Page 3 of Elemental Truth (Mysterious Fields #3)

3

OCTOBER 14TH IN TRELLECH

“ I n conclusion, in addition to the comments in the pamphlets provided to those interested, I am honoured to note that Council Member Marchant has offered to speak on behalf of some of my recent work. I will, of course, be glad to take questions once she has spoken.” Vitus could see the end approaching.

It had taken a fortnight to reschedule his presentation to the Talisman Maker’s Guild. He’d originally been meant to present right after the Challenge. Of course, putting it off had made sense after the chaos of Childeric’s death, but it had just made him increasingly nervous. Theirs was not a large guild, especially when seen as distinct from the Jewellers. Vitus had earned his journeyrank on that side before his trip to Europe, thankfully, so it was only the magical competency that was at question here.

The presentation had taken half an hour. Now he could move to one side, turning the podium over to Magistra Marchant, and getting a chance to sit and take a drink. Almost all the guild members were here, and most of their senior apprentices, making it a room of about fifty. There were about another fifty associate members, people who worked in various of the workshops, but who were not responsible for the entire design of a piece.

He thought it had gone well. As was the custom, it had three parts. He’d presented about seven talismans he’d made that could be discussed. Not the one for Theo Carrington, of course, though he had discussed the lion piece the Carringtons had bought, though without saying where it had gone, naturally. He’d talked about the pieces he’d done to support the Council challenge spaces. Both Niobe and Council Head Rowan had encouraged him to include those. And he’d had five other pieces.

He’d also prepared the exercise he’d been set. That afternoon, he’d been given a prospectus, details as if taken from a possible client. The guidelines were that he could use any materials in his workshop, or if he did not have a suitable stone, he could indicate how he would acquire one. Then he had had to create sketches and the design work, including identifying potential weaknesses. Here, the assignment had been a piece to deflect curses sent toward the wearer. Of course several of the most likely stones had a tendency to shatter if hit at the wrong angle. Designing a talisman that would work better and that could be worn more safely was an interesting challenge.

Of course, this was all design work, not crafting - one couldn’t expect a complete piece to be made in an afternoon. And the Guild was stringent, but not so much as to ask for weeks of work for no remuneration from someone so early in their career. So the frantic four hours of the design and the extant pieces he submitted were considered sufficient. Well, that and the oaths from people familiar with his work, including Niobe.

Vitus was listening to what Council Member Marchant said, which was all rather flattering. But she’d told Niobe in advance what she intended to say, so there were no surprises. She praised his ability to create matched pieces to specifications, his understanding of the priorities in the work, and his timeliness, as well as their efficacy. He listened more closely as she added, “It is no secret - without getting into details - that it was a difficult night. I am certain that the quality of the talisman work assisted in making sure that we could respond in the best ways possible to rapidly changing events and be certain that we were giving all possible aid to those affected.”

That was a delicate way of saying ‘those still alive to care’. Vitus kept a pleasant smile on his face. There were one or two questions for her. Council Member Marchant wasn’t a regular at the guild meetings, though she remained in good standing. Her primary focus was on using talismans to anchor additional enchantments, the sort of thing that was built into a house or fence or warding. She wasn’t a skilled gem cutter herself, or a carver.

There were one or two questions for her, and then she ceded the podium to him again. Vitus looked out at the assembled group, and at the catering staff who were lurking by the doors to the kitchen hall and preparing to bring the meal out. He wished Thessaly could be here, but of course, she was not a member of the Guild. His parents weren’t here either, or Lucas, but they’d celebrate on Sunday. Assuming that celebration was in order, but he hoped it would be.

The Guild Master cleared his throat. “A question from Harold Tambleton.”

Vitus inclined his head. “Master Tambleton.” The man was competent - he’d earned his mastery - but not so skilled that he got the additional honour of being called Magister. That rankled, Vitus suspected, but he would be correct. That was an expectation here as well as his skills in working with stones and their magic.

