Ordermaster

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  “The Tenderer did not ask who you were?” asked Reynol.

  “Not that I heard, your lordship .. .”

  Reynol asked a number of questions, but all pertained to the injuries suffered by the patrollers, and Werwal’s use of only a staff to attack the patrollers. Abruptly, he stopped and looked, not to the serjeant, but to Egen. “Is that all?”

  Egen stood and bowed his head briefly before speaking. “There is little more to be said about that, Lord Justicer. The Tenderer attacked the Watch in performance of its duties.” He cleared his throat. “There is one other matter, Lord Justicer. Just yesterday morning, we discovered that vagrants had been using a hidden space behind the Tenderer’s rear courtyard wall to hide from the Watch. One of those hiding there may have been a murderer as well. The murderer who was there has been reported to have left Brysta, but the renderer allowed him shelter.”

  “That will be considered, Captain Egen.”

  Egen smiled and seated himself.

  The captain and the serjeant had both been lying throughout-or slanting things so much that what had been reported might as well have been lies. Kharl could sense that. But how could he make that clear without revealing that he knew it through magery?

  Reynol looked to Kharl. “Are you ready to address the charges, advocate?”

  “If it please your lordship.”

  “You may begin.”

  Kharl turned. “Serjeant Feryt?”

  “Yes, ser?” The patroller stood.

  “You said that you knocked on the gate twice?”

  “Yes, ser?”

  “Did you say anything?” Kharl projected a feeling that the patroller should tell the truth. He hoped it was strong enough. He also looked hard at the serjeant.

  “Wasn’t nothing to say, ser. We were there to do our duty.”

  Kharl had recalled what Erdyl had told him. “When was this? What part of the day?”

  The serjeant glanced toward Egen.

  “You must recall what time of day it was,” Kharl suggested.

  “We were late, ser, by the time we got orders.”

  “Was it dark out?”

  “Yes ... ser.” The words sounded dragged out.

  “It was dark. Did you have lanterns or torches?”

  “No, ser.”

  “In the darkness, the renderer could not see your uniforms, then?” Kharl projected another compulsion at the patroller.

  The man turned, opened his mouth, then swallowed. Finally, he answered. “No, ser.”

  “Was there any other reason why the renderer might not have seen you clearly? Any reason at all?”

  Feryt did not answer.

  “Serjeant?” Kharl intensified the projection of order.

  “Captain Egen made us blacken our faces.”

  “Did you announce that you were Watch patrollers?”

  The patroller serjeant swallowed again. He did not speak.

  “You must answer the question,” Reynol admonished the serjeant, “and you must answer with the truth.”

  “No, ser. The captain said he’d know well enough who we were.”

  Kharl looked hard at the serjeant. “You have said that the renderer was supposed to know that you and your men were patrollers. Yet it was dark. You carried no lanterns, and you have said that you had all blackened your faces. You never announced that you were Watch patrollers. How was the renderer to know that you were patrollers?”

  “He shoulda known.”

  “Can you tell me how?”

  “He shoulda known,” the serjeant repeated, helplessly.

  Kharl turned to the lord justicer. “I have no more questions for the serjeant. I do have questions for Captain Egen.” “Captain, would you step forward, please?”

  Egen rose.

  Kharl could sense the anger and the chaos within Egen. He ignored it. “Captain, your serjeant has said that the renderer was supposed to know that they were patrollers. Yet it was dark. They carried no lanterns, and they did not identify themselves. Their faces and uniforms were hidden. Was what the serjeant said correct?”

  “I did not tell them to act that way,” Egen lied. “They were supposed to tell him who they were.”

  “So you gave them proper orders?”

  “Yes.”

  “You were not there?”

  “No. That was their task.”

  “Then you were not there to enforce your orders?

  “I just said that I was not.”

  Kharl nodded, then cleared his throat gently. “There is also the question of the space behind the rear wall. Captain Egen, you said that the hidden space was behind the rear wall. Most rear walls are solid. Was there any evidence of an entrance to the Tenderer’s courtyard?”

