“Take all your imagers, first company, and Eleventh Regiment.”
“There’s no point in taking Horan or Baelthm. Baelthm isn’t that good a combat imager, and he can be helpful here. And you know I promised Horan…”
Vaelora frowned.
“What about you? Who will protect you?”
“If they’re plotting against you, dearest, they’ll have to leave Bhayar’s family alone … for now.”
Except in time, “accidents” and illnesses would befall you all. “You’d think they’d wait. Khel hasn’t agreed to terms.”
“Do you think they care?” retorted Vaelora disgustedly. “Myskyl and Deucalon would prefer a campaign that crushes Khel. They feel that you and Bhayar are making things too easy for the Khellans. An all-out war would make them feel better … and they could pit the remaining imagers against the Khellan Eherelani and Elani in a way so as to remove the threat of the imagers.”
“What should we tell Bhayar, then?” asked Quaeryt.
“Just what Tyrena said.”
“There’s not that much, but I’d like to see his reaction. He has a good feel for things, and he knows Deucalon far better than I do.”
“But not Myskyl.”
“I’m not sure anyone truly knows Myskyl, maybe not even Myskyl himself.” But then, do any of us truly know ourselves? Quaeryt paused. “Now … what did you two really talk about? You and Tyrena?”
“Her petition, of course.”
“Just her petition?”
“That was what she was there for.” Vaelora smiled mischievously.
Quaeryt sighed. Loudly.
“We talked over the petition. As I told you, I suggested she add the words about remarrying.”
“And then what?”
“A little bit, just a bit, about you. She wanted to know if you were the commander who defeated Kharst.”
“And you told her?”
“I said that you were the one who defeated Kharst twice and Aliaro once and forever. She said that she thought it had to be you because no one else would dare speak for Bhayar.”
“Except you. What else did she say?”
“She was surprised that you knew who she was almost as soon as she spoke.”
“I was fortunate that I remembered…” Quaeryt broke off his words as he recalled what Skarpa had said about his using phrases containing the word “fortunate.” He was right about that … and many other things.
“What is it, dearest? You had the strangest look.”
“I just remembered how Skarpa told me how he distrusted my statements that I was just fortunate. Sometimes, I just was, but he was doubtful.”
“His death still bothers you, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.” It likely always will. “Was there anything else?”
“She said that being at Ryel was like being in a large prison, but better than being executed. That was about it.”
“Did she say any more about Myskyl?”
“Not directly. She’s tried to avoid getting involved with anyone in anything more than a cursory fashion since she came to Bovaria. I got the feeling that she and Ryel weren’t getting along that well. She did say that all the tales about Kharst were true, and that there were worse. Ryel sometimes told her horrible stories about the man. He seemed to find them amusing, she said. She said there was one about an imager … and a chastity belt, but she just shook her head. She didn’t tell whatever it was.”
“So there was at least one imager.”
“I asked if she knew what happened to the imagers. She doesn’t know. She never met any of them.”
“I still wonder who else might know anything.”
“Knowing isn’t enough. We have to know who they are, and it would be helpful if they were inclined to talk to us.”
“Who else…” Quaeryt froze. “Taelmyn D’Alte, Mistress Eluisa’s father … and her younger sister Rhella.”
“I didn’t know you knew her family.”
“I don’t. Rather, I didn’t. That was in the dispatch from Straesyr that Gauswn brought. I read it moments before I got the dispatches from Alazyn and Voltyr about Skarpa’s death. I’d forgotten about that.” Quaeryt offered a rueful smile. “I was somewhat distracted, you might recall. Anyway, Straesyr wrote that Eluisa had sent her best and asked us to contact her father and sister … if they survived Kharst and the battles.”
“Where would we start? We don’t even have a complete listing of High Holders.”
“There have to be some High Holders who would know. Even some factors. Taelmyn had to have had a house or holding around Variana, because Eluisa’s sister had to have been close enough for Kharst to notice her.”
“Not necessarily.”
“You’re right … but he had to have a holding close to Variana … or on a river. Those were the only ones Kharst visited, and Taelmyn wouldn’t have presented them unless he had to, meaning that Kharst already knew of them. That wouldn’t be the case if the holding were hard to get to. That should limit the possibilities.”
“I can have the clerks go over the records and have them make a few inquiries.”
“I’d like to meet Taelmyn and Rhella before Bhayar sends me off.”
“He might not do that immediately.”
“And he might.”
Quaeryt didn’t have an answer for that.
28
What with one thing and another, Vaelora and Quaeryt did not get to sleep early on Vendrei evening and slept somewhat later on Samedi morning, not more than a glass, but that was enough that by the time Quaeryt had dressed and eaten, Bhayar had left on a morning ride through the hunting park to the south and west of the Chateau Regis.
Rather than wait for Bhayar’s return, Quaeryt gathered up the dispatch to Subcommander Ernyld he had written the afternoon before and then saddled the black gelding and rode to the headquarters holding. There he had one of the duty rankers deliver the dispatch to the subcommander, directing the ranker to inform Calkoran and Khaern that he wished to meet with them. Zhelan had already left for Imagisle with the imagers and first company.
The ranker had barely left when there was a perfunctory knock on the door of the small study, and the door opened immediately to reveal Marshal Deucalon. The wiry, gray-haired officer stepped inside the study and closed the door.
“Marshal.” Quaeryt immediately stood.
“Greetings, Quaeryt. Somehow, we’ve largely missed seeing each other in quite some time, and I thought I’d stop by to see how matters are coming.” Deucalon’s smile was warm, both on his lips and in his eyes.
“Lord Bhayar has kept me busy, sir.” Quaeryt smiled. “As I’m sure you’re aware.”
“Subcommander Ernyld showed me the dispatch you sent him this morning. I must say that I’m impressed with your speed and diligence in meeting with the chief factor.” Deucalon hesitated just an instant before continuing. “Do you think your suggestions will have an effect?”
“I would think so, but if they don’t, then we’ll take stronger measures, and we’ll point out to the factors that they were warned.”
The marshal nodded. “It’s always best to allow someone the opportunity to do the right thing first … before taking stronger action.”
“You’ve made that point before, sir, by your considered acts.”
“You’re most generous in your words, Quaeryt.”
Quaeryt thought about asking about Myskyl, then immediately decided against it. That would only alert Deucalon, if he were part of what Quaeryt believed Myskyl was doing, and would accomplish nothing if Deucalon were not-although Quaeryt had his doubts about that. “I try to be both honest and accurate in my words.”
“I have noticed that. So has Submarshal Myskyl.”
“Thank you, sir.” Quaeryt ignored the opening to ask about Myskyl.
“I understand that we have your imagers to thank for the better roads around the Chateau Regis and the improved pavement on the roads to the Nord and Sud Bridges over the river. Will Lord Bhayar be having you do more road improvements or will they be working on building that compound on the isle of piers?”