As he closed the book and handed it back to Vaelora, he nodded and said, “I hadn’t remembered that passage. At least, I didn’t remember reading it, but it must have stuck in my thoughts somewhere.”
“Kharst was a fool, according to Rholan’s definition.”
“When I read that book, I get the feeling that Rholan thought most men were fools.” And, at one time or another, most of us are.
“He didn’t even bother to observe women,” said Vaelora.
“I doubt he would have been any more or less charitable.”
“In small ways, the book shows he was far less charitable.”
Given Vaelora’s firm tone and, he had to admit to himself, what he’d read, Quaeryt wasn’t about to argue that. “You’re right, and that’s too bad.”
“Are you placating me?”
“If trying to avoid an argument when you’re right is placating … yes.”
Vaelora laughed softly. “You’re sweet when you try not to be so obvious in admitting something.”
“I thought I was very obvious.”
“You can be sweet about that, too.”
Quaeryt was definitely not about to argue that.
13
By leaving Berryhyl early on Solayi and putting in a long day, although only one minor bridge repair was required, and by leaving the small hamlet of Souwal early on Lundi morning, first company came into sight of Semlem just before second glass that afternoon. Even the southern outskirts of Semlem were anything but inspiring, with houses that were little more than large boxes with single-slant roofs and overlapped plank walls with peeling gray-washed walls and small windows.
“The men will like the extra time in a town,” said Khaern from where he rode beside Quaeryt.
“Even in this town?” asked Quaeryt.
“After all the hamlets, any town will do.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Quaeryt could see the faintest headshake from Vaelora.
The not-quite-ramshackle dwellings on the south side of Semlem slowly gave way to roughly dressed stone-walled homes and shops as they neared the center of Semlem-a stone-paved square with yet another statue in the middle.
Is the worship of the Nameless only a pretense here? Quaeryt wondered, especially when he saw a large anomen a block north of the square. Or did those who had been Rex of Bovaria believe that Naming was not a sin for rulers?
On the north side of the square was the inn, a structure smaller, if not by much, than the inn in Berryhyl, but one that was equally old, but more imposing by virtue of its gray stone construction. Quaeryt turned his mount toward the inn, and the necessary process of obtaining food and lodging for sums that would not exhaust his limited funds, but which would not also amount to outright commandeering of what he needed for men and mounts.
Once he had settled matters with the innkeeper, who seemed, if not agreeable, grudgingly accepting of Quaeryt’s offer for lodging and fare, Quaeryt relayed the billeting orders to Zhelan and the two subcommanders, then returned with Vaelora to talk with the innkeeper in the main entry hall.
“Who are the High Holders here?” Quaeryt asked.
“There’s Lenglan of Norwal. The old holder died in the battle at Variana. He’s the heir. So he’s the one owns the mines in the hills east of here. Got a hold house just north of town on the river. Then there’s Patarak. He doesn’t leave his place much, not since he got thrown in the hunt a few years back. Must be sixty if he’s a day. His estate is southeast, if you take the lane off the south pier for two milles.”
“Are there any others?”
“Depends on whether you count High Holder Farlan. Has a summer hold maybe ten milles north, right on the river. Don’t know where his main hold is, except it’s somewhere near Eluthyn.”
When Quaeryt finished with the innkeeper, he walked with Vaelora up the steps, following an inn chambermaid to their rooms.
“I think we’ll send a message to High Holder Lenglan, saying that we’ll be paying him a call between fourth and fifth glass.”
“If you’re going to give notice, I think you should bring a full company and the imagers.”
“I’d thought that. While you’re getting washed up and changed, I’ll talk it over with Zhelan, Khaern, and Calkoran before I decide on the company.”
“Changed? Into what?”
“Your best riding outfit.”
“None of them…” She shook her head. “Never mind. I’ll work something out.”
After leaving Vaelora in their chamber, Quaeryt returned to the main level of the inn, sent a trooper with a message that he needed to meet briefly with his senior officers and the imager undercaptains, and repaired to the otherwise empty public room for Zhelan to gather the imager undercaptains and for Calkoran and Khaern to join them.
Calkoran was the first to arrive. Then came Khaern, followed by Zhelan and the undercaptains.
“Thank you all for coming quickly. This won’t take long. It’s only rumor, but I’ve been led to understand that High Holder Lenglan is a less than golden heir of a thoroughly disreputable sire who was a close acquaintance of Rex Kharst. The sire was at Variana and perished with Kharst. The father maintained an inordinate number of armsmen and specialized in the overt kidnapping and subsequent use of attractive young women who were never seen again. Lady Vaelora and I intend to pay a call on the High Holder between fourth and fifth glass. I need a company to deliver the invitation. The imager undercaptains will accompany the company and will provide the necessary persuasion. That persuasion is to be applied gradually, beginning with the removal of gates and walls and proceeding to the removal of guards and functionaries only as necessary. You undercaptains will need to shield yourselves and the company because I want no injuries or wounds to our troopers. Is that clear?”
The four undercaptains and Elsior nodded.
“Subcommanders?”
“We would be pleased,” offered Calkoran. “It would be a pleasure to deliver such a message to a Bovarian High Holder.”
“Thank you. We’ll await the results of your visit.”
Quaeryt spent another quint inspecting the inn and checking the stables and the progress of billeting before returning to Vaelora.
From the window in their inn chamber, Quaeryt could see the center of the town, with the usual square. To the west, if he leaned forward, slightly out the open window, he could also see the two river piers, but the upriver pier was unlike any he’d ever recalled seeing. It was U-shaped, and there was a flatboat tied in place, its stem firmly against the middle shore section of the pier. From the inn window, Quaeryt watched while two dray horses pulled a narrow but strongly constructed wagon up a ramp from the flatboat and onto the pier, and then up a paved ramp to the main street. As the wagon passed below, he could see that it was empty.
“What are you watching?” asked Vaelora from where she stood before a mirror and worked on her hair.
“An empty wagon coming off a flatboat. They must cart ore or rough metal north somewhere, and then return the horses and wagons by flatboat.”
“What would they do with the flatboats?”
“I don’t know, but there must be some use for them.”
A glass later, a ranker knocked on the door and informed Quaeryt that Calkoran’s company had returned. Quaeryt hurried down to the public room, where the undercaptains and Calkoran waited.