“The problem is that more and more factors’ sons have both golds and skill?”
“That’s what Alamara as much as said. I’d be very surprised if Captain Heisyt doesn’t have more problems in the months ahead.” If not sooner. “And so will we.”
“Sir…?”
“I hope I’m mistaken, but I think there’s more going on than we have any real idea about. It may even involve Lorien. He’s asked for a meeting this afternoon. He never asks for meetings anymore unless there’s a problem that he can’t handle … or doesn’t want to.”
“You’ll let us know?”
“Whatever it is that the rex wants … hopefully not something like more road repairs or an expansion of the paving in the chateau courtyard.” Alastar’s last words were acidically dry. The stone repaving and expansion of the chateau stables the previous year had not been one of his favorite imager projects, possibly because the rex had kept changing his mind.
Cyran’s face registered dismay. “I hope not. Anything but something like that.”
“That’s not even the worst. The stable business was irritating, annoying, and frustrating, but limited. We could face something like the tariff disaster when Guerdyn defied the rex.”
“Cransyr can’t be that stupid, can he?”
“He’s more arrogant than Guerdyn and colder. At times, there’s not much difference between arrogance and stupidity. Arrogance, though, is the brother to treachery. I’ll let you know, either this afternoon or tomorrow, depending on how long it all takes.”
After Cyran left, Alastar just sat behind the desk thinking, before going back to search the Codex Legis.
What with one thing and another, he had to hurry to get out of his study by a quint past second glass to meet with Konan and Borlan, who had his gray waiting outside the administration building.
He reined up at the foot of the unblemished and apparently indestructible stone steps leading up to the main entry of the chateau less than half a quint before the glass, and reached the top of the grand staircase, only to find Lady Chelia standing there with her three children. At sixteen, Charyn was already taller than either of his parents, but thankfully, so far as Alastar was concerned, his eyes were green, and his hair thick and sandy blond, unlike that of his mother—and her other male relations. Bhayrn was slightly built, more like his father, with dark hair, but blue eyes, while Aloryana was blond and blue-eyed. She smiled at Alastar, but the expression was both tentative and mischievous.
He smiled back, then asked Chelia, “To what do I owe the honor of encountering the whole family?”
“Mere chance, Maitre Alastar … and Aloryana’s desire to meet a ‘real imager.’ We won’t keep you.”
“It is good to see you all in good health.” Alastar inclined his head, then turned toward the north hall. He could hear Aloryana’s words to her mother behind him.
“… he’s old…”
Alastar winced. He wasn’t that ancient.
He barely made it to Lorien’s study before the bells chimed out third glass.
“No one anywhere is satisfied, except perhaps for you, Maitre Alastar,” said Lorien as Alastar sat down in front of the goldenwood table desk. The rex brushed back a lock of limp black and silver hair from his forehead. “The factors are unhappy with tariffs. The High Holders are unhappy as well and are demanding that, if tariffs are to be increased, the increases fall on the factors…”
But Meinyt said that the High Council wasn’t to meet until Meredi. Was Cransyr acting alone and claiming the council was behind him?
“… and the High Council’s latest petition is demanding that, as rex, I override the Chief Justicer’s decision that any case of murder on High Holder lands must be tried in a justicing court and is not within the purview of traditional low justice.” Lorien glared at Alastar.
“From the first, under the Codex Legis, murder cases have never been the under the low justice authority of the High Holders. That’s all you have to write in upholding the Chief Justicer.”
“Easy enough for you to say. High Holder Lenglan was charged with murdering his lady after he found her in bed with the younger son of High Holder Farlan. Lenglan claims it wasn’t murder, but self-defense, because they were conspiring to murder him, and that it falls under low justice because it was on his lands and his holding was therefore threatened.”
“So why did it even come to the High Justicer?”
“Because the late High Holder Farlan insisted. He also likely bribed more than a few people, including Justicer Kastelyn. I’ve heard rumors, but…” Lorien shrugged. “Anyway, Farlan’s son was crippled. Lenglan beat them both with a blunt blade while they were asleep. At least they were asleep when he started. Lenglan closed his gates and retreated behind his considerable walls. Farlan had no other options but to insist on a trial. He also persuaded all the exchanges and the local banque to refuse any transactions by Lenglan.”
“What happened to Farlan?”
“He had a seizure in the hearing before the regional justicer in Daaren, who also vanished mysteriously after rendering the verdict of deliberate murder against Lenglan. Farlan died later, but his eldest son filed his own petition requesting that Lenglan’s appeal be denied.”
“It does sound messy.” Alastar kept his voice level, although the ramifications of what had started as a simple but deadly love triangle were looking to be staggering.
“I asked Chief Justicer Veblynt about it. No High Holder has ever been charged with murder before the High Court … or any regial court.”
“In over four hundred years with more than fifteen hundred High Holders?” Alastar didn’t find it so surprising that some deaths had never come to official light—or to court—but that none had was certainly indicative that the High Holders of Solidar regarded themselves as sovereigns over their own lands. “Why now?” His voice turned ironic.
