“Yes, ser.” There is the hint of a quaver in the squad leader’s voice.
“Then, copy out that which we are entitled to. Underneath that, write that Overcaptain Lorn certifies that this is the payroll to which the Mirror Lancers in Biehl are entitled on this date, and that he has signed for its receipt.” Lorn smiles. “We do not wish that our lancers not be paid, do we?”
“No, ser.”
“And make two copies. On the second, place a line for Neabyl to sign, saying that he has received a copy and disbursed exactly these funds.”
Helkyt nods slowly. “But he will not sign such or hand over the payroll.”
“After you have drawn these up, we both will ride over to the enumerators’ building, and I think we should take a full squad…say, in battle dress.”
Helkyt swallows. “Ah…”
“The Emperor’s Enumerators serve the Mirror Lancers, even as we support them.” Lorn gestures. “Now, if you would send out word for the squad to be ready, and then draft those two statements…”
“Yes, ser.” Helkyt nods twice, quickly.
It is nearing midmorning when the senior squad leader returns with the two drafts of the payroll account statements.
After he has read them closely, Lorn stands. “These will do. If the squad is ready, we will go visit Senior Enumerator Neabyl.”
“Yes, ser. They await us in the courtyard.”
“Good.” Lorn slips on his winter jacket, waterproof at least, and follows Helkyt out.
Although he has not asked, the chestnut is saddled and waiting. As Lorn and Helkyt ride out through the gates, through a rain that is changing to a light drizzle, in the column behind them, Lorn can hear the murmurs.
“…enumerators not like this…”
“…think I’d worry more about the overcaptain not liking it…”
“…first time…had a commander with a blade for a backbone…”
Lorn just hopes he won’t cut himself too badly with that blade, or that he has not done just that already.
The waters of the harbor and the Northern Ocean beyond are flat and dark gray, and the piers are empty as the lancers ride past. At the enumerators’ building, Lorn reins up, and the lancers do as well.
“Remain in formation, mounted,” Lorn orders. “We will be a bit, but I’m sure you won’t mind, since it is your pay we’re getting.”
There are a few smiles.
Lorn and Helkyt walk into the building, followed by an older lancer who carries the empty pay chest.
Neabyl comes out from the large room to meet them. He glances from Helkyt to Lorn, then past them to the squad of lancers remaining mounted in formation before the building. He bows. “Overcaptain…I see that Squad Leader Helkyt has conveyed our difficulty.”
Lorn nods at the doorway to the larger room with the dais, then walks past Neabyl and into the room. After a moment, the senior enumerator follows, an annoyed expression on his face. Behind him slips Helkyt. Lorn gestures for the squad leader to close the door, and Helkyt does.
“Overcaptain…”
“I see no great difficulty,” Lorn says mildly. “We are owed a payroll. You are a senior enumerator of the Emperor, and you can provide such.”
Neabyl shrugs. “I would not presume…”
“Are you not in charge here when Master Flutak is not?” Lorn asks.
“Ah, yes, Overcaptain.”
“And do not the accounts for the payroll list what should be paid?”
“I do not have those…” Neabyl’s voice is apologetic.
Lorn smiles. “I understand. I thought this might present a problem.” He extends the first sheet of paper, drawing it from his jacket. “Here is our account for payroll and our draw for expenses for the eightday. I checked these against the original authorization for the garrison, the one signed by the Majer-Commander, and by the head of the Emperor’s Enumerators in Cyad.”
Neabyl studies the paper. “I would not know.”
“I do. And the Majer-Commander would be most unhappy if his lancers were not paid. You do not have a record. So, if you will note, I will sign the paper so that all will know that you carried out your duty.” Lorn pauses. “And you will sign an identical one saying that you disbursed these golds, and only these golds, to me as the payroll authorized on this date. In that fashion, when Master Flutak returns, he will have records, and there will be no question as to what funds were disbursed.”
“Ah…”
“And you can use this as the basis for future accounts in the event that Master Flutak and your records cannot be found.”
“That is true…” muses Neabyl. After a moment, he nods. “Yes, that indeed might prove beneficial to all, and I must say, I do like the idea of exchanging account statements for disbursals. It might remove any future…unpleasantnesses.”
Lorn smiles. “One cannot undo the past, and change what has been, but one can change what will be.”
“You have a persuasive way with words-and accounts, Overcaptain.”
“Perhaps.” Lorn continues to smile, adding, almost casually, “And…Neabyl…if by any chance there might be some shortages in the accounts, and if by chance Enumerator Flutak indeed does not return, it might be wise to report such…with the steps you have taken, such as this, to ensure they do not recur.”
Neabyl’s face blanks. After a long moment, a forced smile returns. “Your advice is not only persuasive, ser, but most wise, and should such eventualities be such, you can be assured that I will follow your words to the letter.”
Lorn nods.
Neabyl returns the nod. “I will see that Comyr brings up a chest, and then we will count it, and sign your papers. I am sure none will fault our caution.”
“None will fault it, I am sure,” Lorn agrees.
As Neabyl leaves the large room, Helkyt glances at Lorn. “Ser…you talk as if Flutak will not return.”
“That is because Master Neabyl acts as if he will not. Otherwise, there would have been no difficulty. Neabyl would be happy doing as Flutak has always done. That he would not, suggests that Flutak may have departed, not to return.” Lorn adds in a lower voice, “Perhaps because all is not as well with the accounts as should be.”
Helkyt swallows.
“As I told Senior Enumerator Neabyl, we cannot change what was-only what will be. And that we will do.” Lorn continues to smile faintly as they wait for Neabyl to return. He knows he runs the risk of allowing Neabyl to seize golds and blame the shortage on Flutak, but there is nothing he can do about that, not without revealing more than he dares.
Nor can he ever reveal how he killed an innocent because he acted quickly against the guilty and the corrupt.
XIX
Lorn yawns as he leaves the kitchen in his quarters, after washing the dinner dishes. When he had been a mere lancer officer, under the command of others, he did not have to worry about dishes, but he had little space to himself, either. He yawns again as he walks toward the study. The day, and the previous night, have been long indeed, especially with the nightmare of the grower’s daughter, whose face resembles Myryan’s. Yet there is more that he must do…much more.
Even so, his thoughts drift back to Flutak…and the young woman. The woman was…is another matter, as his nightmares testify.
So far as Flutak was concerned, his mind is clear. While he may not have proof that would convince a justicer, he knows the depth of the enumerator’s corruption. Neabyl’s reaction was almost confirmation in itself. Lorn knows that, had he not acted against Flutak quickly, then any later action would be laid to his doorstep. One factor which removes him partly from suspicion is the unwillingness of most to believe a new officer would act so quickly and decisively…or that he would have the means so soon after arriving. Lorn takes a deep breath. For better and worse, he has acted, and cannot undo those actions. Nor has he yet discovered how better he might have acted.