For several moments, Charyn couldn’t see why Aevidyr was warning him of floods in the spring. Then he remembered. “You sent me a proposal about repairing the river walls on the west side of the river near the barge piers … rather you sent it to my father.”
Aevidyr frowned. “You read it?”
“Alucar mentioned that it might be a problem. So I found the proposal and read it. It seems like a good proposal. The problem isn’t the proposal. It’s the cost.”
“It will cost the factors and crafters along the river more than what repairs would cost,” Aevidyr pointed out.
“The factors pay tariffs. Most of the crafters don’t.” Even as he spoke, Charyn couldn’t help but wonder why Aevidyr was so worried. The Minister of Finance had never worried about factors and crafters before.
“That is true. But many use the barge piers.”
“I’m afraid I don’t see exactly,” replied Charyn. “The barge piers…” He stopped, trying to recall what he remembered about the barge piers … that they were level with the top of the river walls … and anchored to them. “How strong are the walls to which the piers are anchored?”
“Ah … that is the problem. Most of the golds for repairs would go to strengthening the walls because they have become weak…”
“That’s where most of the grain and produce from the north is unloaded, isn’t it?”
“Yes, sir. And other goods as well.”
All the goods and grains from all the High Holders to the north of L’Excelsis. Charyn thought he understood very well why Aevidyr wanted the river walls repaired. “Aren’t there other piers along the river?” he asked guilelessly—at least he hoped he sounded guileless.
“Yes, sir, but the others are not open to except to factors who own them, not without high fees.”
“I see.” Charyn nodded. “You make a very good point. A very good point. The only problem is that the treasury doesn’t have four thousand golds to spare at this moment. Both the factors and the High Holders have refused to consider any significant increases in tariffs. Now … if the spring floods are as bad as you say they will be … they might reconsider.” He smiled sadly. “Then again, they might not, if they felt such a flood might not come again for years.” He paused again. “Also, I don’t see how we could make repairs at present. The ground is frozen solid—”
“Oh, no, Your Grace, I am well aware of that difficulty. I just wanted you to be aware of the possibility…”
“And you wanted to make certain I knew you had warned my father in advance of what may happen?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Thank you. I do appreciate your diligence, and after we know more about the tariff revenues for next year, we will confer and see what might be done.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Charyn stood, as did Aevidyr, who inclined his head before turning and departing. He’s definitely worried. The fact that Aevidyr was worried hinted that he felt he might have to deal with Charyn for a while, and that was a good sign. But when ministers worried, Charyn suspected that was never a good sign. What does he know that you don’t?
That was the sort of question that there was little use in asking, because, as Charyn had become well aware, there was all too much he didn’t know.
When Charyn heard the coach enter the rear courtyard just before fifth glass, he smiled and hurried down from the study so that he’d be there waiting in the rear foyer when Palenya entered the chateau.
She walked in swiftly, unwrapping the voluminous scarf as she did, then stopped as she saw Charyn. “I didn’t expect you.”
“How could I not be here? How did the instructionals go.”
Palenya smiled. “They went very well. Maitre Alyna observed, and she told me she was very pleased. I will have five students each afternoon on Lundi and Meredi. That is besides Aloryana. Some of them even know how to play simple tunes.”
“You like the idea of teaching all of them … even those who know little?”
“All of them want to learn. Some will discover it is not for them, but what is a musician for except to make beautiful music and teach others to do the same.” Palenya shrugged, although the gesture was anything but fatalistic. “We should go to the music room. I need to look over some of the music.” She turned and began to walk.
Charyn walked beside her. “That’s why you were copying all that music—to allow others to learn it and play it.”
“That was one reason.”
“And the other?”
“I cannot accept your silvers and spend time doing nothing.”
Charyn almost said that they didn’t do that much, at times, when they were together, before he realized, fully, that Palenya was also paid to teach him more than music and to be his companion. “You’ve been here to teach me. I never would have learned to play, truly play the clavecin, without you.”
Her step faltered, if but for a moment. “I always said you could be a good musician.”
“You were honest. You’ve always been honest. You never said I would be a great musician.”
“You could make your living as a musician, if you were willing to work hard all the time at playing and at learning more about the structure of music.” She opened the door to the music room.
Charyn followed her in and closed the door behind them.
She turned. “I’m not what you think I am.”
Charyn stopped dead in his boots. “What do you think I think you are?”
“More perfect than I am. You’re kind, but you have absolute power over me. I still worry about my littlest flaw displeasing you.” Her face was flushed, not entirely from the cold, Charyn suspected. “I’m a sharp-tempered barren widow who is a very good but not excellent musician. I have a weakness for wanting the better things in life, and I like being admired and wanted. I should have left soon after Aloryana did. That would have been for the best.”
“No,” he said. “No, it wouldn’t. I needed you, and you’ve helped me so much.”
She smiled, sadly. “You said it perfectly. You needed me. Before long, you won’t. You may not have realized that yet, but you won’t.”
