Corean Chronicles 3 - Scepters

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

"When does Estepp think we'll have enough trainees to reestablish Nineteenth Company?"

  "Midspring. I'll need until then to find the seasoned squad leaders, and a nucleus of decent lancers from other companies."

  Alucius was glad that he had Feran as his deputy because he'd been able to leave the military organization side of things to the older officer while he concentrated on unscrambling the logistics and disbursement mess, although he had doubts that all the questions would ever be resolved.

  Chapter 116

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  The White Bull was indeed an old tavern, on the river and less than a quarter vingt west of the high road and the ancient eternastone bridge over the River Vedra, set in the middle of a block of even older structures. The wooden front had been slathered with so many coats of brown that the paint doubtless had more strength than the wood beneath. The windows were clean, but the panes were blued with age, except for the handful that had been replaced. Fewal and Roncar rode with Alucius, but remained mounted outside the tavern as he walked in.

  About twenty men sat at the tables in the public room. All looked at Alucius. No one said a word. Alucius took several moments to survey the group before he finally spoke.

  "I appreciate the chance to meet with you. I'm afraid that I don't know any of you. At least, I can't say that I recognize any of you, and if I should, I must apologize."

  The sandy-haired and heavyset man who walked forward to greet Alucius looked far older than the thirty years suggested by Kustyl. He carried the aura of purpleness that bespoke some ifrit contact, an aura stronger even than that which had surrounded Colonel Weslyn. His eyes scanned Alucius before he spoke. "I'm Halsant. I suppose… well, normally Tarolt would be doing much of the talking, but he couldn't be here today."

  "I see. Do you know why he couldn't?"

  "No, Colonel. I don't ask other factors their business."

  Alucius offered a smile. "I wasn't suggesting that. Sometimes, people explain why they can't be places. I certainly wasn't prying. If the honorable Tarolt didn't say, then that's his business, and I certainly respect that."

  Halsant nodded. "There have been stories of all sorts about what's happening with the Guard…"

  "That's one reason why I suggested that we meet. Another reason is that the militia and then the Northern Guard have been so closely tied to the traders and factors in Dekhron." Alucius turned slightly so that he faced all the traders. "I don't know if Halsant shared what I wrote, but I was asked by the Lord-Protector to become colonel because an inspection of the Northern Guard last year had revealed some serious problems." He took the sheets of paper he had had prepared and laid them on a large circular table to his left. "These are some papers outlining what we've discovered so far. When you have a moment, feel free to look at them." Alucius paused, hoping that someone would ask a question or move and look at the documents. He really didn't want to do all the talking to a silent audience.

  "Some folks are saying that you were ordered to take care of Colonel Weslyn, just get rid of him."

  Alucius shook his head. "I was sent from Tempre to replace the colonel. The documents on the table show that there were no orders and no hints to do him harm. The Lord-Protector had accepted the colonel's resignation—"

  "Weslyn didn't resign."

  Alucius smiled pleasantly. "That was a polite way for the Lord-Protector to allow the colonel to save face. If the Lord-Protector had wanted to be harsher, he could have dismissed the colonel or ordered a court-martial for malfeasance."

  "We liked the colonel. He was a friendly sort," offered a dark-haired man to the rear of the group. He seemed to bear little trace of the ifrit purple aura.

  "I'm certain that you did. He was a pleasant man. But the colonel never fought in a pitched battle, and he never commanded lancers in battle, and it has been clear to battle-tested officers in both the Northern and Southern Guard that it was time for a change. As most of you should know, I did not seek this position. I only accepted it under duress, and at the personal request of the Lord-Protector. I accepted it because the war with Madrien is far from over, and because the Iron Valleys would suffer greatly with the Guard in the condition left by Colonel Weslyn."

  "Why did you have him shot?" That came from another factor, a ginger-bearded and balding man.

  "I didn't. He shot me. Only after he and Imealt fired at me did my men return fire. I was unarmed at the time. There were more than ten witnesses, and a number of them were not my men, but the colonel's."

