Seek and Ye Shall Find. [Rune]

[Eitan Angevin]

15th of Glade, Year 122 Steel
The Hall of Reconciliation

"And there have been no new insights into Undersecretary Albrecht's story?" she asked.

"No, Vigilant. He believes his story, as do the Dornkirks—at least enough to trust him in their government." No story was ever without bias, especially one's own. He didn't disbelieve Albrecht, but there were holes, and even if they had patched things up, he had forgiven but he wouldn't forget.

"Mm," she mm'd. She didn't have to tell him to keep watch. It was in his very title. He didn't think Albrecht would have undue or unhealthy influence over Brenner or his government, and it wasn't as though he could possibly be a Mesmer. All the same, he would be watchful, just as she was vigilant. "Your latest report on Zorrothy was glowing."

"I meant it to be accurate and conservative, ma'am. He is improving in all areas, some with greater speed than others. There are still some blocks with regard to his magic, but that seems all for the best, lest our Order look askance at a coven-initiated Aspirant with too much skill and power. They may have initiated him, but we are training him, and he clearly has an ax to grind with them. It is personal, though he is learning to maintain his self-control and I have convinced him that the best revenge is justice."

She considered. At least, he assumed she was considering. She was impossibly difficult to read and he had been working with her for years.

He cleared his throat. "I would like to bring up the topic of Richard Zorrothy if I may—"

"You may not," she replied, shutting him down as easily as that. He wondered if she was gauging him for insouciance now that his best friend was the second most powerful person in the city, his brother-in-law quite high as well.

He didn't sigh, though he wanted to. Tobias would ask, and he would have to deliver disappointing news. A part of him wanted to speak to Brenner about it, but that was just the sort of thing that Vigilant Richter and others would use to malign him should political tides shift. Such requests might undermine his reputation.

There was a knock at the door. She looked annoyed, but she rose, which startled him. He rose as well as she walked around her desk to answer the door personally.

[Rune]

Imogen Strauss was not accustomed to waiting, but, in this case, she did give the perfunctory courtesy of knocking at her mentee's door before entering. Partly it was because, however she might treat her direct reports in private, Richter was with one of her own underlings today, and the dignity of rank should be preserved.

The other part was that she knew the Vigilant would get up to answer the door herself, which would set the tone for the Angevin boy's reaction. It was only a moment before the door was opened, as expected.

"Sentinel." Was the respectful greeting expected, and received from the woman Strauss had taken under her wing many years before.

"Richter." She answered without a hint of warmth. It wasn't cold, merely neutral, which, to those who knew Sentinel Stauss, was warm. Moving behind the desk she took the chair, leaving Richter to stand a respectful two feet to her side, both of them facing the young Seeker. There would be silence, unless he foolishly chose to break it, for several long moments as both sets of higher ranking eyes sat on Eitan. Strauss made no attempt to hide that she was examining the man, from head to toe, and, if he was as good at information gathering as she had been informed, he would know that he was being magically evaluated as well.

At last, she nodded, looking to the side and giving Richter a small nod. She knew her protege well enough to see some of the tension drain from her stance, but it would be a very subtle thing to anyone less well versed in the Vigilant's body language. Turning back to the Angevin boy she finally spoke,

"According to your instructors, and your superiors, you have shown yourself adequate in your current position, Watcher Angevin. Do you have aspirations to move beyond your rank?"

She spoke brusquely, and that she expected an answer promptly would have been obvious to even the untrained.

[Eitan Angevin]

"Sentinel," he greeted coolly and with all due respect. He was surprised, of course, but he didn't show it. A mongrel bastard he might be; still, he had been trained not to dishonor his family in public. He knew how to keep a straight face.

When she continued to stare at him without speaking, he could only surmise she was taking his measure. She would have his file and reports from Richter just as Richter had his reports on Zorrothy and Leichenberg. While he didn't know if she bore any Runes herself, he could guess that he was being scanned. There were artefacts within the Reconciliator's arsenal that were well beyond his ken. His own aura glass monocle and spyglass were rather standard for his rank; he could only guess what wonders of magical engineering a Sentinel might hold.

He supposed he could investigate her, but that would likely get him into trouble with Richter, which was bad, or Strauss herself, which was worse.

When she finally broke the silence, he had a glib answer ready: "If the Order calls me to greater responsibility, I would be remiss to decline. I serve, Sentinel."

His military posture was more correct than many a Watcher, and he had always been a special case, liaising between the Order and the Air Defense Corps, as well as the luminaries of his social class. Of course, he had ambitions, but he was a true believer; he wanted to be of service to the High City first and foremost. That his career would move upward was a given in his mind, though he was well aware that his father was discontented to be a venerated veteran more than a rising star within the ZADC.

