ACarriageToAnderonDelan made his way out of the palace, his son by his side. He had an easy, unhurried way of walking—perhaps that had always been his stride, or perhaps it had been cultivated somewhere around the first time a young Giulian had wanted to "see what Daddy did" as he began to gain confidence with his crutches. He had a polite word of greeting for those servants and palace guards they passed whom he knew; others received a nod. But Delan said nothing beyond a few commonplaces to his son until they were safely established in the carriage. Then he looked at Giulian. "What do you think Jovanna Starr wanted with the priests?" he asked. "Information, chiefly, would be my guess," Giulian replied, "though she would give it the higher name of ‘truth’." "General busybodying of the kind Bella Rostay adores?" asked Delan. "Or do you feel that, at core, she has a genuine motivation for her actions?" "I feel that she does, yes," answered Giulian. "What it is, precisely ... well, that's one of the things that intrigue me about her." He grinned, his dark eyes twinkling, and added, "I can't help thinking that if all she wanted was the kind of gossip Bella trades in, she'd be more ... ingratiating." "Hmm," said Delan thoughtfully. "There are many adjectives I've applied to Bella Rostay's behaviour over the years, but I must admit 'ingratiating' is not one that ever sprang to mind. There is a certain tendency with Bella to attempt to hit the nail on the head no matter whose fingers are in the way. Of course, she often misses the nail altogether although, sadly, not the fingers. Do you think that your Miss Starr has something in common with that?" "I rather get the impression sometimes," Giulian said dryly, "that Miss Starr considers finger-bashing to be salutary. Just because pain tends to get people's attention." "Ah," said Delan. "The delights of youth. I held to a somewhat similar position as a young man—although I combined it with a rather zealous desire to save souls. My seminary training, no doubt. I wonder what Miss Starr wishes to save." "I'm curious about that myself," Giulian admitted. "She did claim to be of a constructive rather than destructive temper," he added, thinking of his and Jovanna's conversation about "fire prevention." "The construction of a new Utopia, no doubt," said Delan grimly. "Where all men will be equal ... and women too." "Possibly," Giulian acknowledged, "though she doesn't strike me as an impractical dreamer." "Utopias are not necessarily impractical," said Delan. "They just have a habit of not being universally applicable. In short, one man's Utopia would be another's hell on earth. Of course, Miss Starr could argue that even that would be an improvement on the current situation." "I don't think anyone would dispute that the current situation could be improved," Giulian replied. He paused for a few moments, then asked, "Have you given my idea of a technological planning council any further thought? I realize there's been rather a lot going on..." "To be candid," said Delan, "I haven't. Have you been able to formulate your ideas any further?" "As to membership, or methods?" queried Giulian. "Do you see methods as necessitating certain members," said Delan, "or certain members that you want as dictating your methods?" "I've really been concentrating more on people," Giulian admitted, "ones I know would be interested and motivated. And yes, Miss Starr is certainly one of them. Recent events also brought Lord Creoni to mind—particularly since the family educates many of its members offworld, which gives them knowledge of the question that most Aquilans don't have. Lord Talaren Bahlmis has also traveled extensively offworld, and could give good advice on the ecological side of things." He frowned thoughtfully. "In any case, I envision such a council as an advisory body, suggesting plans rather than implementing them." He glanced up at Delan. "That will be up to the Duke ... whoever that turns out to be." "Agreed," said Delan. "My time passes ... at least, my time as Regent." He smiled slightly. "It will be for the new Duke to decide whether he has any use for me thereafter." "I don't see either Harry or Decuma being enough of a fool to decide that they didn't," said Giulian, seeming to bristle at even the imagination of such a slight. Delan smiled, a little bleakly. "New brooms, Jules. I will be the old regime ... and it may be that one of the things the new Duke will want to do is strongly disassociate himself from what has gone before. So, perhaps we should establish the technological planning council soon, do you think? Unless you can guarantee that Decuma and Harry would be equally sympathetic to your proposals." "On the theory that it's easier to get forgiveness than permission?" Giulian asked with a grin. "It might not be a bad idea." "Indeed," said Delan. He was wearing his blandest expression, but he smiled suddenly. "And do you have any idea of someone fair and impartial who could chair this committee? I have my own ideas ... but I'd be interested to hear yours." "I hadn't really thought about that," Giulian admitted. "Finding someone who was really impartial on the issue would be a job and a half, wouldn't it?" He grinned, suddenly and evilly. "We could always offer it to Salla Lasse..." "Hardly impartial," said Delan drily. "And even if the lady had a mind to be independent, which of the population would believe it? No, I was thinking of a House with a reputation for ... ah ... impartiality." "Acciaio," Giulian said instantly. "But not Lord Acciaio—he'll have enough on his hands as it is, with the responsibilities of that office. And Lord Rugero isn't... Lady Ofelia?" He looked over at Delan speculatively. "She's spent time offworld, she worked on the Warrens Commission. Do you think she'd do it?" "Lady Ofelia is a possibility," agreed Delan, "if she is staying on Aquila this time. It's possible, though, that she'll return to her offworld practice—which is formidable, I understand. I was actually thinking of Lord Rugero. He's always stood very much in his brother's shadow—but he's a competent businessman, very much so. And he also has a reputation for being independent-minded—that long ago youthful revolt when he joined the army. He came back within his father's favour too, not the easiest of things to achieve. So ... a diplomat.” "And also one with some grasp of military matters," mused Giulian. "That would be useful, because I can guess already that military technology is going to be one of the major bugaboos for—well, everyone!" "What about you, Jules? Would you be interested in taking a seat on the committee, as representative of the Anderon banking and business interests?" "That makes as good an excuse as any, doesn't it?" Giulian responded with a slight grin. "Yes ... yes, I would, if only to be able to watch it at work." "Not 'if only'," said Delan. "If you take a place on a committee as vital for Aquila's future as this, it must be as my Voice and Heir." Sobered, Giulian met his father's eyes for a long moment, then nodded sharply. "Yes." Delan smiled faintly, and then was silent until they were almost at the gates of Anderon House before speaking again. "Then perhaps when we get home, you should set yourself to drawing up a memorandum for the establishing of this Committee. And ... ah ... a suitable letter of invitation for potential Committee members. To say nothing of a letter inviting Lord Rugero to chair it." "That," Giulian responded, deadpan, "should keep me out of mischief for a while." His father's expression was more than usually bland. |
