“Deybri…you know how I feel. We’re going to be consorted properly when we…well, when we can work out wherever we’ll be.” Rahl paused. Surely, Taryl or the Mage-Guard Overcommander wouldn’t separate them? “I’d hope…that we wouldn’t be separated.”
“I can see that.” A faint smile crinkled Taryl’s lips. “I don’t see that such a separation would serve anyone well.”
“At our consorting…will you be there?”
“That, Rahl, I can promise, provided you don’t wait too long.”
“No, ser.” After a pause, Rahl asked one of the questions he’d wanted to know for a long time. “I’ve inquired before, but you’ve never really answered. Why did you go to such lengths to persuade her to leave Recluce?”
“You need her. She needs you. You’d both be wasted in Recluce. Besides, Hamor needs you both. So it seemed like a good thing to do, and it was something I could do.”
Even behind Taryl’s shields, Rahl could sense the pain. At least, he thought he could. But what could he say? After a long silence, he finally spoke. “Thank you. I cannot tell you how much that means to me, but…I know you understand that.”
Taryl just nodded. “There is one other matter….”
“Ser?”
“What to do with a mage-guard who is so powerful that all the others shiver when they think of him.”
Who was Taryl talking about? “Ser…how can the Emperor not reward you?”
The older mage-guard laughed. “That’s already been decided, but I’d trust that you not mention it since plans for my departure have not been announced.”
“You’re going to be Triad again, aren’t you? Mage-Guard Triad,” guessed Rahl.
“That is most likely.”
Rahl laughed, if softly. “The Emperor needs you. So does Hamor.” He realized he was quoting Taryl’s words back at him, but that seemed only fair.
Taryl nodded. “I wasn’t talking about myself when I asked that question.”
The mage-guards shivered when they thought of Rahl? “Ser?”
“Although you, Deybri, and I know the full story, what everyone saw on that ridge was you take on and vanquish two of the most powerful mage-guards in Hamor, perhaps in the world. Were you older, and wiser, there would be no question that you would be selected as a Triad. Even so, I wouldn’t do this, not if Deybri had not agreed to come to Hamor, and not if she had not agreed to consort you,” Taryl went on. “But she’s older, and wiser, and you listen to her.” His voice turned wry. “More than to anyone else. So…from here on in, you’re acting Mage-Guard Overcommander of Merowey. You and Deybri will be departing within the eightday on the Tyrsalelth to return to Nubyat. You’ll also be temporary acting Regional Administrator for me, but that will be very temporary, I am most certain. Once the Emperor convenes the Triad, you will be confirmed as Mage-Guard Overcommander of Merowey and servant to the Emperor.”
“Me?”
“You could never go back to being a regular mage-guard, even a city captain. Your reputation would terrify everyone, and what superior would dare to discipline you? As a regional overcommander, you report to the Mage-Guard Triad and the Emperor. Besides, returning you to a lower level would be a waste of what you’ve accomplished. Your reputation will help keep Merowey loyal. The Emperor and I know that you and Deybri will not be corrupted. Because you will not be, neither will the next administrator, nor the mage-guards of Merowey. Besides, it’s the easiest way to make sure you and the healer are together.”
“But I’m only a senior mage-guard.”
“That’s all you have to be after the Great Battle of Sastak,” replied Taryl dryly. “Why do you think I gave you all those duties here earlier? Besides, who’s left to complain? You’re more powerful than anyone who’s left in the mage-guards.”
“Except you,” Rahl pointed out.
“Don’t let that go to your head,” added Taryl, clearly ignoring Rahl’s interjection. “You still need to develop more skills and strength.”
“Yes, ser.”
Taryl looked at Rahl. “You’ll pardon me if I don’t stand. That’s all I had to tell you.”
“What about Drakeyt?” blurted Rahl.
