The guards watched as the major rapped on the door. “Lady Vaelora and Commander Quaeryt to see you, sir.”
“Have them come in.”
The major eased open the door and nodded. Quaeryt followed Vaelora, and the major closed the door behind them.
Quaeryt did a quick survey. The northeast study was the kind of chamber Bhayar preferred, a corner chamber with windows on the north and east sides, which provided early light and a flow of air on all but the stillest of days.
Bhayar stood beside the wide writing desk. On one side was a stack of papers, and on the other a map. For a long moment he studied the two, then frowned. “I would not have thought you would leave your child.”
“I lost her,” said Vaelora simply. “Sometimes … it happens.”
Bhayar’s eyes went to Quaeryt, hardening from dark blue to stone.
“It was not Quaeryt’s doing. There was nothing he could have done. He has done more than either you or I could ever have asked.”
“Are you protecting him?”
“If I must. You should have seen him when he came to my sickbed to comfort me after I … lost her.”
“Where was this?”
“In Kephria,” replied Vaelora. “You should let us tell you how and why you now are the ruler of Antiago.”
“What of Aliaro? Did you not bring him in chains … after all he has done?”
“That would be difficult, sir,” said Quaeryt mildly. “We were forced to destroy his palace fortress with all his remaining armsmen and imagers in it. He was also there.”
Bhayar sighed, the long and dramatic expression of exasperation, rather than the short and explosive sound of anger. Then he gestured to the conference table and the chairs around it. “You have had a long journey. I’ve ordered refreshments.”
Once the three were seated, the Lord of Telaryn, Bovaria, and Antiago said, “If you would, tell me the sum of what you have accomplished, or not, before we dwell on the details.”
Vaelora looked to Quaeryt.
Quaeryt cleared his throat quietly. “As you ordered, we accompanied Submarshal Skarpa along the Great Canal to Laaryn. We made major repairs to the canal this side of Eluthyn and put down a factor conspiracy in Laaryn. That required leaving Subcommander Meinyt, two imagers, and Fifth Regiment to assure compliance and receipt and payment of damages, and tariffs. You should have received a dispatch describing those events. We proceeded down the Laar to Geusyn and Ephra. Because Captain Nykaal had been unable to obtain enough ships to carry two regiments, we embarked with first company and Eleventh Regiment and sailed to Kherseilles. On the way we were attacked, and the imagers had to destroy two Antiagon warships. Since the High Council of Khel restricted the sale and use of mounts, only first company accompanied us to meet with the High Council at the ancient capital of Saendeol. The Council agreed to consider your terms, but only when you held all of Lydar.” Quaeryt could see Bhayar open his mouth, but he continued to speak. “So we returned to Geusyn. Once there, we discovered that the southern Bovarian High Holders refused to pledge to you or to meet with either Skarpa or Vaelora. Then they fled into Antiago. We leveled all their hold houses and fortifications, breached the wall around Kephria and took it, and then rode to Suemyron and took it. After that, we took Barna and rode on Liantiago. Along the way, we fought four battles. We defeated and largely destroyed all who faced us. Aliaro holed up in his palace with his imagers. We destroyed the palace and almost all remaining Antiagon troopers and imagers. Skarpa remains as acting governor. In our absence from Kephria, Aliaro’s troopers and imagers leveled Ephra, Kephria, and Geusyn. We commandeered a schooner and returned to Kephria. On the way we destroyed the four warships, and the troopers and imagers that had burned the three cities. The imagers rebuilt the main pier and constructed a trooper compound at Kephria, the best harbor of the three. We left two companies of the Khellan troopers to keep order during the rebuilding of Kephria and set out to return to Variana. Here we are.”
Bhayar was silent for a time. “I sent you out to obtain the allegiance of Khel. You seem to have accomplished everything except that.” His voice was cool.