“Could you take us through your decisions that led to using Forsythe’s Third on that piece of topaz, your second example? And why you didn’t use Hemmingsmith’s First?”

Vitus had in fact gestured at that, albeit briefly. Niobe had warned him this would be likely. There would be a couple of difficult questions. And she and Vitus had talked about who they’d likely come from, and what they’d focus on. Tambleton liked to make everyone feel small and lesser than he was, treat them like they were barely out of Schola and only nominally able to lace their own shoes.

He took a breath, then explained in more detail. “If you examine the details on the piece in the pamphlet provided, sir, you’ll see that there’s an inclusion. That made it likely that the Hemmingsmith approach - any of the First, Fourth, or Sixth - would interact with that. Rather than make the pieces significantly smaller, perhaps two-thirds of the size, I decided to use Forsythe’s Third, which preserves the inclusion through a much larger number of facets . In practice, we’ve found the inclusion adds to the utility, rather than detracts, though I admit it’s not the most beautiful piece to look at.”

There were various murmurs throughout the room. He thought he’d answered that well enough. The Guild Master cleared his throat. “Antonius Whitesnake.”

Vitus braced himself for this one. Whitesnake had a reputation for nastiness. Now he looked for him in the room. “Master Whitesnake.” The man was sitting next to his current apprentice, Daniel Rollings, and Rollings was clearly dancing attendance, making his attention floridly visible.

“You did a piece for the most recent Council Challenge. Can you share your approach to that?”

“Sir.” Vitus pulled his hands behind his back. “I follow - as I have been trained to, by Magistra Hall - the customs of this Guild, allowing privacy to clients. I am glad to discuss the process I followed, but not to describe the details of the piece. Is that acceptable?”

Oh, yes, that had been meant as a trick question. He got a nod from Whitesnake. Vitus went into the overview of the process, the questions he had asked, how he had presented multiple stones. Once Carrington had selected the peridot, Vitus laid out how he’d thought through how to do the talismanic work. None of the details of what it was for. He didn’t mention the specific stone, nothing that would indicate the focus.

He thought Whitesnake seemed a bit displeased, and that was all right then. The Guild Master looked around. “Any other questions? Yes, Florent Montague.”

Vitus had not expected that. Florent Montague was the father of Laudine, Dagobert Fortier’s wife. He didn’t know the man well. But of course he’d been at the funeral, and he suspected also at whatever Thessaly had been at yesterday, a gathering of the family of some kind. “Magister Montague.”

“I suspect you might enjoy this one a bit more. That piece you did with the carnelian and the lion’s head. Could you go into the details of the carving? I had a chance to see the piece in person last week. You have not, I think, spoken as much to the artistic impression it makes as might be useful here.”

It was, in fact, something of a gift. It meant Vitus had a chance to talk about that aspect, and how he’d designed it to fit with the carnelian, but also with the goals for the talisman. He added that he had some larger pieces of amber he was intending to do similar work with. That was an easier material to carve in some ways. But he’d also laid in several other varieties of chalcedony and of clear quartz. He finished up, “I am still learning my skills as an artist in this form. But I do like the idea of creating pieces that speak to the beauty of the stone beyond a pendant, ring, brooch, or some other jewellery item on a smaller scale. Much as I also enjoy those.”

There was a silence, then there were apparently no further questions. Vitus was permitted to sit, as the tallies for his membership went around. These were small stones, charmed in the hand to black or white, one of the simplest methods of voting, then placed in a deep opaque jar.

Vitus waited while that was circulated, then the Guild Master and two others withdrew to count them, coming back almost immediately. The Guild Master came up on the dais, and Vitus stood.

The words, when they came, almost felt anti-climactic. He’d been working for this for so long, and yet this actual step felt tiny. But he was pleased - and absolutely relieved - when the Guild Master began. “Vitus Deschamps, we are delighted to welcome you to our company, as a full member of the guild with all the rights, privileges, and obligations that apply. We know you have been taught well, as you will teach in due course when you take your own apprentices. We recognise and thank Niobe Hall for her time and effort, and we look forward to seeing what you will make in the months and years to come.” Then he smiled, offering the proper medallion, slipping it over Vitus’s head. “You are expected to have a fitting for the robes promptly, they will be needed by solstice. And no getting out of the mummer’s play in the spring, of course.” Those were two of the more socially obvious obligations.

