Assassin's Price

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  “Do you say that to every woman?” Malyna’s voice was light, but not cold.

  “I don’t recall saying those words to any woman before, but I believe the question is about you.”

  “Yes, I am in fact the youngest daughter of Zaerlyn D’Alte. I was taught mathematics and surveying and clavecin and other skills not usually considered proper for girls and young women. That is a family tradition. As I said earlier today, I have had some additional education from my uncle, at my request, and my father was willing to let me gain those skills.”

  “Including rather impressive skills with a wand, and, I suspect, a full-fledged sabre.”

  Malyna nodded. “Your point being?”

  “That you’re impressive. I’ve never heard of a High Holder’s daughter being educated so broadly.”

  “Have you asked?” She smiled gently, glancing toward the salon door, where Marshal Vaelln and his wife had entered.

  “I’d never thought to ask anyone about whether they were good with a sabre.”

  “Because men should be … and women shouldn’t even consider it?”

  “It’s not … usual.”

  “You mean, not traditional? My female cousins all have been trained with weapons. That was always the Pharsi tradition.”

  “You…”

  “My mother is the sister of High Holder Calkoran, and there are others with a Pharsi background in my family. You can probably find the most important name in the chateau archives, near the beginning of the reign of the first Rex Regis. She was the first Pharsi in the Zaerlyn line.”

  “If I knew what name to look for,” he replied with a grin.

  “Vaelora.” Malyna turned as Chelia approached.

  “Malyna,” began Chelia, “you never had the time to talk with Sephia D’Vaelln last week, and I thought you two should have the chance.”

  “Until later.” Malyna nodded to Charyn, then turned back to Chelia.

  At that moment, Vice-Marshal Maurek walked toward Charyn. “Greetings on this cold and miserable day, Lord Charyn.”

  “Your presence makes the day more pleasant. I do hope that the drive here was not too chill.”

  “A little discomfort, that was all, and Amalie has never seen the Chateau D’Rex. For that matter, I’ve seen little except the entry, the grand staircase, and your father’s study.”

  Looking over Maurek’s shoulder, Charyn could see Amalie D’Maurek was seated in the corner and talking with Chelia and Aloryana, while Bhayrn and his father stood talking with the marshal. “Then it’s well past time that you did.”

  Maurek cleared his throat, and spoke in a lower voice. “The young woman?”

  “Malyna D’Zaerlyn. She’s the youngest daughter of Zaerlyn D’Alte. She’ll be with us until after the Year-Turn Ball, as a favor to her sire for his support.”

  “I see.”

  Charyn laughed—softly. “It’s not like that. She’s not either my type or Bhayrn’s. It truly is a favor … although she is most pleasant to look at and converse with, and she is most accomplished.”

  “That appears regrettable.”

  “Regrettable, indeed.” After the slightest pause, Charyn went on. “Has the army encountered any unpleasantnesses of the type that occurred here earlier this month?”

  “The army has not seen any hostilities or uprisings in Solidar. The navy has. In fact, Marshal Vaelln has likely just told your sire that two of our ships have engaged and sunk Jariolan privateers, near the Abierto Isles. Unfortunately, they did so after the two had sunk one of our merchanters. A smaller Jariolan ship was nearby, but immediately fled.”

  “The Abierto Isles? That’s not exactly close.”

  “No, but Marshal Vaelln has studied the matter, and that is one place where the privateers tend to prey on our ships. So he sent a flotilla there. It appears that he was wise to do so.”

  “You know that the rex has ordered more ships to be built this coming year.”

  “Marshal Vaelln has told me that. Several more ships would be helpful.”

  “Only several more? The factors would prefer a much greater number.”

  “That might be, but who would crew them, and how would the navy pay the sailors, unless the rex raises tariffs?”

  Charyn hadn’t fully considered the pay issue. “How many men does it take to crew a ship of the line?”

