Imager's Challenge Read Online Free PDF Page B

you can keep the good copper, but I want you to sit on the steps and see if you can image it onto the stone beside you.”
    Shault sat down. “You really mean it?”
    I handed him the copper. “You can keep it if you can make another.”
    He looked at the copper for a long time, then set it on the stone step.
    The second copper wasn’t much better than the first, but he was definitely an imager.
    “Good. I need the copy, but you can keep the one I gave you. You can stand up.”
    He wobbled as he stood, and I grasped his shoulder to steady him. “Is Horazt your father or brother?”
    “Nah . . . he’s Ma’s cousin, but he’s the taudischef for the west quarter.”
    What that meant was that the finder’s fee would be double—a gold for Shault’s mother and a gold for Horazt. “What’s your mother’s name?”
    “Chelya.”
    “Just Chelya?”
    “That’s all. Da died when I was little. Ma said it was elveweed.”
    “You’re going to stay here on Imagisle and be an imager, Shault.”
    “I can’t go home?”
    “It wouldn’t be safe for you,” I pointed out. “You know that. Here, you’ll have your own room, and three meals a day, as much as you can eat. After a few weeks, your mother can come visit you, and after a longer time, if you want to, you can see her on end-days. You’ll have to learn to read and write.”
    “I know my letters.”
    But little more, I suspected. “You’ll also get paid a few coppers a week.”
    “Better’n getting beaten . . . I guess.”
    That was about all I’d get in concessions. “We need to tell Horazt.” I stayed close to Shault as we walked back into the receiving hall.
    “Well?” asked the taudischef.
    “He has imaging ability.”
    “I knew it.”
    “Horazt, do you have a full name, an official one?”
    “A’course I do. Horazt D’Estaudis.”
    I should have guessed. “As taudischef, you get a draft on the Banque D’Excelsis for two golds. One gold is for you, the other is for Chelya. You will make sure she gets all of it.”
    “Couldn’t do otherwise, now, could I?”
    I smiled. “I will find out if she doesn’t get it, and I’ll also find out if anything happens to her, and if either happens . . . the west quarter will have a new taudischef.”
    For a moment he studied me. Then he laughed, wryly. “You know Mama Diestra, don’t you?”
    I nodded. “I also work with the civic patrollers.”
    “She’ll get her gold, Master Rhennthyl.”
    “I thought she would. You’ll have to pick up the draft here tomorrow. I’ll give you a promissory note for it now. If you don’t want to go far, one of theduty imagers will escort you to the branch of the banque here, and you can cash the draft for the golds without leaving Imagisle.”
    “I have to wait till then?”
    “The banques aren’t open on end-days, and we don’t leave golds out. Does anyone sensible?”
    A sly smile flitted across his lips. “Some might.”
    “I’ll be right back with the note for you, Horazt.”
    I was glad I’d checked over the duty desk earlier, and that Master Dichartyn had briefed me on the procedures for intaking. The forms for the notes were in the second drawer, and all I had to do was fill in dates and names and the amount, and the reason. I did have to wait a moment for the ink to dry before bringing it back to the taudischef.
    Horazt took the promissory note. “You write good, Master Rhennthyl.” He slipped it inside his shirt.
    “I’d hope so. I was once an artist.”
    At that, he stiffened once more, and just slightly. “Things’ll be quiet in the west quarter.”
    “I’m sure that Commander Artois will be pleased to know that.”
    “Yes, sir.” Then Horazt bent slightly and looked at Shault. “Boy . . . you listen to Master Rhennthyl. You do what he says, and if you got problems, you tell him. You got a chance to be someone. Someone your mama’ll be proud of. You understand?”
    Shault nodded somberly.
    Horazt stood and looked at me. I