Quester amongst the flowers 12

 

Chapter 12

 

“You girls are dismissed,” said Quester. “Find Purity and have her report to me as a chaperone; Mr. Hawlus, perhaps you will join me behind your desk as Principal and representative in loco parentis for Miz Stayvuhsanta. Burdock, pray have Miz Stayvuhsanta brought here. She has a maid with her for her countenance, whose duties end at the door of this office, once Purity is here.”

“Yes, my lord,” said Kiliana, most submissively. She peeped up at him under her lashes.

“Oh, be about your business, do,” said Quester.

They exited.

“He fancies you,” said Jessica. “Do you fancy him? If not, I could.”

“He’s mine,” said Kiliana. “I just have to convince him of that.”

“Oh, like that, is it?”

“He sees himself as my guardian,” said Kiliana. “Oh, there’s Purity. Purity, he wants you as a chaperone in the office.”

“What about the two I locked in this classroom?” asked Purity.

“Where are they going to go?” shrugged Kiliana. “You should offer them escort to the lavatory before locking them up again.”

Purity nodded, and unlocked the door to do so.

“What do we do now?” asked Jessica.

“Go to whichever lesson we were scheduled for, I suppose,” said Kiliana.

“Botanical drawing,” said Jessica.

The school had resumed its normal timetable, a little late, but the girls reached the class after everyone else was already drawing hellebore flowers.

“Ah, sweet Jasmine, and the new girl,” said Mr. Cartius. He had dark good looks, brooding eyes of piercing blue, and a handsome, regular face.

“It’s Jessica, sir, there was a mistake on my enrolment form,” said Jessica, with an edge. “This is Kerria Leonida Antilla, sir.”

“I trust you did not have too great an ordeal with the justiciar,” said Cartius.  “Jasmine, a summer flower, but there is a winter jasmine, less showy and less perfumed, alas, but a sign of incipient spring; and in early springtime, Kerria will come into its own, with bright petals.” He looked at Kiliana and seemed almost to see her for the first time. “Bright, golden petals,” he added. “Not masquerading as a lily or a rose.”

Kiliana felt a shudder along her spine. 

“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” she quoted from the fragmentary tale of the ancient writer, Willum Shaker.

“Why, so it would, my dear,” said Cartius.

The girls went to sit down and to begin the meticulous task of measuring to draw their bloom exactly.

“Flirting with Cartius won’t get you anywhere,” hissed Lutsilla.

“Flirting? Who’d want to flirt with him?” asked Kiliana, incredulously.

“Oh, puh-lease! He’s the best looking live one we have,” said Lutsilla.

“Really? Not to my taste,” said Kiliana. “But I object to having my effulgent mane so disparaged.”

As Lutsilla had no idea what ‘effulgent’ meant, she subsided.

 

 

oOoOo

 

Purity met Burdock at the door with a squealing, protesting Ambria, and a maidservant with a red handmark on her face.

“Did the prisoner do that to you, miz?” asked Purity.

The maid flushed.

“Yes, Ma’am, she was angry,” she said.

“What bad manners to take out her anger on an underling,” said Purity. “It’s plain she’s no lady.”

“You shout your filthy mouth, you animal!” yelled Ambria.

“If I was you, I’d show respect to judiciary officers,” said Purity.

“She jus’ plain stupid,” said Burdock. He marched her in. “Miz Stray-Vagrant, sah,” he said, dropping the girl to the ground in front of Quester, and moving to stand by the door.

“You can’t do this! I demand to see Miz Rubia!” cried Ambria. “Don’t let that stupid oaf call me that, my name is Miz Stayvuhsanta.”

“Little girl, stop being tiresome, or I may have to ask my assistant to reason with you with a few strokes of the cane,” said Quester. “Your name is of little moment to me, after all.”

“But... but you can’t! And I need a chaperone!”

“You have an adequate chaperone in my assistant, Purity,” said Quester. “I fired Miz Rubia as inadequate; your principal is Mr. Hawlus, here to see to your rights as a minor. And if a prisoner cannot behave, minimal corporal punishment is permitted as correction, though you are not old enough to be put to the question yet.”

“You can’t make me have an animal as a chaperone!” wailed Ambria.

“There are no animals in here, save possibly a screeching parrot,” said Quester, dispassionately. “I prefer not to have to beat her, Purity, can you set up a cold environment in the cell, and remove her clothing? You can bring her prisoner’s overalls for when I attempt again to question her. A couple of hours in the cold might cool her nasty temper.”

“You... you cannot!” cried Ambria.

“Little girl, I am a Justiciar. There is very little I cannot do. I can waive the custom of not employing torture on those under eighteen if I feel I need to do so to reach the reasons behind your extraordinary behaviour,” said Quester. “I am sorry for you, because you have not been taught how to behave, but sorry for you or not, I must find out the depth of heresy in society, and stamp it out.” He shook his head. “Poor, unhappy child, how your parents have failed you; and how hated you will be, even by those who sycophantically follow your lead, if you are permitted to continue on this path.”