  “That depends on the class of ship. First-raters are large two-deckers with forty guns. Marshal Vaelln said the newest first-rater—that’s the Deucalon—will carry forty-eight. With full gun crews, you’d need close to four hundred men, I think. For the exact crew size, you should ask him. A third-rater, more like a frigate, would have a single gun deck, but more than two hundred men.”

  “And, of course, there are all the provisions, gear, and supplies necessary?”

  “You should talk to the marshal or Sea Marshal Tynan.”

  “Talking to the Sea Marshal might take some doing.”

  Maurek smiled. “It is warmer in Solis this time of year.”

  Belatedly, Charyn realized that the vice-marshal was empty-handed. “My manners are abysmal. You need a goblet. Saanfal is an excellent white, and if you prefer red, the southern Montagne is quite good.”

  “The red…”

  “Excellent!” Charyn turned toward the sideboard. In moments, he returned with the goblet that he handed to Maurek.

  “Thank you.”

  “I have another question. The army supplies the battalions that are at the disposal of each regional governor, as I understand it. Is it always the same battalion for each region?”

  “Oh, no. That’s prime duty. A battalion only serves a year in a regional capacity. Also, it wouldn’t be good for any regional governor to see that battalion as their personal force. The majors are selected carefully as well.”

  “Couldn’t they be used against these rebels?”

  “They could … if we knew who the rebels are and where they’re located.”

  The same problem Father mentioned. Charyn nodded. “I understand you served as the field commander during the revolt…”

  “No, sir. Marshal Wilkorn was in command personally. I was second-in-command. Until the end, when he died leading the last charge to break the remaining rebels.”

  “Do you think any rebel factors will form an army?”

  “They’d be foolish to do so. Once they formed up, the army and the imagers could destroy them. This cowardly business of firing granaries and threatening the rex only works so long as they stay in hiding.”

  “But if there are a lot of them…?”

  “That’s a problem, but not as big a problem as an armed revolt.” Maurek smiled pleasantly.

  “Well, well,” interrupted Lorien as he approached. “You haven’t offered Marshal Maurek any solid refreshments…”

  From those words, and Lorien’s presence, Charyn had no doubts that he would discover little more from either Malyna or Maurek for the rest of the reception. “I must apologize again, Marshal. Shall we indulge ourselves?” He smiled warmly.

  19

  Right after an early breakfast on Lundi, and meeting with Norstan to arrange for a copy of the list of attendees for the Year-Turn Ball, Charyn was back in the archives. Since Malyna had suggested that Vaelora, whoever she was, had appeared early in the time of the first Rex Regis, he just began at the beginning, methodically going through the papers in each file chest. Even so, he almost overlooked the first sheet with her name, one appointing an envoy to Khel, suggesting that it occurred even before Lord Bhayar had completed the unification of Solidar and declared himself Rex Regis. But there were two identical sheets, except one named Vaelora Chayardr as envoy, and the other named Commander Quaeryt Rytersyn as envoy, and described him as the foremost field commander. He kept looking, and then found an entire sheaf of documents signed and sealed by Vaelora Chayardr as Minister of Administration.

  Her ancestor was the Minister of Administration for Rex Regis. Just who was she to be an envoy and a min
ister? So far as Charyn knew, there had never been a woman minister in Solidar—except for this Vaelora.

  Eventually, he found out in a document written to the Minister of Administration, beseeching Vaelora, as not only the Minister of Administration for Bovaria but as the sister of the rex, to allow the widow of a High Holder to administer the lands of her dead husband, as the rex had allowed in the case of Tyrena D’Ryel.

  But other than those documents, and a few others Vaelora had signed and sealed as minister, he could find nothing for pages and pages, until he found a notice by Rex Clayar, proclaiming a day of mourning for Lady Vaelora and her husband the Maitre Quaeryt.

  Charyn stopped. The first Maitre had been a commander? The “foremost field commander” of the rex? In charge of several battalions? He shook his head and continued looking.

  There were no other mentions of Vaelora in that chest, nor in the next. It was as though she had been quickly forgotten.

