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./ do not want you to need me this way! she thinks in sudden fury, but sheswallows it, and makes herself concentrate on business PED business until thearmored car rolls across the gilded bridge to the Palace.FOOD FACTORY DESTROYED IN LOTUS DISTRICTGOVERNMENT BLAMES SILVER TERRORWhatwaits in her office is not calculated to improve her temper: a Dalavan priest,young and burly, wearing the gray robes and soft mushroom hat of his order."I am the Excellent Togthan," he says with a gracious bow, and presents Aiahwith an envelope embossed with an ornate red wax seal."The triumvir and Holy, Parq, has kindly written this letter of introduction. Togthan's voice, like Parq's, is soft, and his expression gracious.It putsAiah on her guard at once.Aiah opens the letter and frowns at it.This will introduce Togthan, anExcellent of the Red Slipper Order Aiah casts a surreptitious glance atTogthan's footwear and discovers he is wearing black wing tips who is, by myauthority, appointed Advisor to the Plasm Enforcement Division.You arerequested to provide him with an office and total access to any information hemay require, including complete details on the scope and nature of allrelevant PED activities.Anger knots Aiah's stomach, but she tries to keep her face immobile as sheglances at Togthan over the letter."Advisor?" she says."What kind ofadvisor? "Advisor on spiritual matters," Togthan says with another bow, "and of courseon political direction.Triumvir Parq wants to see all government departmentsunified behind the triumvirate. Page 165 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"I see," Aiah says.She wants to crumple the letter and fling it in Togthan'sface, but instead says, "I wish I had known you were coming.I would have hadyour office ready. "It was decided at the cabinet meeting just after shift change.Since thePED has become such an important part of government, I am one of the firstadvisors assigned. "Yes." She glances around her receptionist's office, looking for a way toescape."Please take a seat for a few minutes, and I'll try to arrange anoffice for you.Please have some coffee.There's a meeting afterquarterbreak, and I'll introduce you to the department and division heads. "Thank you, Miss Aiah." Togthan swirls his robes as he sits, a compliant smileon his face."What the hell is this?" Aiah demands as soon as she can get Constantine onthe telephone."Who is Togthan? What is Parq's spy doing in my department? The unusual lack of emphasis in Constantine's deep voice signals that he ischoosing his words carefully."The triumvirate honored Parq's request forpolitical supervision of all government departments especially Resources andthe War Ministry. "Those are your portfolios! This is aimed at you. "If the triumvirate is nervous about an outsider heading two departmentscrucial to the survival of the regime one who is furthermore the head of apolitical party that may run in opposition to their own I cannot entirelyblame them.Try to work with Togthan if you can. "The triumvirate?" Aiah asks."All three of them? All three of them voted toput Parq's spies into your departments? "Hilthi was against it.But Parq can be persuasive, and Faltheg voted withhim, after some hesitation. "What am I going to do with this man?" Aiah cries."He's going to be creepingaround and "You will work with him," Constantine says.There is a steely edge to hisvoice."Our government has concluded that he is necessary, and he will be farless of a danger to you if he is indulged.The best possible thing is for youto become his greatest friend in all the world. Aiah snarls silently into the mouthpiece and wishes she could tell some of hermilitary police to chuck Mr.the Excellent Togthan off the roof into a canal."Right," she says."I'll see what I can do. Constantine's next question is artfully designed to prevent her from thinkingof another protest."Did things go well with Karlo's Brigade? Aiah is still mentally enjoying Togthan's arc into the canal, but followsConstantine's shift well enough to answer."Oh yes.They seemed happy to see us.Their mage-major was complaining,though, that she hadn't got access to plasm as yet. "I will make certain appropriate action is taken. "Thank you. Aiah presses the disconnect button, then calls her department heads to tellthem that the Excellent Togthan will be joining the department, and that theyare all to treat him with the utmost consideration,"It's because your bosssold us out," Ethemark says.Rage in the little man's deep voice keepsthrowing his voice into squeaky upper registers."He spoke in favor of Parq'sproposal at today's cabinet meeting. "Constantine?" Aiah asks."Is that who you're talking about? "Yes.Your damned Constantine.It was bad enough when he supported theDalavan Militia.But now because ofConstantine, Parq's spies will be in every branch of govern ment Aiah struggles with bewilderment, tries to formulate a response."Are yousure?" she manages."Who is your informant? "Minister Adaveth," Ethemark says."And Minister Myhorn also.They were bothPage 166 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlastounded by Constantine's attitude. "There must," Aiah says, "must be a reason. "Constantine is allying himself with Parq.He and the Dalavans together candominate Caraqui neither of the other two triumvirs has a following.Adavethand Myhorn are both considering whether or not to resign. "No." Aiah's response is instant."There is " Her mind stammers, and shetries to work out what is happening."There has to be something elsehappening here.If Adaveth and Myhorn resigned, it would be giving Parqexactly what he wants. There is a grudging silence."This has to be some kind of stratagem," Aiah says, and hopes she is right."Give it time. "I have no choice but to 'give it time.' We of the twisted have been compelledto cultivate patience for many centuries now.'Giving it time,'" he snarls,"is what we know best. "Can we meet outside of the office?" Aiah says."In my apartment, say? We canattempt to work out some strategies to limit Togthan's influence. "Hm." There is a brief silence, then, "Very well.Let's do that. Aiah does some rearranging and gives Togthan an office with Alfeg.Put herown spy, she thinks, next to Parq's spy.Then she calls Togthan in to seeher."I apologize for the delay," she says."The war and our expansion has causeda good deal of disarray. Togthan seats himself in the offered chair with a graceful swirl of his grayrobes.His voice is smooth and unhurried."I understand," he says, and sipsdelicately from his cup of coffee."Because of the shortage of office space," Aiah says, "I'm afraid you're goingto have to share an office with one of our mages
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