Ordermaster

LXXVI

On fourday, Kharl dressed to appear in the Hall of Justice. He wasn’t sure what else he could do. He hadn’t slept that well, with dreams about Hamorian warships bombarding Brysta from the harbor while he staggered through the streets looking for a black staff. He’d awakened from that dream with a start, gotten up, and walked around his chamber before climbing back into his bed. The second nightmare had been worse-Egen had burst into the residence with a squad of his patrollers, looking for Jeka. Kharl had not returned from his presentation to Lord West in time, and found everyone slaughtered. Jeka had been used-horribly.

He lay awake in the warm night for a good glass after that, and slept only fitfully, especially after a steady rain began to patter on the roof of the residence.

As he finished dressing, except for his jacket, he considered the day ahead. The rain continued, steady, but not quite a downpour. Should he still go to the Hall of Justice? He shrugged. What else could he do? Demyst was better at finding guards than Kharl would ever be. Besides, Egen might well be at the Hall for Werwal’s trial, and, if he was, that would mean a few days-one day at least, he corrected himself-before any attacks began. Since Werwal’s case was second on the docket before Reynol, Kharl had time to eat breakfast before heading to the Hall of Justice-if he hurried.

Kharl could sense Jeka and Demyst at the table, and he could hear that they were talking. He paused, then eased the sight shield around himself as he moved toward the archway into the breakfast room.

“Lands and all … why’d he come here?” asked Jeka.

“Lord Ghrant asked him to.”

“Did he have to?”

“I doubt any man could make Lord Kharl do what he felt was wrong.”

Kharl appreciated Demyst’s words, but doubted their accuracy.

“We in trouble here?”

“That we are. There is no help for that, I fear.”

“He’s staying here and going to let it happen?”

Kharl winced at Jeka’s question.

“In Austra, I questioned his actions. I was wrong. When he acts, there is none braver …”

Kharl heard steps above. Where he was standing in the narrow archway, one way or another, he was likely to be discovered. He released the sight shield, then coughed before he made his way into the breakfast room.

″Don′t believe that business about bravery,″ Kharl said, with a smile. “He was far braver to accompany someone who rides badly and knew little about fighting.”

“He is also modest,” Demyst said to Jeka, standing as he did. “I fear I talked too long. I need to spend some time with Sestalt, and I am awaiting another man who may do as a guard.” He nodded to Kharl. “Ser?”

“Do what you have to. At the moment, you’re getting more done than I am. How are you doing with finding guards?”

“Not so well as I’d like. Sestalt will do, and so will Sharlak.”

“Take them on, if they’ll start today. Can you talk to Mantar, or Fundal, and see if we can get some more mounts and riding gear?”

A sheepish expression appeared on the undercaptain’s face. “I wasgoing to talk to you about that, ser. Already been scouting. We can pick up four pretty good mounts, but they’d be three to four golds each.”

“Do it. I’ll get you the golds after I eat.” Kharl was glad that he’d thought about the need for golds and gone to the Factors’ Exchange earlier, especially since it appeared that the summer-end rains had arrived. “What about sabres, or crossbows?”

“We have enough in the armory here. Fundal had them stowed out of sight.” Demyst laughed. “He’s most cautious.”

“About everything.”

With a smile, Demyst inclined his head, then slipped out of the breakfast room.

Kharl settled himself at the circular breakfast table. As he did, Khelaya appeared with a platter on which were cheesed eggs, thick ham slices, and a basket of bread. “Erdyl said you’d be leaving soon.”

“I’ll be at the Hall of Justice.”

“No good comes from there,” replied the cook.

“Not often,” Kharl agreed. “Has to be a first time, though.”

“When the hot springs of Kayol freeze, maybe.”

Kharl laughed.

Khelaya shook her head, then glanced at Jeka. “You want more?”

“No.” After a moment, Jeka added. “Thank you.”

Because he wasn’t sure what he could say to Jeka, Kharl took several mouthfuls of the eggs, then a swallow of the cider, tart, as early summer cider always seemed to be.

