They rode past the barracks toward the small building to the south of the barracks and facing north onto the area with the struggling vegetation that eventually would be a green.
“That’s the new administration building for the Collegium,” said Calkoran, pointing to where the other officers under Quaeryt’s command-five imager undercaptains, Khaern, Zhelan, Eslym, and Ghaelyn-stood in two ranks on the steps. To their right stood nine boys, dressed in gray trousers and shirts, with Gauswn, in his chorister’s garb, standing beside them.
Quaeryt reined up before them. For several moments, he struggled with what he felt and what he should say. After a time, he finally said, “I want to tell all of you that, without all that each one of you has done, and that includes those who are not here, we would not have this chance at a future for you, for those you love, and for those who will follow us. Without what Khalis, Lhandor, and Elsior did in Rivages, I would not be here. Without what Horan and Baelthm have accomplished while we were in the north we would have no place to which we could return … and I am truly astounded at what you two have done-”
“Begging your pardon, sir,” interjected Baelthm, with a slight smile, “we didn’t do it alone. All of the student imagers helped as they could. We just followed the example you set for teaching them … excepting that we tried to have them strengthen their imaging in building … hoping you don’t mind that.”
“Not at all! We’ll be needing to do more of that in the weeks and years ahead.” Quaeryt shook his head.
“Some of the buildings aren’t finished on the inside like they should be,” added Horan. “We really missed Lhandor in that.”
Quaeryt couldn’t help but shake his head in wonderment. “Truly amazing…” After several moments, he went on. “Lord Bhayar has agreed to the Collegium, and that means that before very long those of you who have wives or children can send for them … if they wish to come. There are some details we need to work out, and it may be a week or so before I know those…” He grinned. “We will need to build some cottages … but I doubt that will be much of a problem for you.”
That brought smiles to most faces.
“I’ll be meeting with each of you either today or over the next few days. Oh … I know some of you are interested, but Lord Bhayar has not yet informed me of his choice for marshal. That may be a few days because he will be meeting with various senior commanders once Northern Army returns to Variana.
“And now … I think we’ll ride to those new stables … they are stables, aren’t they?”
“Yes, sir!” Horan called out.
As Quaeryt urged the gelding toward the stables, Calkoran cleared his throat.
“Yes?”
“I wondered, sir … will you and Lady Vaelora be living in the Chateau Regis … for long, that is?”
“For now. Once I’m no longer needed as a commander and am just the maître of the Collegium, then we’ll worry about quarters here. Right now, it’s more important to make sure the quarters for the imagers and men are finished.”
Calkoran merely nodded.
Once Quaeryt had stabled the gelding, he had Baelthm and Horan give him a tour of all that the two-and the student imagers-had accomplished. That took more than two glasses, and Quaeryt was impressed with the quality of the work-despite the concerns that Baelthm had expressed.
When the tour was over, and the three stood on the steps of the small building, which they had informed Quaeryt was the headquarters of the Collegium, complete with a room for a modest library and several private studies as well as a spacious conference room, Quaeryt looked to Horan and Baelthm. “Did you two ever sleep?”
“We slept well, sir, and we didn’t have to worry about anything except building the Collegium. Subcommander Khaern and the chorister took care of everything else.”
“Some of the students must have talent with imaging.”
“They all do,” replied Baelthm. “Some are better at small detailed imaging, and some look to be strong like Horan.”
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all you’ve done.”
Horan looked at Quaeryt. “Sir … you let me do what I could. You didn’t press me to do what would have hurt me more than you know. How could we not?”
“That is the idea of the Collegium,” Quaeryt admitted, “but you’ve put it into practice.”
The two smiled.
After that, Quaeryt met with all the officers. The meeting was short, and he simply told them what he knew, including the fact that there was an envoy from Khel and that no one knew exactly what that meant. When he finished informing the officers, he walked to the anomen to find Gauswn.
The young chorister was giving lessons to the student imagers, but excused himself, and the two walked to the small study that held a table desk and two chairs. All three were plain, but appeared sturdy.
“Chartyn and Doalak imaged those for me,” said Gauswn. “They’ve also managed bed frames and tables for the other students.”
“I can’t believe all that everyone has managed.”
“All of them would likely die for you, sir.”
Quaeryt wasn’t so sure that Threkhyl would, but he was likely to be Voltyr’s problem for some time to come. If not for as long as the Westisle part of the Collegium exists. “That may be an exaggeration.”
Gauswn shook his head. “You’ve risked your life time after time for them.”
“I risked it so that Lord Bhayar would succeed, because that is the only way imagers can have a chance at a better life. And I’ve asked them to risk their lives time after time, and some of them died following me.”
“You’ve given them pride and hope … and a sense of being able to control their own future. No one has ever done that for imagers.”
Except perhaps the Naedarans … and that might be doubtful. “What else could I have done?”
“What Myskyl and Deucalon tried … to seek power and fill your wallet. You didn’t.” Gauswn smiled, almost ironically, yet gently. “In turning from that kind of power, you may have become the most powerful man in Lydar, simply by refraining from excesses … from Naming.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” said Quaeryt quietly.
“How many men would recognize that?”
“There must be some.”
Gauswn shook his head again. “Calkoran talked to me last night. The Khellans believe that you’re the son of Erion. So do some of the imager undercaptains. I hope you won’t disappoint them.”
Someone else had said similar words. After a moment Quaeryt realized who it had been … and that recalled what Skarpa had said about Gauswn. In turn, that reminded Quaeryt all too clearly of how a single failure to correct a misconception had led to Skarpa’s assassination … all because Quaeryt had failed to do the littlest thing. With that jumbled recollection, Quaeryt found his eyes burning,
“What is it?” asked Gauswn gently.
For a moment Quaeryt could say nothing. Then he shook his head. “You never escape the past … and within us, it’s never really totally past.” And Erion told you that would be so.
Gauswn smiled, sadly. “No … it is only never past for those who understand.”
“You may be right about that.” Quaeryt forced a smile. “I did say you’d be a good chorister, and I think you’re also going to be a good head of studies for the young imagers…” Even as he forced himself to concentrate on what he needed to tell Gauswn, Quaeryt still found himself thinking of Skarpa … and wondering why Gauswn’s words, echoing those of Phargos, another chorister, had brought on such strong and bittersweet memories.
60
Promptly at sixth glass on Vendrei evening, Quaeryt and Vaelora met Bhayar outside the family dining room of the chateau.
Bhayar smiled warmly at them. “I always like seeing you two. You belong together.”