“I won’t hold you, not against your will. But it’s not time for you to go.” Not yet. “A little while longer.”
“Is that a promise? You keep your promises, I’ve noticed.”
“It’s a promise.”
She bent forward and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
Charyn felt himself flushing. “You deserve more.”
“We don’t always get that, my dear rex. But could I trouble you to go over the sheet music with me, so that you know what I have copied of yours, and what copies of mine are now yours?”
He smiled. “I can do that.”
65
As was usually the case in winter, the comparative warmth did not last, and while Mardi morning was still sunny, the sun seemed to give less warmth, the wind had picked up, out of the north, and the air was bitter. The remaining water from what little snow had melted had frozen, creating spots of ice in the low places in the roads.
The first thing Charyn did when he reached his study, after meeting with Norstan and Faelln, was to write out the order of items he intended to present at the joint council meeting on Meredi. Although he had them in his head, the entire proceeding was going to be nerve-racking, and he wanted the order on paper as well.
He was writing the last few words when Howal entered the study. “Good morning.”
“Good morning, sir. I was talking to Kaylet. He’d like to meet with you at eighth glass, if that’s convenient.”
“That’s more than convenient. Between the weather and the uncertainty, not many want to meet with me at the moment.”
“That is changing, sir.”
“I would hope so, but that remains to be seen.” At least until tomorrow. “Go tell Kaylet that I’ll see him at eighth glass.”
“Yes, sir.”
Charyn looked at the sheet he had written, then folded it in
half and tucked it into the leather folder he was readying.
Kaylet arrived promptly at eighth glass, but then, all the imagers were punctual, organized, and disciplined, qualities that Charyn knew he needed to keep fostering among the chateau staff.
As the imager sat down in the middle chair, Charyn said, “You asked to see me?”
“Yes, sir. I think I’ve done what I can do here. I’ve turned everything over to Aedryt, except for a few things I’d like to repair and replace over the next few days.”
“Staying in the background, so to speak?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What do you recommend that I look out for?”
Kaylet frowned. “That’s not an easy question to answer. Being a good stablemaster requires attention to many small details. There is no one thing…”
“I think what you’re saying,” replied Charyn dryly, “is that I need to wander through the stables and barns and just look—frequently. Especially at the little items, because those slip first. Is that it?”
Kaylet offered what might have been a sheepish smile. “That is much like what the Collegium stablemaster said to me years ago. As you discovered yourself, the ledgers will also tell you if there are problems.”
“They just won’t tell me what the causes of those problems are.”
In the end, Kaylet and Charyn talked for close to another quint, mostly about the strengths and weaknesses of the more experienced ostlers and others.
When Kaylet had left, Charyn turned to Howal. “He’s very good.”
“He is. Before he came to the Collegium he was an acrobat and worked with animals. He understands them better than people, and he understands people very well.”
Before all that long, Moencriff rapped on the door. “Two dispatches for you, Your Grace.”
“I’ll get them,” Howal said, rising from the conference table and moving to the study door, which he opened, taking the two envelopes from the guard and bringing them to Charyn.
Charyn frowned. One of the envelopes merely bore his name and a green seal, meaning it was likely from a regional governor. The other bore Vaelln’s seal and was much thicker. He slit open the envelope with the green seal, extracted the single sheet, and began to read.
Your Grace—
Because of events of a personal nature well beyond my control, it is with sadness and with deep regret that I must resign from the position of Regional Governor of Khel.
My time as Regional Governor has been fulfilling and rewarding, if occasionally marked with challenges, and I thank you and your father for the opportunity to serve you and the people of Khel …
Not to mention, most likely, the opportunity to enrich yourself, thought Charyn, his lips curling, as he thought of Warheon’s effort to change water-rights precedence to benefit High Holders, for which, he wouldn’t have been surprised, Warheon might well have received favors or golds, at least if Charyn hadn’t precluded the effort by making the law standard across all Solidar.
… had thought to remain at my post until the first of Avryl to allow you time to select a replacement, but, as always, I serve at the pleasure of the rex. With my gratitude and I appreciation, I remain, sincerely yours,
Warheon’s signature and seal were below the short body of the letter.
Why now? Why would he resign now? Just because I overturned some of his rotten decisions? That didn’t make sense to Charyn. His own position as rex was, for the moment, unsteady, and everyone knew it. So what did Warheon have to gain by resigning? Except the resignation wasn’t truly effective for another month and a half.
Was it timed so that he could leave if nothing changed, or remain if something happened to Charyn, claiming that he would not leave a new rex without a regional governor?
Most likely. Charyn shook his head, then replaced the letter in its envelope and set it down on the desk, turning to the dispatch from Vaelln. He opened it to find little more than a note saying that Vaelln was enclosing a report from Sea Marshal Tynan that Vaelln thought Charyn would find of interest.