Ambria started screaming incoherently. Quester touched Purity’s thoughts with a suggestion, and the Unchosen woman picked Ambria up, laid her down on the desk, and gave her a hearty spanking. Soon Ambria was sobbing in earnest.

“Sit down and get yourself under control,” said Quester. “We have wasted enough time with your foolish histrionics. Be aware that every time you insult one of my staff or start screeching, you will receive another spanking; a mild enough punishment. If I sent you to a correctional institution, you would receive far worse. I want information, however; your personal correction is currently secondary to that.”

Ambria was terrified. She had literally not believed that anyone could do anything nasty to her; and Mr. Hawlus was sitting there permitting it.

“Make him go away!” she said to Hawlus.

“My dear child, I have no more power to do that than do your parents, or indeed, anyone. A Justiciar outranks anyone in the Empire,” said Hawlus. “Moreover, I believe he has your good at heart; you are a recalcitrant child, and your mockery of the god-hero is blatant and terrible, and it has caught up with you.  If I had been allowed to use more discipline on you girls by Miz Rubia, perhaps you would not be here now. I suggest you are honest with the Justiciar, and entirely open.”

Ambria gaped; and then she sobbed, heartfelt sobs of anguish, pain, fear, and helplessness.

Quester gave her a few moments, and then handed her a box of tissues to mop her eyes and nose.

“When did you feel a need to start mocking those who pray?” he asked, gently enough.

Ambria stared at him.

“Well, it’s what people do,” she said.

“Hardly,” said Quester, “Or it would not be considered as heresy, would it?  Or are you saying that this is the exemplar of your parents and their social set?”

“Well, yes,” said Ambria. “I mean, they go along with it in public life, but they laugh about it at home. What’s the harm in it? There is no god-hero, he’s just a construct to control the peasantry, invented by Congress, isn’t he?”

She looked frightened to occasion a gasp of horror from all present.

“Oh, you poor child,” said Quester. “Never to have known the touch of love of the Blessed Abe... and I suspect to have had precious little love in your life from loveless parents.”

“My parents love me very much! They will give me anything!”

“Except the hope of immortality in the love of the Blessed Abe... and in giving you their time,” said Quester. “How often do you get cuddles?”

“Cuddles are for babies,” said Ambria.

Purity picked her up again, and Ambria froze in terror; but the giant woman sat the girl on her lap and gave her a cuddle.

Ambria burst into tears again.

Quester took her hand.

“You must be very unhappy to feel that the only way to act was to attack others. What were you afraid of?” he asked.

“I need to be noticed! Nobody realises I am smart, and it’s no point showing it, anyway! Only by being noticed by being beautiful and daring, and by making sure anyone who has a chance of stealing my thunder is put down, and kept there.”

“Oh, you poor child,” said Quester, sadly. “You have no idea that there is room for all to shine in their own way, because the Blessed Abe loves all equally. I am going to make you a ward of the court; and I think you need to learn love from the best of the best. I am going to send you to be the personal servant of one of the best men I know, and one who has no sexual urges, so you need not fear; Lukas, the Psion Martial of the Winged Hussars. His gentle faith will teach you a great deal, and he will not neglect your schooling, either.”

“Wot did Lukas do to you, me lud?” said Burdock, reproachfully.

“This school needs the ringleader of heresy to be removed, Burdock; she has been let down badly by her family, and needs to be in a safe, controlled environment away from their damaging influence,” said Quester. “Yes, Lukas will not necessarily thank me, but he is a man of stern duty. And I will not see the child handed into the dubious care of those who would try to beat the heresy out of her, or execute her out of hand for it. She has a chance to learn, and to grow, and to discard the heresy trained into her. I hate the idea of wholesale execution.”

“You are merciful, my lord, and I hope Ambria understands this,” said Hawlus.

“I expect she hates me intensely,” said Quester. “I have shaken up her world view. I have been hated before; so long as she has a chance at the love of Abe, that is immaterial.”

“There are those who would have her shot out of hand, are there not?” said Hawlus.

“Alas, some of my brethren are limited in their imagination,” sighed Quester.  “I have asked if the Angels have finished with pirates and slavers if I can borrow them to aid me in mopping up this whole society nest of traitors and heretics.”

“Are you going to execute my parents?” asked Ambria.

“I don’t know. Quite probably,” said Quester. “And I dare say you will hate me for that, as well.”

“I don’t know how I feel,” said Ambria, bewildered. “But I don’t want to be a servant, I am well-born, and I can expect to make a good marriage.”

“If you threw yourself about at any husband the way you have here, he’d probably beat you,” said Purity, dryly. “You’ll learn a lot and then come back to make your come-out.  We are all servants of the Blessed Abe, including the Justiciar, it is not a demeaning position but one of honour.”

