The current faculty system of government was founded early in the cities life, when eight arch mages all simultaneously launched coups against the council of tribal chiefs employing them. When they all eventually came into conflict, peace was restored by Rashid the Academic, who was able to negotiate an agreement before a true civil war erupted.

  - Professor Huktar

  Komena’s debriefing was done in the same room she had been hired in: The Grand Auditorium’s audience room, with the dean’s all around in their podiums. Even the skull was back in its place. Maybe it was the Dean of Evocation’s grave marker, until a more formal arrangement could be made. The only difference was Kave standing to her left, a few steps behind her in a silent glower.

  He hadn’t spoken since they’d left the Peach Vale, but the glower had only started once they’d entered university grounds. They had made a point to be the first ones there, half an hour ahead of schedule, if only to keep the Dean’s from gossiping amongst themselves. If she’d gotten any sleep last night, her nightmares would have been about the Deans coming up with their own ideas before she arrived. Instead, she waited for them to slowly filter into the room.

  Unfortunately, the Deans of Healing, Summoning and Agriculture were already there. None of them were speaking and it seemed unlikely that they had traveled as a group. Maybe some competition to arrive first? They filled the time by doing paperwork at their podiums and leering down at the two of them; until the Dean of the Mundane came in, still early but not unreasonably so. With a few minutes left, the Dean of Transmutation barged in, a brief flash of disappointment on his face as he looked up at the podiums before taking his own. The Dean of Illusion arrived exactly on time. Maybe they had been waiting outside for the exact last minute to come in.

  “Well, now that we’ve all arrived, I’m sure you’re very eager to tell us what you’ve found in the last couple days.” The Dean of Agriculture said, giving a cat like smile. Maybe the old woman meant it to look grandmotherly and comforting, instead of predatory. Self-awareness was difficult for the powerful and the elderly.

  Komena tried to recap what she had been through. She had gotten good at this, spinning minor cases into tales worth a few drinks at the bar. The difference was in portrayal. Skim the details of the investigation, the thoughts, the clues that weren’t evidence. Focus on running away from the mansion. The smell of smoke still on her robes made that part easy.

  When she finished, the Deans were all looking at her with something straddling disbelief and contempt. Behind her, Kave clenched and unclenched his fists, robe hems slowly fluttering. His movements were almost rhythmic as he tried to stay calm.

  “So, you’re accusing us of summoning a demon to kill one of our own. The disrespect of it.” The Dean of Transmutation said, sneering over her. “Obviously, the true perpetrator is having you spin this lie to turn us against one another.”

  He was interrupted by snickering coming from the Dean of Summoning. “I’m sorry. It’s just that your naivete is always so amusing. Did you think we had failed when we wiped that ritual out? Or is breaking an agreement less of a betrayal than murder is in your mind?”

  “It is ridiculous that you’re taking the words of some up jumped gutter trash seriously.” He spat back, veins bulging out over his muscles.

  “My own research supports her evidence. She hasn’t fabricated anything. The only issue you could have with her conclusion is her logic, which is we all know not to be a strong point of yours.”

  "Regardless of our colleague’s strengths or weaknesses, this remains a serious accusation.” The Dean of Healing said, stroking his beard and flicking out the tip. “The stability, no, the security of the city relies on the small amount of cooperation our faculties can muster under us. If that thread of trust is severed, the tapestry falls apart. As such, we should take every measure before we point fingers wildly at one another. Explore every alternative.”

  Transmutation banged a fist on fist on his podium “Exactly! The Corlin diplomat that Taim suggested as overseer likely put the lying idea into her head. Now he hides, waiting for a ship back home.”

  “Unfortunately, the situation is worse than treachery. It’s truth.” The Dean of the Mundane said, pulling a report out from his folder. “Selim’s mansion fell within my jurisdiction, and I’ve been up half the night dealing with the consequences. When I found the corpses, I knew the matter needed my full attention. Fortunately, the demon had left traces in the fire and fight. I can confirm that a Flauros was there.”

  Kave stepped forward. “Forgive me, Sir. But if you found Selim and the others caught in the blaze, you must have found Struth. Could you tell me where he is being treated?”

  Taim’s face didn’t change from its default expression of stony factualism, but his tone softened, barely. “Selim was a bachelor, Kave, and the all the staff on duty that night got out. The two bodies we found were Selim and Struth.”

  Stolen story; please report.

  Kave’s reaction was more controlled than Komena had expected. He didn’t scream. He simply went still and blank. Completely. She hadn’t overestimated the impact this would have on the boy. Delaying this had been the right decision for her.

  Hopefully, it wouldn’t ruin him.

  “You likely have many matters to sort out with his passing.” Taim said. “If you wish, you may leave to get a head start. I’m sure that the inspector can answer any questions now that we’ve established her honesty.”

  Kave responded with a formal bow, bending parallel to the ground before snapping back up. He left the room, wrenching open the heavy, sand door. It silently threw itself back into place behind him.