“Why are you going to the Hall of Justice? Thought you’d seen enough of that.”

“Werwal … he’s before Reynol today.”

“You going to bust in there with horses, too?”

“No. I’ll do what I can-if I can do anything. While I’m gone, you can use the library. Practice reading.” Kharl kept eating. He didn′t want to be late to the Hall.

“That’s harder than weaving.”

“Or you can talk to Enelya. I’d wager that she’s still upset about Selda. I won′t be back for a while.”

“Like last time …″ muttered Jeka.

Kharl winced. “I didn’t have much choice, did I?”

“Suppose not.”

“I did come back.”

“For your boy.”

“And for you.”

Jeka looked down. “Your boy? Undercaptain said you went south … graves there.”

“Egen and his men. They killed Merayni and Dowsyl, all the children and Warrl.” He looked at Jeka, waiting until she met his eyes. “I couldn’t let that happen to you.”

Jeka looked back across the table at Kharl. “Wouldn’t. You didn’t have-″

“I was supposed to leave you?” asked Kharl. “Let Egen find you?”

“I could have hid.” “For how long?”

“I was a good weaver.”

“You are a good weaver. You stayed with Gharan, and you might have been a dead one.”

“What about Gharan and Amyla?” demanded Jeka.

“I told him that if he ran into any trouble to get out of there and come here. If he can’t find me, to get a ship to Austra and go to Cantyl. I gave him some golds.”

“You only gave me silvers.” Her face was deadpan.

It took Kharl a moment to catch the hidden humor. “That was all I had then. I gave you half of all I had.” He forced a grin. “Do you think you were worth it?”

Surprisingly, to Kharl, Jeka looked down at the table for a moment. Kharl didn’t know what to say. Finally, he stammered. “I’m sorry.”

“No need for that. You’re a lord.”

He felt like pounding the table. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Jeka. “Being a lord-it doesn’t mean you hurt people. I don’t want to be like Egen.”

“Never be like that pissprick.” Jeka looked up. “You’re going to the Hall. What if Egen sees you?”

“He won′t know I’m the same person. I don’t think he’ll believe a cooper could come back as a lord.”

“Mean bastard. Doesn’t forget much.”

“Even if he does, he’s not going to do anything in the Hall of Justice.”

“Better be real careful when you leave.”

“He might not be there.”

“Why you’re going, isn’t it? See if he’s there?”

“That, and Werwal.”

“You really got lands in Austra?”

Kharl nodded. “I didn’t expect it, but that was how it turned out. You’ll like them.” He tried to keep his expression pleasant as he realized just what he’d said.

“You think I’m going? Didn’t ask me.”

“You’re coming to Austra. You’ll be safe there. You can’t stay here.”

“Says who?”

Kharl took a deep breath. “I do.”

“You been right about stuff.” Jeka didn’t quite meet his eyes. “Still doesn’t change things.”

“It might be a while,” Kharl added. “Things could be dangerous here.”

“No worse than hidin’ from Egen between walls.”

“No,” Kharl agreed, although he wasn’t so sure about that. He finished the last bit of ham and took a swallow of the cider. Then he stood. “I need to get to the Hall.”

“Guess I’ll talk to Enelya first.”

“She can come with us to Cantyl, if she wants.”

“You givin′ her a choice, but not me?”

Kharl did catch the attempt at humor this time. “That’s right.” He grinned.

After a moment, Jeka returned the grin, although hers was shaky. “You be careful.”

“I will.” He turned and hurried up to his chamber, where he washed quickly, donned his black jacket, then hastened down to the strong room to get more golds for Demyst. Then he locked up the chests and the strong room, and made his way up to the front portico and the waiting carriage beyond. Demyst stepped out into the rain and opened the door. He slipped inside after Kharl.