“Indeed,” said Quester. “Can she be sequestered?”

“There are isolation wards in the school hospital,” said Hawlus.

“Then perhaps you and Purity would take her there,” said Quester. “I fancy her sycophants will fall into line, and you will be able to instruct them without my aid.  Though, I am available if you need me,” he added.

“Thank you, my lord,” said Hawlus.

 

Quester sighed, and wished that so many complications had not arisen from the task of seeking a deviant killer of girls. But he must turn aside to root out heresy before it struck at the heart of the Empire from those who might be considered the Empire’s life blood. If Patricians were to be infected with the heresy of atheism, it would strike at the whole foundation of the Empire, and would cause untold damage to the very structure of what kept free mankind together.

 

oOoOo

 

Mr. Cartius ripped Kiliana’s drawing in half.

“Can’t even manage a Christmas rose! You are useless!  Detention Jonbrusday night!”

“It wasn’t bad, sir,” said Jessica. “Kerria’s had no instruction before, she was trying hard.”

“She is certainly trying,” sneered Cartius. “She’s nothing but a fake!”

“What on earth do you mean?” demanded Kiliana, horrified.

“You’re at school under false pretenses! You don’t want to learn, you just want to muck about, and flirt with your long hair flicked over your shoulder to make men look at you!”

His mind screamed, you look like Rosa, but you are not Rosa, I will punish you so hard for that! I will arrange you in the rose arbour, tied tightly against the thorns, twisted like a rambling rose stem!

 “How did you arrange Hortensia?” asked Kiliana. “You did not tie her against thorns, and she has never been found.”

Cartius giggled.

“Silly little Hydrangea with an archaic name!” he said. “They didn’t look close enough. She knew Rosa had gone with me, and she thought that we had a love nest. She didn’t know Rosa had turned stupid and coy at the last minute, and made me kill her. She did, you know. She pretended to think that I was going to take her to a flower show, and pretended not to realise that she was the flower who was the star of the show, and that we would make art together as I arranged her, and then took her in different arrangements. The theatrical props in the city theatre made wonderful arrangements, and she was delicious, but she was going to scream, and I just gripped her throat a little bit too hard. I didn’t mean to kill her! I hid her there for a long time, under a cloth, in the wedding dress I got for her, looking like a mannequin, and I went back to her arms when I could.  I killed Selandina to hide the loss of my Rosa, and then Hortensia, and killing her was so good! She’s planted in a vase in the theatre; you need a good big pot for a hydrangea plant, you know.”

“I think that public confession is enough to save you having to be put to the question,” said Kiliana. “Agent of Justiciar Quester; you are under arrest for the murder of eight girls.”

The other girls had stopped any pretence of drawing, and had listened, in horrified thrall, to the complete breakdown of a teacher believed by most of them to be harmless. He went for Kiliana’s throat, and she deftly took one arm and spun him round, bringing it up behind him.

“Abe’s balls!” said Lutsilla. “I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it, Miz Jaya,” said Kiliana, crisply, cuffing Cartius. She had relayed everything to Quester, who walked in the door, having not long sent Ambria away.

“Well done, Kiliana,” said Quester.

“His thoughts were spilling over about how I had to be punished for not being his Rosa,” said Kiliana. “All it took was a comment or two, to get him to let it all out. He’s insane, of course.”

“It will be the responsibility of the school to take on his care when he has been made one of the Shackled,” said Quester. “In his case, I can see no alternative, as he needs to repay the school for his depredations on it.”

Kiliana nodded, rather white in the face.

Quester laid a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you able to carry on, whilst we sort out this unexpected heresy problem?” he asked.

Kiliana nodded.

“As my cover is blown, do you think I should resume formal clothes?”

“I was rather hoping that your classmates would maintain your cover, in some gratitude that you have prevented a rape-murderer from fixing on any of them as flowers, to pluck, so you could check out the rest of the staff,” said Quester.

“It’s uncomfortable, having a grown up who is years older than us in the class,” whined Lutsilla.

“Whatever makes you think that my assistant is years older than you?” said Quester. “She’s about half a year older than most of you, and would have been in the class above you had I approved of her learning fripperies like flower arranging, and a little genteel twanging of whatever musical instruments are fashionable.”

Lutsilla subsided.

 

Quester amongst the flowers 11 cliffie bonus.

 

Chapter 11

 

“Well, Mr. Cayban, as it’s a question of defrauding little folks with a payroll heist, I’m happy to work for you,” said Arry Caine.  “O’ course, I couldn’t of done so if it had been just banks; a matter o’ principle, you understand.”

“You’d rather do ten years more hard labour than betray your principles?” said Quester.

“A man has to have his code,” said Caine.

“Now then! I might have a permanent job for you when this is done, as an assistant,” said Quester.

“I’d have to think about that, me lud,” said Caine. “Mind, I like that you has your bodyguard dressed well, which most folks don’t bother with, with ogroids.”

