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very junior master, I might add,” I quickly interjected, all too aware that I wouldn’t have held the rank, at least not openly, if it hadn’t been required for my assignment as liaison to the Civic Patrol of L’Excelsis.
    “And this is Mistress Seliora D’Shelim. Her family owns NordEste Design,” Mother said quickly.
    Veblynt was slender, slightly shorter than Seliora. When he smiled, he revealed perfect white teeth, but the corners of his eyes didn’t crinkle. “Mistress Seliora . . . the crafting of NordEste is indeed well known, as is all that lies behind it.”
    Seliora inclined her head politely. “I’m certain that what lies behind your success with your paper mill is far more intriguing.”
    Mother’s eyes flicked toward me, but I just maintained a polite smile.
    “Hard work,” declared Father abruptly. “That’s what’s behind anything of value. All the ideas and all the inspiration don’t amount to anything without hard work.”
    “A most blunt and accurate summation, Chenkyr,” offered Veblynt.
    At that moment, Ferdinand and his wife appeared, and there was another round of introductions, this one matter-of-fact, and before long everyone was seated in the formal parlor, and Nellica was bringing around a tray with the wines everyone had requested. I’d chosen the Dhuensa, and so had Seliora.
    “As I recall,” Ferdinand said after a sip of his Cambrisio and a moment of silence, “you were once a portraiturist, were you not, Rhenn?”
    “I was journeyman for Master Caliostrus. That was before I discovered I had imaging abilities. I even painted a few portraits, mostly of young women and their cats, but also of a factor or two.”
    “Oh?”
    “Factorius Masgayl was the first.”
    “Ah . . . the rope and cable fellow. I’d imagine he’ll be doing quite well with his new facility near the naval yards at Westisle. I heard he won the contracts for the new cruisers, for all the cabling, that is.”
    “And Rhenn did a marvelous one of Tomaz’s niece,” Mother added.
    “Ah . . . the one of little Aeylana. She looks so alive in that. I’m her unnamed, you know?”
    “I didn’t know that,” Father said, but then he didn’t really believe in the old custom of a fallback unnamed guardian, supposedly known by name only to the parents and the chorister of the Nameless.
    I merely smiled. I had liked that portrait.
    “Does your background as a portraiturist help you as an imager?” asked Eliesa.
    I would have appreciated the question more had I not seen the momentary look that had passed from Veblynt to his wife. “I suppose everything helps, but since I’m the first artist who’s become an imager in some time, it’s probably more a matter of personal inclination than a result of artistic training.”
    “Can you still paint?” asked Veblynt.
    “I can paint. Anyone can paint. I just can’t sell anything that I paint.”
    He merely nodded to my reply, and that suggested he knew more than he was saying.
    “Are you painting anything right now?” pressed Eliesa.
    “At the moment, madame, I’m engaged in imager business.” I smiled. “Except, of course, at times like this, which are seldom enough.” Before they could ask another question, I turned to Ferdinand. “With all the concerns about war, how is your business coming?”
    The bluff and square-faced Ferdinand shrugged. “It doesn’t change much here. If I were in Estisle or Westisle, there would be some more Navy contracts, but they wouldn’t be for much. If war breaks out, things will get worse. Afterward, if we win, I might have more business.”
    “Do you think war will break out?” asked Seliora.
    “You might ask Rhenn,” Ferdinand said with a laugh.
    “He always tells me that he’s often the last to know,” she replied.
    “There will be war,” said Father. “The only question is who’ll be fighting. There’s always someone fighting, and it’s all Namer foolishness.”
    “Don’t you get more business