The Legal Talent

By Ray McCarthy

Sixth novel in the Talent Universe series. Maisie finally has to do the Legal training suggested some years earlier. Why is there a sudden urgency? Is it because someone shot at a delegation from Morglun?
Photo montage by Michael Watterson.
This stand alone story is set a couple of years after ‘The Master's Talent’.
About 53,550 words.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ray McCarthy
• Release date: Aug 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463820421

Ray McCarthy

Ray McCarthy has lived in the Mid West of Ireland since 1983. He has a life long interest in SF & F, electronics, computers, science and space. Writing since 1991.His engineering and security systems background gives the SF and adventures a solid scientific background.

Book preview

1: Job Sharing

Dairig was being rude and reading her slab while Maisie, Larin and Denys ate breakfast. Maisie was curious because normally Dairig was the most proper member of her household.

Sorry, Maisie, said Dairig putting her slab in her bag. Someone shot at a member of a Morglun Delegation. No-one injured, but no-one caught.

Certainly that’s unusual, she agreed. I’ve actually not spoken to any of them since Jack and Gemma left. Time flies, that’s more than two years ago!

Don’t forget you are meeting the Wildgrave and the Arch Chancellor this morning!

I won’t be long washing and dressing, Dairig.

Maisie had moved into the official Deputy Chancellor apartment suite about a month after being appointed, nearly three years ago. It was the on the same floor of the main administration building as the Arch Chancellor’s suite. About half the area each. He too had live in staff and Assistants.

Maisie! called Dairig. Are you asleep or something? It’s nearly time to go.

I know, I’m just about to dry my hair, would you come in and do it?

Dairig paused with her hand on the door.

Are you dressed yet?

Dairig! Maisie mused that anyone else would have assumed she wasn’t naked.

She came in. Did Kaytim do this?

Well, my hair used to be much shorter and also I wasn’t in a rush, explained Maisie, so no.

It’s very wet!

It’s not hydrophobic like your Karnd hair, so I have an electric dryer rather than just a towel if I’m in a hurry. We need to mop it with the towel without tangling first. It tangles and the dryer is bad for the condition of it.

You have only a bathroom robe on! accused Dairig. You’ve no nightgown on.

Because my hair is wet! You insisted you wanted to share this job with Kaytim at an equal level and do more personal things she’d never have thought of. Though actually I managed on my own for five years on Tellus. You are naked under your clothes too.

Sorry. Sit on the stool and I’ll sort you.

How did you manage being Olef’s Assistant?

Mostly I did clerical work, some organising and gave advice, some not so good. Sorry, Maisie.

It wasn’t your fault that he didn’t listen to me, insisted Maisie. Though she had come to realise it was really her own fault. Doing things together, being alone together and inviting him on trips where he had a room in her starship apartment had outweighed her protestations of only wanting friendship. Which was true, though she still missed him a little. She now had no close male friends. Maisie decided that men were trickier no matter the species.

Dairig brushed and dried.

Nearly done, explained Dairig. Now how do you want it? A band like Chainai wears? It has got too long to be loose, though you’ve only been tying it back when exercising or sparring.

I find that Chainai’s style is awkward, can you bind it at the back to make a loose tail? See the rings and ribbon?

Dairig was deft and quick. She squeaked as Maisie dropped the robe.

Oh, you have quite modest underwear on!

Maisie laughed at her obvious surprise and looked in the mirror. I still find the heating a little lower than I’d like, however I prefer not to make all the Karnds uncomfortable. You’ve done my hair beautifully and I could never have put it high like that. I doubt Kaytim could do it as well. Now help me quick into all these silly clothes. Poor Kaytim has to dress up in public now as noble lady too.

She likes it, I bet Grinel’s love her.

I think as you are now promoted to the same level of Assistant as Kaytim you will come with me to the meeting.

You are nervous?

I can only manage either of them alone on a good day. Certainly not both!

At least we haven’t far to go being in the same building. Your previous apartment was nice, but lacking in rooms compared to this suite.

I wonder who will get Kaytim’s? I never imagined Raelf being married and living in mine!

It’s been empty for a long time before.

~

Millifore, Plonnis, explained Maisie, you both know Dairig. She and Kaytim are now job sharing with Dairig now doing the largest share. I’d have been spared a lot of grief in the past if I’d understood my legal right to have my Assistant at any meeting.

Arch Chancellor Millifore and Wildgrave Plonnis both laughed.

It’s a bit more nuanced than that, Maisie, said Wildgrave Plonnis. It doesn’t always apply. However we are here to discuss job sharing and legal issues in a way.

The Arch Chancellor said it was about laws, but not to worry, it wasn’t that I’d broken any.

