Antiagon Fire

28

By the fifth glass of Solayi afternoon, the sails of the Antiagon ships had vanished below the horizon to the southeast. From what Quaeryt had seen, two of the three ships that the imagers had attacked had sunk, but it appeared as though the Antiagons had managed to save the third. While he was relieved that the imaging had not resulted in many, if any deaths, he also worried that by not having destroyed all five vessels, the Montagne and Solis might face greater problems from the Antiagon fleet in the future. No one talks about the price of mercy in warfare. But then, technically, Bhayar and Aliaro weren’t at war, at least not so far as Quaeryt knew, even if Antiagon troops had fought against Southern Army in Bovaria.

At sixth glass the steward appeared with dinner, and with Captain Nykaal.

Once dinner had been presented-mutton cutlets with a brown sauce, fried potato slices, and pickled cabbage, along with freshly baked bread-the steward departed.

Nykaal flourished a bottle of red wine. “From my private stock, with thanks for your success in dealing with the Antiagons.” He filled each of the goblets halfway, then seated himself, then raised his goblet. “My thanks and appreciation, Commander.”

“That wouldn’t have been possible without your ship handling,” demurred Quaeryt, lifting his goblet in return.

Vaelora nodded as she raised her goblet, although Quaeryt knew her nod likely meant that she appreciated the captain’s skill because it had resulted in less strain on the imagers, on Quaeryt in particular.

“This is excellent wine,” said Quaeryt after taking his first swallow. “Where did you come by it?”

“My cousin has a vineyard in the hills north of Cheva, and he occasionally gifts me with bottles … now and again.”

“It’s very good,” added Vaelora.

“From you, Lady, that is high praise.”

“Indeed it is,” said Quaeryt. “She has excellent taste.”

“The wine is doubtless better than the fare, but the cooks are decent and sometimes better than that.”

After several bites, Quaeryt had to agree with Nykaal’s assessment. Decent and filling, but not much better.

“I must admit that I don’t fully understand why Lord Bhayar would … allow…” Nykaal did not finish his words.

“Why he would risk so many imagers in one command when there are so few of them?” suggested Quaeryt.

“Or why he would hazard his sister in marriage to an imager?” added Vaelora softly. “Or dispatch her as an envoy to a land that might become an enemy?”

“You must admit that those are questions many would ask.” Nykaal sipped from the crystal brandy snifter engraved with the letter “M.”

Quaeryt finished a mouthful of potatoes, then laughed softly. “No. They’re questions many might wish to ask, but few would dare.”

“I would judge that you have thought through such questions,” said the captain blandly.

“More than a few times.” Quaeryt glanced to Vaelora, who gave the barest of nods.

Nykaal smiled. “I think you have provided one answer already.”

“That is possible,” replied Quaeryt. “I will offer another. While imagers can have a great impact on a battle, Bhayar observed years ago that no imager, no matter how talented, who was sent out into combat without other imagers for support survived for any length of time.” Since no one ever sent more than one, none ever survived. “He also observed that no single imager who has been involved in the daily affairs in the court of a ruler has managed to long survive.”

“And?” pressed Nykaal gently.

“When I came close to dying several times in the Tilboran uprising, he decided it might be best to find other imagers to work with me. His willingness to try such a strategy has thus far been effective. Part of that also suggests another strength of Lord Bhayar. He is willing to try new strategies and take reasonable risks, but not exceedingly unreasonable ones.”

“He has also followed the example of his sire as well,” mused Nykaal, “in that he requires as much of himself and his family as of others.”

“If not more,” said Quaeryt.

“I doubt that he requires as much of himself as you do of yourself, Commander, not if a fraction of what I’ve heard about you has any truth to it at all.”

“There are always exceptions, Captain,” murmured Vaelora.

“You are both exceptions, but is that not why he trusts you with great responsibility?”

That, and because Bhayar has few alternatives. “I observed years ago that those who are unwilling to undertake tasks which involve danger should not be trusted with great responsibility. Nor should those who go out of their way to seek and surmount danger.” Quaeryt smiled.

“One might suggest that you have sought danger, Commander.”

Quaeryt shook his head. “I have not shied from danger, when necessary, but I have tried to accomplish what was necessary with the least risk possible. Avoiding risk for the sake of avoiding it may well create more risk in the long run, while accomplishing little.”

“You could have destroyed those ships, I think.”

“Even if we could have, to what end? The effort required might well have endangered one or more of the imagers. Would you have lost the Montagne to destroy all five of theirs?”

“Hardly. I would not willingly lose one of the two great warships Lord Bhayar has for five ships, not when Aliaro has a score or more.”

“Exactly,” replied Quaeryt.

