“As you were,” said Bhayar. “Please be seated.”
Quaeryt only knew a handful of the commanders and subcommanders by both face and name, including Subcommander Ernyld, who had been Deucalon’s chief of staff from before the battles at Ferravyl. Quaeryt was intrigued to see Pulaskyr, because he’d thought Pulaskyr would have been with Myskyl at Rivages. The only other commander he recognized by both name and face was Dafaul. There were only two other subcommanders besides Ernyld present. That did not surprise Quaeryt because the majority of regiments headed by subcommanders had been assigned to Skarpa’s Southern Army. Quaeryt assumed the others were with Northern Army, and that suggested that the commanders present had not wished to brave winter in northern Bovaria, and that Deucalon had accommodated them.
Quaeryt took the vacant seat and waited.
Bhayar did not sit, but waited a moment before beginning. “I had you all summoned because Commander Quaeryt has returned with some news that I find … momentous, if unexpected. I’ve asked him to provide a short factual summary of events that led to the situation he will present.” Bhayar nodded to Quaeryt and seated himself.
Quaeryt rose and stepped back from the table just slightly. “The news is simple enough. Lord Bhayar is now ruler of Antiago, and the High Council of Khel is considering terms presented to them from Lord Bhayar.” He waited for several moments to let the import sink in before continuing.
“The mission assigned to Southern Army was to obtain the allegiance of the High Holders of southern Bovaria and to assure that the Autarch Aliaro did not continue hostilities against the lands held by Lord Bhayar. Lady Vaelora and I were dispatched to accompany Southern Army and then to depart from Ephra to present terms to the High Council of Khel, which has been reconstituted in a form similar to that which ruled Khel before the attacks and depredations of Rex Kharst…” From there Quaeryt gave a summary of the events that occurred, following Bhayar’s instructions to limit himself to the military events and the results. He concluded by saying, “Once we rebuilt the piers at Kephria and created a working trooper compound, we set out on the return to Variana.”
Quaeryt then turned to Bhayar.
Bhayar merely nodded.
“Might the commander answer a few questions?” asked Deucalon.
“I’m sure the commander can answer a few questions,” replied Bhayar. “So long as they deal with the matters at hand.”
“Did you not consider sending a dispatch rider to inform Lord Bhayar more quickly?” asked Deucalon.
“I did. Lady Vaelora and I considered it. We decided against it because we had determined to take the shorter route up the Phraan River. If we had sent a dispatch rider, because we have no dispatch stations established, the only place he would have been able to be assured of remounts would have been in Laaryn, and that route is much longer. If we had sent enough riders to assure his safety, he would not have arrived much sooner, if as soon as we did. Once we were close enough to assure that safety we did in fact send a dispatch rider.”
“Surely … Bovaria is not that dangerous. There are no armies or marauding armsmen roaming the land.”
“Marshal,” Quaeryt said firmly but quietly, projecting absolute assurance, “once one leaves the towpath of the Great Canal, the roads range from passable to abysmal. On the way to Ephra we repaired roads as we could. One of our tasks on the return, and one which took little time, was to use imagers to repair bridges and the causeway on the stretch of road from Eluthyn to Daaren. That will speed travel considerably in the future.”
“But surely…”
“I believe the commander has answered your question, Marshal,” said Bhayar quietly. “Are there other questions?”
“Success is often best not questioned, Commander, especially in war,” said Pulaskyr, “but could you say why you or Submarshal Skarpa felt you had a chance of defeating the Antiagons?”
“After seeing the pattern of Antiagon tactics, and noting how poorly defended Kephria was, and also seeing how much Aliaro relied on the Bovarian holders of the south to defend his northern borders, it appeared likely that Antiago was ruled by fear of the Autarch and that fear was reinforced by cruel and absolute punishment of those who disobeyed. In addition, Antiago is thinly populated in many areas. There are only three major cities, or four if one counts Westisle as separate from Liantiago, and the Autarch maintained a large fleet. It appeared unlikely that he had that many armsmen and troopers. And we had already destroyed a regiment or more of his troops on the advance up the Aluse to Variana. Because Aliaro had attacked us a number of times already and had given sanctuary to rebel High Holders, Lady Vaelora, Submarshal Skarpa, and I decided that it was best to take the risk and attack when Aliaro did not expect it.”
Pulaskyr nodded.
Another commander cleared his throat. “Did you not think the prerogative of declaring war belonged to Lord Bhayar?”
“In the documents which named Lady Vaelora and me envoys, there is a section which empowered us to take action against any powers or forces either rebelling against the rule of Lord Bhayar or hostile to and threatening his lands. After all that the Autarch did, I don’t believe we exceeded the authority he granted.”
Deucalon glanced at Bhayar.
Bhayar smiled. “If I cannot trust my sister and the commander who has been most devoted and most successful, who can I trust?”
Commander Dafaul asked, “Did you consider the use of force against Khel, rather than against Antiago? After all, by setting up this High Council, Khel is technically in rebellion against Lord Bhayar?”
Quaeryt knew from where that question had come-Deucalon, no doubt. He nodded. “Your question assumes that Rex Kharst actually held Khel. In fact, he held five port cities and not much more, except Khelgror, and that only briefly. More to the point, Bovarian traders largely held those cities. Once it became clear that Kharst had died and his armies had been destroyed, the Bovarian forces in Khel either fled or were killed piecemeal. That included the Bovarian traders. The toll on Khel was so high that only one in three of those who lived there before the Red Death and Kharst’s invasion are still alive. Nonetheless, there were no Bovarian forces alive anywhere when we landed in Kherseilles. I did not have Southern Army at my beck and call, but one regiment, without mounts, and to make an attack on Khel would have taken at least a year, even with Southern Army. Khel represents no immediate threat. If Lord Bhayar orders an attack on Khel, then I will follow his orders, but the instructions he provided were to persuade the High Council of Khel to consider his terms. They are doing so. If they reject them, then Lord Bhayar will decide as to what shall be done.”
The remaining questions were far more factual.
“What range of arms and weapons did the Antiagons use?”
“How did you escape the effects of Antiagon Fire?”
“Do you know how much of the Antiagon fleet remains?”
A half a glass passed before Bhayar rose. “I think we have tried the commander’s patience enough for now. I’m going to have dinner with him and my sister.”
As he left the conference room with Bhayar, Quaeryt still wondered about Pulaskyr’s presence in Variana. The commander’s question had been designed to allow Quaeryt to provide an answer before a more slanted question could be asked, and precluded a nastier attack in the guise of a question.
Still … that didn’t address Quaeryt’s concern. Was Myskyl planning something and didn’t want a senior commander as competent and loyal as Pulaskyr around? Had Pulaskyr been left in Variana because he knew Myskyl too well from their years together in Tilbor? Both? Neither?
Quaeryt had no idea, except Pulaskyr’s presence worried him.
16
Dinner with Bhayar on Vendrei evening was actually pleasant. Bhayar asked very few questions about their efforts, and the remainder of the evening was more than satisfactory, including the luxury of sleeping in a very good bed on clean and soft linens. Even so, Quaeryt woke up concerned, although he didn’t say much about it to Vaelora until after they had finished breakfast, brought to them and served in the sitting room.