I want you to study law, Maisie, explained Millifore. To give you time to do it, we need you to share your Deputy job here with someone we can both trust and the students respect who is on the College Council.

Gantras would be best for the job, except he’s a very powerful telepath, she mused, so that rules him out because of Nikos, that leaves Chainai. So how are you involved, Plonnis?

I too would wish you to learn more about legal systems, to be qualified. For your work experience, you can help mediate issues on the Galactic council as you have more experience of more species than most Caemorians and it’s under the remit of your job of being one of my three Assistants.

Can you see any problem with this, Dairig? asked Maisie.

No, though surely you don’t have to agree now? We can discuss it with Chainai and Kaytim. Invite Baron Garvisin of Delarim to your apartment here or Dalriada and quiz him about the training.

Plonnis and Millifore looked at each other.

Up to you, Millifore, offered Plonnis.

You can think about it for only a couple of days, insisted Millifore.

Why only a couple of days? Maisie was surprised.

It’s not like here, explained Millifore, the Guilds all have inductions for novices at the end of Storing.

[3rd season: Storing is similar to Autumn]

I’ll be very disappointed if you turn it down, added Plonnis.

I’ll considerate it positively, promised Maisie. I do remember Assistant Ambassador Janethra suggesting I needed to study law. Maisie suspected there was legal work that Plonnis wanted her to do and for whatever reason Millifore had agreed. After all, what was a year’s delay? Something unexpected must have come up for both of them to be wanting her doing this at short notice.

Who will sponsor Maisie’s application to the Guild for the Law Institute and pay the fees? asked Dairig. It’s very expensive and getting on Grinel’s client list is easier than being accepted.

I’m sure Maisie can afford it, replied Millifore quickly. However the College and the Caemorian Empire will jointly fund it.

A suitable sponsor isn’t an issue, added Plonnis, actually, likely they’d take you anyway due to your pair of jobs, being second in rank in the College and in the third tier of government. Never mind your personal wealth too!

I’ll let you know soon, Plonnis, promised Millifore. I have some urgent college business to discuss with Maisie now.

Right, take care everyone, said Plonnis. I’ll see myself out.

So? asked Maisie.

Nishkah has agreed to study to be a Master rather than go home.

I’m amazed. She doesn’t much like Master Hornitar! Though I’ve done my best to convince her that he has a heart of gold really.

Millifore lifted the globe Maisie had made for him years ago off the desk unit and examined it.

Sometimes, Maisie, you are not a good persuader. She generally respects you, but isn’t inclined to believe everything you tell her. That’s actually a good character trait—

Encouraging good character is more important than everything else? she suggested.

She’s not going to shift on it, so the only alternative is that she studies under you to be a Master. Technically you are qualified to have a Warlock Journeyman student. She has studied under you before, so it’s not a problem even though generally it’s a bad idea for you to train Warlocks. Unlike Magery or Mentalism it’s not going to take up a lot of the Master’s time. You can take her to Capitol with you, you have a big enough house?

Yes, it was built to be an embassy, though it never had much use as one, agreed Maisie. Dairig?

What?

Advise me.

Um, I think we should assume the Guild application is happening and will be smoothed through. Perhaps the Dean’s office should send some of the college general staff and maybe you can get Jamit to send some staff from Dalriada. There’s only a caretaker in residence?

I’ll talk to Nishkah about her studying to be a Master under me then, said Maisie. There is a couple, they have been there for years as caretakers, but they are competent at a range of jobs. They used to be paid for by the Wildgrave’s department. Say nothing to Plonnis, but I guess unless Garvisin and Kaytim think it’s a really bad idea, I’m doing the legal studies.

The trouble in Wizard Wrean’s class, Maisie? asked Millifore.

I’m investigating. I hope to resolve it tomorrow. I’ve spoken to Wrean and the Dorm Masters.

~

Lord Garvisin was available that evening so later they all met at Maisie’s Deputy Chancellor’s apartment suite in the Administration section of the Old College.

Chainai’s Assistant, Luci, had produced a gorgeous meal.

Maisie had not just invited Pedar and Chainai to have Luci’s cooking, but because she wanted their opinion and Chainai would have do her routine Deputy Chancellor work, she’d deal with anything special or unusual and supervise by email and video chat. Maisie served wine as Apprentices could not normally visit this apartment, only her outer office; she’d never kept alcohol at the previous apartment. Thinking about the old apartment and the sleepover parties reminded her that Raelf and Falfery now lived in her old apartment.

Maisie explained to Chainai and Lord Garvisin what was suggested, with the audience of Kaytim, her husband Kertlen, Chainai’s husband Pedar, Dairig, Larin, Denys and Luci.

