why the screen was presently displaying the Haven City Tattler’s Offenses Against Civilization Log.
It was notable that the casino owned by Majel ziaGorn had been targeted several times, as well as a catering service on the port. Over the last half-year, there had been a growing number of reports filed by Deaf-owned businesses, of what City Security was pleased to dismiss as “mere mischief.”
“Mischief” had a monetary value, which Tekelia—and apparently the perpetrators of the incidents reported—happened to know.
It sounded as if the vandalism at Pacazahno went beyond “mischief”—even if a children’s art garden was dismissed as valueless, the destruction of a library—
There came a knock at the door.
Tekelia looked up from the screen, and asked the ambient who it was.
The signature that came back was that of the Warden of Civilization.
The knock came again, rather a diffident knock. Perhaps Bentamin had decided that Tekelia’s privacy was worth something after all.
A third knock. Tekelia pushed back from the desk.
“Do come in, Bentamin, and have done with that infernal noise!”
* * *
“I spoke with Medic arnFaelir,” Bentamin said. “She suggested the suite above Peck’s Market as an appropriate venue for the Healer’s meeting with the twins.”
Tekelia moved a hand, indicating that Bentamin should go on.
“Yes. After that, I spoke with Torin and Vaiza. They were able to accommodate a meeting with the Healer, and asked that you act as their escort.”
“If they want me, then of course I will,” Tekelia said, wondering if this was the reason for Bentamin’s visit.
“I told them to ask you.” Bentamin sighed. “I did see the—artifact, it seemed to me. Very intricate work, so far as I could tell in this atmosphere.” He leaned to the desk, plucked one of Entilly’s cookies from the tin, and ate it, frowning down at the floor. Tekelia waited.
“After I had spoken to the twins, I spoke to Eet,” Bentamin said at last, raising his head and meeting Tekelia’s eyes.
“He was—compelling in the extreme. I have no doubt what he saw, and that he did see it—it was no dream, Cousin.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Tekelia agreed. “I am convinced that Eet saw the deed done.”
“Yes, well.”
Bentamin sagged back in the chair, looking up to Tekelia, who was leaning against the desk.
“So compelling did I find Eet’s witnessing, that I immediately went to Peesha urbinGrant, who I have engaged to give me legal advice, particularly on norbear sentience. I described the event as Eet had seen it. Peesha is a Truthseer. When I had done, she asked me who was my witness, and were they being kept safe in the Wardian.”
Bentamin closed his eyes.
“I told her that the witness was with the Haosa, and that it was the norbear I had told her of, previously. She said—”
Bentamin stopped. Tekelia waited.
Eventually, Bentamin looked up.
“She has no precedent. Even beyond the issue of norbear sentience, which has not been established on Colemeno, a norbear has never been called to testify. They are not, you understand, forbidden to testify, merely they haven’t done. And if we put Eet before the court to produce his evidence, it will most likely be called a mistrial, and we will not see justice done.”
Tekelia sighed.
“What we want is for kindly Cousin Jorey to confess.”
“That would save a good deal of trouble,” Bentamin said politely. “Any idea on how to make it happen?”
“Let me think on it,” Tekelia told him. “In the meanwhile, has a date been set for the Healer?”
“I’ll be speaking with her this afternoon. As soon as we’re firm, I’ll let you know. Remember that the children are to ask for your escort themselves.”
“Oh, yes,” Tekelia said. “I’ll remember.”
Silence fell then, with Bentamin back at his study of the floor.
The soft pop! of displaced air was therefore quite audible.
Tekelia looked down at the desk, and the folded sheet of paper, lying where there had been nothing only moments before.
The paper displayed the distinctive pattern of its sender, which faded quickly into the ambient. Tekelia picked it up and unfolded it.
The handwriting was also distinctive, and the subtle scent, as well.
To my considerable astonishment, the master trader has commanded me to take the rest of the day “off.” May I hope that you are in similar straits, and that we may celebrate together?
Padi
Tekelia laughed.
“There’s a rare sound,” Bentamin said. “What’s afoot?”
Tekelia looked up, still smiling.
“Padi sends that she has been ordered to spend the rest of the day in leisure, and is at a loss as to what she ought to do.”
“And she wrote to you for a tutor. Clever woman.” Bentamin rose with a smile, and bowed.
“I will leave you to your lessons, Cousin. Thank you.”
Tekelia frowned.
“Whatever for?”
“For listening,” Bentamin said simply—and was gone, the ambient swirling briefly, and settling.
Smiling again, Tekelia called a pen to hand, and bent down to answer Padi’s note.