Mage-Guard of Hamor

VI

Fourday morning found Rahl following Taryl onto the Khamyl — a river steamship headed for Cigoerne. The two had spent the night before at the naval mage-guard quarters in Swartheld, a space largely deserted, since there was only one other warship ported at the naval piers-an older coastal patroller-and two broad-beamed iron-hulled cargo transports.

"The transports will be dispatched once we have word that we have control of a deep-water port in Merowey," Taryl had said. "Golyat's forces control Sastak and Nubyat."

Rahl had merely nodded, knowing only that the two cities were ports in the southwestern part of the continent that was Hamor. Still, the fact that the rebel chief held two major ports suggested that the Emperor faced something more like a civil war than a mere rebellion.

The Khamyl was smaller than the Ascadya, and Rahl and Taryl shared a small room with two bunks. Taryl suggested that the upper was more appropriate for Rahl, and the younger mage-guard had to agree. Small as their room was, it was on the upper deck, the one reserved for those passengers who were either wealthy or on official business of some sort.

Rahl and Taryl had taken a position on the starboard railing of the upper deck, from where Rahl was observing the various commercial buildings on the south side of Swartheld and trying to see if he could pick out where the Nylan Merchant Association had stood.

"Rahl," Taryl said quietly, "in a moment, I'll be introducing you to someone."

As the older mage-guard spoke, Taryl tightened his order shields to the point that Rahl could not determine in the slightest what Taryl was feeling. Even before Rahl turned, he followed Taryl's example, although he doubted his shields were as effective.

A slender but muscular mage-guard walked along the deck toward them. Those near him, the men in their ornately embroidered fharongs and the women in silks and with head scarves of even more sheer shimmersilk, eased away with a swiftness that they had not evidenced when Rahl and Taryl had taken their place at the railing. From more than twenty cubits away Rahl could sense the tightness of the newcomer's shields, as well as note the quality of the cloth of his uniform. He did not seem to notice Taryl or Rahl until Taryl cleared his throat.

"Cyphryt," said Taryl pleasantly, "what a pleasant surprise. It's rather distant from Cigoerne, and I would not have expected to see you here."

"Nor I you," replied the round-faced and cheery-looking mage-guard, who carried a strong aura of white chaos. "But one must occasionally review rather unpleasant situations. As I am sure you know."

Taryl smiled and gestured. "Oh… this is Rahl. He's been transferred from Swartheld to be my assistant."

Cyphryt gave a nod slightly more than perfunctory. "You will learn much from Taryl, in more ways than most would believe."

"And in more ways than I would have as well, ser," replied Rahl.

Cyphryt tilted his head slightly. "For an Atlan, you're remarkably well spoken."

"As you suggested, ser, I've already learned a great deal from Senior Mage-Guard Taryl." Rahl sensed that Cyphryt harbored the same kind of arrogance as Puvort did… and roused the same kind of anger within Rahl. Rahl nodded politely.

"That's always for the best." Cyphryt continued to smile cheerfully. "I wish you both well. I understand that, after the untimely and unfortunate death of Marshal Charynat, the Emperor and the High Command have settled on Marshal Bryna to command the campaign. I would have expected you to continue doing penance in Luba, Taryl, but the vast expanses of Merowey will do as well, I assume, after you do what you must in Cigoerne."

"We've been requested to report on our last commission."

"Ah, yes. Placating the black barbarians. So troublesome, but necessary. You do deal with unpleasantness so well and so patiently."

"As do you," replied Taryl.

"I can see that your… sabbatical… has done you well, Taryl, and that is for the best." Cyphryt nodded pleasantly. "I am certain I will see you in Cigoerne." With a continuing smile, he walked toward the rear of the upper deck, where he joined two younger mage-guards-both chaos-mages-at a table under the awning overlooking the lower rear deck. One was a striking red-haired woman.

Even Cyphryt's bearing and walk reminded Rahl of Puvort, although the two looked not in the slightest alike.

"I take it that Cyphryt is to be treated with the same care as.. I did with Undercaptain Craelyt?"

"I would suggest even greater care. For all his outward cheerfulness, Cyphryt can muster more chaos with one finger in an instant than the late undercaptain could have with his entire being in an eightday."

"He is highly placed, also?"

"He is the administrative director of the Triad. Officially, he's not in the chain of command. That suits him and his approach, but in practice he has close to the same authority as the Mage-Guard Overcommander-without the accountability."

Rahl didn't know quite what else to say. It was clear that Taryl and Cyphryt disliked each other intensely.

"You will have to watch for him, now," Taryl went on. "He takes any remark that offers the slightest disagreement with him as a personal affront. He won't deign to deal with you personally, but it's more than likely that one of those who wishes to please him will attempt to make your life less pleasant. It will mostly probably be a woman, one such as Saulya-she's the redhead there."

Rahl kept his head lowered, as if he continued to study the shore, behind the Khamyl, but let his eyes and order-senses focus on Saulya. Like all the others at the table, she held firm shields, and there was a sense of coolness behind those shields. "She's cold."

"Others have not found her so," Taryl said dryly, "not until they tried to do her a favor of some sort, generally against the rules, and ended up in places where they did not wish to be."

"But… that sort of enticement…?"

"As a mage-guard, Rahl, there is only one reason to break the rules or the Codex, and that is to prevent a greater harm. Anything else is just an excuse, and excuses are not acceptable." Taryl's voice softened as he went on. "You've already broken more than a few provisions of the Codex, if with reason and provocation, but it would be best if you avoided any minor infractions for some time to come." He laughed gently, but ironically. "Often the minor infractions cost more than the great ones."

Rahl had already come to understand that. He looked at Taryl. "Was Cyphryt correct about where you'll be assigned?"

"I'm certain he is. He prides himself on that." Taryl grinned, almost mischievously, and yet sadly. "That was one reason why I spoke to him. I'd only been told that we would be assigned to the land campaign under Marshal Charynat, and that the details would be forthcoming when we reached Cigoerne."

"You don't think Charynat's death was coincidental or accidental, do you?"

"I'd be very surprised if it happened to be," Taryl admitted. "He was an honest and capable commander. Such are always regarded with suspicion by rulers and would-be rulers, and by those who would manipulate both."

Such as Cyphryt, surmised Rahl.

"We will do what we can, as we can."

Rahl nodded slowly. Taryl had told him that he would not have learned more in remaining at Swartheld, but the older mage-guard had not pointed out that gaining greater knowledge and experience was going to be far more dangerous. But then, Rahl realized, he should have known that.