  Egen paused, as if he thought about lying. “No. But the renderer should have known about it.” “You said that the space was used to hide a murderer. Was this murderer ever charged?”

  “He escaped Brysta. There was no point in charging him.”

  Kharl fingered his chin, turning back to Reynol. “Perhaps I have missed something, your lordship. While there may indeed have been a murder, I do not believe that the renderer can be charged with aiding a murder that has never been brought to the Hall of Justice.”

  “Your point is taken, advocate. That charge is dismissed.” Reynol looked blandly at Egen.

  Kharl could sense the growing anger and frustration in Egen.

  Kharl addressed Reynol. “A Lord of a land has right to know what property a man has in order to set the tariff properly. The Lord also has the right to use force when his officers are opposed. That is the law. The renderer would not contest that. But he must know who the proper officials are. He must be able to identify them. Otherwise, he could lose everything to brigands posing as officials. Both the Code and the precedents allow a man to protect what is his against unlawful acts. The Watch has the duty to identify themselves. They did not do so. The accused did not know that he was opposing patrollers. He thought he was defending his property against brigands. That is not an offense in any land. Also, the renderer had the right to ask for a warrant from the tariff farmer. He may have been unwise, because such a warrant would be granted. But turning away the tariff farmer because he had no warrant was not an offense against the Lord.”

  “There seems to be a reasonable doubt in the eyes of all involved in this.” Reynol glanced at Egen.

  Kharl could sense the growing anger in the young captain.

  “He still turned away the tariff farmer and attacked the Watch, Lord Justicer,” Egen replied. “What do you say to that, advocate?”

  “The renderer did not use force against the tariff farmer, your lordship. He asked for a warrant. The tariff farmer did not show one. He did not show his medallion. The renderer was not wise, because the right to tariff is well established, but foolishness should be punished far less severely than defiance or a crime against the Lord.”

  “Your points are taken, advocate.”

  “Your lordship,” Egen said. “At the very least, the renderer used force against others and disturbed the peace.”

  “Your point is also taken, Captain Egen.” Reynol coughed, then spoke. “Werwal the renderer. Step forth.”

  Werwal was yanked into a standing position, not gently, but Kharl was not about to make a point about that.

  “You are hereby sentenced to five lashes for disturbing the peace. You are ordered to make your premises open to Fyngel the tariff farmer, and to pay all tariffs imposed. You are also sentenced to pay one gold for the time and costs of this trial.” Reynol paused. “Consider yourself most fortunate, renderer.”

  “Yes, your lordship.”

  “Take him away. The sentence is to be carried out immediately, and he is then to be released.”

  “All stand!” The bailiff’s voice boomed through the chamber.

  The patrollers led Werwal out of the Hall.

  Almost as the renderer went through the doors, Egen stepped up to Kharl. “Lord envoy, yo
u are a most effective advocate.” The captain’s voice dropped slightly. “Might it be that you have had other . .. means? Magery, perhaps?”

  Kharl offered a smile. “It is doubtless no secret that I do have a very slight ability with order. It is just enough to see who tells the truth and who does not, Captain Egen. That can be helpful, I will admit, but I cannot make anyone tell a lie or what is not so. Not even the greatest of order-mages can do that.” His eyes met those of the smaller man.

  “Even envoys must recognize what is, Lord Kharl, and I do not forget.”

  Kharl smiled again, politely. “I am certain you do not, Captain. I hope that you are not suggesting that I should suffer for pursuing justice within the law.”

  Egen’s smile was cold. “I would never say that. Good day, envoy.” He turned and strode stiffly from the chamber.

  The woman who had been in the front benches eased toward Kharl. “Ser?”

  “Yes.”

  “Thank you. I would pay you all I have for my consort’s life, but we .. .”

  “You have paid enough.” Kharl lowered his voice. “As soon as he is released, come to the Austran residence on the east hill. You can stay there.”

  “Ser?”

