Colors of Chaos

LXIX

CERRYL SAT DOWN at the table across from the High Wizard and waited for Jeslek to speak. His fingers brushed the wood of the seat, feeling the slightly gritty white dust that never left the Tower, no matter how often it was swept and mopped. Outside the White Tower, as he watched, the light sleet that had been falling, pattering against the glass, stopped, and the indirect sunlight bathing the city brightened.

The white-haired and sun-eyed High Wizard studied Cerryl silently before speaking. “Cerryl, the healer Leyladin has told me that you should have a few more days’ respite from heavy physical effort, but that you are capable of doing less taxing things.”

“I feel better,” Cerryl said firmly, not wanting to admit too much weakness but knowing that he wasn’t yet up to another of Jeslek’s special tasks.

“Good.” Jeslek smiled. “I have a duty that will not tax your body much, but it will help the Guild. You should be interested in it, since you were one of those who brought the matter to my ear. I would like you to use the screeing glass as best you can to see what you can discover about the handling of road taxes and tariffs in Certis. The matters of which you spoke earlier.”

Cerryl concealed a swallow. “Yes, ser.”

“Even if you discover little, you should become more proficient with the glass. It is a most useful tool, as you will find.” Jeslek rubbed his chin. “I would expect you would learn something. You have learned so much in other ways.” Jeslek flashed a smile, then stood. “I will not tire you more.”

Cerryl stood as well and glanced out the window, noting that the sun had come out again.

“When you find something, let me know.”

“Yes, ser.” Cerryl gave a small bow before he turned and departed.

Going down the steps was far easier than climbing them had been.

He found Leyladin and Lyasa standing in a sunlit corner in the rear courtyard, in a spot where the cold breeze did not penetrate, although the floor tiles were moist and the courtyard smelled damp, not quite musty.

Lyasa glanced from Cerryl to Leyladin and back to Cerryl. “I need to be going.”

“You don’t have to go,” Cerryl said.

“I really do.” Lyasa smiled at Leyladin. “I’ll talk to you later, or tomorrow.”

Cerryl had the feeling he was missing things, but he was still tired and not ready to puzzle them out. After the black-haired mage left, he sat down on the bench beside Leyladin.

“What’s the trouble?” she asked.

“Jeslek wants me to do something. It’s not hard, but I can’t do it.”

“You? The one who’s figured out all sorts of new things?”

“I’ve never had much luck with this. He wants me to use the glass to scree out how Rystryr is taking road tariff coins for his own use. Or how his people are.”

“You could do that,” Leyladin affirmed.

“I don’t even know how to use the glass to find matters that don’t have chaos and order-”

“Cerryl,” Leyladin corrected, “everything is order and chaos. It’s only different combinations. You have to think of it like that.”

Cerryl rubbed his forehead, then pushed back the fine brown hair that was getting too long. “I understand that, but how do I do it?”

“You practice until you figure out how.” She smiled. “Like everything else. If others can do it, so can you. The opposite isn’t true, for which you should be grateful.”

He nodded slowly.

“You’re tired, but you can do it. Do you want me to come with you?”

“No. I suspect Lyasa will be back, and I don’t have much to say, right now.”

“And you worried that you can’t do this perfectly, the way you want to do everything.”

Cerryl gave a wry nod.

“You can.” Her smile was warm. “You will.”

He walked slowly back to his quarters, holding onto her words of support. He was tired, but…he had to learn something else. Is life just always learning something else? He paused as the answer came unbidden: It is if you want to survive and prosper. He took a deep breath and started up the steps, his thoughts scattered. How could he discover whom to follow in the glass? If he began with those who concentrated chaos…

Shyren-the Guild mage in Jellico. Surely the man had enough chaos around him for Cerryl to use the glass to find him. Shyren had to meet with other people, and, with effort, perhaps Cerryl could call up their images once he had seen them with Shyren. Perhaps…