  "He must have had a reason."

  "He did. He was afraid that if I survived, he'd be punished after I discovered his crimes."

  "You broke into his house. Why?"

  "To recover the golds he'd stolen from the Guard accounts."

  "You took his savings, according to his boy Lynat."

  "We found a chest with over three hundred fifty golds in it. Colonel Weslyn did not come from a wealthy family. Nor did he marry wealth. He'd been a buyer for Ostar after he'd first left the militia. In fact, according to those who knew him, he had almost no coin when he returned to the militia as Colonel Clyon's deputy. In the less than six years he was with the militia, then the Northern Guard, his total pay was less than one hundred fifty golds. Would any of you care to explain how an officer who was coinless managed to purchase a large house, with a stable, costing over fifty golds, a matched team and a carriage, and still come up with more golds than twice his pay?" Alucius swept the room with his eyes.

  Not a single trader even met his gaze.

  "What he was doing, so far as the ledgers show, was to get a good price from you and from other traders and crafters, then charge the Guard almost twice that. He pocketed the difference. He disbanded two companies and never told the Lord-Protector, and pocketed the extra payroll as well. The Guard's not exactly in the best position because of this. And neither are you and your businesses."

  "So… you're going to increase our tariffs?" suggested Halsant.

  "No. The Lord-Protector was most specific. I have no powers beyond those that Colonel Weslyn had. Tariffing still rests with the Lord-Protector. My authority extends just to those matters affecting the Northern Guard."

  "Why do we have to get involved? Either as factors or as people in the Iron Valleys?" That came from the dark-haired man in the back.

  "You might recall," Alucius said quietly, "that the Matrial invaded the Iron Valleys several years ago, and it was a hard fight to push the Matrites back. Now, the Regent of the Matrial has refused any terms with Lanachrona and demanded all of the south back and all of the north, and ten thousand golds. I'd imagine, since the Iron Valleys have an eighth of the land area of the rest of Lanachrona and less than a tenth part of the population, our share might only be one to two thousand golds. Whether we like what was done in the past or not, we are involved, and the only question is how we deal with it from here on."

  Several traders exchanged glances.

  "… never should have gotten into this…" came a whisper from the back table.

  Alucius refrained from pointing out that their unwillingness to support the militia years earlier had created the problem. "We've changed the ledger system back to something resembling the older system, and we will be asking for various bids in the weeks ahead. We've also been strengthening our forces in the west because it's likely that the Matrial will attack in the spring. As I mentioned a moment ago, Colonel Weslyn was indeed lining his own pockets. I've asked several respected traders and crafters to look at the Guard ledgers as well to attest to what we have discovered. Some of your goods were involved. Because of the way in which the colonel arranged for purchase of the goods at your standard prices, you would only get your normal price and would not know of this."

  Alucius was lying here, because there was a strong suggestion, both in the ledgers and from the fear emanating from a number of the traders, that more than the colonel had been involved, but he could not prove it and doubted that he ever could, not in a way to be laid before a just
icer or the Lord-Protector.

  "Unless other problems arise, of course, I see no reason to dig into the past. We certainly can't recover coins already spent. We can only make sure that both you and the Guard get value for coins in the future." Alucius offered a smile.

  "You've been most forthcoming, Colonel," Halsant finally said.

  Alucius could sense the worry from the man, worry and an aura of fear that intensified the purple miasma that drifted around him.

  "After all I've said," Alucius went on, "I'm certain that you'll all wish to look at the documents here, and I'll wait in case you have any questions."

  As Alucius had suspected, there were few questions indeed, but more than half the traders did stop to examine the papers and documents. None asked him anything new.

  After less than a glass, he was on his way back to Northern Guard headquarters, still musing over the meeting, and why Halanat and Tarolt had not been there. Was it because they were closely connected with the ifrits and didn't want Alucius to know? Or because they thought he was just beneath notice? Or because they intended to act against him and didn't want to alert him, knowing that a herder could sense that?