  “Captain Egen will find someone, I would judge ...” Kharl let the words hang.

  “Ser?”

  “Tell Werwal what I said, then. Let him decide.”

  “Yes, ser.” The woman backed away.

  At that moment, Fasyn hurried up. “Lord Justicer Reynol would appreciate it if you would do him the honor of seeing him in his chamber, Lord Kharl.”

  “I would be happy to see the lord justicer.”

  Kharl followed the chief clerk through the side entrance behind the dais, and to a chamber not all that much larger than that of the chief clerk’s. Unlike Fasyn’s chamber, Reynol’s did have a window that looked out on the courtyard.

  “Lord Kharl, ser.” Fasyn bowed, then stepped back and closed the door, leaving the two men alone together.

  “Lord Justicer.” Kharl bowed his head briefly, then looked directly at Reynol.

  “I have the sense that we may have met before, Lord Kharl, although I cannot recall where.” Reynol’s smile was brittle.

  Kharl could sense that the justicer was being truthful. He did feel that he had seen Kharl before, but he did not recognize the former cooper. For now, that was just as well. “It could be, Lord Justicer, that I have watched in the Hall so often in recent eightdays that you feel that you should know me.”

  “That might be.” Reynol took a long pause before continuing. “Might I ask why you chose to defend the Tenderer?”

  “I cannot say, your lordship.” That was true. Kharl could not say, not yet at least. “He looked honest. I might have been mistaken, though. That would not have been the first time I have been deceived.”

  “I do not think you are often deceived, Lord Kharl. Still... you are fortunate you are an envoy. The captain is not pleased.”

  “I would hope justice would always be served.”

  “We all hope that, even the heirs of Lord West, but justice is a tool, and it can be turned many ways.” “Heirs of Lord West? Is the captain ...?”

  “His youngest.”

  Kharl forced an ironic laugh. “I am glad I am an envoy. I will have to tender my apologies. I had not thought...”

  “Having arrived so recently, it is not something that would have come to your attention.”

  Kharl understood the reproof. “It should have come to my attention, and I will discuss this at some length with my secretary.” Again, he was being truthful, but the discussion would not go the way Kharl implied.

  “It is not all that great a problem,” Reynol lied. “Captain Egen will understand that there are often ... unforeseen circumstances in life.”

  “I would rather not have contributed to that... understanding.”

  This time Reynol laughed. “I understand that.” He paused. “I have read your letter of recommendation from Lord Justicer Priost of Austra. Seldom does one get that fine a recommendation, and particularly for a lord who does not practice often as an advocate. Might I ask your scholarly interest?”

  “I would have to say that my interest is more practical,” Kharl said, drawing on what Hagen had stated. “I am the envoy to the West Quadrant. I need to understand Brysta to be a good envoy. Studying the way laws have been made and how they are carried out and judged helps in understanding.”

  Reynol tilted his head slightly, as if pondering what Kharl had said. He waited several moments before replying. “I do not recall any envoy before being so assiduous. I also note that your choice of garb is almost... magely.”

  “I have been told I have some small abilities in that area, Lord Justicer. I do have some ability to know when people are not telling the truth. I do not believe that this should be any bar to representing an accused. I doubt that anything I can do is of the scope of the great mages of Reduce or of the past.”

  Reynol nodded, then laughed softly. “You are a dangerous man, Lord Kharl.”

  “I am?” Kharl replied, almost without thinking.

  “A scholar of the law, a talented, if unpracticed advocate, a man who is physically imposing, and who can tell when others are not telling the truth-those are traits that make a good envoy, but a dangerous opponent. It is a good thing that you represent a ruler who has no designs on Nordla.”

  “I can assure you that Lord Ghrant does not,” Kharl said. “He wishes nothing more than for the Quadrants of Nordla to remain as they have always been. He was most clear about that.”

  “Were that all rulers were so impartial.” Reynol offered another smile. “Do you intend to make a practice of appearing in the Hall?”