“I would respectfully disagree, sir. I believe you will be able to reach terms with Khel before long. Without taking Antiago, we had no chance of reaching such terms—except by fighting in Khel, and that would have meant fighting two lands to unite Lydar. Since Aliaro had already offered sanctuary to rebellious High Holders and attacked your warships three times without provocation, there were certainly grounds for the Antiagon campaign. Also, Antiago would have remained a threat and a temptation to the southern High Holders. Khel offers no such threat.”
The lord of three lands nodded slowly. “It is always dangerous to send you to solve a problem, Quaeryt. You solve the problem, but in ways unforeseen. And those ways further your ends as well as mine.”
“Would you rather have the problems unresolved, sir?”
Bhayar paused, as if to consider an appropriate response, when there was a knock on the small side door on the west side of the study.
“Bring in the refreshments,” ordered Bhayar.
A Telaryn ranker appeared with a tray, followed by another ranker. In moments, each of the three at the table had a goblet, a small plate, and in the middle of the table were several platters, one of fruit, one of cheeses, one of sliced meats, and one of assorted pastries. There were also two carafes of wine, one of white, and one of red.
Once the rankers had departed and closed the door, Bhayar looked to his sister. “Red or white.”
“The white, please.”
Bhayar poured her white and himself red. Quaeryt poured himself the white.
“To your safe return.” Bhayar lifted his goblet.
“To your forbearance, brother dear,” replied Vaelora with a smile, “for our exceeding your expectations.”
Bhayar’s smile was half sour and half amused. “I knew there was great danger in having you two wed.”
“It was your idea,” Vaelora pointed out sweetly.
“Enough…”
Quaeryt noticed the tiredness in Bhayar’s voice, but waited. So did Vaelora.
“Now tell me everything you left out, and the reasons why you did what you did.”
Vaelora looked to Quaeryt.
“I’ll start,” he said, “but I trust Vaelora will add what I don’t include.”
Bhayar’s lips quirked, almost as if to suggest that he would have been greatly surprised if his sister did not. Then he nodded.
“The first thing we noticed, after just a few days on the Great Canal,” began Quaeryt, “was that it had not been that well maintained…” From there he described in great detail the harsh conditions of peasants on the lands of many landholders, the factors’ deception and the problems in Laaryn, the conditions of the roads on the way to Geusyn, and what followed on their voyage to Kherseilles and the ride to Saendeol. Quaeryt deferred to Vaelora to let her describe the trial requested of them by the High Council and the subsequent meeting with the High Council of Khel.
When she finished, Quaeryt added, “Without the image that Vaelora made them see, there would have been no possibility of future terms.”
Bhayar sighed again, a long expression of resignation, then said, “I begin to see the reasons for your actions. Go on.”
Quaeryt took up the tale again.
When he got to the part where he and Skarpa, and the massed regiments, were about to leave Kephria on the ride to Suemyron, Vaelora interrupted. “I insisted that I remain with Eleventh Regiment and the troopers that would be returning from Khel. I knew that without all the remaining imagers, they could not prevail against the Autarch’s forces. I also knew that I could not accompany them. I was too close to term. As you will hear, and he will not tell you, Quaeryt almost did not survive the final battle. Had there been even one less imager, he would not have.” She looked to Quaeryt to continue.
Quaeryt went on to explain what happened in Antiago. He did not skip over h
is dread at discovering that Aliaro had sent warships to Kephria, and his efforts to reach there.
“He was close to being carried onto the schooner,” interjected Vaelora. “That is what Major Zhelan told me. The captain was worried that he might not live.”
“It wasn’t that bad—” Quaeryt began to protest.
“It was a week later when I saw you, and half your body was yellow and purple,” snapped Vaelora.
A faint smile crossed Bhayar’s lips.
Quaeryt finished up with what happened on the way to Kephria, then turned to Vaelora. “You should finish this part. I wasn’t there.”
Vaelora did, speaking firmly about the Antiagon attack and what she had done, and her accident, adding quickly, “I was not trying to be a hero. I left Kephria as soon as I could. I was just unlucky.”
