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especially to the Council.
    “Or it might be that we want to claim that Master Dichartyn didn’t influence you.”
    While I certainly listened to Master Dichartyn, we’d just as certainly disagreed on matters over the years. “My opinion is fairly direct. Artois is an honest and effective commander who has always put the Civic Patrol above anything.”
    “That’s a rather sweeping statement, Rhenn.”
    “The Patrol is his identity. I doubt that he could let anything destroy or damage it, if it were in his power to stop such damage.”
    “That could be dangerous, could it not, if he felt someone or some group were out to disband or replace the Patrol?”
    “Who’s on the Council who’s opposed to my being a Patrol Captain?”
    Jhulian laughed. “Maitre Poincaryt said you’d say that. Why do you think that?”
    “Artois doesn’t like me. He never has. He does respect my ability and my concern for the Patrol, and he thinks I’m good for the Patrol at present. So…who is backing Cydarth as his replacement…or as the director or head of another civil enforcement agency?” I watched Jhulian closely.
    He turned his hands up, simulating helplessness. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    I shook my head. “What do you and Maitre Poincaryt want me to watch out for?”
    “I don’t believe we’ve asked for anything. It would, of course, be in the interests of the Collegium that Commander Artois and the Patrol remain as they are, at least for the next several years.” He stood. “I’m certain you’ll wish to talk to Master Dichartyn, but he won’t be back until tomorrow night.”
    “Do you know where he is?”
    “As you should know, Rhenn, he seldom reveals his destinations, except to the Maitre of the Collegium.”
    After I left Jhulian, I walked over to the dining hall, and left a note in Shault’s letterbox telling him that I’d meet him in the hallway off the dining area at half-past fifth glass. Then, since I was on the east side of Imagisle, I walked across the Bridge of Hopes and caught a hack to take me to the station. I couldn’t justify taking a duty coach, not when I used one so much anyway. And now I had something else to worry about.
    In the hack, I pondered over what Jhulian had asked, what he had hinted, and what he had not said. The implication was clear that someone on the Council, or several someones, didn’t want Artois continuing as Commander. Some of that might revolve around me, but certainly not all. Alsoran might know some of the rumors, but he wouldn’t know the Council side of matters.
    He met me just outside my study. “Captain.”
    I gestured for him to follow me inside. “Close the door, if you would.”
    He did. We both sat down.
    “Have you heard anything about someone wanting to replace Commander Artois?”
    Alsoran didn’t say anything for a moment. He wasn’t the kind to reply immediately, but rather to think over what anyone said. I appreciated that quality and tried to emulate it, not always very successfully, as I’d shown earlier in dealing with Jhulian.
    “Not in anything like those kind of words. Barcuyt—he’s Hostyn’s lieutenant—mentioned that the Council had to confirm Commander Artois for another five-year term before long. I didn’t think much about it. That was after the lieutenants’ meeting at headquarters last month.”
    I waited. Alsoran often took his time.
    “All the captains and the subcommander have to be reconfirmed,” he added.
    “I’ll be up for that a year from now,” I said.
    “The strange thing was that one of the other lieutenants—I can’t think of his name, but he’s the one from Second District—he was asking Barcuyt if he’d likely replace Hostyn. Not out in the open, but later, when they were alone, outside waiting for a hack, and I was coming down the steps. I didn’t think it was any of my business so I didn’t even look their way.”
    “That’s interesting,” I mused. “Have you