Paths of Logic

Gavin Larkspur's lab - this one, at least, for he had many - provided an intimidating backdrop for an intimidating man. Built into one of the largest support columns in one of the oldest parts of the citadel, it was not lit particularly well. Steel grated floors and hanging chain-link barriers divided the expansive chamber into distinct work spaces where giant machinery of inscrutable purpose cast strange shadows. The illumination from the vapor lamps hanging overhead barely reached the outer walls of the chamber, so that while each area was well enough lit to conduct experiments, the overall effect was of standing in the center of a void. Gavin claimed the atmosphere helped to focus one's concentration.

Larkspur himself was standing before the central table where most of the critical experiments were conducted. Seth himself had spent many hours there, but as he watched his master review reports of the previous day's events, he very much wished to be anywhere but in this dark laboratory.

"How is Lieutenant Brandeis?" asked Gavin.

Seth, already at attention, snapped to further readiness. He was eager to answer a question with a clearly positive response. "Recuperating, sir. The chirurgeon says he'll need a few days before he can return to duty, but he'll be all right."

"And yourself?"

"No worse for wear, sir."

Gavin tapped his fingers lightly on the workbench. "And these criminals? Did you apprehend them?"

Seth swallowed, but remained at attention. Gavin had read the report - the question was not for his benefit, but for Seth's own. "No, sir."

"But you found them, fought, and spoke to them."

"Yes, sir."

"What did you learn?"

"They claim to have nothing to do with the bombings."

Gavin paused, as if expecting something more. "Does this make sense to you?"

Seth examined his logic carefully before responding. "No, sir. We did find a Kait body at the site of the last attack, we found the campsite where they had prepared explosives, and ultimately, they were moving through the sewers, as I had theorized."

"And these claims of humanitarian intentions, if you pardon the phrase. Do they seem credible?"

Seth tried his best not to mumble, "The avian seemed very sincere, sir."

"Speak up, Aspirant! Were they carrying medical supplies?" Gavin took several steps toward his charge. With each motion, he seemed to grow larger in Seth's eyes. "Did you find provisions? Food or building mnaterials?"

"No, sir."

"And the guards that collected you from the scene, they also searched the area, and also found nothing. Correct?" Gavin was very close now.

"They found nothing, sir."

"What does this lead you to conclude, Aspirant?"

Seth laid out the facts in his mind once again and came to the same unpleasant result. "That after we had stumbled into their hiding place, the avian and her bodyguards used guile and Lieutenant Brandeis's injury to prevent me from pursuing them further. There was no mission of mercy, no peaceful group of non-humans. The avian Kachina simply wished to prevent further injury to her guards and facilitate their escape by playing on my desire to interrogate them without having to severely injure them." Seth bowed his head. "I apologize for my failure, sir - I should have pressed the attack."

"No, you should have left the situation to the city watch to begin with." Gavin's tone was softer, but still critical. He paced. "I know you want to make a difference in this conflict Seth. You are young and full of vigor. You see possibilities where others have given in to mediocrity. You see a chance for peace when others crave bloodshed. These are noble merits.

"But there are limits even to the Exemplar. We cannot do everything, and even we must admit there are those better suited to certain tasks. You will get your chance to prove yourself against the Empire's foes, of that I am certain. But for now, you must concentrate on the efforts you have already begun." Gavin put a friendly hand on Seth's shoulder. "I want you to turn your attentions to your current projects and let Roland and the city watch do their jobs. Understood?"

A slight grin spread across Seth's face. He was expecting a harsher rebuke, even a demotion or further punishment, but Gavin seemed to understand. "Perfectly sir. I won't let you down."

"That's my boy. Get some rest. Exemplar Yves will need your assistance tomorrow."

As was often the case after one of Larkspur's lessons, Seth left the lab properly schooled in the days teachings and with a renewed sense of purpose.

---

"You've invested an awful lot of resources in him by now. Are you sure you trust him?"

Gavin sighed. "Seth I trust implicitly. His absolute dedication to Tarsis is a little quaint, actually. But his judgement in many things politic is, shall we say, suspect?"

"An Exemplar who wavers in the face of adversity is of no use to us."

Gavin waved his hand with a dismissive noise. "He will do fine. Provincial idealism or not, he has already moved our plans forward by months, if not years. The council is delighted, and I'm not going to let such a confluence of talent and political opportunity go to waste. If it comes to an issue of control, leave that to me."

"As if I had a choice," said the voice with good humor. "When will you complete the preparations?"

Gavin ran a hand along the gun barrel mounted on the workbench. He traced the many ornate contours of its silver surface - the Ethershot Rifle Mk VI was coming along nicely. "By mid-fall everything should be in place. Toriande will be less likely to react once ice begins to creep into their harbors and the first snows touch their southern barracks. At the moment our schedule hinges on Mr. Delocke. I will do my best to keep him focused."

"Keep me informed." The voice crackled in the air and then fell into a low droning buzz. Gavin reached over to the baroque metal disk on the edge of the workbench and twisted one of it's many flanges. The sound faded as the device turned dormant.

Larkspur looked over the field reports again, especially the insurgents' invocation of the Whistler. Floating there in his laboratory at the center of a man-made void, he pondered the implications of the rise of a new Captain of the Underworld.

"I shall endeavor to keep us both informed."