“Burdock’s a friend as well as one of my staff,” said Quester, stiffly.

Caine looked at him anew.

“Well, that might make a difference,” he said.

Purity came over.

“Message for you in answer to the one you sent to that fellow who keeps changing his name,” she said, having been monitoring the datatab Quester had used.

“Is he going to swallow it?” asked Quester.

“His suggestion to you might involve that on your part, my lord, were your spine more supple,” said Purity, dryly. “He seems to think you may have mutant powers.”

She passed Quester the datatab, and he read the short, scatological message, one eyebrow rising as he did so.

“Oh, well, it was worth a try,” said Quester. “A raid, then.”

He stiffened, suddenly,  as Kiliana’s message came in.

“I’m sorry, Peet, Kiliana has called me in over a matter of heresy,” said Quester.

“There are other Justiciars, I suppose,” said Cayban, “Who could be sent to Miz Kiliana.”

“Peet, would you prefer your daughter to be questioned by any random justiciar, or by one you know abhors torture?” asked Quester, gently.

Cayban flushed.

“I suppose they are still little girls, even if they are patricians,” he said.

“They are,” said Quester.  “Put your men in ear-defenders for the raid, and send a burst of subsonic noise at the place; that will knock everyone down. Not for too long, though, or you might inadvertently kill someone. If you can then send in a team quick and quiet to unscramble what’s going where with Mr. Caine, and get out without anyone being aware of anything but blacking out and nausea, so much the better.” He grimaced. “I’ll probably need some of your men to arrest and bring in a prominant family.”

“Oh, who?” asked Cayban.

“Stayvuhsant,” said Quester. “Burdock! Purity! In official cloaks, please, and bring me my overrobe. We have work to do, and an ‘in’ to that blasted school.”

“Miz Kiliana already met that Miz Stray-Vagrant,” said Burdock. “I reckon she’s had the chance to hang one on her now.”

“Burdock, you are without price,” said Quester, closing his eyes to savour the thought of what one of the leading families of the Empire was going to think about being called ‘Stray-vagrant.’

“Abe’s teeth!” said Caine. “I likes the way you does things, me lud, straight up, I do.”

“Well, you will get to know us better over time,” said Quester. “But it was for the girls I was originally called in.”

He called for the rotodyne, and prepared to go to the Nantsia Daviona Regina Academy.

 

 

As Quester strode into the place where he could feel Kiliana, some kind of communal eating area, he noted that his arrival caused any and all chatter to cease.

The girls all rose for him, not a courtesy he was used to.

“Miz Rubia,” said Quester, sketching a bow which was little more than an inclination of the head. “I believe that this whole room full of girls and your staff are witnesses to heresy?”  He added, in his soft, carrying voice, “Please be seated, ladies.”

The girls sat down, save Kiliana, who dropped him a curtsey.

“My lord, I called you in, when I was assaulted during, and by reason of, my grace to the Blessed Abe in thanks for food,” she said.

“For reason of? Explain,” said Quester, dangerously.

“My assailant hit me on the back as I bowed my head, knocking me into the food on my plate and felt it amusing to make a play on my piety being covered in pie,” said Kiliana. “She had previously kicked me over genuflecting to the picture of the god-hero in History and Faith class, for which she was reprimanded by Mr. Hawlus. I do not consider that Mr. Hawlus receives a sufficiency of faculty backup to properly instruct us in faith when he must put up with being openly mocked.”

“I see,” said Quester. “I suggest that we retire to the principal’s study with the principal, Mr. Hawlus, yourself, any girl you feel is a close witness, and then, when I have the basics of this, I will see the girl involved.”

“Jessica?” asked Kiliana.

“Yes, willingly,” said Jessica.

“Sneak!” said one of Ambria’s friends, a blonde girl.

“It’s not sneaking when it becomes a criminal matter, Phyllida,” said Jessica. “And the amount of bullying you lot do, it ought to have been a criminal matter before, if only the Rubia didn’t wet herself trying to lick the arses of your families.”

“Miz Vanrensala! You will serve a detention for such filthy language and bringing the reputation of nice girls into disrepute!” said Miz Rubia.

“I won’t, because it’s true,” said Jessica. “And Phyllida was one of those who locked me in a cupboard to prevent me stopping them from beating on Kerria this morning, and just because she bailed and came for you because Kerria was winning doesn’t mean she’s nice. She was scared, as bullies always are scared when people stand up to them.”

“You’ll pay,” muttered another girl.

“Purity, take that girl and the one called Phyllida, and confine them somewhere,” said Quester. “This school appears to be a veritable training ground of heresy in those who have wrong ideas taking out their vicious nature on others.”

“My lord,” said Purity.

She took each girl by a wrist, and frog-marched them out of the room.

The rest of the girls were now thoroughly cowed and frightened, and several of them began sobbing.

