Free The Stricken Field by Dave Duncan

Jain had thought he knew everyone of his own generation in the College at least by sight. Clearly he had been mistaken. This stranger might be a little older than he. He might have been recruited while still very young and progressed very fast through the educational process. But he must have whistled through the junior ranks of recorder and archivist, or Jain would have met him somewhere, sometime. In short, he must be very highly gifted. Could he possibly be an archon?
    Jain speeded up his approach. If the Thaile affair had attracted the attention of an archon, then it was serious indeed. He hoped his sudden agitation was not visible, but of course it would be. There were never more than eight archons at a time, and for some reason he had always assumed that they would be very old. He had never met any of them. He knew no one who had. He did not want to meet any of them, either, especially today.
    He had never seen the imperturbable Mearn look so uneasy before. Uneasy? She was plain scared!
    Long before he was within speaking distance, the man addressed him. "I am Archon Raim." His thoughts struck like notes from a great bell. He was violating the College tradition that conversations should be held in mundane style whenever possible, as a concession to those with weaker Faculty.
    "Honored, noble sir. " Jain had no need to introduce himself, and a strong desire to vanish from Thume altogether. "Archivist, you interviewed the Thaile novice on the morning of her arrival. "
    Jain was starting to sweat, and not only from the length of his strides as he hurried closer. "I did, sir. "
    "You were instructed to establish what she recalled of the period deleted from her memory. You reported that she remembered nothing since before she met the man Leeb. " "That is correct. "
    "Then explain why she now asks for him by name and demands to be reunited with him? "
    Still several paces away, Jain came to a dead halt, panting and gaping. "Impossible!"
    The archon smiled thinly and dangerously. "Perhaps, but it is so. You offer no explanation? "
    "None, sir!" Jain realized that he had spoken aloud. He began to walk again. This was what was behind the rebellion? This why the minx refused to go to the Defile? "The memories had been totally wiped. They had been excised as completely as the aftereffects of her pregnancy. I said all that in my report. It was one of the finest pieces of sorcery I have ever seen." Mearn had credited it to Analyst Shole, who was an acknowledged expert in such matters.
    "Obviously your judgment was faulty."
    "Yes, sir." Jain shivered, and could think of nothing to say.
    He was relieved when Mearn intervened-grateful, even, although he would never have imagined himself ever feeling grateful to the old hussy.
    "Sir, is it possible that her unusually strong Faculty could have interfered with the results of the operation?"
    "No." The ambience flickered with annoyance. Evidently archons could think up such inanities for themselves. The gold eyes raked Jain as he finally reached the group. "You have not spoken with her since?"
    "No, sir! Certainly not!"
    "Someone has been meddling!" This time Raim's anger was a rumble like distant surf. "The archons will assemble today at noon. In the Chapel. You will attend."
    Cold rivulets coursed down Jain's skin. "I am not familiar with the Chapel-"
    "Of course not. You will be summoned." The archon vanished, his departure lighting the ambience with a blinding flash.
    Jain and Mearn both jumped. Startled faces looked around everywhere in the Meeting Place. To use such naked sorcery within Thume was a crime of great magnitude. Only the Keeper unleashed power like that. That an archon would do so was more proof of severe trouble, and of more trouble in store.
    Jain and Mearn exchanged worried looks. Don't blame me, those looks said, and I have nothing to fear, and what do you think's going on?
    Jain cleared his throat harshly. "I don't recall when the archons last assembled."
    She pouted.