It’s totally logical study and qualifications for a Deputy Chancellor of the College, or an Assistant of the Wildgrave, commented Baron Garvisin. You have no classes right now, no ongoing Wildgrave work and no problem with Credits, so you can take off as long as you like in theory. Chainai can refer any difficult issues to you as you have your own Flitter to pop back if it can’t be managed on video conferencing and messages. However—

They are curiously keen for me to start soon, Maisie rather rudely interrupted. How does being accepted as a trainee to be a lawyer in the Manufacturing and Service Guild affect anything immediately?

It could provide a legal basis for you mediating in any dispute, he explained. The Guild would have to agree and then would in a sense be underwriting it. You might actually be trusted to be the mediator. If there was a risk to them, they’d want a bond. It would be regarded as good training. Normally the Guild would only let a new trainee, an apprentice, mediate only very trivial matters, probably as an assistant. However you are a mature person with practical diplomatic experience in the Government and in Circle College. There may be something the Government wants you to do that needs Guild backing.

The College, the Empire and my own wealth would add up?

I’d not be amazed if the Wildgrave suspects there is a higher bond involved than most people could provide.

I’ll clarify that, though it’s only Credits, I’ve considered getting a starship to use them up, I just haven’t decided on buying an existing one or commissioning a new build.

Um, what do you want a starship for? asked Garvisin.

I’ll explain about it later. What else can you tell me, Garvisin? asked Maisie.

You have to forfeit privacy to the interview board of three, Maisie, he explained. You can bring up to two companions. They can be adult family members, Assistants, a sponsor, a friend already qualified or an existing employer. I feel I don’t know you well enough. They will want a statement of your assets including how you obtained them.

I doubt that Millifore, the Wildgrave or my mysterious sponsor will come. In a sense the only family I have is Kaytim and that’s unofficial. So Kaytim and Dairig if I want supporters. Apart from being senior Assistants, they are like sisters to me anyway. Why the statement?

They prefer the independently wealthy to reduce the risk of bribery. It’s about corruption in general.

I can’t even imagine how bribery is achieved. Maisie could think of people on Earth that would still liked to be bribed despite their wealth. She couldn’t imagine why they thought only letting rich people become lawyers worked.

They’ll teach you how bribery is done so you can spot it! Anyway, you have to logically present your background and present your case. They then cross examine you. You can ask them a question each time. Don’t leave out anything illegal. It will be private unless it’s a class one offence that is unknown to security. They will ask you if you would ever be prepared to do something illegal. You don’t have to answer and don’t tell me now. It’s how you answer, rather than a simple yes or no that’s important.

Sorry for being abrupt earlier, explained Maisie. I’m conscious of the fact everyone else senior in the Wildgrave’s office and many senior government people are at least Journeyman level lawyers. I’m a little nervous.

You are right to be a little nervous, he replied and then hesitated. I shouldn’t really tell you this, but they will ask some questions to test how you respond to antagonistic cross-examination. You don’t actually have to answer every question, though it may count against you to remain silent. I’m not allowed to give any other examples than what I’ve said.

I appreciate that, she said. Would you take me for part of the early Apprentice work experience if I get in?

I’ve no problem with that, you are more mature and experienced with legal matters to do with contracts than most Apprentice Lawyers, though they are often more the age of people at University or the age of a Journeyman training at Circle College to be a Master. I don’t generally handle court cases, only legal issues to do with commerce. It won’t be such a change as when you started at College here.

2: Discipline

Really, Maisie thought, she’d prefer to be teaching. She re-read her notes. Wrean had been managing fine till she got this class. There had to be a ringleader. She’d try the direct approach.

She stood and faced the class. Whose idea was it?

There was silence.

It’s not honourable to shield someone inciting evil behaviour. I’m going to my office. I expect messages explaining everything. Much as collective punishment is wrong, you are all confined to your dorms indefinitely. Your Dorm Masters will provide kitchen supplies and laundry services. In that no-one is talking, the punishment isn’t unfair. Dismissed.

Maisie watched them all leave, then went to her apartment, which had her office. Wrean was still there, she looked up and smiled nervously.

Well? she asked.

I’m sorry, explained Maisie, no-one has said a word. I’ve banished them to their dorms indefinitely. Well, that’s what I told them.

I’ve never heard of that for an entire class.

It’s not unreasonable as all must know the instigator and ringleaders.

I suspect I know who it is, said Wrean.

I know who is most likely, agreed Maisie. Did you say anything that might have mortally offended the Akasurip girl, Fanki?

Wrean slumped back on the couch. I can’t think of it. You don’t think that’s what someone assumes we’ll think?

They are young, fresh arrivals. I can’t believe it’s that subtle. The first insult was opportunistic. You should have told me then.

I really thought I’d got on top of the past during the Morglun trip, said Wrean.

Maisie thought Wrean was close to tears, so she moved over to the couch, though she found it