“Yet you are accompanied by a full regiment, four imagers, and Lord Bhayar’s sister on this mission to Khel at a time when Bovaria has not yet been fully subdued.”

Quaeryt nodded. “It would have been better to have left earlier, but that was not possible. It is preferable to make offers before the positions of others rulers have been allowed to set.”

“I may be less than optimistic, Commander, Lady, but the Pharsi have always struck a hard bargain. They know that Bhayar cannot send his armies into Khel with winter upon us.”

“That’s true. That is why he sent us.”

Nykaal laughed softly, if somewhat uneasily. “You are suggesting…?”

“I’m suggesting nothing. Bhayar would prefer a willing agreement to a forced conquest. If the Khellan High Council will not agree to terms, then, within a few years, there will be a forced conquest. That is why we are going to Khel.”

“Your wine is indeed quite lovely,” said Vaelora sweetly. “I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your kindness in sharing it with us. That kindness is particularly noteworthy when such a splendid vintage comes dear, and from a family vineyard.”

Nykaal froze for just a moment, then blinked … and laughed heartily. “You’re most gentle, Lady Vaelora. For that I am thankful. It is a good vintage, and I’m more than happy to share it. The memories I will have of sharing meals with you will be far more dear than the wine.” He lifted his goblet. “If you would tell me how Extela fared after the eruption…”

“Of course.” Vaelora smiled warmly. “You must know that I spent much of my youth there, as did Bhayar and our sisters…”

More than a glass later, after cheerful conversation, Nykaal slipped away, and the steward reappeared briefly to remove platters and the remnants of the meal.

When they were alone, Quaeryt turned to Vaelora. “Do you think I was too indirect? Or the opposite?”

“I think you conveyed what he needed to understand without actually saying it.”

“What? That at times five imagers represent more power than regiments, especially when there aren’t enough ships to carry those regiments?”

“You made that point.”

“You emphasized it with your sweet comments.” Quaeryt grinned.

“People want to know what is happening. They also like to hear what they wish. That has not changed since the time of Rholan, and long before.” She paused. “You are like Rholan, in some ways … if the book is correct.”

“Oh? I’m like Rholan?”

“Let me see if I can find that section of the book.” Vaelora hurried over to the built-in drawers on the right side of the captain’s bunk, opening the narrow top one and extracting the small leatherbound volume.

Quaeryt waited while Vaelora paged through the book.

“Here … listen to this.”

“Do I want to?”

“Dearest … listen…”

Quaeryt decided further comments and protests were futile. He nodded for her to begin.

Still standing, Vaelora cleared her throat, then put out a hand against the bulkhead to steady herself as the Montagne pitched, then rolled slightly. She began to read.

“Rholan’s insights often conflicted with not only the views of the powerful, but at times with folk sayings and what some have called common sense. One saying that incensed him was the Montagne fatalism that ‘rivers run where they will,’ or the observation that rivers run free. In a homily in the small mountain town of Yanaes, according to reports from those who were there, he went so far as to call both sayings complete rubbish. He pointed out that water or rivers always seek the easiest path downhill, and that was why the waters often dropped great distances over falls. He went on to say that rivers were a poor example of guidance or freedom that, if anything, the Nameless provided their twisting courses as an example of how following the easiest path not only often did not take one where one wished, but usually took longer and put one through needless falls and trials. Needless to say, he was never asked back to Yanaes.”

“You see?” Vaelora closed the book, but remained holding it.

“Well … it is true that no one wants to ask me back.” He grinned.

“Dearest…”

“That’s why we need to create a scholarium for imagers. That way, we’ll always have some place where we can return when the invitations run out … which they will rather quickly once Bhayar establishes his reign and there’s a lasting peace.”

“Lasting peace?”

“Well … for a few hundred years, anyway.”

Vaelora frowned.

“It’s simple enough. Once he unifies Lydar, there won’t be anyone to fight here, and no one’s likely to create a fleet big enough to ferry an army large enough to attack…”

“You are an optimist.”

“Why not? It’s less depressing, and it might even come true.”

“Have you told him that he’s supposed to unify Lydar?”

“Of course not. That way, when it’s done, he can tell himself that he never intended to conquer the entire continent. No one will believe him, but they never believe rulers in those matters anyway, and once it’s done, no one will dare to complain.”

“Enough of your grand dreams, dearest.”

“Plans, not dreams.”

“Don’t plan too elaborately. Things never work out as planned.”

“That’s why I just keep the goal in mind. I can always change the plans.”

She shook her head.

Quaeryt wasn’t certain whether her expression was one of resignation, concern, or veiled amusement. She’s entitled to all three.