“I pointed out that we have to request first, and Deucalon agreed, and then said something along the lines of it being better to allow someone to choose what was the wisest course-”
“He said that?”
“He did, but I think he knows Bhayar would be unhappy if we demanded lower prices immediately.”
“It’s also another message,” Vaelora said.
“I know, but it’s so seemingly innocuous. I can’t say that I would expect anything different.”
Vaelora shook her head, then said, “While you were gone, I went through what records we have. There is a Taelmyn D’Alte in the listing of High Holders who have paid their token tariffs to Bhayar. The listing only states that his holding is east of Variana. I sent Hullyt out to make further inquiries.”
“Thank you. Shall we go see your brother and inform him of what Lady Ryel said?”
“We should. I’m not looking forward to it.”
“That makes two of us.”
They left the study and walked up the grand staircase to the second level, and then along the west corridor to the study, where the duty guard announced them and opened the study door.
Bhayar turned from where he stood by the northernmost window, which was open, but did not speak.
“How was your ride?” asked Quaeryt.
“Pleasant enough, if warm.” Bhayar looked from Quaeryt to Vaelora. “You’re here as well. What unpleasant news do you two have to convey?”
Vaelora nodded to Quaeryt.
“You might recall that you approved the guardianship of Lady Ryel yesterday?”
“Yes?” Bhayar’s voice was wary.
“Her holding is near Rivages, and in addition to hearing about her position as a widow, we asked her a number of questions about what she has observed since last fall. We thought you should know what she has seen. Vaelora and I talked to her separately, of necessity. What she told me was that Submarshal Myskyl has visited many of the high holdings near Rivages…” Quaeryt related all that Tyrena had told him, then stopped and waited.
Bhayar was frowning, but he nodded to his sister. “What did she tell you?”
“Some of what she told Quaeryt. What she also said was that Myskyl had spent most of his time with the widow of High Holder Fiancryt. He keeps all his regiments close to Fiancryt, although he has sent small parties with commanders in charge to visit many high holdings. He gathered extensive supplies over the late fall and the winter, and his officers met with a number of the wealthier factors. There were also some repairs or changes to the hold house at Fiancryt, although Lady Ryel had no idea what was involved, except that she wondered if a powder magazine were being constructed, since a certain amount of iron plate was carted to the hold house.”
“How did she know that?”
“The Ryel holdings include an interest in the local ironmongery.”
“What else?”
“Dispatch riders left or returned to the Fiancryt lands several times a week. She had no idea where the riders were headed or from where they came, except that they always wore Telaryn colors.”
“Nothing more than that?”
“Oh … she did say that Kharst was far, far worse than the stories about him, and that she was less than pleased in the way that the High Holders bowed to him, but that they felt they had no choice. In the ten years she was married to Ryel, she knew of at least five high holdings that were destroyed, with the entire families executed. As we surmised as a result of our mission, the factors were indeed agents of the rex, and often provided information to him.”
“Dispatch riders several times a week? Do you think she’s telling the truth?”
“Why would she not?” replied Vaelora. “I asked what she knew and had seen. That was what she told me.”
Bhayar shook his head. “This is troubling. Myskyl has done largely what he was sent to do. He has met with the High Holders. He’s collected the token tariffs, and he has kept his forces in readiness.”
“He has not sent those golds to you,” Vaelora said, “and you have not received any dispatches in more than a season.”
“Has Deucalon?” asked Quaeryt.
“He says not.” Bhayar looked to Quaeryt. “What do you think? I know you don’t trust Myskyl, but he’s done nothing disloyal, and certainly, for all his caution, Deucalon has not.”
So far … and that we know. “Myskyl has never trusted me, sir, but, as you say, the only evidence that something untoward is occurring is that he has not reported in months, and that he has enough dispatch riders to send them off often … and that he has not sent the High Holder tariffs-and any tariffs he may have collected from factors-to you. I might add that Subcommander Meinyt has managed regular dispatches. On the other hand, Submarshal Myskyl may have felt that the winter was too severe, or he may have sent them, and they have not arrived.” Quaeryt paused. “You also know how I feel about the ties between Commander Kharllon and the submarshal … and what happened in Liantiago.”
“I’m well aware of those feelings.” Bhayar paused, then asked, “What would you do in my place?”
“I would send a small force to discover what has happened. One large enough that if some uprising has occurred at least a full squad of riders could return and report. If nothing has occurred, the officer in command could point out that the lack of communications necessitated a modest force so that you could be apprised of the situation, one way or the other.”
“That means you, I suspect. And a few imagers.”
“A few. Not all of them. Some need to remain here to undertake work.”
“On your Imagisle?”
“Not just on it, I fear. More and more requests are arriving at the Ministry of Administration, as you know. Some of them may require at least token imaging.”
“You seem to have created a bit of a problem for yourself and the imagers, haven’t you, Quaeryt?”
“For the next few weeks or months, sir.”
“You won’t get out of it that easily.” Bhayar shook his head. “I need to think things over. I’ll let you know by Lundi. You don’t have anything else in the way of facts to add to what you’ve said, do you? Facts … or other solid indications.”
Quaeryt caught the quick look from Vaelora. “No, sir.”
“Until later, then.” Bhayar turned back toward the window.
Neither Quaeryt nor Vaelora said much until they returned to their private ministry study.
“He was rather short with us,” observed Quaeryt after he shut the door.
“He was upset. Deucalon and Myskyl served Father, and they’ve served him. He can’t see why they’re acting the way they have. Oh … I know power or the temptation of it changes people, but Bhayar always thought fair and firm treatment would keep people loyal, and now he’s worried that it won’t. He won’t dither, but he needs some time to think it through alone. If we’d said more, he would have felt we were pushing, and his reaction would be to delay deciding. It would help if Aelina were here.”
“I told him to send for her, and to send Pulaskyr to Solis as the regent of Telaryn or some such.”
“He can’t do that yet, dearest.”
“Why not?”
“He doesn’t think Variana is safe enough for her. If we’re right, it isn’t.”
Quaeryt couldn’t disagree with that, although he couldn’t help observing that Bhayar had less compunction about risking his sister.
“That brings up another question,” said Vaelora softly. “If he does send you, who will you take?”
“Khalis, Lhandor, and Elsior. I promised Horan he wouldn’t have to do battle imagining. Given how he feels about it, he’d be limited. Between them, he and Baelthm can handle most imaging. If necessary, Horan has strong shields, and he could protect the Chateau Regis.”
“You don’t think it will come to that, do you?”
“Not so long as Bhayar remains healthy and alive. Even the senior officers beholden to Deucalon and Myskyl would balk at an attack on Bhayar. But if Bhayar dies in an accident or of illness, Deucalon will certainly step forward to hold together what the great Lord Bhayar has unified. If you can, persuade Bhayar never to eat with Deucalon except at his own table here at the chateau.”