  The sister of Rex Regis married to a Maitre of the Collegium, most likely the first Maitre. And she had been an ancestor of Malyna? A second thought struck him. If Vaelora had been Pharsi, then Rex Regis had been as well. The first Rex Regis was Pharsi?

  As he closed the file chest and brushed away the dust, he frowned. Malyna couldn’t have made that all up. She wasn’t the kind to do that anyway. That much, he did know.

  Does she have aspirations to be a minister someday? He shook his head. She’s more practical than that.

  While the time he’d spent searching the archives had answered his question, he still wondered why Malyna had essentially intrigued him into looking in the first place. Because you wouldn’t have believed her … or you’d have doubted her? That just might have been the reason. He had the feeling that she didn’t like to be questioned or doubted.

  He straightened and made his way from the archives to the main level of the chateau, where he reclaimed a heavy winter coat before heading out to the courtyard and the undecorated coach. The air in the rear courtyard was chill, but the wind had died away, although the sky was covered by high clouds thick enough to block the sun. There were still small drifts of snow against the walls in a few places.

  “Good morning, sir,” offered Yarselt as Charyn approached the waiting coach.

  “We’ll just be going to the exchange this morning. I may be there somewhat longer, though.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  As the coach left the chateau, Charyn watched as the driver went from the ring road and then turned onto the Avenue D’Rex Ryen heading toward the West River Road. No one seemed to be paying any attention to the coach, and there were few wagons, carriages, or riders anywhere. Even the sidewalks had only scattered people, all walking quickly.

  When Charyn reached the exchange and stepped out of the coach, he did note more carriages around the building than he had seen on his latest visits. Belatedly, he remembered to replace the exchange pin on his coat, but the guard barely looked at him as he entered, followed by Yarselt.

  His first stop was at the grain stall, where he noted that the Avryl price of wheat was up a copper a bushel, as was the Mayas price. If the Mayas price goes to fifteen a bushel, it might pay to sell the regial grain through the exchange … Then again, arranging to do it without revealing who he was might be tricky.

  As he was calculating the possibilities, he couldn’t help overhearing the words that passed between an agent and the exchange man.

  “… young fellow there?”

  “… asked myself … Factor Suyrien D’Chaeryll … here often in the last month … some sort of heir … lots of land, though … always has a bodyguard, too…”

  “… looking at the futures’ prices intent-like…”

  “… may be thinking of selling…”

  “… too soon for that … ground froze early east of here, even in Piedryn…”

  Charyn had to wonder about their words. The reports from the landwardens hadn’t indicated anything like that … or were the two trying to get a reaction? He turned, smiled pleasantly, and headed for the timber stalls.

  There, oak prices were up, and at the metals stalls, copper prices, present and future, continued to remain low, while at the spice stalls, he noted that pepper futures were high months out, as were those of most other spices.

  Yet, he noticed that by the time he’d been there a glass, many agents and factors were leaving, although there had been far more than the week before. He headed back to the grain stall and was fortunate to find the exchange stall orderman alone.

  “Yes, sir?”

  “You know I’m fairly new. I just wondered. Will there be a flurry of orders and contracts near the end of the week?”

  “There usually are. Traders closing out their books, taking profits and losses in whatever way makes their ledgers look good. Sometimes Jeudi’s the busiest, sometime Vendrei. It all depends. With this weather … might not be the best to wait till Vendrei. That’s if you’ve a mind to trade, sir.”

  “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure, sir.”

  Charyn nodded and turned, making his way from the exchange out to find his coach, thankful that it was neither snowing nor blowing.

  Again, on the return to the chateau, he watched the avenue and the ring road closely, but he saw no sign that anyone was paying any attention to the coach.

  As soon as he stepped out of the coach in the rear courtyard, he turned to Yarselt. “Did anyone follow us?”

  “No, sir.”