  “He finds himself an orphan again, with talent and quality that could work to all our benefits. Shall we settle the matter of who shall take guardianship now?” The Dean of Illusion said. His voice was magically altered to give it a lilting, musical quality, faintly harmonizing with itself. The effort required to keep an enchantment for that running was either intimidating or a childish waste.

  Taim coughed. “I will remind you all that Kave is still part my faculty, and I won’t have you poaching one of my students to turn into a stepping stone.” This earned another chuckle from the Dean of Summoning.

  “You get pretentious when you defend your claim on Struth’s experiment, Taim. And the rest of you become unbearably obtuse. Don’t forget that this little project clearly falls under my jurisdiction, and I will be-.”

  She was interrupted by the loud sound of a gavel. The Dean of Agriculture leaned over her podium and glared around the room. “If you have finished snapping at each other over that creature, perhaps we can continue dealing with the murder of one of our fellows?”

  Their attention fell back on Komena. This time their gaze didn’t have the same dissecting edge to it. She’d been reduced to a conversation piece. Exactly as she had wanted.

  “If one of us is the mastermind, then we have two options.” The Dean of Healing said. “Either we let her continue her work to find out who exactly is responsible, or we conduct individual investigations into each other. Do I hear any initial arguments?”

  The question was met with an immediate and loud scoff from the Dean of Transmutation. “Yes please. Let us continue to pretend we want her sniffing around our faculties, riddling away at her betters. Let us pretend that we don’t all have agents already reporting on all of us. And let us be charitable and pretend that she won’t be put down by the culprit the second that opportunity presents itself. Pay the wench and let her be.”

  “The whole purpose of hiring her was that she was better than any of our agents.” The Dean of Agriculture shot back. “Surely we can offer her some form of protection against whatever our rogue member would conjure against them.”

  “I would consider that our responsibility.” Taim said. ‘’It would be na?ve to think that someone who would risk killing a dean would leave a loose end like her to walk away freely.”

  “Unfortunately, we can’t offer anything that she could rely on.” The Dean of Illusion said. “Any basic measures we put in place could be cracked open by anyone of us like a drunk with a plate of oysters. If we decided to create something more specialized, we would need to maintain its secrecy and avoid sabotage, which is near impossible when we have no idea who to watch for. The greatest defense is stealth and misdirection. If we rely on the investigator to look into this matter, we will know where she is at all times, and she will absolutely be killed.”

  “So, your solution is inaction? Inaction and apathy!” Taim said.

  “I am suggesting we leave investigator to put her considerable intellect and her rather generous salary to work. Anyone who is as familiar with the city as she can work out how to build a safehouse. You remember the effort it took us six to find her before she was even hiding. I would gamble on it being impossible to find her while she is actively trying to hide without tipping your hand.”

  “I agree with the Dean of the Mundane. You are suggesting we use her as bait after dragging her into the situation.” The Dean of Agriculture said.

  “If you two are so concerned about our responsibilities, then you can focus your efforts into finding the traitor. Our prime responsibility as Deans is, and has always been, to clean up our own messes before they affect the city.” The Dean of Illusion said.

  This was met with a few nods from the others. The emotion faded from Taim’s eyes behind the mask of his duty. Only the Dean of Agriculture was unmoved, stoically glaring at the others. A moment of silence passed, until the Dean of Healing cleared his throat.

  “Well then, let us move onto initial votes. The issue is whether we will continue to employ Komena Siri in an investigation of the murder of the late Dean of Evocation. My vote is Nay.” He said.

  “Her work is finished. It is time to play our own roles. My vote is Nay.” The Dean of Illusion said.

  “I never thought we needed her. My vote is Nay.” The Dean of Summoning said, vacantly waving her hand like she was clearing dust from the air.

  “My vote is Nay.” The Dean of Transmutation said, cracking his knuckles to punctuate the vote.

  “My vote is Aye. For the little that it counts.” The Dean of Agriculture said.

  Taim took the longest to vote, despite the outcome already being set. It wasn’t more than a moment of silence, either for contemplation or drama.

  “My vote is Nay.” The Dean of Mundane said.

  A gavel sounded form the Dean of Healing’s podium. “The matter is resolved in a vote of five against to one in favor against, with two abstains. Komena Siri, your time in our employment is over. Here is the remainder of your pay.” The Dean said. A leather pouch the same size as the first she’d received flew from behind his podium to hover in front of her, floating at eye level.

  “We thank you on behalf of the city for your service. Hopefully, we will work together again when your safety is no longer at risk. You may leave now.” He said. She grabbed her payment and did so. As she walked through the doors, the Deans behind her had already moved on, discussing a request for blueprints of some kind from Veldeti.

  It was exactly how she had hoped to leave this whole blasted matter behind her. Still, she took more satisfaction in the pay than the resolution.