“He is improving,” Quaeryt acknowledged.
“Do you think there’s trouble in the north, sir?” asked Khaern.
Wherever Myskyl is, there’s likely to be trouble. “If there is, we’ll likely be sent there. So far, there’s no word of trouble. There’s just no word.”
“Some have said that no word is a good word,” said Calkoran slowly. “In matters of arms and war, having no word is seldom good.”
“You could be right,” replied Quaeryt, “but we report to Lord Bhayar, and we’re to remain here until he says otherwise.”
When he finished with his senior officers, Quaeryt left the study to join the imager undercaptains and the day’s duty company from Eleventh Regiment. All were formed up and waiting when he stepped out into the rear courtyard of the headquarters building. In moments he had mounted and led the column out.
Lundi was similar to Solayi, except that the day was longer, and knowing that, Quaeryt spaced out the intervals between imaging. Part of that delay was required because the duty company had to clear people away from the area of imaging, and as the imagers proceeded, Quaeryt could see more than a few locals staring with eyes almost popping out of their heads.
He also heard a few remarks, some of them repeated more than once by different bystanders watching on different blocks.
“… do things like that, no wonder they defeated Rex Kharst…”
“… wish every street were like what they did here…”
“… Pharsi officers … may be good … don’t trust ’em…”
“… you want to tell them they’re blocking your shop?”
“… all for show … what good are a few stone roads…”
Quaeryt could have told them, but he just kept a pleasant expression on his face as the imaging proceeded. Even so, by just before fourth glass, when he and the imagers rode back to headquarters, he was satisfied. He and the imagers had finished the ring avenue around the Chateau Regis, and the service road, and had widened slightly and paved the north road halfway to the bridge. He did decide to begin with replacing the bridge first on Mardi before paving and replacing the street heading west from the bridge until they joined up with the already replaced section of the north road from the Chateau Regis.
As he rode back from the headquarters building, after dismissing the imagers for the day, he couldn’t help but worry about what was happening in northern Bovaria.
Vaelora had obviously been watching for him, because she was standing by the service entrance door when he rode into the rear courtyard of the chateau and reined up outside the modest stable, but she just waited for him while he turned the black gelding over to the ostler and then walked to join her.
“How was your day?” he asked.
“Tedious. I’ll tell you after you wash up. The most exciting thing was planning dinner for us-and we’re eating alone in the family dining room.”
“I’m sorry,” said Quaeryt as they walked into the chateau and then through the lower-level foyer and toward the east side staircase that circled up to their chambers.
“It’s not your fault. It’s almost as bad as when I was in Solis.”
That worried Quaeryt-a lot. He remembered Vaelora telling him how much she’d felt like a prisoner in Bhayar’s palace in Solis. “I do have some news for you, and something for you to do…”
“What? Write out a meaningless description of our trip to Khel and back?”
“No. You know that Bhayar asked me to act as a temporary minister of supply and administration.”
“Yes?” That single word contained a sea of wariness.
“I asked if you and I could work together on that. Bhayar agreed.”
“Why did you do that?”
“Because it’s going to be a bigger job than I can handle, and he and I need someone whom we can trust-especially if he sends me and the imagers off somewhere to fix something. You did an admirable job of finding the governor’s house in Extela, staffing it, furnishing it, and getting it running. Then you worked with Aelina as a partial finance minister in Solis. All we have here will be one clerk from Deucalon and three studies on the main level … and some golds. I’m supposed to be rebuilding roads … and I’d like to get the imagers started on the isle of piers.”
“That would be better than sitting around.”
Quaeryt refrained from speaking as they climbed the circular staircase to the upper level. When they reached the top, he replied, “If you have to go someplace to get goods, supplies, or people, though, you’ll need at least a squad of troopers.”
“I can see that,” Vaelora conceded.
While Quaeryt washed up, he and Vaelora discussed how they should set up their temporary ministry, although Quaeryt had his doubts that it would be all that temporary, given what they had observed of Bovaria.
Later, they sat down to dine in the chamber Vaelora had taken to calling the family dining room.
Quaeryt poured them each a goblet of white wine, then raised his. “To the lady who will likely end up doing much of the finance and logistics.”
“At least you recognize that.” Vaelora smiled before she sipped her wine.
Quaeryt looked at the platters between them on the table.
“It’s a river trout poached in wine, then fileted over rice grass with a lemon cream sauce.” Vaelora paused. “And don’t look at the dinner rolls first.”
Quaeryt laughed. He had been looking at the dinner rolls.
“Try the fish.”
“It’s not the fish, but the rice grass.”
“It’s tender, and nutlike in a way.”
Quaeryt served her and then himself. He took a bite of the fish and the rice grass, chewing slowly before swallowing. “I’ve had much worse.” He kept a straight face.
“Much worse?”
He grinned. “It’s quite good. You were right.”
“You need to say that more often.”
“Most men probably do,” he admitted.
“You should tell Bhayar that.”
“Better that you tell him … or Aelina.”
“She already has.”
That didn’t surprise Quaeryt, not at all.
“You know, in some ways, Bhayar is as close to a brother as you’ll ever have.”
“Why do you say that?”
“In my more than ample spare time,” Vaelora paused before continuing, “I was reading Rholan. The author mentioned that Rholan didn’t believe in brotherhood.”
“That makes sense. His half brother was a wastrel, and he didn’t have any other brothers or sisters.”
Vaelora took a sip of wine, then said, “There’s something about that passage. I’d like you to read it again.”
“I will … after we enjoy this tasty dinner.”
Vaelora shook her head.
Quaeryt smiled.
* * *
Later, while Vaelora was preparing for bed, Quaeryt paged through Rholan and the Nameless, finally locating the passage Vaelora had mentioned. He quickly read the entire section.
So often do men talk about brotherhood, as if it were some lofty ideal that transcends the boundaries of all lands, that some may find it interesting that Rholan never did. That is less than surprising. Rholan had no siblings except his half brother Nial, and they were never close. In fact, Rholan went out of his way to avoid Nial, not that such was difficult. Yet, Rholan’s mother was most close to her sister Clyana. Although his mother died when Rholan was only ten, Rholan often visited his aunt throughout his life and made no secret of their relationship. What is more interesting was that Clyana was a cabinetmaker of some skill, and several of her pieces adorned Rholan’s home. Yet he never mentioned that, even to his closest friends, perhaps because having an aunt who was a crafter of note did not fit his image. This was possible only because Rholan’s friends and acquaintances were entirely drawn from the ranks of those of considerable golds and property, either merchants, factors, or the younger sons of High Holders. Yet, for all of his private concern about finances and golds, and his rather hidden appreciation of the finer life, he understood and could speak to those of a more common background, perhaps just because of his closeness to Clyana. At the same time, he never seemed to accept the fact that sisterhood existed, even as he had seen it before his very eyes.