  “No, your lordship. I fear that I may already have appeared more than is wise. If you encounter the captain, you might convey that to him as well.”

  “I will indeed.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Good day, Lord Kharl. It may be that your appearance was indeed for the best.” Reynol nodded.

  “Good day,” Kharl replied, before turning and letting himself out of the chamber. He had not liked the thought that his appearance was for the best, because Reynol had been truthful, and anything that the lord justicer thought was for the best was not likely to be good for Kharl-or for Brysta.

  Kharl followed Fasyn, who had been waiting in the corridor outside, back to the front foyer, where the undercaptain waited. Neither said a word until they were in the carriage. The rain continued, steadily falling, neither heavier nor lighter than earlier in the day.

  “What happened, ser?” Demyst’s voice carried concern.

  “I represented the renderer. Captain Egen was not exactly happy. Did you see where he went?”

  “He looked less than pleased, but he rode off up the hill.”

  “The renderer may show up at the residence. We might as well use him, if he does. He has some ability with a staff. Enough to take out three of Egen’s patrollers.”

  Kharl glanced out the carriage window, toward the harbor. One of the Sarronnese warships was swinging clear of the pier, and the other looked to be ready to follow the first.

  If matters in Brysta simmered on, and no conflict appeared in the next few days, Kharl would have to have Erdyl write a letter begging Egen’s indulgence, but he could do that. He’d also have to tell Fundal to expect Werwal.

  Kharl smiled. At the least, if Werwal could fight off Egen’s patrollers, he wouldn’t make a bad guard until Kharl could make arrangements to have the renderer and his consort leave Brysta.

  LXXVII

  Belatedly, Kharl had ordered Mantar to drive up Lord’s Road from the Hall of Justice. Even from just outside the Quadrancy Keep, Kharl had not been able to sense the kind of chaos that surrounded a white wizard. Nor had there been any chaos near the Hamorian residence. In fact, the Hamo-rian envoy’s residence had felt deserted. Kharl had not liked that at all.

  After checking the Hamorian
residence with his order-senses, Kharl had Mantar swing back by the harbor. Both Sarronnese warships were well beyond the breakwaters, and a single iron-hulled warship was making its way past the harbor forts-a Hamorian ship. Despite the muting effects of the water and the iron, Kharl could sense that there were several white wizards on board. “Ser?”

  “More white wizards on that ship.”

  “With them and the rain, won’t be long before things get tight,” suggested the undercaptain. “You thinking we should move out?”

  “That would be a good idea, if we had anyplace to go.” Also, even using the wagon and the carriage, Kharl doubted that they had mounts and space enough to take everyone housed at the residence. Given Egen’s vin- dictiveness, Kharl had no doubts that anyone remaining would be in great danger, and the captain could always claim that none of them were protected by being part of the envoy’s staff because they were all from Brysta.

  “Sure would like some more armsmen.”

  “That would help,” Kharl agreed, not voicing his thoughts that even a full company of armsmen and lancers would not make that much difference.

  The streets were not quite so busy as usual on a fourday, but they were far from deserted. Kharl found the situation almost like a dream-or a nightmare. Egen had a private army ready to take over the city. The rain would keep falling, and make it hard for anyone else to contest Egen’s control, and the Hamorians now had at least four white wizards supporting them. Kharl also suspected that the white wizard who had been in the Quadrancy Keep might well have left to join Egen-or the Hamorians.

  Yet, with all that, nothing in Brysta looked amiss.

  “We’ll have to mount some sort of guard,” Kharl said.

  “Yes, ser.” After a moment, the undercaptain added, “Sure would like a good squad of lancers.”

  “That would help,” Kharl said. So would being in a position to strike at Egen. One of Kharl’s problems was that neither Ostcrag nor Osten seemed to understand, or want to acknowledge the depth of Egen’s treachery. Every other envoy seemed to see it. Then, reflected Kharl, perhaps Ostcrag and Osten did as well, but had their own plans. Or found themselves unable to act because they had discovered too late that they had been outmaneuvered.