  He didn't know and couldn't come up with any more plausible reasons on the ride back to Northern Guard headquarters. But he needed to find out. That thought remained with him as he dismounted and turned the chestnut over to Fewal.

  "I don't think I'll be riding out this afternoon."

  "Yes, sir."

  Alucius had been back in his study for only half a glass when Feran appeared in the doorway and stepped inside.

  "Lujat sent another dispatch," offered the older officer as he sat down on the edge of the chair across from the young colonel.

  "About what? That he's short of supplies, payroll, mounts, equipment, and experienced officers?" replied Alucius dryly.

  "It wasn't that bad. He has enough payroll and mounts. He also expressed his appreciation of the recent reorganization—that's the way he wrote it—of the officer corps. He said that would be of great help, especially if the Matrites did not attack in the next few weeks."

  "I'm glad someone thinks we did something right."

  "He also wrote that they found several Matrite deserters—dead, without a mark on them."

  "The torques. They've got them back working, maybe all of them." Alucius still didn't know how, but it wasn't something he could explain to Feran.

  "Can't say that I like that." Feran paused. "How was your meeting with the traders?"

  "I'd guess we've reached an unspoken truce, of sorts, except with Halanat and Tarolt. Tarolt wasn't there, and Halsant was doing the talking for him and for his father."

  "You think that the two older traders not being there means something? That they don't want to agree or meet with you? Or that they're guilty and know that because you're a herder, you'd know if you met them?"

  "That's my guess. I was willing to let it go, if they'd have come, but without seeing them…"

  "You could always just go see Halanat first," suggested Feran. "From what you've said, he's the one who's been supplying more of the goods to us. Then if he won't see you in person… you do what you have to."

  "I'd already thought that, but I was interested in what you think. I don't like the idea of the two most powerful factors in Dekhron avoiding me, as if I didn't even exist, or that the Northern Guard doesn't matter."

  "To them, it probably doesn't, except for the coins they get." Feran's laugh was low and harsh.

  Alucius nodded.

  "If you go, I'd suggest an escort," Feran added. "Four lancers, at least."

  "That's too many. Two. Two makes it look as though I'm just self-important. Four suggests I'm afraid, and that's not good."

  "Fear is sometimes wise," Feran said sagely, before his somber face broke into a grin.

  "I'd agree, but showing it is not."

  "You are wearing nightsilk still, I hope."

  "Wendra brought me two new sets and a stronger vest. She said I'd worn out the old ones."

  "You probably did."

  Alucius nodded. Wendra had made that point by putting her knife through the chest of one of the older undergarments. She'd also packed the old ones in with Alendra's clothes so that Alucius wouldn't be tempted to wear them. She'd said that she could use the heavy shears and tailor the unstressed nightsilk into a jacket for Alendra. They both had understood that need, because Alendra would have to accompany Wendra out on the stead at least some of the time. Alucius worried about that as well. It seemed that the older he got, the more worries he had.

  "When will you try to see Halanat?" asked Feran.

  "Tomorrow. The sooner we find out where we stand on all this, the sooner we can work out a better budget and plan for the rest of the year and next year."

  "I'm glad you got all that herder training on how to handle coins." Feran shook his head as he stood. "It's easier to deal with the Matrites than ledgers. For me, anyway." He gave a last smile as he left Alucius's study.

  Alucius looked at the stacks of paper. He hoped he could finish up with them in the next week. Then he could get back to working with Feran on more ways to improve the Guard. But… without coins and supplies, they couldn't do that, either.

  Chapter 117

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  On Septi, under a clear silver green sky, promising spring, with the sun nearing midmorning, Alucius rode out of the Northern Guard headquarters. With him rode Roncar and Dhaget. He wished he could ride alone, but he'd promised both Feran and Wendra that he'd take an escort when he could.

