The Residency, a whitewashed report…
Francos requested Megal meet with him when the official days of mourning were over. He also invited his uncle and his father-in-law to join them. He suspected it would be an emotional meeting, so he also requested a damper be present from the House of Healing. The dampers had an uncanny ability to suppress the psy power or at least buffer it. In the meantime, he began searching for a suitable wife for Megal. He would not force the boy, as he had Marianel, but hoped he could present several women for him to consider.
He was consulting the genealogy and bloodlines of several families when Serept mentally warned him that Venda and the House of Justice inquest team were about to descend on his office. How like Venda, he snorted, to bring them unannounced.
Venda rapped on the door and opened it before he could reply. “Ser Francos, the Keepers are here to present the inquest results on the cause of the fire.”
Francos rose and greeted the stern-faced Keepers of the House of Justice. “Please be seated in the conference room.” Francos nodded to a servant and the door to the room was opened. When all were seated, Simeo Path, the head of the House of Justice, rose and bowed.
“Thank you, Ser. This is but a formality, as you are well aware.”
An elderly man whom Francos did not recognize spoke up. “Not so fast Simeo. I am still not convinced you are right, and I intend to be certain the Overlord know of my dissension.”
“Darion Smoot, Ser, one of the most knowledgeable practitioners of the power over fire,” Simeo gestured toward man with obvious disgust. “His presence was requested by Ser Pentast Morales.”
“Well, aren’t you going to tell him why Pent wanted me up to examine the site?” Darion glared at the officious Justice.
“All in good time, Ser Smoot. There are formalities. We must proceed according to protocol.”
“Nuts to protocol. Ser Morales, this fire was extraordinary.”
“Ser Smoot, please, we have a report to give. You may indulge in your speculation if the Overload has time. Please wait until we have given the official report.” Path pursed his lips and glared at the older man.
Francos intervened before the power humming in the room got out of control. “If you please Ser Smoot, I will hear both the official report and your report.” Calling a damper to this meeting would cause talk. “Ser Path, if you please, your report.” Francos settled back for what he knew would be a whitewash of what happened. The House of Justice would not offend the House Morales by telling the truth.
The inquest concluded someone within the house released uncontrolled power and some flammable liquid had ignited causing the explosion and fire. Perhaps too much lamp oil or alcoholic beverages had been stored too near the servant’s sleeping area, and an illicit encounter by a servant couple had started the fire. It was a tragic event and more so because a male with the tremendous power to control fire was lost to Refugio.
Ser Smoot snorted. “Finished, Simeo?” he asked sweetly.
“Must you bore the Overlord with your idiotic theories, Darion?”
“I alone will decide if they are idiotic, Ser Path. Ser Smoot, my uncle asked you to be included in the investigation and I trust his judgment. Proceed.” Francos motioned to a servant and was handed a cup of wine. After he sipped it, he motioned that all the visitors be served.
Smoot accepted the cup and settled back in his chair. “Pentast asked me to take part in the investigation because he was involved in training your late son. He told me Marianel showed no sign of any power over fire, or any other power could have caused a fire. He was puzzled by the fire and worried it was common arson, or an explosive device aimed at House Morales.”
Smoot took a sip of the wine. “Good vintage. Where was I? Yes, I can distinguish between fire engendered by psy power and natural fire. A tremendous explosion of power caused the destruction of the First Successor’s apartment. No common explosive or incendiary device was involved. Furthermore, the destruction radiates out from the main sleeping room. I am convinced the young woman herself had power over fire.”
“How dare you!” cried a young man from the side of the room. “Women have no power except what they drain from their husbands or lovers. What you imply is the woman was whore enough to have gathered immense power. I will not have my House slandered like that.”
“Peace, Ser Denia,” Smoot said loudly. “I am sure your relation was as virginal as any woman of the House families. But I am also certain that our females are more than sponges who drain power from their sexual partners. They too have the power and can use it.”
“Blasphemy, Smoot, that is blasphemy!” Path rose in anger. “Your speculations are against the teachings of the church. Women were created to serve as the future of our race and for the pleasure of males. They are not capable mentally of developing the power. Your indulgence of your females in your home proves only you are a fool.”
“Simeo, if a woman absorbed power from her sexual partner, would it not follow that his power would be diminished? Yet, you know as well as I the power is not lessened. In fact, it is almost always increased. Pure logic would show women must have their own. As for the women of my house, education and freedom of movement make for healthier children and happier women. You might try it. Makes it easier to run the harem too when the wives can read and write.”
“Gentlemen, a question,” Francos saw a connection he did not think the other men saw. “Does the family Denia have many males with the power of fire? Keeper Denia, is it a common power in your family?” Francos knew the two old men could argue this point all day if given the opportunity.
“Ser, we have none in our family,” the relative of the bride said. “Our powers are in discerning and telepathy.”
“However, the young woman in question was the daughter of a woman out of the House Volca,” Smoot interjected triumphantly, “some of the most powerful masters of heat and fire in all of Refugio. I checked the House genetic records yesterday.”
Francos nodded. “I believe your inquest is not finished, Ser Path. These questions raised by Ser Smoot must be answered. If there is in fact reason to believe some women are developing psy power, it will radically affect our whole society. I await your answer with great anticipation.” Francos rose to signal the end of the interview. Path shot a look of hatred toward the Fire Master.
“Ser Smoot, please reassure my uncle this was not an assignation or treason against our House. And I thank you for your assistance.” Francos wanted both the men out of his office, though he suspected Smoot would have lingered to discuss his theories. He belonged to a small group of men who were of the opinion women as well as men were born with psy power. Unlike the others with him, Smoot has spent time in Utopia, where it was widely accepted that women had power of their own.
Should you want to read the whole story…
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