“Partly because the Factors’ Council in Daaren petitioned the High Justicer not to allow the claim of self-defense to be a matter of low justice. They also pointed out that Lenglan has a long history of refusing to obey the regional justicer’s findings that Lenglan owes more than a thousand golds to members of the local Factors’ Council.”
“Murder and a power struggle over golds.”
“I see that. I can’t let a High Holder get away with something like that, but I’ll probably have to send a battalion of troops—and some cannon—to drag the bastard out of his holding.” Lorien snorted. “Every High Holder will claim that I’m using what was a killing out of self-defense and infidelity to allow factors unlimited use of the high court to exact damages from High Holders.”
“He owes the golds and won’t pay them?”
Lorien rummaged through the papers on his desk, finally finding what he sought and thrust it at Alastar. “Read it.”
Alastar took the single sheet and began to read.
Lorien, Rex Regis D’Solidar
Your Grace—
It has come to the attention of the High Council that the Factors’ Council of the river village of Daaren has lodged petitions with you and with the High Justicer in the pending appeal of High Holder Lenglan …
Upholding even the trial of a High Holder for murder in a case where that High Holder was threatened and dealing with spousal infidelity is a clear and obvious violation of the provisions of the Codex Legis that reaffirm the long-standing practice of low justice administered by each and every High Holder. In addition, the attempt by small and local factors to link their claim of fiduciary jurisdiction over High Holders by regional justicers is a clear attempt to invalidate the right of locus dominatus by High Holders …
“Locus dominatus?”
“It’s an old Tellan legal term meaning the total legal right to all justicing. I had to have Sanafryt look it up.”
“That was invalidated by the Codex Legis. So they’re trying to…” Alastar broke off.
“What? I hate it when you get an idea and leave me hanging.”
; “It’s all a legal ploy to get back what they think are the rights of low justice, and the right to answer effectively to no one on their own lands.”
“The High Council claims that trying a High Holder infringes the rights of all High Holders.”
“As you have told me,” Alastar said evenly, “Lenglan found his wife and her lover asleep and beat them so badly with a blunt sword that the wife died and the young man is crippled. I have difficulty with seeing how that equates to self-defense.”
“I agree,” replied Lorien wearily. “The problem is that the High Council is staking out a position to establish that practically nothing they do can be tried before any court, even the High Court.”
“This is only the first step,” Alastar pointed out. “They’re trying to put you in a position where each action you take will anger more and more High Holders.”
“I won’t have it. You can’t have it, either.”
He’s right. “Have you received any other petitions or communications from the High Council or any High Holder?”
“What does that have to do…?” Lorien frowned. “High Holder Ruelyr has requested the right to reinstate tolls on the section of the roads built on his causeways. That’s the only one.”
“I’d wager that levying tolls on the rex’s highways that pass through their lands was another privilege revoked by the Codex Legis.”
“Then you believe they will besiege me with all manner of requests and petitions? That each will seem reasonable to other High Holders?”
“It would not surprise me,” replied Alastar cautiously.
“Nothing all those greedy bastards would do could surprise me.”
Certainly nothing that some High Holders might do would surprise Alastar, especially Cransyr or Haebyn, or their allies, but he wasn’t yet willing to image all of them ice black.
“They might even raise an army against me,” declared Lorien. “I have little more than a regiment of troopers remaining in L’Excelsis. Six battalions at most. That is what comes of following your ‘advice,’ Maitre.”
“Over two thousand men. That should be more than sufficient, considering that none of the High Holders can raise more than a few hundred.” And if they raised a force large enough to be a threat, they’d spend more time arguing over who would lead it than planning what to do.
“If they turn the Civic Patrol against me?”
“They won’t. The Patrol has less than two hundred men.” And enough of them know what imagers can do.
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you? Except all your answers haven’t solved the problem. Why not?”
“Because the times are changing again. The High Holders haven’t lost power, but they can see that they will. That’s making them angry. The factors and merchanters can see that they aren’t being treated fairly, and if matters continue as they are going, they’ll get even angrier. If matters are made more fair, then the High Holders will get even angrier. If you or the Collegium acts in a way that greatly favors either side, that side will attack you. If you try to suppress both … or do nothing, they’ll eventually unite, if only temporarily, and attempt to remove you.”
“You’re saying anything I do will make matters worse! So what am I supposed to do?”
“Nothing for the moment. We need to let them play a plaque or two.” Alastar just hoped he could find a way to turn those plays into ways to channel or deflect the anger into something less destructive.
“I don’t like it, Maitre. I’m getting petitions from factors in Estisle and Nacliano. They’re complaining that High Holders are refusing to pay for goods in a timely fashion, waiting seasons, even. All of this is just another set of trials … one after another.” Lorien sighed, then looked toward the open north window.
By the time Alastar finished listening to Lorien and then rode back to Imagisle, it was well past fifth glass, and he rode directly home, where he dismounted, and let Konan and Borlan take the gelding back to the stables.
Alyna was waiting for him in the front hall. “There’s a pitcher of dark lager waiting for us in the study, with biscuits. Dinner won’t be ready for another glass, and you look like you need both.”