But, as he liked to say when he was upset, Eitan's life wouldn't be like his.

[Rune]

At his answer, a smirk crossed her face. It was a disconcerting thing on a woman of her age and rank, which was why she used it.

"Yes. Very prettily trained." She glanced back over at Richter, as though the comment meant more between them than their face value. Turning back to Eitan, her expression now disapproving, bordering on displeased,

"You did not answer my question, Watcher." Imogen did not use words idly. If she was looking for placating shows of loyalty she need only walk down any of the hallways in the Order's complex of buildings.

The boy could be looking for the glory in war that he might earn if he continued his rise among the ZADC's ranks. He'd just been married, he might be looking for something stable that would keep him close to home and out of danger while he began to grow his mongrel branch on the Angevin tree. What Strauss had in mind for him would involve glory known to only a select few, and the danger would only increase should he succeed. Regardless of his intentions, he would be following the path she had been grooming him for, without ever having met him in person before that moment. The purpose of the question was to discover how much resistance he might have to her intended use. If he answered as she expected him to it would implant in his mind that her plan was, at least in part, his own decision, and that was always useful in a subordinate.

Richter, for instance, believed it had been her idea to suggest the boy to Strauss for use as a spy. The Vigilant was even now quite nervous that Strauss would now find the half-breed wanting and blame her for suggesting his use, when, in fact, Strauss had had her eye on Eitan since he'd been a child. He had the zeal to prove himself, the need to find a place in society, even the dash of disregard for his own safety that was required by the best spies in her arsenal. More than a dash would lead to recklessness, but that little taste meant they would obey when the job turned dangerous.

[Eitan Angevin]

"Aspirations?" he asked as if he needed clarification. "Certainly. There have always been expectations placed upon me because of my name as well as doubts because of my parentage. My skill set allows me to mesh my military career with my Order responsibilities, as well as keep an eye on the bluebloods to whom my name gives me access. I have been charged with mentoring or rehabilitating problematic Aspirants, albeit to varying success, and my skill with the Rune I accepted for the Order nears known limits. Movement in politics has made it so my best friend is First Minister and my brother-in-law is Science Minister. My marriage to a well-bred human woman mitigates some of the shame of my blood."

He paused in his self-assessment.

"There have certainly been failures on my part and reasons one might not wish to promote me, but my potential outweighs those. The direction my career takes depends greatly upon you, Sentinel, and Vigilant Richter."

Perhaps he would be tasked with initiating and training new Warders in order to shield the High City from Kalzasern sorceries. Perhaps he would be given greater resources to leverage Zorrothy's old links to the covens in order to finally root them out or subvert them to the Zaichaeri cause. There were any number of directions his career might go, and it was certainly possible one of the both of the Dornkirks would or had already contacted them with requests for his deployment.

He rather hoped he would get to work more closely with the brothers. Eitan wanted to be where the action was.

[Rune]

Technically, he had still not answered her question. Yet, at the same time, he had, and several others besides. Strauss was not going to demand that a subordinate answer her questions in a specific way, in fact, often she was looking for quite the opposite.

The diplomatic, non-specific answers that slid from Angevin as naturally as breathing were exactly suited to her intended use of him, so she graced him with a tiny, cold smile. He was confident without being annoying or arrogant about it. Not like the Monteliyet boy; a loose end that still needed tying. One did not simply leave the ranks of the Order of Reconciliation without consequences. One did not simply leave the Order at all. A problem for another day.

"Those are all good reasons to promote you," She nodded, "But none of them are the reason you are being promoted, Seeker Angevin."

Brushing past the new title and stepping directly into the business at had she continued,

"There are spies in our midst. Up until the rash events that took place in Kalzasi last season they were of little matter. Our ship is tight, as your fellow ZADC officers might say. But things will have to move quickly now, things will not be as quiet or easily concealed since it appears the uncontrolled mages that run the madhouse that is Kalzasi's so-called leadership seem to have decided that war against the country who did not steal their precious abomination prince is the best course."

Her pinched expression spoke volumes about her feelings on Kalzasi, its government, and the war.

"You will, as your new title implies, seek out and either eliminate or manipulate Kalzasi's spies in our city. This will keep you close to home, which we will excuse by accepting the request of the new Minister of Science to have you assigned to his staff to consultant in his work developing and deploying new airship technology. You will have to do that job too, of course, so I hope that you aren't too distracted by your 'well-bred human woman'."

It might be a gift, to be allowed to live at home with his new bride even as most servicemen were called away to risk their lives. But Angevin was smart enough to understand that this assignment put him in as much danger as a man on the front lines, and his family with him. Strauss did not expect anything less than grateful acceptance, but she did pause there, to allow him to react.