Marshal Vaelln—
You requested a report on the degree to which materials and valuables were recovered and salvaged from the ruins of the palace of the Lords of Telaryn. Even before receiving your orders, I took the liberty of securing the grounds and what remained of the structures, despite some initial disagreements with Regional Governor Voralch. As complete an inventory of recovered property and items as my men could develop is attached. While it was not possible to determine what artifacts and items of value were removed from the ruins prior to my men securing the site, it is probable that many items were looted at some point, possibly even before the fire reached all areas of the palace.
The deeper storerooms were largely undamaged … and a great many artifacts, statutes, and even a considerable amount of antique silver cutlery were recovered and placed in the Naval strong rooms. As you can see from the inventory, the total value of the smaller items recovered is estimated in excess of eight thousand golds … no feasible way of determining the value of the usable building materials remaining in the ruins, but suggest that it exceeds a thousand golds.
Charyn scanned the four pages of small lettered items with estimated values, trying not to shake his head as he did. From what he could see, if the descriptions were accurate, the valuation placed on the items was likely low. And Voralch never mentioned any of this?
Once Charyn finished studying the report and the inventory, he immediately drafted, and then rewrote, a letter to Vaelln, congratulating both the marshal and the sea marshal on their efforts, and expressing his deep appreciation for their efforts in saving as much as they had of the regial heritage and history. His letter also requested Marshal Tynan’s recommendations as to what items should be retained for their heritage and eventually brought to L’Excelsis and what items should be sold to raise funds to defer the future costs of reconstructing at least the palace proper of the complex.
He and Howal had no sooner finished that letter and readied it for sending than yet another dispatch arrived, this one from Regional Governor Paetrark of Antiago. Charyn almost hesitated to open it, but did, reading it with a dismay that increased with each line.
Almost all of Antiago has been besieged by continuing rains and storms. Longtime residents do not recall the winter rains ever being this severe. As I write, almost a third of Liantiago suffers from standing water, in some places almost three yards deep. A section of the harbor wall close to half a mille long has collapsed. The combination of heavy rains, high tides, and strong winds has eroded two-fifths of the harbor breakwater at Westisle.
I have received reports of great damages from Barna and Suemyron as well. In a number of locales, whole hillsides have collapsed. One village lost nearly fifty homes and nearly a hundred inhabitants were buried by the mud. Lightning from thunderstorms also ignited hundreds of hectares of oil tree plantations, largely on the hills bordering the post road from Barna to Liantiago. The losses are likely to result in shortage of lamp oil for some time to come …
… also request an additional thousand golds to pay for repairs to governor’s residence and outbuildings …
When Charyn finished reading Paetrark’s letter, he could only hope that no more dispatches like the ones he’d received that day were on the way, especially not when he had to meet with the two councils the next afternoon.
66
Meredi dawned windy and cold, but not quite so cold as the coldest days of Ianus, reflected Charyn as he dressed with care for the day, and for the meeting with the two councils that he hoped would resolve matters with his uncle … and put an end to the threats and uncertainty that they and the various attempts on his life had caused. He actually looked at himself in the wall mirror in the oversized dressing room that adjoined his sleeping chamber, making certain that the greens he wore—the same as army officers, except for the lack of insignia—were crisp and without stains, and that his boots were polished.
He still looked too
young, but there wasn’t much he could do about that, and trying to grow a beard or mustache would have looked ridiculous. Palenya had told him that more than once.
After a quick breakfast, he met first with Kaylet, asking that the plain coach be held in readiness by second glass, and then with Maertyl and Faelln, informing them of their duties during the time that all the council members would be at the chateau, and the fact that they should anticipate a squad of army soldiers accompanying Marshal Vaelln.
At that, Maertyl frowned. “Sir … he’s never brought troopers before.”
“I know, but I’ve never been attacked so many times before, and with all the councilors here, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to have some armed soldiers for support as well.”
“Do you expect another attack?” asked Faelln.
“I don’t, but I didn’t expect all of those that have happened already.” Charyn kept his tone dry and ironic. “A glass before noon, I’d like both Sturdyn and Moencriff posted outside the study door.”
Maertyl nodded, but asked, “What about inside?”
“I think that Maitre Alastar will be able to assist with that. Also, Howal will be nearby.”
Both the guard captain and undercaptain nodded.
“Keep a good eye on the coaches and men who serve the High Holders,” Charyn concluded before turning and heading for the grand staircase.
Upon reaching his study, he immediately picked up the copy of Veritum, scanning the main story on the front page:
… merchant ship losses continue … successful arrival of eight ships from Otelyrn because of Naval warship escorts … still continuing losses of ships and cargoes has some factors upset that the rex has not done more … feeling by some that the attempts upon the life of young Rex Charyn are a result of factor unhappiness … Certain persons have revealed that there may have been even more attempts than have become public.
And by whom were those attempts revealed? Charyn had few doubts about that, although that would have been through intermediaries or anonymous letters.
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