Chapter 923 - Before It Moves

Caelum did not look at any notes before he went on.

"Lord Darian kept Maeron talking for a good while. As you expected, your brother worked through indirect channels rather than approaching House Thal'zar by anything that could be traced back to him."

Trafalgar nodded slowly. That part came as no surprise. Maeron had always been careful, and more so when he was doing something Valttair would never approve of.

"That sounds like him. Did we get anything useful out of all the time Darian spent on him?"

"More from his conduct than from anything he was willing to say," Caelum said. "Lord Darian followed your instructions. Whenever Maeron asked for something significant, he refused it, delayed his answer, or moved the terms in House Thal'zar's favour."

"And Maeron stayed."

"He did. There were occasions where Lord Darian accepted part of an arrangement on terms considerably worse for House Morgain and then withdrew his agreement afterward. Maeron went on negotiating regardless."

Trafalgar's face tightened. That was worth more than anything Maeron had actually said.

"Maeron taking bad conditions to keep a negotiation alive isn't normal. He's too proud for it."

"I came to the same conclusion."

"Then he wants outside support badly."

The thought sat worse with him the longer he held it. Maeron did not lower himself easily, least of all at a table. If he was tolerating a man who kept shifting his position and pulling concessions out of him, then whatever he wanted from House Thal'zar outweighed his pride.

"Did he get support anywhere else?"

"I cannot confirm that, Young Master. Lord Darian did what you asked of him, and that only gives us sight of House Thal'zar. Maeron may have gone to others through channels we haven't found."

Trafalgar's fingers tapped once against the desk. 'That's the dangerous part.' Darian had shown them one attempt, and there was no reason to take it for the only one.

"There is more," Caelum said. "Lord Darian made a point of saying Maeron seemed impatient. Nearly every exchange was pushed along as fast as he could manage it. When Darian delayed, Maeron pressed him for an answer. When a meeting was put off, he tried to arrange another one sooner."

Trafalgar looked straight at him. "Then he may be planning to move soon."

"That is one possibility."

It was enough. Waiting had served while Maeron was still testing the water. It had let them learn without showing him that anyone was watching. If his brother had grown impatient, the arithmetic changed.

"Then I need to tell Valttair."

"That is what I would advise." Caelum folded his hands. "The Patriarch does not know the full situation with Maeron. Better he hears it before your brother attempts something serious."

"Agreed. The problem is Darian."

"Which is why I have another account prepared."

Trafalgar raised his eyes. "Go ahead."

"I have been looking into Maeron and Lady Rivena with my clones for some time. Lord Valttair already instructed me to investigate irregularities around Maeron, so my presence near him needs no explaining."

Trafalgar understood at once where that was going.

"I can report that I found Maeron speaking with Lady Rivena more often than expected," Caelum went on. "From there I followed his movements and found other activity worth pursuing. One discovery leading into the next."

"So Darian never comes up."

"Correct. Nothing would tie House Thal'zar to you. Lord Valttair would take it that I uncovered the situation while carrying out duties he had already given me."

Trafalgar weighed it for a few seconds and nodded. "That's better. We'll do it that way."

There was no sense in spending a useful connection to prove where the information came from. Darian staying out of sight gave him eyes inside another Great Family, and Maeron had no reason to suspect that every word he traded with the Thal'zar patriarch ended up in Euclid.

"We can't have Valttair losing hold of the family now," Trafalgar said. "Not with Morgain in this state."

Caelum nodded. "Lady Rivena is already restricted. Maeron is hunting for outside backing. Letting the split widen would wear House Morgain down even if nothing came to open conflict."

Trafalgar had his own quarrels with Valttair, more than enough of them, and pulling the man out of the centre of House Morgain now would leave a hole none of them could afford. Least of all before a full Council.

"I expect this is part of why Lord Valttair wants to see you privately beforehand," Caelum said after a pause.

"Myrrhvale too."

"Without question. You were inside Myrrhvale when its succession ended. He will want to know what actually happened, what position Lady Nerith holds now, where Lyren stands beside her, and what became of the other heirs, Vaelis included."

Trafalgar nodded. "And the Council itself."

"Yes. He will likely tell you what he expects of you at the gathering, who House Morgain means to bring in its main delegation, and how he wants the family to present itself now that all Eight can meet again."

Then there was the third subject, the one Trafalgar suspected would be the worst of them. House Morgain itself. Maeron. Rivena. The cracks that had run under the family for years and were getting harder to overlook.

'That conversation is going to be long.'

Caelum rose from the chair. "That is everything of consequence I have for you today, Young Master. Alfred will come to Euclid in a few days to collect you and take you to the main castle, so you can see Lord Valttair before House Morgain leaves for the Council."

"Understood." Trafalgar looked at him a moment. "Don't work yourself into the ground, Caelum."

Caelum gave him a small nod. "I will bear it in mind."

He turned and left the office.

By the time Trafalgar finished the documents still waiting on his desk, the daylight had gone entirely and night lay over Euclid. The timing was almost exact. He had promised Mayla he would be there for dinner.

Warmth replaced the cold of the corridors the moment he came into the dining room. The smell of fresh food filled it, and several dishes stood ready on the table. Cynthia was seeing to the last of it while Mayla and Aubrelle sat waiting, and a small cradle had been set beside the table with Aaron asleep in it.

Trafalgar stopped in the doorway for a moment before he went in.

For the first time since Caelum walked in that morning, there was nothing in front of him that needed solving.