“Really, Justiciar, do you have to frighten the girls so, just because some of them are a little misguided and a teensy bit spoilt?” asked Miz Rubia.

“Yes, actually, I do,” said Quester. “Far better that they be terrified, briefly, by the enormity of heresy, than that they should be encouraged to think it as nothing, and fall into its toils, and end up as traitors executed by the full rigor of the law.” He fixed her with his piercing gaze. “You are under arrest for sedition and spreading heresy.”

Miz Rubia’s mouth fell open.

“How dare you!” she cried. “These are nice girls, of good family! They need gentling, not the sort of bullying tactics you may use on lesser types!”

“Rubia, you have not seen bullying tactics,” said Quester, coldly. “But you have shown yourself ready to cover up the actions of those of your girls who are little delinquents. Their family is of no moment to me whatsoever; the Judiciary acts without fear or favour. And I hope you will consider coming clean. As an adult, I will have no compunction about putting you to the question.”

Miz Rubia fainted.

Quester sighed.

“I do so hate these little interruptions,” he said, testily. “Burdock, bring the prisoner to her office, which I shall utilise whilst we are here.”

“Yes, m’lud,” said Burdock, picking up the Principal and throwing her over his shoulder.

Kiliana suppressed a snigger.

 

 

Quester inhabited the Principal’s chair and extended his personality to overwhelm the entire office. Kiliana wondered if this was a conscious use of his Psion powers, or whether he did it without thinking. She, alone, knew how vulnerable he could be, but he wore the confident persona the way he wore his Judiciary cloak, and the face of authority which went with it. It was as if he drew strength from his position. And then she realised that yes, he did; he drew on his position as personal representative of the Blessed Abe, and the god-hero’s calm and love suffused him, and gave him the ability to undertake even distasteful tasks for the love of mankind.

“Mr. Hawlus, perhaps you can fill me in on the problem here,” said Quester.

“I...” Hawlus flung a look at his Principal, now regaining her senses in a chair, and decided to throw her to the wolves. “The Principal leads morning prayers, and leaves any other praying to the consciences of the girls – and the staff, for that matter. There is a tendency for upper class girls of a certain circle to sneer at prayers, and, because they exert peer pressure on their age group, any prayers tend to be surreptitious at best, skimped or discarded at worst. The Principal will not permit me to intervene, stating that young girls coming to terms with puberty need to find themselves, and that to enforce faith will only make the girls resent it.  Now, there are regimes which can do this, and for that reason, I mistrust such penitential institutes as harsh and failing to instil the important part of our faith, the love the god-hero holds for us all. If that offends you, Justiciar, then you don’t worship the Blessed Abe I do, and I resign myself to whatever you decide.”

He lifted his chin defiantly, and Quester smiled a gentle smile.

“You might not like what I’m going to sentence you to,” said Quester. Kiliana, who had guessed, suppressed a snigger.

“I will bear whatever you decide; my love for the god-hero will give me strength,” said Hawlus, looking haggard.

“I sentence you to take over as Principal of this Lincon-forsaken training ground of heretics,” said Quester.

Hawlus’s mouth fell open.

“M... my lord?” he said.

“Rubia is fired. You’re in charge,” said Quester.

“Yes, my lord,” said Hawlus, with determination.

Miz Rubia came to fully with a shriek.

“You can’t do that! I’m a majority shareholder!” she cried.

“You were a majority shareholder,” said Quester. “You are fined the precise sum of all your shares in this venture, which are to be transferred to Mr. Hawlus.” He added, “Pray that I don’t find any more transgressions which will lead to stiffer penalties. Your laxity has caused a number of young girls to be subject to the inquisition of the Judiciary. You have failed in your task of in loco parentis and are guilty of child abuse in a failure to teach the love of the god-hero. You are also perilously close to heresy yourself in saying that teaching faith in all that is done is unnecessary. Pray pack and be ready to move out of your suite; you shall, during the meanwhile, isolate yourself in the school hospital in case I need you again.”

“But... what should I do?” whimpered Miz Rubia.

“Pray to the god-hero for guidance,” said Quester. “And hope and pray that he does not treat you with the same contempt with which you have treated him.”

Miz Rubia gazed on him with horror, her mouth working foolishly in unspoken sentences which she thought better of uttering as they rose to her tongue. She got up, and tottered out.

“Miz Antilla, your testimony for the record,” said Quester.

Kiliana rose, hands behind her back, and recited clearly, and concisely, all that had happened with regard to Ambria.

“I don’t think attacking me in the toilet is related to heresy,” she said, with a frown, having reached that. “More for having got her into trouble with Mr. Hawlus. For the record, Mr. Hawlus taught well and within the doctrine I have previous learned. I find the lack of faith here generally to be disturbing, and more so than the heathen way I was raised in my extreme youth. Jessica joins me in prayers.”

“Miz...?” asked Quester.

