“I am. Gherard is coming by in his coach, and Laamyst will be joining us at Gherard’s for dinner.” Before Charyn could reply, Bhayrn went on. “Did you and the Council actually do anything? Or did you defer to them again?”
“There was nothing to defer to. They don’t like the unrest. They won’t spend coins on more civic patrollers, and they want me to end the unrest. I made a proposal. They didn’t like it. So I told them the problem was theirs. I’m not about to spend golds to protect the factors when they don’t want to do anything about it.”
“Why should they? You’re the Rex.”
“I can’t spend golds I don’t have.”
“Just bring in the army.”
“If I do that now, all the crafters and most of the High Holders will blame me for the deaths that will happen, and the factors will keep doing what they are, and that means the burnings will continue.”
“They will be anyway.”
“Did you see yesterday’s newssheets?”
“I don’t read the trash sheets.”
“The regional justicer sentenced a nineteen-year-old to death because he was with his brother when the brother set fire to a factor’s warehouse.”
“Serves him right.”
“I didn’t even find out until he was dead. He should have spent a year or two in the workhouse.”
“If he was stupid enough to go along with that, he deserved what he got.”
“Bhayrn … something like forty men just in L’Excelsis have died in the last month because they set fires. They did that because they don’t have jobs or aren’t paid enough to feed their families. The factors aren’t willing to pay more, even though they’re making more golds than they ever did. The crafters and the workers know that, and they’re furious. It’s not just here in L’Excelsis—”
“Once you kill all the troublemakers, the burnings will stop.” Bhayrn shook his head. “You can force your own uncle to kill himself, but you worry about worthless workers who are lazy and spoiled. You need to be Rex. That means ruling, not dithering.” Bhayrn gestured toward the front entry. “I’ll see you later.” With that, he turned and walked away.
Are you dithering? Charyn didn’t think so, not with what Vaelln had said about using the army, but he also had the feeling that many of the factors and High Holders would think so. How long can you afford to wait before bringing in the army?
He took a deep breath and walked to the parlor.
Chelia was there, but not Karyel and Iryella. “Bhayrn won’t be joining us.”
“I know. He told me. He’s spending a lot of time with Laamyst and Gherard.”
“You used to spend a great deal of time with Ferrand.”
“I think it’s different. I couldn’t say why.”
“Bhayrn’s different from you. That’s why.” Chelia turned as Karyel and Iryella entered the parlor, her eyes inspecting the pair before returning to Charyn.
Once the four were seated in the family dining room and served, Karyel looked to Charyn. “Why do you meet all the time with the Factors’ Council, sir?”
“Because the factors are becoming wealthier and more powerful, and they pay more in tariffs than they once did.”
“They’re factors, sir.”
“I can name several High Holders whose ancestors were factors. Just as important, the factors have the power to destroy a number of High Holders.”
Karyel’s face screwed up in puzzlement. “You’d let them do that?”
“It’s not a question of my letting them do that. Some High Holders borrowed large amounts of golds from banking factors and others. If the factors didn’t lend to them, the High Holders would have to sell so much of their lands that they’d no longer be High Holders. If any Rex stopped that practice, most of the High Holders and the factors would be very unhappy. If I told the factors that they couldn’t collect from the High Holders, then they wouldn’t lend those golds.”
“Any High Holder who borrows that much isn’t very smart,” said Iryella.
“Sometimes, even High Holders are unlucky,” said Chelia gently. “Drought and heavy rains can ruin the harvest for several years. It’s happened that way more than once. By borrowing, one of the smaller High Holders has a chance to keep his lands.”
“He should have planned ahead,” declared Karyel.
“Sometimes, we can’t foresee everything that could happen,” said Chelia. “And times change. These days, manufactorages often make more golds than do crops. High Holders whose sires started manufactorages are in a better position than those whose sires didn’t. An heir is sometimes captive to the mistakes of his predecessor.” Chelia fixed her eyes on Karyel.
“Like me?”
“Like you. That’s why you need to know as much as you can about as many things as you can learn…”
Charyn nodded, thinking about the forces set in motion before he became Rex, forces that seemed to hold him captive.
39
Charyn was headed to exercise with the guards on Vendrei morning when Maertyl gestured to him. Charyn immediately wondered what had gone wrong and where. “Yes, Guard Captain?”
“It’s nothing to do with the Guard, Your Grace. One of the Civic Patrol squad leaders I know stopped by just a little bit ago. Last night, some patrollers ran into some men starting a warehouse fire. The men shot the three patrollers. Two of them died, and then the warehouse exploded. The men got away. The Factors’ Council started issuing rifles to the patrollers this morning.”
“Do you know whose warehouse?”
“A factor named Saratyn. He deals in glassware. That’s all I know.”
“Thank you. I appreciate the information very much.”
All through the exercises, Charyn wondered how Eshmael would react … and how quickly. He also worried about civic patrollers with rifles.
