Treachery's Tools by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

there’s almost nothing about Vaerelya, except that she had ‘some imaging talent,’ according to Gauswn. Chaerilla was powerful enough to be senior imager for three maitres. They didn’t rank imagers by ability the way we do now, but with what she did, she had to be the equivalent of a Maitre D’Esprit or even a Maitre D’Image. There might have been more about her, but…”
    â€œAnything more would have been in the records that burned when Desyrk’s cannon put the old administration building to flames,” Alyna said. “Since our daughter can’t be the imager who’s prowling around under a concealment, who else do you think it might be?”
    â€œIn theory, any senior maitre and most of the junior ones. We can leave out Llendyr and Petros. Petros can’t, and Llendyr can’t hold anything but a blurring concealment for any length of time. Narryn isn’t much better. As our daughter has shown, we also can’t limit the possibilities to maitres. There are likely some thirds who might have figured it out on their own. They’d have to be strong or with good technique.” Alastar frowned. “I can think of a number with the strength, but Linzya and Charlina, possibly Kaylet, are the only thirds with that kind of finesse.”
    â€œKaylet’s the main assistant to Petros, and the stable’s close to the factorage.”
    â€œThat’s possible, but he doesn’t seem the type.”
    â€œI’d agree, but … we just might be looking for someone who doesn’t seem the type. The type who would seem the most obvious is—”
    â€œBettaur. But he knows we’d immediately think of him if he did something like that.”
    â€œI agree on that as well.”
    Alastar chuckled. “For now, we’ll have to leave it at that. What are your thoughts on the succession at Westisle?”
    â€œYou know much more about that than I ever could. What do you think?”
    â€œI’m afraid that either Voltyrn or Choran will continue Zhelan’s practice of not challenging the younger imagers, and Westisle will end up the way Imagisle was before…” Alastar really didn’t want to finish the sentence.
    â€œBefore you arrived and proceeded to upend everything for the better?”
    â€œThat’s what I worry about.”
    â€œWhat about asking Smarthyl?”
    Alastar shook his head. “He’s got to be close to eighty. Even if he would take it, he likely wouldn’t live long enough before I’d have to find a successor for him.”
    â€œCyran won’t do. He’s a dear man and a good senior imager for you, and Meiryl has done so much so quietly, but…”
    â€œHe likes to be liked too much. He knows it, too. He’d do it if I asked, but he’d ask if it was a good idea.”
    â€œWhat about Taryn? He’s solid and doesn’t have that many ties here.”
    â€œHe’s a possibility. I worry that he’s a bit like Cyran.”
    â€œI can see that, although he’d be better than Cyran. Who else is there? Anyone else with the ability to possibly become a Maitre D’Esprit is awfully young.”
    â€œYou mean Arion or Shaelyt?”
    â€œArion would be a good choice. I’m not sure I’d want to lose Tiranya and Shaelyt.”
    â€œThen there’s the problem of Bettaur,” Alyna said blandly.
    â€œHe works hard, but only hard enough to get the job done.” Alastar didn’t have to mention that always pressing, if carefully, the limits of imaging ability was the only way for imagers to improve and strengthen their abilities. “Taurek’s more likely to become a Maitre D’Esprit than Bettaur. If he were ten years older, I’d consider him. He’s stubborn enough not to be worn down by imagers like Voltyrn and Choran.”
    â€œOh … I forgot to tell you. Tiranya thinks that Linzya should be