Mage-Guard of Hamor

Cigoerne
V

If anything, Captain Jaracyn pushed the Ascadya even more on the return voyage to Swartheld. The seas were rougher, and Rahl was a touch queasy, for the first time.

Late on threeday, the northwestern cliffs of Hamor came into view, and before long Rahl could see the late-afternoon sun reflecting off the great northwest lighthouse, a spire above the white cliffs. The swells were high enough that a wide line of white foam marked Heartbreak Reef.

"I'm glad we're almost back," Taryl said from where he stood on the wing of the bridge beside Rahl.

As he took in the lighthouse, Rahl recalled what Captain Liedra had told him on his first trip to Hamor. "The merchant captains think that Hamor's never recovered from what Creslin did after he founded Recluce. Is that true?"

Taryl laughed. "It is, but not in the way they would think. Hamor's never forgotten the lesson he taught us."

Lesson?

"Good tactics, magery, and new ways of doing things will usually defeat someone who merely relies on what has worked in the past. Why do you think we keep improving our ships? Or trying to use every mage we have, rather than just exiling or executing the ones who are difficult to train or don't fit into predetermined roles and patterns?"

"I don't think they see it that way."

"All the better for us. They think we avoid conflict with them because we fear their black ships, but that's not the real reason. Oh, the black ships could cause considerable damage, but we could build a score of these frigates in the time it would take them to build one black ship, and a half score of our new fast frigates could probably take out two of their ships."

"Then…" Rahl wasn't sure he wanted to ask the question.

"Why don't we attack Recluce and remove a problem? Because we'd gain nothing and lose a great deal. They provide goods we want. They send us black and white mages, and while they complain a lot, they don't attack our shipping, and they buy our goods. A war would cost us golds, ships, and trained men, and in the end, we'd either have to rebuild Recluce the way it was or lose more coins." Taryl shook his head. "Our navy's best use is to keep trade free and open, and to track down pirates and raiders. Or to keep people from attacking us or meddling."

"Like in the rebellion?"

Taryl snorted. "It's not true all the time, but most of the time, lands have far more problems within their borders than without. Often, even when they are attacked, such attacks come because of the problems they have within and have failed to address."

"Might I ask what problem caused the rebellion?"

"The failure of the previous emperor and of the present emperor to recognize that Golyat was not qualified to be emperor and too self-centered and ambitious to serve his brother for longer than it would take him to raise an army and golds enough for him to attempt to seize the throne."

"What would you have done?" asked Rahl.

"Had him perish as a young man while hunting some dangerous beast, then inform the Emperor of the unfortunate accident. Golyat is the kind who would only chafe in exile until he could find someone to back an invasion."

Rahl swallowed at the matter-of-fact tone-and the conviction within the older mage.

"You think I am cruel? That I have deceived you about who and what I am?" Taryl shook his head. "Hundreds have already died, and thousands will yet die. Crops and grasslands will be devastated. Hundreds, if not thousands, of women will become widows, and children will become orphans. Golds that could be spent on roads and reservoirs and other good works will be spent on weapons and supplies that would not be needed otherwise. The prices of food will rise, and the poor will become poorer. All this because a father and a son would not face the fact that a son and a brother cared for nothing but his own power and pleasure."

"But… to order the death of his own son?" Rahl protested.

"A ruler has a responsibility to those he rules, and one of those responsibilities is to assure that those who follow him provide good and just governance. Rebellions and civil wars do not do so, particularly when they are caused by an emperor's offspring."

Rahl just looked at Taryl.

The older mage sighed, then took a deep breath. "You killed Under-captain Craelyt and at least a score of Jeranyi. Why?"

"Because the Jeranyi would have killed hundreds more."

"And the undercaptain?"

"Because he had killed the captain and… it wasn't right. You know that, ser."

"I do, indeed," replied Taryl, "and so does the Triad. Your actions prevented far greater harm. Now… is the Emperor more or less responsible for Hamor than are you?"

"More…" Rahl grudged.

"Then he has an even greater responsibility than you do. If he is unwilling to do, or have done, what is best as a ruler, what right does he have to request that others behave honorably?"

"But… murder… fratricide? How is that just?"

"It is not just. That, I admit, and that is why the Emperor could not and should not do such," Taryl said. "If emperors are allowed such latitude, all too soon they will see anyone who opposes them in anything as a threat to be removed, and they will become corrupt."

Rahl realized, then, exactly what Taryl had said and meant. "The Triad and the High Command? They should have acted? Was that why..?"

"The Triad and the High Command are supposed to act as a check upon the Emperor."

"You were involved, weren't you?"

"Let us just say that is why one member of the Triad died and one stepped down after recovering from his injuries. All Hamor will now suffer from that lack of resolution." Taryl looked directly at Rahl. "A good mage-guard always does his best. Sometimes, it is not enough. That does not mean the effort was wasted, for it must always be made. Bitter as it can be, those who risk all and fail, or only partly succeed, have held true to themselves. Those who weigh the odds and never try unless they have absolute certainty… they never know their true worth." The older mage-guard offered an ironic smile. "That's enough philosophy for now. Just remember that all loyalties have their prices, and make sure you understand what those prices are before you act."

Taryl gestured toward the southeast. "We'll be porting shortly, and I need to finish writing my report to the Emperor." He turned and headed down the ladder.

After Taryl had left, Rahl looked toward the stone lighthouse and the white cliffs beneath it.