As was more often the case than not, after exercising, washing up, and dressing, he ate breakfast alone, then made his way to his study. Wyllum wasn’t there yet, but he’d left the newssheets for Charyn, suggesting that he’d gotten them before his breakfast.
Veritum reported that the Rex and the councils had taken no additional action to address the acts of arson and destruction against manufactorages, leaving the responsibility completely with the Factors’ Council and the Civic Patrol. The story also noted that the Patrol had discovered tools and flammable oils in an unused stable near several manufactorages on the west side of the river, but had not discovered who had placed the materials there.
Interestingly enough, there was no mention of the Council meeting in Tableta, but Charyn had no doubts that his absence from the pages of that newssheet would be temporary.
Just after Wyllum appeared, so did Sanafryt, carrying several sheets of paper. “Your Grace?”
“Yes? Is there a problem with proclaiming the change to the Codex Legis dealing with choristers?”
“Not that kind of problem, sir. I just received this from the regional minister of justice in Solis. It’s a copy of a document that was nailed to the door of the Anomen D’Montagne some two weeks ago. Regional Minister Kafrayt sent it by courier as soon as he made the copy. It’s purportedly from the True Believers.”
Charyn managed not to sigh. “Let me read it. Just sit down.”
The document was relatively short.
Rholan the Unnamer, as the interpreter for the Nameless, intended that the lives of believers should be a constant search for meaning through their acts and deeds in order to improve their lives and the lives of others.
1. Meaning cannot be purchased through coins, whether of copper, silver, or gold. That being so, offerings made to the Nameless are of value to the Nameless, and to the giver, only so far as they enable the chorister and those under him to accomplish acts of meaning.
2. An act of meaning is one that improves the health, life, or spirit of both the giver and the recipient.
3. An act of meaning must be undertaken with no thought of personal gain in wealth, position, or statu
re. Thus, an act is bereft of meaning if the gift redounds to the benefit of the giver or of the chorister who performs it.
4. An act of meaning performed in hopes of personal gain in any form is nothing less than the sin of Naming, as Rholan declared more than once. Such acts have been too often performed by Choristers of the Nameless.
5. An act of meaning is diminished if it is given in guilt and in an attempt at penance or to obtain some form of absolution for an act of evil.
6. A chorister who diverts offerings meant to enable acts of meaning to the acquisition of personal ornamentation, fine raiment, or rich foods and beverages defiles the Nameless and betrays the ideals and teachings of Rholan.
7. Such choristers are Namers of the worst kind, for they pose as servants and interpreters of the Nameless while embodying the practices of the Namer.
8. Therefore, we proclaim that all such choristers must be cast out from their anomens and replaced by those who carry out acts of meaning in the spirit of the Nameless and as demonstrated by the life of Rholan.
9. Copies of these theses have been sent throughout Solidar to all True Believers as inspiration for the cleansing and reformation of the faith of the Nameless, as set forth by Rholan.
“Does Regional Minister Kafrayt have any idea who posted these theses or how many of them were sent?”
“No, sir. The chorister of the Anomen D’Montagne fled upon reading them, but he was thoughtful enough to send them to Solis before he disappeared.”
Charyn nodded. “Get the copies of our proclamation of the change in the Codex Legis finished and dispatched immediately. And don’t mention this document to anyone until a day after you have.”
Once Sanafryt left, Charyn walked to the window. He would have preferred to have issued the proclamation before such theses were spread. But you really didn’t dither or delay on this. At the same time, he was well aware that he could have pressed forward more quickly. But only if you ignored the Council … and that works against what you are trying to do.
There was a single rap on the door before Chelia opened it and stepped inside.
Charyn turned and moved to stand beside the table desk.
“You mentioned the need for dinners after Autumn-Turn and had Elacia begin planning. You wanted one for the more important factors and one for the High Holders.”
Charyn nodded. “I think it’s necessary.”
“As do I. The dinner for factors might best be the first, since you will see some of the High Holders at the Autumn-Turn Ball. Perhaps the twenty-eighth of Erntyn for the factors, and the fourteenth of Feuillyt for the High Holders.”
Since Chelia’s words were not a question, Charyn smiled. “Those dates would be good, and Wyllum can write the invitations for you.”
“And a dinner for the councilors and their wives on the twenty-first of Feuillyt?”
Charyn nodded, not that he was looking forward to that particular dinner.
“Good. We can start this afternoon, after you go over the lists I’ve proposed. Feel free to add or remove any names, especially on the factors’ list. These are just suggestions based on what we discussed the other night.” Chelia extended two sheets of paper. “Also, since you made no provision for entertainment, I would suggest that Palenya and the string quintet be employed for both events, especially the one for High Holders.”
Charyn could tell that the entertainment provisions were neither a suggestion nor a question. “You think that would be for the best?”
“She’s one of the best clavecinists, and she shouldn’t be punished for having been your lover. Also, you shouldn’t do anything that would indicate that you feel embarrassed or show that you feel she’s beneath you.”
“I’ve never felt that way.”
“I know that. She knows that. So should everyone else. That’s why she’ll be coming here to teach Karyel and Iryella later this afternoon.”