“Jessica Leema Vanrensula,” said Jessica. “I... I have not been raised to much faith; my nanny taught me to pray when I was small, but when she died, my parents looked at me oddly if I said grace. I learned, on the few occasions I ate with them, to hide the eagle symbol below the table, and mutter through my thanks quickly and quietly. I sort of raised myself after that, using classic novels to tell me how someone should behave. I... I’ve been here a term, and I’ve learned not to say my prayers night and morning, because... well, because Lutsilla is a hanger-on of Ambria’s, and she sneers or pokes.”

“And Lutsilla is?”

“Lutsilla Matea Jaya,” said Jessica. “I don’t know how Estella feels, she keeps herself to herself, but she never backed me.”

“One cannot stand over young people and make them pray, but to foster an environment where those who do pray are openly ridiculed is preposterous,” said Quester.  “The Blessed Abe understands that all people, especially those in adolescence, go through a period of questioning their faith, and even rebellion against it, but there is never any excuse to jeer at the piety of others. It’s that which is more a heresy, to my mind, than the failure to observe the forms of worship, because to do so with doubt in the heart is a hypocrisy which makes a mockery of what become mere trappings. It is the duty of the educator to help those who doubt their faith to find a way towards regaining their belief and knowledge that the Blessed Abe loves them too.”

“How clearly you put it, my lord!” said Hawlus.  “I would have liked to have guided the unhappy soul who is locked up in the guardroom cell, poor Ambria.”

“If you can feel compassion for her, I am doubly glad you are now principal,” said Quester.

Hawlus gave a wry smile.

“At times, I want to shake her until her hair bleeds; but she talks of what her parents give her, not what they do together as a family.”

“That is very revealing,” said Quester.

 

Quester amongst the flowers 10

 

Chapter 10

 

“I’ve got people watching the poste restante hub; fortunately it’s local,” said Cayban.

“We’ll try sending him a message, asking about buying into his bank,” said Quester. “I’m going to pretend to be one Lucius Rycos Martellus, a Buckyhare.”

“You can’t mess with them, if he’s real,” said Cayban.

“I contacted him and told him I was stealing his name,” said Quester. “He’s a friend of mine; a scrupulous man, as they go, and only smuggles for the government.”

“Not off the shelf of Buckyhares, then,” said Cayban. “Most of them are a nightmare, too well connected and too rich to take down, even when they are almost blatant in their behaviour.”

“I would, you know, if I saw it,” said Quester.

“Yes, I believe you would,” said Cayban. “The Empire needs free-trading mavericks who will go anywhere, and who are prepared, too, to act as privateers, but some of them push hard against the system, just because they can.”

“Well, Lucius will think it a laugh,” said Quester.  “And if we don’t pick up any mail under that, and a possible meet, then I’ll use my power as a Psion to knock out whoever is manning the hub before they can destroy the equipment.”

“Now, that’s a very useful power.”

“Now I’ve managed to fine tune it not to accidentally kill anyone, yes,” said Quester.

“Really? You can kill with psionics?” Cayban was startled.

“If you know what you are doing, yes,” said Quester. “I don’t like the idea, and the only thing I’ve killed is a wild boar, which wanted me for lunch. I wasn’t keen on the idea.  Long story; a criminal had set me up to die in a way that didn’t lead back to him.”

“You got the criminal though?” asked Cayban.

“Oh, yes,” said Quester. “He thought he was clever. He wasn’t clever enough.”

“So often the way,” said Cayban. “Look at this lot; I don’t know as I would have got there so fast with them as you, but once they’d pulled this third job, I reckon I’d have got there.”

“Yes, I’m sure you would,” said Quester. “And without being able to prove Oran’s innocence with psionic reading, he would have been in deep trouble; for I am sure you would have doggedly pursued the clues leading to his involvement regardless of any threats.”

“That I would,” said Cayban, gratified. “I couldn’t re-open a case a superior had closed, but if I had suspected him, I would have gone over his head. As I did to you about Forrest.”

And what he might have done had not he found Quester to be more convivial than anticipated, Quester did not know; but he suspected he would have created a fuss about it.

 

oOoOo

 

“Now then, darlings, we are going to start with your hair today,” said Mr. Warnus. “Nothing more embarrassing than having wild hair after a couple of energetic dances, oh, dear me, no. Looking at a boy as if you want him to muss you is one thing, but anyone who looks as if she has already spent time in a cleaner’s closet getting mussed is soon going to find her reputation in shreds.”

He was a handsome man, almost six feet tall, with crisp blond curls, and long dark lashes around blue eyes. Kiliana envied those lashes.

He did not look at Kiliana, though the head had had a quick word with him, presumably about why she was late. Her own hair, if not impeccable, was, at least, still tied back neatly. The other girls had not had time to pull it, though Kiliana had no illusions over their intensions. Currently, the girls in the class were in an antechamber off a ballroom, and there were a number of brushes and combs, hair clips and hair combs. 

