JК
The Floodgate :: Каннингем Элейн
Страница: 132 из 212The college records would confirm this. I would not be held blameless, but since I did not know the nature of this rite until today, neither would my actions be deliberate treason."
"The college records would not confirm it," Iago countered. "Nor would the records support your innocence. Jinkor told me that a peasant man, one close enough to you in age and build to pass as your double, rode into the college on your horse. This man wrote your mark on the records, and submitted to the ritual. The attending priest never knew the difference. Nor, I suspect, do the jordaini masters. Obviously, I was the first person in whom Jinkor confided."
Matteo rose slowly to his feet, his hands clenched into fists. It was bad enough that a jordain should submit to such a thing! The peasant who'd taken his place had no part in Halruaa's laws of magic and power! "Do you know what became of this man?"
"No, but if you value his life, you should not seek him out," Iago pointed out. "On the other hand, if you value yours, perhaps you should. There would be an inquiry if he died while answering questions, and perhaps the spell could be traced back to the spellcaster."
"Are you suggesting that some might suspect me of arranging this travesty?"
"You were released from prison with ample time to ride back to the college, yet you came a day late. Another man rides in on your horse just in time. At whom, logically, will the fingers point?"
"Kiva, of course."
"Therein lies the problem," Iago said grimly. "Kiva is nowhere to be found. If a magehound examined you, he might find you innocent, and he might not."
"That's absurd!"
"Is it? Now that you know the nature of the purification ritual, would you return to the Jordaini College and willingly submit to it?"
“Would you?" Matteo countered.
Iago smiled thinly. "There you have it. A magehound's magic would discover your rejection of jordaini rule. Guilt or innocence is often a matter of tone. The details are like pieces in a strategy game-they can be used by either side, to very different result."
Matteo could not dispute this. "Does anyone else in the college know of this?"
"I don't intend to tell anyone, if that's your concern. Just…be careful."
Matteo placed a hand on the jordain's shoulder. "Thank you for telling me this. You are a good friend."
"Just get me out of this stable and onto a horse's back, and we'll call the debt paid," Iago said with a faint smile.
The stable lights flickered on, responding to the approach of twilight.
"The college records would not confirm it," Iago countered. "Nor would the records support your innocence. Jinkor told me that a peasant man, one close enough to you in age and build to pass as your double, rode into the college on your horse. This man wrote your mark on the records, and submitted to the ritual. The attending priest never knew the difference. Nor, I suspect, do the jordaini masters. Obviously, I was the first person in whom Jinkor confided."
Matteo rose slowly to his feet, his hands clenched into fists. It was bad enough that a jordain should submit to such a thing! The peasant who'd taken his place had no part in Halruaa's laws of magic and power! "Do you know what became of this man?"
"No, but if you value his life, you should not seek him out," Iago pointed out. "On the other hand, if you value yours, perhaps you should. There would be an inquiry if he died while answering questions, and perhaps the spell could be traced back to the spellcaster."
"Are you suggesting that some might suspect me of arranging this travesty?"
"You were released from prison with ample time to ride back to the college, yet you came a day late. Another man rides in on your horse just in time. At whom, logically, will the fingers point?"
"Kiva, of course."
"Therein lies the problem," Iago said grimly. "Kiva is nowhere to be found. If a magehound examined you, he might find you innocent, and he might not."
"That's absurd!"
"Is it? Now that you know the nature of the purification ritual, would you return to the Jordaini College and willingly submit to it?"
“Would you?" Matteo countered.
Iago smiled thinly. "There you have it. A magehound's magic would discover your rejection of jordaini rule. Guilt or innocence is often a matter of tone. The details are like pieces in a strategy game-they can be used by either side, to very different result."
Matteo could not dispute this. "Does anyone else in the college know of this?"
"I don't intend to tell anyone, if that's your concern. Just…be careful."
Matteo placed a hand on the jordain's shoulder. "Thank you for telling me this. You are a good friend."
"Just get me out of this stable and onto a horse's back, and we'll call the debt paid," Iago said with a faint smile.
The stable lights flickered on, responding to the approach of twilight.