“You were fortunate that it was not worse,” replied Bhayar. “Still—”
“We have not finished,” said Vaelora firmly.
From there the two recounted what had happened in repairing the harbor and building the trooper compound and on their journey to Variana.
When the two had finished, Bhayar looked to Vaelora. “At times, I wish you were not so headstrong as your grandmere. I cannot fault you, for the same blood runs in all our veins, but the price for these conquests you have laid before me has been high.”
“Not so high as failing to succeed,” replied Vaelora.
“I would talk to Quaeryt—”
“If it is about what has happened, I should be here,” Vaelora said firmly.
Abruptly Bhayar laughed. “I will not insist. I would that my marshals showed even the slightest hint of the loyalty for each other that you two have for one another.” After a moment he said, “I have questions. They are not about what you have done. What is done is done, and it was as well done as you could do with what you had. I would like your thoughts about what lies ahead. About what troubles you foresee.” He looked expectantly at Vaelora.
“I have had no such foresights. Not yet.”
“Then your feelings and thoughts.”
“You need strong regional governors,” said Quaeryt. “The factors cannot be trusted without someone over them. Nor can the High Holders.”
“I thought your imagers would assure that,” replied Bhayar sardonically.
“No, they can only do that if you have effective governors who can call upon us. That the governors report to you, and we support the governors, is necessary for the comfort of both factors and High Holders.” Quaeryt took a swallow of the wine. All the talking had left him almost hoarse. “Have you heard from Subcommander Meinyt? I left him acting as a regional governor.”
“He has sent dispatches every week, as well as the token tariffs from High Holders as he has collected them. He reports that all is going well.”
“Good.” One less worry there.
“You were saying?” prompted Bhayar. “About the imagers?”
“You need the imagers to repair the worst in the roads, as we can. We did improve the road from Eluthyn to Kephria, but the part from Semlem south to Daaren needs widening…”
Bhayar’s questions continued for another glass before he said, “I will have other questions once I have thought over what you have said.” He looked to his sister. “I need Quaeryt to brief the senior officers at fifth glass. Then, after that, we shall have dinner together, but I will not badger you with questions then. At least, not with too many. You have rooms on the south side, and I have ordered them to be as comfortable as possible.”
Vaelora rose. “Thank you. Might Quaeryt escort and settle me, brother dear?”
“So long as he returns within the quint.”
The three of them left the study and walked back south to the large foyer and across it to the corridor back along the east side. The doorway to which Bhayar led them was the first one outside an archway guarded by two Telaryn troopers.
“Your quarters?” asked Vaelora, gesturing in the direction of the guards.
Bhayar nodded. “Some precautions are necessary. That is another reason why I wanted you in these quarters, especially for those times when Quaeryt may be traveling.”
“For now,” replied Quaeryt. “Until we can build a suitable compound for imagers on the river isle.”
Bhayar chuckled. “You never lose sight of goals.”
“No,” said Vaelora, “and one of those goals is to make you the absolute and secure ruler of all Lydar.”
“For which I am grateful, if apprehensive about the means.”
As if there were any others that were practical. Quaeryt opened the door to the quarters, discovering a sitting room with archways on both sides.
“You have a study, a sitting room, and a bedchamber with a small bath chamber,” said Bhayar.
“Thank you.” Vaelora smiled warmly at her brother.
“There should be several chambermaids up here shortly with warm water for a bath,” said Bhayar. “I look forward to dinner.” With a smile, he turned.
Once Bhayar had left, the two walked around the quarters, which Quaeryt could see were truly spacious and elegantly furnished. Quaeryt couldn’t help but wonder from whom Bhayar had commandeered the furnishings, which included an overlarge bed with a pillared headboard and matching bed tables and a pair of armoires, a pale green velvet settee in the sitting room, with a pair of green velvet upholstered side chairs, and both a desk and a writing table in the study.