On the way to the Hall, Kharl gave Demyst the golds for the mounts. Then he studied the streets, and, when he could see it through the rain, the harbor. There were two iron-hulled warships moored at the outermost piers, and several wagons on the piers themselves. Kharl could barely make out the ensign on one-mostly blue. Although he did not recognize the design, he had no doubts that the vessels were Sarronnese, and that Luryessa, Jemelya, and the rest of the Sarronnese at the envoy’s residence would be boarding those ships-if they had not already.

“Sarronnese ships,” suggested Demyst, looking past Kharl.

“They’ve closed their residence. If Erdyl’s right, the Hamorian envoy is the only one left here in Brysta, except for us.”

“How soon before the fighting starts, you think, ser?”

“I don’t know. Another eightday. Could be sooner. Could be later.”

“Even with guards, we can’t really protect the residence.”

“I know. We ought to have some supplies laid by so we could ride out in a hurry.”

“Yes, ser. Already been working on that. Khelaya’s been helping. Says she won’t go with us, but she’ll make sure we’re ready to go. Any chance of catching a ship back to Austra?”

“No. Not that I know of.” Besides, although Kharl wasn’t about to say so, leaving now didn’t feel right. Was that because he’d fled once before, and Warrl and Arthal had died? Was he being stubborn and foolish? What could he do?

Offer his services to Lord West? When the lord had sentenced and executed Charee, knowing she was innocent?

“Ser?”

“Just thinking.”

It was just half past the second glass of the morning when Mantar brought the carriage to a halt outside the Hall of Justice. After getting out, Kharl turned and looked at the driver. “This time, I’d like you to come back in a glass, Mantar, if you don’t mind. I’m sorry about the rain, but I’ll need you. If anything changes, Undercaptain Demyst will let you know.”

“Yes, ser. Thought that might be the way it was.”

Kharl readied himself, extending his order-senses, but he could detect nothing more than the usual minute trace of chaos that existed anywhere frequented by people. Once the two men stepped into the front foyer of the Hall of Justice, Undercaptain Demyst halted, stationing himself just inside the doors. Kharl walked on toward the two patroller guards.

“Just finishing the first one, ser.”

“That didn’t take long.”

“No, ser. Never does.”

Kharl slipped into the chamber, past the bailiff, who gave him a quick glance. Outside of those involved in the trial, the chamber was almost empty, except for a handful of men and a single woman in the front row on the left.

A sturdy man was being marched to face the justicer seated behind thelower podium desk in his blue velvet gown-Lord Justicer Reynol, round-faced, gray-haired, and blocky. Behind him, on the upper dais, the single carved high-backed seat was vacant.

“ … you have been accused of disturbing the peace and assaulting a patroller of the Watch. The first offense is a minority. The second is a majority against the Lord West. For the first, you are sentenced to five lashes. For the second you are sentenced to two years’ hard labor in the quarries.”

“No …”

“Any further outbursts will add another five lashes. Justice be done.”

“All stand!” ordered the bailiff.

As the patrollers led the prisoner out, followed by two other patrollers who might have been witnesses, Kharl eased up the side of the chamber. He stood waiting at the end of the first row on the right side.

Fasyn, sitting at the side table, glanced toward Kharl. Beside him was Dasult.

The young scrivener murmured to Fasyn. “That the advocate for the next one?”

“ … advocate … also lord and envoy from Austra … sometimes watches cases …″

The bailiff’s staff thudded three times. “Is there one who would take the Justicer′s Challenge? There being none, the renderer Werwal is here, accused of disturbing the peace, and a majority against the Lord, to be brought before justice!”

“Bailiff, bring forward Werwal, the renderer.”

The doors at the back opened, and two patrollers stepped into the chamber, with Werwal between them.

As they marched Werwal in, Kharl noted that the eyes of the woman on the other end of the first row followed the renderer. Behind Werwal and the patrollers came Fyngel, the tariff farmer, and behind him, the slender figure of a captain that Kharl recognized too well-Egen. Ostcrag’s son was surrounded by a mist of chaos, some of the chaos of having been exposed to magery and some the sullen reddish white chaos of evil. Kharl could also sense the chaos of a beating permeating Werwal.