“That good?”
“I knew you met with Factoria Kathila and with Lorien.”
Alastar followed her into the study, where a platter of biscuits, two beakers, and a pitcher were set out on a tray. They took the two chairs in front of the desk.
Alyna poured the lager. She said nothing until Alastar had taken a long swallow. “I imagine it’s been a very long day.”
Alastar nodded and took another swallow of the lager before replying. “I have the feeling that matters will get worse.”
“Because of what Kathila said … or Lorien? Or both?”
“Both.”
“What did you discover from Kathila, and what did it cost you?”
Alastar told her, beginning with Kathila’s observations about Hulet, and the threats apparently made to the grain factor, and the debts owed by various High Holders as well as all the other details … “and in the end, I did promise to image a set of ornate silver boot buckles, sometime before year-turn.” He paused. “I’d appreciate it if you’d make a design. Something uniquely geometrical.”
“I can do that, but I’m not so certain I shouldn’t accompany you on your next visit.”
“That might be for the best,” Alastar agreed. “I’m also worried about Dareyn and some of the young imagers. The green flux has showed up, and Dareyn has it. He’s not a young man.”
“Neither are you. You should stay away from him until he’s well.”
“I’m a good fifteen years younger than Dareyn.” Alastar decided against mentioning that he’d already had the green flux.
“And you’ve been working harder for all of those fifteen years.”
Alastar wasn’t about to argue when her voice turned that firm. “There’s also something else you should know. It’s something I think we should discuss with your brother when he arrives. The High Holders are in effect petitioning for the return of their standing above the law of the rex…” He went on to explain what he and Lorien had discussed.
Alyna waited until he finished before saying, “They want to turn Solidar into fifteen hundred little rexdoms. That would destroy Solidar.”
“And in time, the Collegium,” added Alastar. “What do you think?”
“It’s likely.”
“What do you think we should do?”
“Nothing … for the moment.” She paused. “Nothing obvious. Isn’t that what you’ve already decided?” The mischievous smile he enjoyed seeing appeared, but immediately vanished.
“Unless you had thought otherwise.”
“I haven’t.”
“You can see why I’d like to hear what your brother might say. Do you have any idea of what he might have in mind … besides Malyna?”
“Only that it won’t be something trivial. He might have accompanied Malyna even if there were no other reason, but then he wouldn’t have mentioned that he wanted to discuss other matters.” She paused. “In a bit we should join Lystara. She’s dying to tell you about her day.”
Left unsaid, and emphasized by Alyna’s setting matters up so that they could talk before dinner, was the fact they would maintain the practice of not discussing Collegium matters at dinner.
That was definitely for the best.
8
Alastar had no more than entered his Collegium study on Mardi morning and seated himself behind his desk than Maercyl appeared in the half-open doorway.
“Estafen D’Factorius is waiting outside, sir. He says that he knows he does not have an appointment, but that the matter is urgent.”
Estafen … and not his father? Still … given that Estafen headed the Banque D’Excelsis, whatever he had to say would likely be informative. “Have him come in by all means.”
Maercyl stepped aside and gestured.
A moment later, Estafen entered the study, t
hen carefully closed the door. He looked to be a good ten years younger than Alastar, despite the well-trimmed black beard that well might have been cultivated to make him appear older. He nodded respectfully as he approached the desk. “I must thank you for seeing me without my making arrangements.”
As he gestured for Estafen to take a seat, Alastar couldn’t help but contrast the politeness exhibited by Estafen to the abruptness with which his sire had plunged into the study years earlier. But there had been an honesty about Elthyrd, and Alastar had to wonder if that honesty existed in the son. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I was able to see you. Maercyl indicated that the matter is urgent.”
“In more ways than one, I believe. On first glance, it might seem almost trivial, petty, in fact. I do not believe it to be so. The Banque D’Excelsis safeguards the funds of those who deposit them with us. We also lend some of those funds to others, but we require collateral in some fashion or another. Often that collateral takes the form of contracts to deliver grains, livestock, wool, timber, by a certain date, or at times, liens on such.”
“Still exchange contracts, in effect,” said Alastar, “since you’re not a produce or livestock factor.”
“Exactly. I have a number of such contracts on grain, with liens on livestock … and other goods as collateral for loans. After last year’s poor harvest, I made more loans to High Holders, and even more early in the spring. Now, quite a number will not pay. They even refuse to pay default interest. The interest is not usurious. The regional justicer won’t make a judgment until Rex Lorien rules on a series of petitions that claim such disputes can only be judged if they apply to debts between High Holders…”
Between High Holders? If true, that was something Lorien had conveniently forgotten to mention to Alastar.
“… more than a few factors are beginning to withdraw deposits. Rumors are circulating about the stability of the Banque. That’s despite the knowledge that I have sound backers…”
“Such as your father?”
“Not just him. Others also. Over the past week, word is passing in various quarters that Weezyr’s banque will fail as well. The failures wouldn’t hurt the High Holders. They’d benefit because they could escape paying their debts.”
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