Fast thinking was something that Flenser had carved into Steel with knives: "Yes. But it never should have happened. The Woodcarvers disguised themselves as workers. I think they've been at this for days waiting for a chance at you. When we guessed the fraud, it was almost too late… You should really have stayed inside when you heard the fighting."
Amdi hung his heads ashamedly, and translated to Jefri. "We're sorry. We got excited, and t-then we thought you might get hurt."
Steel made comforting noises. At the same time, two of him looked around at the carnage. Where was the whitejackets that had deserted the stairs right at the beginning? That pack would pay — His line of thought crashed to a halt as he noticed: Tyrathect. The Flenser Fragment was watching from the meeting hall. Now that he thought about it, he'd been watching since right after the battle began. To others his posture might seem impassive, but Steel could see the grim amusement in the Fragment's expression. He nodded briefly at the other, but inside Steel cringed; he had been so close to losing everything… and the Flenser had noticed.
"Well let's get you two back to Hidden Island." He signaled to the keepers that had come up behind the starship.
"Not yet, Lord Steel!" said Amdi, "We just got here. A reply from Ravna should arrive very soon."
Teeth grated, but out of sight of the children. "Yes, please do stay. But we'll all be more careful now, right?"
"Yes, yes!" Amdi explained to the human. Steel stood forelegs-on-shoulders and patted Jefri on the head.
Steel had Shreck take the children back into the compound. Till they were out of sight, all his members looked on with an expression of pride and affection. Then he turned and walked across the pinkish mud. Where was that stupid whitejackets?
The meeting hall on Starship Hill was a small, temporary thing. It had been good enough to keep the cold out during the winter, but for a conference of more than three people it was a real madhouse. Steel stomped past the Flenser Fragment and collected himself on the loft with the best view of the construction. After a polite moment, Tyrathect entered and climbed to the facing loft.
But all the decorum was an act for the groundlings outside; now Flenser's soft laughter hissed across the air to him, just loud enough for him to hear. "Dear Steel. Sometimes I wonder if you are truly my student… or perhaps some changeling inserted after my departure. Are you trying to screw us up?"
Steel glared back. He was sure there was no uneasiness in his posture; all that was held within. "Accidents happen. The incompetents will be culled."
"Quite so. But that appears to be your response to all problems. If you hadn't been so bent on silencing the digger teams, they might not have rioted… and you would have had one less 'accident'."
"The flaw was in their guessing. Such executions are a necessary part of military construction."
"Oh? You really think I had to kill all those who built the halls under Hidden Island?"
"What? You mean you didn't? How -?"
The Flenser Fragment smiled the old, fanged smile. "Think on it, Steel. An exercise."
Steel arranged his notes on the desk and pretended to study them. Then all of him looked back at the other pack. "Tyrathect. I honor you because of the Flenser in you. But remember: You survive on my sufferance. You are not the Flenser-in-Waiting." The news had come late last fall, just before winter closed the last pass over the Icefangs: The packs bearing the rest of the Master hadn't made it out of Parliament Bowl. The fullness of Flenser was gone forever. That had been an indescribable relief to Steel, and for a time afterward the Fragment had been quite tractable. "Not one of my lieutenants would blink if I killed all of you — even the Flenser members." And I'll do it, if you push me hard enough, I swear I will.
"Of course, dear Steel. You command."
For an instant the other's fear showed through. Remember, Steel thought to himself, always remember: This is just a fragment of the Master. Most of it is a little school teacher, not the Great Teacher with a Knife. True, its two Flenser members totally dominated the pack. The spirit of the Master was right here in this room, but gentled. Tyrathect could be managed, and the power of the Master used for Steel's ends.
"Good," Steel said smoothly. "As long as you understand this, you can be of great use to the Movement. In particular," he riffled through the papers, "I want to review the Visitor situation with you." I want some advice.
"Yes."
"We've convinced 'Ravna' that her precious Jefri is in imminent danger. Amdijefri has told her about all the Woodcarver attacks and how we fear an overwhelming assault."
"And that may really happen."
