Foundryside (The Founders Trilogy #1) - Robert Jackson Bennett Page 0,54

straight here to see how you could assist. I hope these things—but I do not expect these things. Because I doubt if even this disaster could make you come back to us, Gregor.”

“Was Dandolo Chartered really affected by the blackout?”

She laughed lowly. “Was it affected? A foundry lexicon failed in the Spinola site, right next to the Greens. We were lucky we had two others in the region to keep everything running smoothly. Otherwise things would have graduated from disaster to outright catastrophe.”

This was startling. A foundry lexicon was an intricate, bafflingly complicated, and stupendously expensive device that essentially made all scrived devices work on the campo. “Do you suspect sabotage?”

“Possibly,” she said reluctantly. “Yet whatever happened to us also hit the Michiel campo bordering Foundryside. It doesn’t seem to have discriminated much. But you’re not really here to talk about that—are you, Gregor?”

“No, Mother,” he said. “I’m afraid I am not.”

“Then…what are you interrupting me for, at this worst of all moments?”

“The fire.”

At first she looked surprised, then furious. “Really.”

“Really,” he said.

“Our entire civilization has just been gravely threatened,” she said, “and yet you want to talk about your little project? About resuscitating your…municipal militia?”

“City police,” said Gregor quickly.

She sighed. “Ah, Gregor…I know you were worried the fire had ruined your project, but trust me, that’s the last thing on everyone’s minds right now. Everyone’s probably forgotten all about it! I know I did.”

“I wanted to make you aware, Mother,” said Gregor, stung, “that I believe I am mere moments away from catching the saboteur that set the fire. I was in the Commons last night.”

Her mouth fell open. “You were in the Commons? Last night? When—”

“Yes. When all hell broke loose. I was making inquiries at the time—and was quite successful, if I might say so. I have located the thief, and will almost certainly capture them tonight. When I do so, I would like to bring them before the Tevanni council.”

“Ahhh,” she said. “You want a big, showy, public trial—to clear your name.”

“To make it clear that the Waterwatch project is sustainable,” said Gregor. “Yes. So…if you would begin clearing the way for that process…”

She smirked. “I thought, my dear, that you didn’t like using your family access,” she said.

This was true. His mother was one of the major committee chairs for the Council of Tevanne. The council was entirely populated by merchant-house elites, and generally ensured that the houses didn’t excessively sabotage or plagiarize one another—though the definition of “excessively” was getting more nebulous these days. It was the closest thing the city of Tevanne had to a real government, though in Gregor’s opinion, it was not that close at all.

As such, Gregor could have used his mother’s position to press all kinds of advantages—yet he’d always refrained, thus far. But not today.

“If it is to advance the greater good of Tevanne,” said Gregor, “then I will use any means necessary.”

“Yes, yes. Gregor Dandolo, friend of the common man.” She sighed. “Odd that your solution is to start chucking so many common men in jail.”

Gregor’s natural response would have been—It is not just common men that I wish to jail. But he wasn’t so stupid as to come out and say that.

She considered it. A handful of moths flitted down out of the ceiling to rotate around her head in a drunken halo. She waved a hand at them. “Shoo, now. Damn things…We can’t even keep our offices clean.” She glared at Gregor. “Fine. I will initiate the proceedings—but the blackout takes precedence. Once that’s resolved, we will move on to your Waterwatches and your thieves and scoundrels. All right?”

“And…how long will that take?”

“How in the hell should I know, Gregor?” she snapped. “We don’t even know what happened, let alone what to do next!”

“I see,” he said.

“Are you satisfied?” she asked, picking up her quill.

“Almost,” he said. “I had one last request…”

She sighed and put her quill back down.

“Would it be possible for me to consult with the Dandolo hypatus?” he said. “I had some questions I wanted to ask him.”

She stared at him. “With…with Orso?” she said, incredulous. “Whatever do you want to do that for?”

“I had some scriving questions related to the theft.”

“But…but you could go to any scriver for that!”

“I could go to ten different scrivers and get ten different answers,” said Gregor. “Or I could go to the smartest scriver in Tevanne and get the right one.”

“At the moment, I doubt if he could give it to you,” said