years. Then I went through rankersâ training.â
âAt the training post to the north on this side of the river? Five milles out?â
âYes, sir. They said it was once a scholarium. Itâs where the army trains rankers.â
That was something else Alastar hadnât known, that there had actually been a scholarium in LâExcelsis. There was no mention of such in the archives heâd read, but then, heâd only scratched the surface of what lay in the stacks of file chests in the cellar. âDo you know how long ago that was? Did anyone say?â
âNo, sir.â
âHow many chateau guards are there?â
âThree companiesâ worth. Thatâs here in LâExcelsis. There are guards at all the chateaux the rex owns.â
âThere are quite a few of those.â Alastar had seen estimates that Ryen owned fifteen large estates across Solidar, but those numbers had decreased since the time of Rex Regis, as some had been given to nonruling offspring over the generations.
âI wouldnât know, sir.â
Less than a glass later, Alastar and the three others reined up at the white stone steps leading up to the main entrance of the Chateau DâRex.
âThank you, Llasel.â
âMy pleasure, Maitre.â The chateau guard eased his mount away.
Alastar dismounted and handed the geldingâs reins to Akkard, the older of the two thirds. âJust wait here.â
Both imagers nodded, and Alastar made his way up the steps to the entry, where another guard, this one white-haired, accompanied the Maitre through the receiving hall and then up the grand staircase to the second level and back to the closed door of Ryenâs private study.
The guard outside the study knocked and announced, âMaitre Alastar, sir.â
âSend the good Maitre in.â
Alastar concealed the wince he felt at the false heartiness he heard in Ryenâs voice, made certain he had a pleasant expression on his face, and stepped into the study. The guard quickly closed the door behind him.
Ryen stood beside the wide desk and its stacks of papers, between the desk and the closed windows to the north. Two other men, much younger, stood on one side of the desk opposite the rex. One was clearly an offspring, because he had the same lank black hair and gray-blue eyes and thin build as Ryen. The other had fine blond hair and greenish gray eyes. He was also slightly taller and more broad-shouldered than either of the others, and he immediately smiled warmly at Alastar.
âMaitre,â continued Ryen in his falsely hearty voice, âI thought you should meet my sons. Lorien hereââhe pointed to the older-looking and more slender manââand Ryentar.â The rex followed by inclining his head toward the still-smiling younger man, then continued, âAnd this distinguished personage, my sons, is the new head of the Collegium, Maitre Alastar, and the most powerful imager in Solidar.â
Both Lorien and Ryentar nodded politely to Alastar.
âIâm very pleased to meet you, sir,â offered Ryentar warmly.
âLikewise,â said Lorien cordially, but far from effusively.
âAnd I, you,â replied Alastar.
âYou may go.â Ryen looked first to Lorien and then Ryentar. âAt the stables at noon.â
Alastar hoped he wouldnât be spending nearly that long with the rex, but kept a pleasant expression on his face. âFine-looking young men.â
âThey are.â Ryen laughed. âWhat else could you say, Maitre?â
âThat I was glad to meet them, which I was.â
âSit down.â
Alastar waited until the rex was about to seat himself before settling into the chair across the desk from Ryen.
âHow are you managing with changing the councilorsâ minds?â
âIâve met with Guerdyn, as a matter of courtesy, and Iâve requested meetings with the other