'Major Jachen.' The woman acknowledged him with an incline of her beautiful head. Her long lashes fluttered down, and Jachen felt as if she had recorded every detail of his person in an instant, from the scuff marks on his boots to the missing button on his cuff. His head skipped a beat when her rich brown eyes met his own, then ached at her frosty words as she continued, 'Your reputation precedes you.' She made no attempt to hide her disapproval as she dismissed Jachen with a flick of the head.
She turned to Lord Isak. 'I doubt the men will accept him.'
'That's his problem,' he replied. 'If he can't lead them, then he's no use to me. He told me about abandoning his men, but I think he's worth a second chance.'
'Did he tell you everything? That he was a mercenary for years, fighting for Duke Vrerr, and other thugs? That he once slaughtered a castle's entire garrison when it surrendered-'
'Hold on there!' Jachen broke in, suddenly finding his voice. 'That's a lie. We wiped them out, yes, but no man of that garrison ever asked for quarter. If they fight to the last, you don't get a choice about taking prisoners.'
Tila shrugged. 'The truth won't matter in the barracks. As you say, my Lord, it's his problem. The Synod awaits you.'
Lord Isak gave an exasperated sigh and gestured for Tila to lead the way. Jachen followed them like a lost child. Every dozen steps they were interrupted by people greeting Isak, most formal, but a few more friendly – at one corner he was set upon by flurry of liveried clerks, warning him Chief Steward Lesarl was searching for him. Jachen was ignored by everyone, lost in his new master's shadow. That suited him line. From there he could observe the Land as Isak strode though it Like a catalyst, affecting everyone he passed. But if that's true, what have I got myself into! You're a damn fool, Jachen, he thought. Next time, first find out what happened to the last man who did the job.
The Chief Steward came upon them moments after his clerks. His formal clothes indicated Lesarl had important meetings this morning, yet he still managed to retain his customary air of dishevelment and disorder Beyond a sharp look at Jachen – unsurprising, considering his reputation he said nothing, but led Isak into a small office. Jachen, with no futher orders, followed behind. As he watched the exchange between the two men, he wondered if there was any truth to the rumours that the men detested each other. He could see nothing untoward; Lesarl was a prickly, brusque man as far as Jachen knew, but the Chief Steward's manner was sufficiently deferential. It was widely known that Lesarl treated some suzerains with open contempt, but here gossip appeared to be growing its own fertile ground. He could discern no truth to any of it.
'Since you're calling the nobles to Tirah,' Lesarl said, standing close to the white-eye, as if to a long-time confidant, 'I've set the investiture ceremony for two months' time. It's a rare event, so we might as well make the most of it and have all the suzerains there. After getting the Synod's approval you have a number of other meetings.' Lesarl nodded towards Jachen. 'You might want to think about whether you take him in to all of them; you don't trust him as you do Carel.'
'It appears I'm the only person who didn't know he was a candidate for the position,' Lord Isak said pointedly. 'Perhaps I should be asking you whether 1 can trust him.'
'My Lord, of course Kerin asked my opinion, and I have no objec¬tion – if I had, the Swordmaster would not have put him in front of you. As it is, I always suspect folk who covet a position of influence. Far better to find an unknown man you consider useful.' He acknow¬ledged Jachen with a cold smile. 'Easier to kill this one too, if he's not up to the job.'
Isak snorted. 'Let's give him a week or two first. What about these other meetings?'
'Principal ministers, the City Council, the Honourable Association of Merchants, and then later tonight my coterie.'
'Coterie?' Isak asked.
Lesarl gave Jachen a warning look as he explained, 'My personal – let us call them advisors. They hold no actual position, and you will never see them at meetings, but they are integral to keeping the nation running. You need never speak to them again, but it is right you meet them and know their faces and their skills. That you will do alone, for their identities remain a state secret. Whilst it is rumoured abroad that I have my own network of spies, if I discover Major Jachen has been talking about my coterie, he'll disappear – and not just up a mountain this time.'
Lord Isak waved a hand in dismissal. 'Fine, it'll probably be the only thing I properly remember. There are so many meetings, so much to
sign – it's all starting to blur. No wonder Lord Bahl left so much of this up to you!'
'My Lord, no one man can run a nation. It will take you time to absorb all the details – you were not trained from birth to do this, after all, but your aides were. After a few weeks the legal requirements will all be resolved and government will return to normal. Until then, trust me to ensure that everything is being attended to. Your priority is to establish yourself as Lord of the Farlan, a head of state the people can trust, one who will keep life going as usual. Your position as a warrior has, I think, been adequately affirmed. Now, just remember to conduct yourself in meetings as calmly as possible. We would prefer people forgot about stories of the battle of Chirr Plains and saw only the intelligent ruler they now have.'
'And begging the favour of the Synod is the first step in that?' Lord Isak sighed.
'The approval of the Synod is an ancient custom,' Lesarl said. 'It may be a formality now, but that was not always the case. It is a good reminder of how divided the tribe once was.'
'So there won't be any political bargaining going on?'
Lesarl's smile sparkled back to life, reminding Lord Isak of King Emin of Narkang. 'My Lord, that you could think such a thing of our holiest men…'
He sighed. His Chief Steward found his entertainment in the strangest of ways. 'Gods, it's going to be that bad? Tila said they'd at least conform to the ritual format.'
'I'm sure it will start that way,' Lesarl agreed, 'but I suspect the sitting cardinals will be keen to get to business soon enough. After all, you intend to execute Cardinal Certinse's sister and nephew. There is one final thing: your father. I don't know if you want to give him a position, or a manor, in Anvee, perh-'
'No. He won't accept anything from me.' He sighed. 'Just keep an eye On him, keep him out of trouble.'
'As you wish, my Lord,' Lesarl said with a.sniff. For a moment he looked as il he would speak further, then he bowed low and hacked
away.
'Isak, concentrate, Repeat it back to me.' Tila grabbed his deep crimson tunic and tugged it left and right, finally succeeding in straightening the rucked shirt underneath It that was ruining the line.
Isak snooed Tila's hands away, The sitting cardinals are named Certinse, Veck Honestly, what sort of a name is Vreck"
'Never mind that now,' Tila snapped. Her voice- sounded strangely loud in the bare antechamber. They were alone, aside from Jachen, who lingered uncomfortably by the door. Two of Isak's personal guards, clad in full armour, stood outside the room, warning everyone away. This was the administrative side of the palace, part of the main wing given over to governmental use. The high-ceilinged oval hall on the other side of the door was the Synod Chamber. It was intentionally set apart from the main wing. Isak hadn't asked why. No doubt there was symbolism involved, but he had quite enough to remember already.
'Yes, mistress,' Isak growled without a trace of contrition, and par¬roted back to her, 'Certinse, Veck and Echer are the sitting cardinals. Echer is High Cardinal, but he's very old now so he'll let the other two speak. The high priests always defer to the three most powerful of their number, and of those Jopel Bern, the High Priest of Death, will take the lead since Voss Aftal will not want to come into direct conflict with the head of his own cult. The only other high priest who might speak is from the Temple of Belarannar, the white-eye Roqinn.'