At that moment, Ambria and friends came in.

“Ah, well, as Miz Stayvuhsanta and her little friends are late, they may come and sit up on the dais to be models as, dear me, they sorely need their hair sorted out. Come and sit down lovies!” he called to them.

They had little choice but to comply, and it could not be denied that they were very much mussed from their attack on Kiliana.

“Now then, my flowers, let me show you how to deal with your hair, so it does not escape,” said Warnus.

Kiliana stiffened at the use of the word, ‘flowers.’ She reached forth for his thoughts.

He was looking on Ambria and cronies in the same way an expensive dog groomer might look on their charges, as a bit of a challenge. He was not even mildly aroused by any of them, or indeed by any of the girls in class. Which either argued a stable relationship, or that his inclinations were otherwise.

Or, of course, he only became aroused under the specific circumstances.

It was an interesting class, however, and Kiliana made a number of notes on tips to use with hair of varying length, since hers was growing again, and was bunching into curls, hard to hide with the extensions, but if  her hair was caught at the nape of her neck, less obvious. Then it might go up into a chignon, and it was useful to see different ways of twisting that.

They were given some time to practise on each other, and Kiliana found herself working with Jessica.

“Darlings? Lovies? Flowers?” she asked the other girl.

“Oh, old Warnus is a hoot,” said Jessica. “He calls us all extravagant names, and is terrified of any ‘girl’ singular. Some of them haven’t figured out that he prefers men and try to flirt because he’s so decorative.”

“Some of them are very little girls in many ways,” said Kiliana.

 Jessica looked on her in interest.

“You aren’t like a lot of them,” she said. “I don’t even dislike you.”

“Funny, I was thinking the same of you,” said Kiliana.

Jessica chuckled. It lit her face and made her pretty.

“I was an accident, so my parents mostly ignore me, and I don’t think they realise I’m almost old enough to come out,” she said. “After my governess died, I brought myself up, out of books. Only a friend of my mother’s mentioned how old I was getting and suggested the academy. They try to forget I exist; my father even called me ‘Jasmine’ on the enrolment form. I was most confused when I was addressed thus. What’s wrong?”

“If anyone thinks that Jasmine is your name, you’re at risk from the flower killer,” said Kiliana.

“So are you, with a name like Kerria,” said Jessica. She frowned. “You’re a lictor.”

“Not quite,” said Kiliana, deciding that an ally would be useful. “I’m nearly eighteen, I think. But I never was as mimsy as this bunch.”

“Well, if he goes for me, honey, you can watch for that too,” said Jessica. “I don’t get hysterical.”

“Thanks, I won’t turn it down,” said Kiliana. “Two pairs of eyes looking out are better than one.”

“He called us, ‘flowers,’ and that’s what you were wondering,” said Jessica. “No, he’s definitely playing for the other team.”

“Well, that’s good to confirm,” said Kiliana.

“What happened between you and Ambria?  I tried to get there to warn you,” said Jessica.

“They tried to jump me as I came out of the toilet, but there were only five of them, so I had them outnumbered,” said Kiliana.

“And you weren’t even mussed,” marvelled Jessica. “They locked me in a cupboard, and it took me a few minutes to break out of it.”

“That’s a useful skill,” said Kiliana, interested.

“Oh, there are keyholes as it’s an old house, and I carry a loop of wire to push through the keyhole to loop onto the bolt,” said Jessica. “I had the fear of entropy the first time, and I swore I’d never let them beat me.”

“You’re too good to be a debutante,” said Kiliana. “What now?” the bell went.

“We dance until break,” said Jessica. “Mr. Warnus is a fairly good teacher though, for all of his mannerisms.”

“I expect he thinks it’s how girls like to be addressed,” said Kiliana. She quite enjoyed dancing, and the time went swiftly.

 

Lunch was a buffet affair, and the girls collected their own choice from the counter, and took it to their table. Kiliana put her thumbs together crossed in self-blessing, and bent her head to pray and give thanks for the food before eating, and, a little embarrassed, Jessica emulated her.

Kiliana’s head was thrust forward into her plate of open egg and bacon pie as Ambria’s voice said, amused, “Oh, look at little Miz Piety! Now Miz Piety is partly Miz Pie!”

Kiliana leaped up.

“Heretic!” she yelled, pulling out her datatab. “I’m going to report you to the Judiciary!”

Miz Rubia was over in a trice.

“Kerria, my dear, I’m sure there’s no need for that....”

“This is out of your hands, ma’am. That heretic interrupted me at my prayers, and in public, and I will not have the taint of heresy on me for her actions,” said Kiliana, with dignity.

There was dead silence.

“I... I am sure she is misled,” said Miz Rubia.

