his cheeks—met him at the door with a summons from the Seneschal.
* * *
The Seneschal’s new headquarters were in one of the big manors on the Lord’s Square. The courtiers who had surely lived there before were gone now, either fled or ejected. A guard at the door directed Nate to a dim hall full of closed doors and a sense of harried activity. A low hum of indistinct voices underlay all of the normal noises, as if every room held a busy meeting, and a constant stream of guards flowed through the front door, up the polished wooden staircase and back down. People wearing white sashes bustled from room to room. They carried water jugs or stacks of paper or baskets full of food; they opened doors and slipped through on waves of animated conversation that cut off as soon as the doors shut. For all he knew, Nora was behind one of the doors, but he didn’t see her. Finally, one of the sashed people—a woman around Caterina’s age—asked him what he wanted. When he showed her the summons from the Seneschal she led him upstairs, down a bare corridor to a door flanked by white-badged guards. Neither of them spoke or moved to stop her as she knocked; a voice called, “Come in,” and she gestured to Nate, so he did exactly that.
The massive wooden desk where the Seneschal sat gleamed with hours of hard polishing, but the surface was covered with loosely stacked paper, flat and rolled. A half-eaten sandwich on a plate was wedged in among the mess, along with three empty mugs. The room smelled like meat and old coffee. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant smell, but the presence of old coffee hinted at the presence of new coffee. Nate hoped he would be offered some.
“Magus,” the Seneschal said, sounding genuinely pleased to see him. “Delighted that you could come. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to send for you earlier, but—” he gestured to the piles “—I’ve been busy.” He pointed to a chair.
Nate sat down. “I would think so. Congratulations.”
The gray man lifted an eyebrow. He still wore the same clothes he’d worn under Elban, but he seemed more relaxed. “I don’t think congratulations are in order. All things come to an end, do they not? And new things emerge.” He sat back in his chair. “If you want to congratulate someone, congratulate the people of New Highfall. They’re the ones doing the work.”
“And the factory managers, from what I hear.”
“Who better? Now that they’re no longer hampered by the outdated mindsets of their former owners, New Highfall’s factories will be more prosperous than ever.”
“And who will benefit, now that the courtiers are gone?”
“If the factories prosper, everyone prospers. Higher profit means higher pay. And the courtiers aren’t gone. They’ve merely returned to their own provinces to manage their own industries. Under the watchful eyes of their new ministers, of course.” The Seneschal smiled with satisfaction. “I have such amazing plans, magus. You’ll see. This city will be the vanguard of a new world.”
“Very exciting,” Nate said, and then could restrain himself no longer. “How are the Children?”
“Well into adulthood, as you’re aware. Confined to their rooms while my resource assessors finish with the House, and perfectly safe.”
A dizzy rush of relief washed over Nate. He wasn’t sure how well he hid it, so he said, “I’m glad to hear it. I’ve grown rather fond of them.”
“They’re not unlikeable,” the Seneschal evenly. “Much like yourself. You’re a striver, magus. I was a striver, when I was young. Also, you’re a good magus, and worldly. I thought about asking you to represent the magi on the leadership committee, but it turns out that the other magi in the city don’t particularly like you. Apparently they felt it was a bit presumptuous of me to appoint you House Magus.”
“I don’t have time for politics.”
“Not while treating all of Marketside and Brakeside for free, you don’t.” The Seneschal waved a hand. “It’s fine. It’s your time and your herbs. Elban didn’t want to bother treating the poor when they got sick, but Elban’s dead. I say if they have the wherewithal to find medicine, they’re welcome to it. We need a working class. Just don’t neglect your official duties.”
“I’m still House Magus, then?” Nate said warily. “For how long?”
The Seneschal stared at him, then said, “Oh. You’re wondering if I’m going to kill the Children. It would be the usual course of action after a coup,