“He’d be wasted in Nubyat with Third Company. You’ll have to break in a new captain. Drakeyt’s already been promoted to majer to take over the battalion that Commander Deolyn commanded before his promotion. I trust you do not object.” Taryl coughed. “There’s one thing more. I asked Deybri to wait on the upper verandah. I didn’t tell her why. I thought you should have that pleasure.”
After leaving Taryl, Rahl walked from the study and down the wide marble-floored hallway to the double doors to the verandah. The warmth of spring surrounded him, even though the upper verandah was on the north side of the mansion and shaded. Below the stone railing was a walled garden, and Rahl could hear the splashing of fountains.
Deybri rose from the cushioned chair and smiled, tentatively. She did not move toward him. “You’ve seen Taryl?”
“Yes.” Rahl smiled, keeping his shields tight. He would surprise her.
“Rahl…are you all right? What did he say?”
“You’ll still consort me, no matter what happens, or wherever I’m posted?”
Her face darkened. “What have they done?”
Rahl grinned and dropped all his shields. “Taryl named me as acting Overcommander of Mage-Guards for Merowey. The Emperor is supposed to confirm it as a permanent appointment once Taryl returns to Cigoerne and becomes a Triad again.”
“You’re too young for that.” Her face warred between worry and joy.
“Taryl said that. He said he wouldn’t have done it except for you. He said that you were the wise one, and that I’d best listen to you. He also said that I still had much to learn, but that there was nothing else he could do.”
“You’ve already learned a great deal.” Deybri smiled fondly.
“I have,” reflected Rahl. “One of the problems is that too many other people helped to pay for that learning.” He couldn’t help but think of the outrider who’d died because he hadn’t even considered an arrow trap without people around, or the troopers in fifth squad who drowned because he hadn’t reacted quickly enough, or the girl whose throat had been slashed before his eyes, or the thousands and thousands on both sides who had died…Or Deybri, who had sacrificed comfort and come to a strange land for him. “You’re one of the ones who paid a great deal.”
“No. I don’t think so. You’ve given me a different kind of experience. I couldn’t go back to Nylan now.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes dropped. “Yesterday…I did what I had to, just as you did so long ago in Land’s End. Healers in Recluce don’t use order that way.” She looked up and at Rahl. “The other reason is that people need me here. The difference is that I wanted everyone to tell me I was needed. Here it doesn’t matter because I can see the need.”
“There aren’t any really good healers in Nubyat, or not many,” offered Rahl.
Her eyes darted to the north. “We’ll live…there in Nubyat in that villa?”
“At the overcommander’s villa.” Rahl couldn’t help but smile even more broadly. “I hope you don’t mind. It is a little larger than your dwelling in Nylan. Oh…and Taryl will be at the consorting ceremony. He promised—if we don’t wait long.”
Her smile was all he could have hoped for, and so was the embrace, and the kiss that followed.
XCVII
When he finally left Deybri, Rahl knew he had one more person to seek out, but the sun was low over the harbor before he reached the barn northwest of Sastak and walked toward Drakeyt. He looked at the older officer, pleased to see that Drakeyt already wore a majer’s insignia on his collars. “I just found out that you’re now a battalion commander. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Drakeyt nodded.
Rahl could sense the other’s mixed feelings, but he didn’t know quite what to say. After several moments of silence, he finally a
dded, “I don’t think anything turned out quite the way we expected, but I wanted you to know that I appreciate everything you taught me. I owe you more than I can repay.”
Drakeyt smiled ironically, but warmly. “That’s true, but you’ll repay it to others, just like the way I’ll try to repay what you taught me.”
What had Rahl taught Drakeyt, besides foolhardiness? He didn’t even want to ask.
“That’s the way it works,” the newly promoted majer went on, “or should work. Besides, your healer wouldn’t have it any other way, would she?”
Rahl smiled. “No, she wouldn’t.”
“You’re fortunate to have her, you know? Not many women, especially healers, would follow a man across two oceans.”
“I know. It’s hard to believe she’s here. I’d hoped you’d be at the consorting. It will be on eightday at headquarters here in Sastak.”