“She is; and her parents are heretics for misleading her,” said Kiliana. “Belief in the Blessed Abe is our central pillar of society; and she and her friends are a danger to society because her irreligious behaviour has not been checked. She had the temerity to misbehave in History and Faith class, and mocked me for honouring the picture of the Blessed Abe. Ask Mr. Hawlus.”

Miz Rubia turned sharply.

“Is this true, Kaspar?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so,” said Hawlus. “I have been trying to instil a proper attitude in Miz Stayvuhsanta, but as her family is so prominent, she feels she is above the mores of others.”

“Leo! I have a way to get you in the school!” thought Kiliana, swiftly telling him about it whilst busy with her datatab.

“You realise that this means I will also have to have the girl’s family arrested and examined?” said Quester.

“Better that, than that they should take their heresy into worse actions,” said Kiliana. Quester sighed, and acquiesced.

Miz Rubia was white.

“Have you any idea how much trouble that little bitch’s family can cause me... and you?” she hissed.

“Not if they’ve all been executed,” said Kiliana. “I will not have the Blessed Abe mocked. Take that girl’s datatab and lock her up somewhere.”

“Who do you think you are?” demanded Ambria. “My parents will hear of this!  And you will be in so much trouble, you’ll have no future at all!  They can buy off any stupid Justiciar.”

“Well, if they try, they are the ones who will be in trouble,” said Kiliana. “Why are you waiting, Miz Rubia? Have the security guards confine this criminal, unless you want Justiciar Quester, who is on his way, to think you condone and teach heresy.”

“I... yes,” said Miz Rubia, pressing a panic-button on her datatab.

It began to impinge on Ambria that the jumped up brat from some far-off provincial island was quite serious when two security guards came into the eating hall, rather diffidently, and Miz Rubia asked them to take Miz Stayvuhsanta to a holding cell.

“I’ll send a maid along to be available to give her aid,” she added, distractedly.

Kiliana took Ambria’s datatab from the girl, and handed it to Miz Rubia.

“This is material evidence,” she said, coldly.

“I... yes,” said Miz Rubia.

Kiliana completed her prayers, and went back to eating. Intellectually, she knew that this could end with people being put to the question; but if they would so blatantly disregard the morals of society in the following of the Blessed Abe, who knew what else they might disregard; they likely owned plenty of apartments whose health and safety would not bear examining. She could not feel that people who brought up a daughter so entitled that she tried to push around others even of her own class were people who were blameless. It was how Anastas Theodrakon Poltronis had started out in Araklion, after all!

“That was frightening,” whispered Jessica. The silence which had fallen had still not been cut with anything but the most subdued babble. “You really called in the Judiciary?”

“Yes,” said Kiliana. “And the innocent have nothing to fear. Although they have the power to cut off root and branch, it’s unlikely that Ambria will face the firing squad, because she has been taught badly. I expect, once the Justiciar has examined her, she will have the opportunity to learn more in a penitent’s hospice.”

“You’re with the Judiciary, not a lictor.”

“Yes; and I confess, it was an opportunity to get a Justiciar in here, but she can’t be allowed to marry and spread the infection of her false beliefs, that she is above the law and all rules,” said Kiliana.

Jessica frowned.

“Yes, I suppose it would not be good,” she said. “I suppose, in a way, we do all assume Ambria is above the law.  Being blatant enough to be caught five on one against you is about the first time she’s been pulled up for it; plus Mr. Hawlus growing a backbone when she kicked you, instead of having given up to ignore her and her friends whispering and giggling.”

“As for frightening, that hasn’t even begun,” said Kiliana. “Tell the Justiciar the truth – including that you have skimped on your prayers for fear of being picked on, which it was easy for me to see – and you have nothing to fear.”

Jessica’s eyes widened.

“He will talk to us, too?”

“He will talk to everyone in her class, at least, and the teachers,” said Kiliana. “I expect he is organising militia to arrest her parents, and bring them here. And I just heard a rotodyne come in to land; I hope Miz Peta won’t throw one over her sports field being used.”

Jessica gave a nervous giggle.

“I think it’s used for any girls needing to be taken to hospital and, too, for visiting dignitaries,” she said. “So there’s a helipad at the centre.”

“Oh, good,” said Kiliana. “He can be tetchy if things don’t go smoothly.”

“Now I’m frightened,” said Jessica, swallowing hard.

“Go to the toilet, and be comfortable for when he wants to talk,” said Kiliana.

Jessica hurried to do as suggested.

She had just returned when the implacably regal figure of Quester swept into the room, austere in grey with the magenta collar and ruby badge of his calling, backed by the massive figures of Burdock and Purity, in black cloaks with magenta piping around the collar, the use of which colour in such degree being permitted the staff of a Justiciar.

Kiliana rose, copied by Jessica, and, used to rising for staff, the rest of the girls did likewise.

“Miz Rubia,” said Quester, sketching a bow which was little more than an inclination of the head. “I believe that this whole room full of girls and your staff are witnesses to heresy?”