“Thank you, Guild Master. And of course, I will make arrangements for both.” He bowed his head, and the applause started up. After a minute, he was released to join Niobe and the others at their table, bringing his notes and papers with him.

The conversation was most agreeable. People did not linger too much on Vitus’s presentation, other than a comment about one thing or another. Instead, they settled into a rather fascinating conversation about variations based on the source of a stone, and the idea of doing another round of deliberate testing about that. Apparently there had been some done thirty or forty years ago, but of course there were newer mines for some minerals now, or the quality had shifted. Vitus got in a comment about working a little with some of the small Burma rubies, and his experiences.

It wasn’t until the end of the meeting - there were, of course, more discussions after the meal - that people drifted off. Some were obviously going to smaller gatherings elsewhere. Vitus had expected to walk Niobe home for a celebratory drink and to figure out where to go with his family on Sunday, when she’d be joining them. As they were finishing talking to a few people, Vitus turned to find Florent Montague standing next to him. “A word in slightly more private, perhaps?” Florent nodded at a corner, currently clear of people.

“Of course, sir.” Once they had moved there, Vitus waited, not sure what the man wanted.

“I had an opportunity to talk a little with my daughter yesterday. Sigbert, her nephew by marriage, was named Heir to his father.” That part was not entirely unexpected, but it made Vitus wonder if that was what Thessaly had attended, or what she knew of it. Florent went on. “She mentioned that she and Dagobert were considering asking you to do some work for them. I didn’t want you to feel awkward about it.”

That was a kindness, because Vitus certainly did not to draw the attention of anyone in that family in a dangerous way. “Given your own expertise, sir, I am surprised to be considered.” Florent Montague was certainly competent. “I’ve enjoyed the conversations with Laudine about her own knowledge, actually, though she has mentioned her sister more than you directly.”

“Ha.” That seemed to amuse Florent. “In this case, I got the impression that it is not a problem she wished to bring to her father, that someone a little more distant from the situation might have a more useful perspective. Should it make sense, I am certainly glad to consult, but you bring a fresh line of thought to it. More creative than I usually run to, especially around materia choices. I think that’s a fine thing. If we want the art of making talismans to improve, it is certainly necessary. Perhaps sometime, in a fortnight or two, say, we might have a drink or supper and talk more?”

That was a generous gesture, and the sort that could lead to referrals from Florent, for pieces he didn’t want to take on. Naturally, Vitus was going to say yes. “I’d be delighted, sir. And for your daughter and her husband to join us, if you think they’d enjoy it.”

“We will see.” Florent looked pleased. “I’ll send a note around. Where’s the best place to send it?”

“Oh, yes.” Vitus pulled out his calling card case and offered a card. “Those are my consulting rooms and workshop.”

“Excellent. I’ll look forward to it, absolutely. And now I see Niobe’s waiting for you, I won’t keep you. Congratulations, young man.”

Vitus let Florent go first, and then rejoined Niobe. Once they’d made their own farewells and were out on the street, he offered her his arm. “Are you pleased?”

“Absolutely, and especially in how you handled yourself. I had several other inquiries about whether you’d be interested in private meetings. There will be notes in the coming days. Do come and discuss. I have a few ideas on several of the ones I expect you’ll get.”

Vitus smiled. “You’re going to keep looking out for me, then.”

“Oh, absolutely.” Niobe snorted. “I intend to make sure we keep having tea regularly. Well, tea and gem cutting. Now, when we get back, tell me how that piece you were working on is going.” Of course, they wouldn’t discuss details on the street for all sorts of reasons. Vitus chuckled and instead asked her a few questions as they walked about what other gossip she’d heard recently.