  He was glad to be out and riding. After only two weeks as colonel, he was restless. Was he too young to be a headquarters officer? Too much of a herder to spend so many glasses behind a desk? He snorted. Did night-rams have sharp horns? Was the Aerial Plateau high? Was winter at Blackstear cold?

  For all his restlessness, though, he had a job to do, and if he didn't do it and do it well, he might never get back to being a herder. He shifted his weight in the saddle and continued riding toward the river.

  Halanat's factorage and warehouse were just opposite the wharves on the River Vedra, almost a vingt west of the White Bull. Whether he'd find Halanat there, he didn't know, but it was likely that if he didn't, he'd learn more by visiting the warehouse. He might even find out more from Halsant. Although Alucius had his doubts about that, he thought he should try if Halanat didn't happen to be there.

  Once beyond the headquarters gates, Alucius turned the big chestnut to the right and followed the unmarked avenue toward the trading district, one part of Dekhron that he had never visited.

  The factor's warehouse was clearly marked—HALANAT & SONS—with a recently painted signboard over a building that was old but had been kept in repair. A heavy wagon was being unloaded through the dock on the west side. Both the signpost and the wagon bore a painted image of a silver wheel.

  A silver wheel—the design mentioned by the women in Hyalt. That gave Alucius a most uneasy feeling as he reined up in front.

  "Do you want us to accompany you, sir?" asked Fewal.

  "No. Just wait here. I don't think I'll be that long." Alucius dismounted and handed the chestnut's reins to Fewal.

  Alucius stepped up onto the narrow porch, opened the heavy oak door, and paused. Inside the cavernous warehouse there was little light, save that coming from the open loading door on the north side of the west end and from the pair of barred and narrow windows flanking the front door. Pallets, bales, and amphorae were neatly placed in rows along the stone floor, but without signs or labels. While there was a slight mustiness to the air, there was surprisingly little dust.

  Alucius caught sight of several figures beside the loading door and started down the space between two rows of bales toward them. Two men were rolling a hogshead farther inside the warehouse. The third, who had been watching the unloading, turned—Halsant.

  "Colonel… I can't say I expected to see you here. Unless you're on stead business, and, in that, I certainly ca
n't help you. You know we don't handle nightsilk."

  "I understand that you never have," Alucius replied. "But that's not why I'm here."

  "Oh… ?"

  "You seem to be doing well these days." Alucius gestured back at the goods stacked in the warehouse.

  "As well as can be expected." After a pause, Halsant asked, "What did you want?"

  "Actually, I was looking for your father."

  "You know… he's not that involved in the factoring these days."

  Alucius smiled politely. "I understood that as well. A number of people have suggested I should talk to him."

  Halsant's eyes flicked from Alucius toward the windows though which the two lancers could be seen and back to Alucius. "Oh?"

  "Yes." Alucius waited.

  The trader shook his head and shrugged. "That's your business, then. He should be in his study at the house."

  "Thank you." Alucius started to turn, then stopped. "I didn't want to ask when I met with the Traders' Council the other day, but could you tell me something about it? Why it was created?"

  "Not much to say. Once the Lord-Protector dissolved the old council, none of us really met. We decided we still needed to tell each other what was happening… the way the traders do in southern Lanachrona. We were stumbling all over each other… cost a lot of golds. It's more like an exchange, not really a council."

  "I take it you become one of those most involved with it?"

  "I've been going to the meetings. Most of us have. I suppose I have more to say than some. We've had to go farther and farther in our trading."

  "I noticed the silver-wheel emblem. Is that just yours, or do all the traders in Dekhron use that? I could have missed it, but I don't recall seeing it before."

  "It's ours, but it's new in the last few years. Once we started going south, we decided we needed an emblem, something that would make us easier to recognize. It's not a name, not something tied to the north, you know?"

  "That makes sense," Alucius said.

  Halsant looked toward the loading dock. "If you'll excuse me…"