“These are quarters fit for the lord’s sister, but far better than a commander deserves…”
“And far less than the man who has delivered most of Lydar to Bhayar deserves…”
“It’s far better this way, that I remain a commander and not more.”
“That remains to be seen, dearest. If … if matters turn out as you plan … that may be.”
If not … Quaeryt knew what she meant, and the problem was that intrigue would determine as much as skill and imaging now that they had returned to Variana. “You didn’t mention your farsight…”
“That was about you, not about Bhayar or Lydar.”
Quaeryt didn’t object. “I need to return to meet with Bhayar.”
“Say as little as possible,” cautioned Vaelora.
“Or as little as Bhayar will allow.”
“He won’t wish you to say more than necessary,” observed Vaelora.
Quaeryt bent forward and gave her a brief hug. “I hope this won’t take too long.” Then he slipped out of the quarters and walked back to Bhayar’s study.
The study door was open, and Bhayar motioned for Quaeryt to enter and close the door. Quaeryt did and walked over to the side of the desk where Bhayar stood.
“The two of us will talk tomorrow,” said Bhayar, “about what tasks may be appropriate and necessary for you and the imagers. At this meeting, I just want you to give a solid briefing about what happened as far as Southern Army and your imagers accomplished. If asked about Khel, just say that the High Council is considering the terms you presented.”
“If Deucalon or one of his commanders presses as to why we attacked Antiago and not Khel, can I say that it seemed unwise to attack a land that neither threatened us nor that presents no threat when Antiago sent troops and Antiagon Fire to support Kharst, offered sanctuary to rebellious High Holders, and attacked without provocation vessels under your flag on three occasions.”
“If appropriate, you can mention that earlier.”
Quaeryt nodded.
“We can walk down to the conference room. By now, Deucalon should have assembled all the senior officers who are available.”
“Where might that be?”
“Oh … that’s at the south end of the chateau on the main floor.”
“Where is Submarshal Myskyl? I assume he’s not here.”
“He spent the winter, with half of Northern Army, in a place called Rivages. It’s up the Aluse, supposedly as far to the north as Laaryn is to the west. He sent regular dispatches over the course of the fall, but I’v
e heard nothing since the turn of winter. He observed that reaching the High Holders there is a time-consuming task because the roads are poor and the winter has been long.”
And because he really doesn’t want to do anything terribly difficult if he doesn’t have to, thought Quaeryt.
“So far, he hasn’t reported the trouble you had with High Holders.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“Wouldn’t report or wouldn’t have?”
“It’s hard to have trouble with High Holders you haven’t met,” said Quaeryt dryly.
“You’ve never cared much for him.”
“I’ve never trusted him. There are officers I don’t care for that I’ve still trusted.”
“Why not?”
“In this case, I worry that he wouldn’t demand allegiance of the High Holders. He’d just assume that they would be loyal, and he’d believe that he could later crush anyone who wasn’t.”
“Why is that so bad?” asked Bhayar, an amused tone in his voice, as if he knew what Quaeryt might say. “It does give them time to adjust.”
“That approach has its advantages, and it’s better suited to the north than the south. In some ways, it’s similar to what Rescalyn did in Tilbor.”
“Because there’s no real escape in the north, except distance or outright rebellion?”
“Among other things,” admitted Quaeryt. After a moment he realized something and asked, “You said that Myskyl hasn’t sent any dispatches recently?”
“No. Not since the first days of Ianus, but I wouldn’t have expected dispatches in the dead of winter.”
But we’re nearing the end of spring. Quaeryt frowned, but said nothing as the two walked down the grand staircase and to the southwest corner of the main floor.
Quaeryt had the feeling that Bhayar was having him brief all the senior officers present near the Chateau Regis just so that Deucalon or others would have a more difficult time misrepresenting what Quaeryt said.
As Quaeryt stepped into the conference room followed by Bhayar, as required by protocol and courtesy, Deucalon stood. “Lord Bhayar!”
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