Drakeyt grinned. “The overcommander said that might be soon.”
“Very soon.” Rahl flushed.
“I wouldn’t miss it. She and the overcommander are the only ones who’ll ever be able to tell you what to do.”
“Not quite,” Rahl protested. “I listened to you, especially when you added my title, and I always will.”
“A mere majer’s words?”
“A trustworthy majer of good judgment who won’t always be a majer,” Rahl suggested.
Drakeyt shook his head, then, after another moment of silence, added, “I asked the overcommander to make Lyrn the Third Company undercaptain. He agreed. I’m taking Quelsyn to be battalion squad leader.”
Rahl nodded. “Lyrn will do well at that. He’s solid and thoughtful.”
“What about you, Majer?”
Rahl could see a twinkle in Drakeyt’s eyes. Despite that, he still felt sheepish in answering. “Well…it seems…you were right. Taryl did have something in mind…”
“More than city mage captain, I’d wager.” Drakeyt was grinning again.
“Acting Regional Mage-Guard Overcommander of Merowey,” Rahl said, managing to inject a note of wryness into the words. “It seems that I’m unsuited to be a mage-guard city captain.”
“Might it have something to do with the fact that no one besides Overcommander Taryl would dare to be your superior?”
“Something like that was mentioned,” Rahl admitted. “It was also mentioned that he wouldn’t have considered it without a certain healer’s presence as my consort.”
“Wise man.”
“There’s something else,” Rahl said. “If you ever need the help of a mage-guard…”
“I hope the Emperor and the overcommander will make sure that I wouldn’t, but…I’ll keep that in mind.”
As he left, Rahl just hoped that Drakeyt would.
EPILOGUE
Rahl and Deybri stood before the desk table in the study. A warm breeze barely moved the air, but the stone walls of the overcommander’s villa kept out the worst of the summer heat.
Rahl opened the case that had just been delivered—all the way from Cigoerne. Inside was a roll of parchment, a smaller folded sheet of parchment, and a deep green enameled box that, despite its unmarred exterior, exuded great age. Rahl unrolled the document with the Emperor’s seal.
“That makes it official,” said Deybri, as she read the words over his shoulder. “Mage-Guard Overcommander of Merowey.” After a moment, she pointed. “You need to read the other one.”
Rahl unfolded the smaller sheet and began to read.
Please accept this antique badge of rank as a token of my deepest appreciation and esteem. The badge reputedly came from a distant ancestor. May it provide an inspiration for your son to come and a reminder to you both of the costs and triumphs of love.
The signature was a single name: Emerya.
Rahl handed the note to Deybri and eased open the green-enamel box. Inside was a lambent cupridium and lacquer pin displaying three crossed miniature items: a lance, a jagged lightning bolt, and a sheaf of grain.
“What is it?” asked Deybri, leaning toward him.
“A token of esteem and inspiration,” Rahl said quietly, turning the pin over. There was a name inscribed in tiny letters. Cyadoran, he thought. He squinted and puzzled them out. “Lorn’elth’alt’mer. That must be the name of her distant ancestor.”
Deybri smiled sadly. “The poor woman. Poor Taryl.”
Rahl thought so, too. But Hamor was the richer for that doomed love…and so were he and Deybri. He reached out with his free hand and drew her to him, feeling the swell of her body against him…and the life force of their son.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
MAGE-GUARD OF HAMOR
Copyright © 2008 by L. E. Modesitt, Jr.
All rights reserved.
Maps by Ellisa Mitchell
A Tor Book
Published by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tor.com
Tor® is a registered trademark of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Modesitt, L. E.
Mage-Guard of Hamor / L.E. Modesitt, Jr.—1st ed.
p. cm.
“A Tom Doherty Associates Book.”
ISBN: 978-0-7653-1927-2
1. Recluce (Imaginary place)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3563.O264 M325 2008
813'.54—dc22
2008020066
* Forthcoming
Mage-Guard of Hamor Page 70