Charyn couldn’t say he was surprised. “What time would you like Wyllum to join you?”
Chelia turned to the young scrivener. “I’ll see you at half past first glass.”
“Yes, Lady.” Wyllum did not quite gulp.
Chelia smiled at her son. “He can bring the amended guest lists then.” Then she turned and left the study.
Charyn looked to the wide-eyed Wyllum, then said in a matter-of-fact tone, “She’s usually right, you know. While you catch your breath, I’ll go over the lists.”
“Yes, sir.”
Charyn began by reading the factors’ list, which began with the five members of the Factors’ Council. There was one name his mother had added, and that was of Kathila D’Factoria. Charyn had not heard of any women recognized as factors in their own right until Estafen had mentioned Kathila, and now, if his mother had added her, there was definitely a good reason to include her. After going over the list again, he added Saratyn and several other factors he knew or knew about. Next, he read over the local High Holders list, making certain both Laastyn and Ghaermyn were included, but crossing off Laevoryn—he’d seen and heard enough of him—and noted that Chelia had recommended not inviting either Aishford or Paellyt. Charyn wrote “don’t invite” beside each name. Chelia had also suggested adding Quensyl, to which Charyn wrote, “Not at present. He was snide about Palenya.”
When he finished with the lists, he handed them to Wyllum. “If you’d copy each list for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Charyn returned to considering his limited options in dealing with the problems facing him. He was still struggling when, at a quint past second glass, Sturdyn brought in a letter addressed in a hand that he knew immediately to be that of Alyncya. As soon as the study door was closed, he opened it and began to read.
My dear Rex—
Thank you for your most considered responses to the questions that I posed. You have obviously thought through the difficulties and the ramifications of each course of action open to you as Rex. Yet, I have noticed that you have refrained from any of the courses of action you described, that is, if the accounts in the newssheets are accurate. It would appear that either you have decided not to act, that the time for any of the actions you previously discussed has not yet come, or that you are considering a course of action that you had not previously contemplated. Whatever may be the reason for your refraining from immediate action, I am hopeful that your decisions in the matter reflect that same thoughtful nature that you have displayed in your correspondence.
I must confess that I enjoyed and greatly appreciated your observations on history and the possible repetition of actions by later generations of acts undertaken by previous generations. Some recent acts that I have observed, not of yours thus far, seem to repeat a lack of perception or understanding of the unfavorable consequences of those types of acts in the past history of Solidar.
Not of yours, thus far? That was a polite way of saying that Alyncya would be quite willing to tell him when she thought he was acting unwisely. As if that’s any surprise.
… and it would appear that candor in presenting counsel, or even factual descriptions, is often less than fully appreciated, especially when such observations or suggestions are presented by a woman. In that regard, I will be most interested in seeing how you address the difficulties that have been set before you, as they are trials not resulting from error or misstep on your part, but which could lead to even greater difficulties if not successfully resolved.
At those words, Charyn smiled wryly.
In our short correspondence, we have discussed weighty issues, but little of less import, for example, whether you read anything besides piles of documents and papers, or whether you would rather be hunting or riding, or if you ever play plaques or whist, or even what your favorite sweet might be. Do the morning or the evening glasses seem more attractive to you? Or do you intend to remain a rex of mystery to me?
Charyn looked at the last words, realizing that was indeed where the letter ended, except, of course, for the closing—the same as before.
The signature was also the same—“Alyncya.”
For a time, he just sat there, letter in hand. He thought that the last questions were favorable, but were they?
He shook his head. The only way he’d find out was to answer the questions … and to pose some of his own.
He reached for his writing paper.
40
When Charyn woke on Solayi morning the first thing he sensed was the acrid odor of smoke. He bolted up and went to the window, drawing back the hangings and looking out over the city. In the still air, a thin haze blanketed L’Excelsis in whatever direction he looked.
How many more buildings were burned last night? That was his first thought. His second was, What can you do to show concern without committing to using the army too soon?
He was still thinking about it as he washed and then dressed. Possibly asking Factor Eshmael for a tour of all the damaged factorages, manufactorages, and warehouses?
That might work, but would he need to make some gesture toward the crafters and guilds? He decided he needed to think that over. That could be seen as pandering to the mob and would alienate both the factors and the High Holders, and having both groups angry at him was the last thing he needed at the moment.
He was so preoccupied that he almost failed to realize that Bhayrn was already in the breakfast room. “Oh … good morning.”
“You actually slept to a decent glass,” replied Bhayrn. “I almost can’t believe it.”
Charyn decided to ignore the not-quite-brotherly jab as he sat down across the table from Bhayrn. “I’ve scarcely seen you in the last few days … How was your dinner with Gherard and Laamyst the other night?”
“Enjoyable. I didn’t have to be polite to Karyel.”
“He’s gotten much more mannered.”
“On the surface, anyway. Iryella is more to my liking. She’s not too bad. Laamyst might like her.”
“She’s a little young for him,” replied Charyn.
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