Mage-Guard of Hamor

XC

Early on twoday morning, while Third Company was gathering for muster, Rahl reined up in front of the White Stag. He had no more than dismounted and tied up the gelding when he sensed Deybri. He turned. She was standing on the porch in her healer greens.

He bounded up the two steps, but stopped short of embracing her when he sensed the worry and anger within her.

"Rahl… you know the Triads are here?"

"I had to give my report to Taryl last night with them present. It wasn't pleasant."

"They're…" She paused, as if unable to come up with a word or phrase.

"They're like everything the magisters said about Hamor?"

Deybri nodded.

"Taryl told me something interesting when I first was introduced to them," Rahl said quickly. "He said that they were the first chaos-mages to be Triads in ages. Most of the past Triads were order types, even though most mage-guards tend to be chaos-mages."

"Why did that change? Do you know?"

Rahl shook his head. "I think it had something to do with why Taryl had to step down or was replaced as a Triad, but I don't know that for certain, and no one whom I've met who knows will speak of it. I've heard scores of rumors, but-"

"Scores?"

"Several," he admitted, "and they're all different, and I've been told by those who should know that none of them are correct."

"Be careful around the Triads, Fieryn especially."

"Taryl's already suggested that. I think they're one of the reasons he was so particular about my working on my shields."

"He may be more dangerous than the Triads." Deybri had lowered her voice. "He sees more than they do, and I can't read him at all. He and you are the only ones whom I can't."

Rahl nodded. "Yet he's the only one who has never steered me wrong."

"He may be preparing you to use as the tool to regain his power as Triad."

Rahl had thought of that. It was more than possible. "What other choices do I have? Do you want to return to Recluce?"

She shook her head. "I find I trust him… and you. That is the most frightening aspect of it all."

"Trusting a disgraced Hamorian Triad and an exiled natural order-mage." Rahl forced a grin. "Kadara and Leyla would say that you're not in your right mind."

She reached out and took his hands, squeezing them warmly, but only for a moment before withdrawing them. "Please be careful."

"I will." He paused. "I need to report to Taryl."

"You'd better do it now. The Triads left him a few moments ago. Their shields were tight, but neither looked pleased, and I could sense some buried anger."

That alone reassured Rahl. He leaned forward and brushed Deybri's cheek with his lips. "Until later."

"Much later, I fear."

"Why?"

"There haven't been any battles, but there are so many troopers that someone is always getting injured, through accidents or quarrels or mishaps with mounts. And there are the cases of flux, and we don't want that spreading. The other healers are pressed. How could I not help them? It is either late before I'm done, or I've already fallen asleep."

"I have to report to Taryl most mornings," Rahl pointed out.

"I'll try to be around in the mornings… dearest."

Rahl hung on to that last endearment as he entered the inn.

Taryl was alone in the small dining chamber, seated at the table and surrounded by maps.

"Good morning, ser," offered Rahl as he closed the door behind himself.

"Good morning, Rahl. The Triads departed a short while ago. Fieryn in particular expressed that he was less than pleased with your report last night and your attitude toward the Triads." Taryl's words were pleasant and without chill.

"I was most polite, ser."

"Without speaking a word of description and without an unpleasant word or tone, you very politely and calmly conveyed that the most honorable Triad was the hindmost part of an unclean quadruped."

"Ser… what was I supposed to do? His questions were designed in a fashion that any reply would either show total ignorance or total subservience."

Taryl smiled. "Actually, you behaved perfectly for the situation. Fieryn now believes that you are a third-rate mage-guard with delusions of superiority, and he has decided that I was absolutely correct in returning you to duty as an arms-mage with Third Company."

"I'm happy to follow your instructions, ser, but… do you think my future should lie as an arms-mage?"

"For now, that is where you will prove most useful, and out of the direct way of Fieryn and Dhoryk. As you should recall, I have noted that it is always useful to be underestimated by those in power who may not be either friends or allies."

"You honestly believe they have underestimated me, ser?"

"I do, and we had both best hope that is the case. They could be as much a danger to you as could Golyat and his mages."

"Because they seek greater power and because you stand in their way and I am your aide and ally?"

"There is great accuracy in that observation, but you need to observe even more." Taryl cleared his throat. "Your healer is most accomplished, and I hope that she will choose to remain in Hamor."

"She would like to do so, ser, but that will depend on what happens at Sastak."

Taryl softly barked a laugh. "Much will depend on that, perhaps the future of all Hamor and the world."

"The world?" asked Rahl.

"If the Emperor loses at Sastak, Hamor as it is will fall. That will strengthen Fairhaven. Recluce will rejoice to its eventual sorrow."

"Why would the Emperor's defeat lead to sorrow for Recluce?"

Taryl offered a crooked smile. "I leave you to think about that one. We had best concentrate on how to best avoid that possibility."

Rahl could tell that Taryl had said, as was often the case, what he would say. "What do you require of me and Third Company?"

"Continue the same duties as you have been doing. Unless you see signs that would indicate otherwise, you need not scout in depth up all the smaller side roads. It is becoming clearer and clearer that matters will be resolved in Sastak, and that it is unlikely that much of import will happen before."

"The rebels have not really prevailed in any battle, ser."

"That is true, but the winner is not the one who wins the battles, but the one who remains standing and in control when all the battles have been fought. Usually, that is the one who wins the battles, but not always."

"I'm to report to you this evening."

"As always." Taryl stood.

"Until then, ser." Rahl inclined his head, then turned and took his leave. He did not see or sense Deybri-or the two Triads-anywhere near.

As he rode back to Third Company, Rahl thought over Taryl's words, particularly his phrasing-"If the Emperor fails…" The more he thought, the less he liked the implications behind those words, and the more he understood what Taryl had meant beyond what he had said.