  Charyn looked around the courtyard, but, outside of the driver, who was easing the coach toward the coach house, they were the only ones out in the courtyard. “Thank you for keeping an eye out.”

  “My pleasure, sir.”

  Charyn doubted it was pleasure, but he merely nodded in acknowledgment before turning and walking to the steps up to the chateau door. Just as Charyn entered the smaller rear foyer of the chateau, Aloryana appeared out of the side corridor.

  “Have you seen Malyna?”

  “No. I just came inside. Why?”

  “I can’t find her anywhere. You didn’t see her outside?”

  Charyn shook his head, then removed his coat.

  “I don’t see where she could have gone…”

  “I haven’t gone anywhere,” replied Malyna, emerging from the lower west corridor. “I just wanted to be alone for a few moments.”

  Charyn could certainly understand that, given how close Aloryana had been to Malyna, and he had a hard time concealing a smile.

  “I just came from there,” said Aloryana, exasperation coloring her voice. “I looked in every chamber.”

  “What can I say?” replied Malyna. “Except that I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just exploring a little.”

  Charyn looked closely at Malyna. He wasn’t certain, but he thought her face was slightly red, as if she’d been out in the cold. Yet he hadn’t seen her outside, and she certainly hadn’t been in the courtyard. He and Yarselt had been the only ones there. And there was no outside exit from the west corridor except through the rear foyer … or through a window. He had to hold back a smile at the thought that Malyna might have tried to climb out a window to gain a few moments of freedom from Aloryana, however unlikely that might have been.

  “Excuse us, Charyn,” said Aloryana, “we need to go.”

  As she turned, motioning for Malyna to accompany her, Charyn grinned at the High Holder’s daughter. In return, he received a humorous smile.

  After debating whether he should spend the early afternoon with either Minister Alucar or Sanafryt, he decided instead to pay a visit to Aevidyr, the Minister of Administration, despite the fact that Aevidyr’s curmudgeonly manner and the dullness of his post had made him a distant third in Charyn’s desire to learn more about the governance of Solidar. Now, at least, he had something which he could discuss with the graying and curt minister.

  Aevidyr’s study was on the main level, off a short corridor under the grand staircase.

  Charyn eased open the door
and waited for the minister to recognize him.

  “What is it now, Charyn?” Aevidyr’s voice was gravelly, rumblingly grating to Charyn’s ears. “Come in and close the door.”

  Charyn did.

  “What is it?” repeated Aevidyr. “Now that you’ve succeeded in interrupting me?”

  “I had a question, Minister Aevidyr. I was reading the early archives, and I came across a name of the first Minister of Administration…”

  “Oh? And who might that have been?”

  “Vaelora Chayardr.”

  Aevidyr nodded. “What else did you find out about her?”

  “She was the sister of Rex Regis and the wife of a Collegium Maitre.”

  “She was the wife of the first Maitre of the Collegium Imago. He was the imager who created the Collegium.”

  “Was she a good minister?”

  “I have no way of knowing. Most likely she was.” Aevidyr paused, then asked, “Why would I say that?”

  “If she had been bad, I imagine there would have been stories or records … somewhere.”

  Aevidyr shook his head. “Had she been terrible, there would have been no records at all. She was the rex’s sister. Any unfavorable mentions or documents that showed her as incapable would certainly have been destroyed. There are also no citations or notes on how great she was. There are just clear procedures and good records dating from within a few months after the defeat of Rex Kharst.”

  Charyn frowned. “I could only find a few in the archives.”

  “That’s because the most important ones are here in my files. Those in the archives are largely duplicates or about matters no longer relevant, things like procedures for land transfers immediately following the conquest.” His voice seemed less grating, or maybe Charyn was getting used to it.

  “Why do you keep the older ones?”

  “Hasn’t Sanafryt instructed you on the importance of precedent? When there are no specific provisions in the Codex Legis, precedent becomes important. If a practice has been in place for centuries, that grants it a certain status in law, for better or worse.”

  “So that is why my father had to make changes in the Codex Legis?”