“Yes, sir,” came the chorused response.
Quaeryt opened the letter and began to read.
Dear Quaeryt-
I won’t even attempt a title. You’ve had so many in such a short time. I’ve made the decision to suggest that Chorister Gauswn and his two students travel across Telaryn and Bovaria to meet you in Variana. I’ve supplied mounts and golds, and they will ride with our dispatch riders.
I have my doubts that the scholarium here is the best place for the students, and Gauswn is wasted there. With what I gather is your objective, you’ll need someone like Gauswn, and you will certainly need the imagers, as will Lord Bhayar, and any others that Gauswn can find along the way.
Mistress Eluisa D’Taelmyn sends her regards and her appreciation for your redressing a situation that she could not. Her father, if he is still alive, is Taelmyn D’Alte, and her youngest sister is Rhella. She would be pleased if you would contact them, if it is possible.
Try not to destroy more than necessary in seeking your aims.
Quaeryt couldn’t help but smile at the last line. He had to admit that he missed Straesyr, even though they had not always seen eye-to-eye, especially in the beginning, but he’d learned a great deal from the governor. And you should have learned more. The message from Mistress Eluisa was definitely unexpected, but welcome … and a good suggestion. He tucked the letter inside his uniform shirt.
“Do you have any questions, sir?”
“About the letter? No. I take it that matters at the scholarium did not turn out as you might have wished?”
Gauswn smiled, slightly ruefully. “The governor is overly concerned. The scholarium will survive. It will likely prosper modestly … so long as…”
“The scholars are not required to deal with imagers as students?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then why did you leave … or are you planning on returning?”
“No, sir. Not if you can find a position for me as a chorister.”
Quaeryt burst into a grin. “I’d be glad to have you as a chorister. Not only that, but we might just have an anomen, in a few weeks, for you.” He went on to explain about his plans and the ruined anomen on the isle of piers.
After he had finished, Gauswn said, “I still might request an occasional homily from you.”
“Very occasional … if matters work out.” Quaeryt made the qualification because matters hadn’t yet worked out in the fashion he’d anticipated. “We’ll have to find temporary quarters for you and the students, but we can call them trainees, and no one will complain. And since Eleventh Regiment has no chorister…”
At that moment there was a solid rap on the door.
“Yes?”
Begging your pardon, sir,” came a voice from the corridor, “but there’s a junior squad leader here with dispatches for you personally. They’re from Liantiago. He’s most insistent.”
“If they’re from Liantiago, it’s urgent,” replied Quaeryt. “Show him in.”
The young squad leader who entered the study looked totally exhausted, with deep circles under his eyes. Even so, he looked askance at Gauswn as he handed the two sealed envelopes to Quaeryt.
“Captain Gauswn was one of my officers in Tilbor,” Quaeryt explained. “He’s acted as escort for some student imagers.”
“Yes, sir. The top dispatch is from Undercaptain Voltyr, the other one, sealed in green, is from Subcommander Alazyn. I have another for Marshal Deucalon, but he is at the Chateau Regis with Lord Bhayar. He’s not expected back soon.”
“Is the other also from Undercaptain Voltyr?”
“I don’t know, sir. It’s sealed. Twice.”
Quaeryt felt a cold chill. “It will take you close to two quints to reach the Chateau Regis. You’d best hurry.” He offered a smile he didn’t feel. “Thank you.”
“Yes, sir.”
As soon as the squad leader left, Quaeryt used his belt knife to slit the envelope, opening it quickly and unfolding the sheets within.
Commander-
Submarshal Skarpa is dead. He was killed by a man named Chaellonyt, who claims to be the heir of Chaelaet, the former High Holder of Laetor. Chaellonyt used a small crossbow from cover when the submarshal left a staff meeting, from which we were excluded. We could not move quickly enough to shield him because of where we had been placed as a result of Commander Kharllon’s concerns about our reporting on the meeting. Threkhyl imaged a block before Chaellonyt’s mount, and we captured him. The assassin stated that he killed Submarshal Skarpa because the submarshal had personally destroyed his holding and ruined his father, who died in the battle for Barna …
Quaeryt paused. Personally destroyed? Then he swallowed as he recalled that the assistant steward had called him “submarshal,” and he had not corrected the man. The assistant steward must have passed on that the “submarshal” had personally destroyed the hold. And Chaellonyt thought that Skarpa had done it.
“Sir?” asked Gauswn.
Quaeryt looked up from the partially read dispatch. He swallowed again. “Skarpa. He was killed by the heir of a rebel High Holder because the imagers and I leveled his hold house and forfeited his lands to Bhayar.”
“But you were under Commander Skarpa’s orders, weren’t you…”
Quaeryt shook his head. “My command was independent. Skarpa agreed reluctantly, but it was my decision and my act. And he paid for it.” All because you didn’t correct a misunderstanding. But that was something Quaeryt couldn’t afford to admit publicly, because it would reflect badly on Bhayar. Are you sure? Was there any doubt? Deucalon, Myskyl, and Kharllon would all use any admission against Bhayar … and Quaeryt and the imagers. And you can’t afford that. “Excuse me. I need to finish reading the dispatch.”
… Commander Kharllon has assumed the position of acting governor of Antiago.
Under the command of Subcommander Alazyn, Nineteenth Regiment and first company have removed from Liantiago to Westisle, where we have begun to establish a Telaryn base to assure that Lord Bhayar retains control of the port at Westisle. I felt that accompanying Nineteenth Regiment was in accord with your orders, but do not hesitate to change those orders as you see fit. I did inform Commander Kharllon of your orders and that I would request your confirmation or change to them.
For your information, we have also obtained two trainees, and may receive a third in the next week.
Quaeryt’s smile was bittersweet. Voltyr had more nerve than Quaeryt might have had in his position, and both Alazyn and the imagers were far better off separated from Kharllon. Even so, Voltyr would have his hands full. He slipped the sheets back into the envelope and then slit open the one from Alazyn.
Commander-
Submarshal Skarpa was killed by a Bovarian High Holder’s son earlier today. With his death, Commander Kharllon assumed command of Southern Army. He insisted that Nineteenth Regiment was under his command. I noted that Nineteenth Regiment was assigned to the envoys directly, and that you and Lady Vaelora had requested that the regiment support Submarshal Skarpa. With his death, command reverted to you or those under you.
The compromise we reached, until we receive orders from you or Lord Bhayar, is that Nineteenth Regiment and first company would invest the port of Westisle to assure that Telaryn controls all major ports of Antiago, save Hassyl. The imagers have begun to convert old warehouses adjoining the port quarter into barracks and facilities. These can be used by any Telaryn forces as necessary.
I felt you should know these facts in order to present them, as you see fit, to Lord Bhayar and Marshal Deucalon.
Obediently yours.