[Eitan Angevin]

There was a pause, not of shock, but of calculation. He had an aptitude for counterintelligence; certainly, it had been a part of his work among the elite of the city and his investigations. Eitan didn't balk at danger, but he didn't go charging in without need. Heroes died young, and he intended to live a while yet. Working with Stefan would be a joy, of course, and would keep him close to Brenner, as well. It was almost as though they would be back in the habit of preparing for the expedition once more. It was also entirely possible that this promotion would mean a similar one within the Air Defense Corps, as he had tended to move up both ladders at the same pace. If he was to liaise with such a high official, he might even get a captaincy out of it, though he wouldn't have a ship to call his own.

Time with Lucrece would be a boon as well. He loved her, and she was with child. If his duty to the State and his duty to his wife could so easily coexist, he would be blessed indeed.

"Thank you, Sentinel. I suppose I had better transfer my investigations to other Watchers presently. The Dornkirks will need me as soon as possible to prepare for a Kalzasern offensive."

To his mind, it were better they should nip that in the bud with a preemptive strike, but for the time being, he remained a humble air commander and these decisions were not his to make. He hoped that work wouldn't invade every nook and cranny of his life, though. No doubt Lucerne and Delia would offer some ultimatum that work talk cease at a certain time, and that was probably for the best.

He waited, though, to be dismissed or given more information. All intelligence was good intelligence, and no doubt Strauss had plenty to share—if she would.

[Rune]

There was no objection, which was what Strauss had expected. Not many who made it into the Order would object to being promoted, even when it came with danger and a great deal of additional work. Of course, the additional work would also be with people Angevin considered friends, even family, technically. It wasn't overly likely that, even should he neglect his duties as liaison between the ZADC and the Ministry of Science, his brother-in-law would be sending angry reports. Which was another reason the cover would work out.

Yes, it was all neatly wrapped and tied with a bow. The fancy sort young men wore to parties.

"Your previous duties and investigations will be reassigned. You can write up your closing reports concerning them today or tomorrow. Unless there are any you would like to keep on, in addition to your new duties?"

She gave him the chance to answer before continuing her instruction.

"Vigilant Rickter will still be your direct superior, your reports will go to her as previous. Your assignments will come from her." Occasionally Strauss might want to hear reports from the boy directly, so he might be called into her office or to attend some of her asset meetings, but that would come as it came. There would be tests first, of course. In the guise of investigation, though they would not be set up. There were some investigations that had already been solved that he could be set on, but the trial period would be brief. She needed real assets in the field protecting the city. The coup had cost her some of her most valuable people and she was not pleased to have to pull up some of the ones she had been grooming so early. Angevin had promise, and she would see to it that, should he fail due to not being ready, those who had caused the loss would pay.

He felt ready though. Strauss' instincts were highly developed after a long lifetime curating assets, and they were telling her that despite his youth, upbringing, and breeding, he would be something special. Once he acknowledged his understanding Strauss stood abruptly, gave a quick nod to Richter, who was looking relieved, and then exited the room.

Richter had the first assignment for Angevin already, though he would need the couple of days to get his desk in order, so to speak. Then, Strauss would be watching him, closely to ensure that he was ready for the time when no one would be watching him at all.

[Eitan Angevin]

"If I may, I would like to continue supervising those Aspirants already in my care," he said. If Strauss had groomed Richter and Richter was grooming him, then they would understand that he would already be building his own power base in those he helped fit into the Order and set on a course for a successful career.

"Thank you, Sentinel," he said again as she prepared to leave. "Good day."

When Richter closed the door, he noticed the slightest ease in the line of her shoulders. Seeing a stressor lifted gave him a new insight into her character, which was a curious thing. It hadn't been a crisis, but it had been a heightened moment to be sure. But he didn't acknowledge it, let alone tease her about it. Their relationship was icily professional, but it was clearly yielding results.

"Neither of your protégés are ready for advancement," Richter informed him as she came around to sit once more at her desk. He sat, as well.

"No, Vigilant. But their rehabilitation will be quicker and surer for consistency."

"Perhaps. I will allow it for the time being so long as it doesn't mitigate your effectiveness with regard to your primary assignment."

"Of course," he replied coolly.

"Then that is that," she replied. "Someone from logistics will contact you regarding your office, as well as providing you with the appropriate paperwork, though it will, of necessity, not speak of certain elements of your new assignment."

"Of course, Vigilant."

Eitan stood to go, knowing the signs that he should quit her presence before incurring her irritation.

"Good day."

He offered a curt half-bow, then turned to go. The door was open and he was halfway out when he heard her bored voice say after him, "Congratulations, Seeker. Good day."

Would wonders never cease?

fin.

[Rune]

R E V I E W

Lore: 10

Points: 15

Injuries/Ailments: None

Loot: Promotion

Notes: Too bad this no longer matters =\