Egen and Fyngel stood before the benches next to the aisle on the left side, less than ten cubits from Kharl.

“Does anyone represent the accused … Seeing no one-″

Kharl rose. “I would ask leave to represent the accused, your lordship.”

The lord justicer stopped and looked to Fasyn, seated at the black table to the side. “Fasyn? Is he a registered advocate?”

Kharl could sense Egen’s eyes upon him, but he did not turn.

“Ah … Lord Kharl is the envoy from Austra, your lordship,” Fasyn said nervously. “You have seen his credentials. There is no bar in the law to his representing the accused. That is, if the accused chooses to accept him as an advocate.”

Reynol looked directly at the renderer. “Werwal, the Austran envoy and advocate has asked leave to represent you. You may accept his offer or decline it.”

“It can’t be worse than it is,” mumbled the battered renderer.

“Yes or no? And be civil.”

“Yes, your mightiness. I will take aid from any quarter.”

“Be it noted that the advocate from Austra represents the renderer.”

Kharl stepped forward. He did not wish to get too close to Werwal. The renderer had been very perceptive. He might not be that observant in his current condition, but Kharl did not wish to offer him that choice.

“You, the renderer Werwal,” Reynol announced, “have been charged with obstructing the tariff farmer in the performance of his duties and in using violence against the Watch. Both are majority offenses against the Lord West. What you say or believe is not a question. We are here to do justice, and that justice is to determine whether you did so act.” Reynol seated himself.

From behind Kharl and Werwal came the rap of the bailiff’s staff. “All may sit.”

The patrollers sat Werwal in the armless chair of the accused. Kharl reseated himself on the bench.

The first witness called was Fyngel, the tariff farmer who had once tripled Kharl’s tariffs on Egen′s orders. Fyngel avoided looking at Kharl as he described his efforts to inspect Werwal’s property.

“ … told him he had to let me see everything. He said that I’d already inspected his place, and I needed a warrant from the lord justicer for a second inspection. He barred the door. Wouldn’t let me in. Told him I didn’t need no warrant thing.”

Kharl watched Reynol with his order-senses. From the lord justicer’s reactions, Kharl got the impression that such a warrant was needed-or that Reynol thought it was.

“What did you do then?” asked the lord justicer.

“I went and told Captain Egen. Stopping a tariff farmer in his duties, that’s for the Watch.”

“What did you do after that?”

“I didn′t do anything, your lordship. Heard that the Watch had taken Werwal, and I figured that was something for your lordship.”

Reynol nodded, then turned to Kharl. “Do you have any questions?”

Kharl stood. “Just a few, your lordship.” He faced the tariff farmer. “Has anyone ever asked you for a warrant before?”

“No, ser. Never needed one.”

“Have you ever asked the justicers about the need for a warrant?”

“No.” Fyngel looked puzzled.

“I would like to note, your lordship, that the renderer was acting within the precedents and the Code when he requested a warrant.”

“So noted, advocate.” Reynol looked to the patroller seated beside Egen. “Serjeant Feryt, please step forward.”

The narrow-faced patroller with the two stripes on his shoulder stepped forward.

“Please explain what happened when you and your men went to the renderer’s?”

“Not all that much to say, your lordship. We went there, like the captain said, and we knocked on the gate. There weren’t no answer. We knocked again, and there weren’t no answer then, either. So we broke out the hinges and went into the front courtyard. The renderer there, he had a staff, and he laid out Hionot and Jospak cold. Busted Calsot’s arm so bad he’ll be mustered out. Took the rest of us to lay him out.” The serjeant shrugged.

“The renderer did not ask who you were?” asked Reynol.

“Not that I heard, your lordship …″

Reynol asked a number of questions, but all pertained to the injuries suffered by the patrollers, and Werwal’s use of only a staff to attack the patrollers.

Abruptly, he stopped and looked, not to the serjeant, but to Egen. “Is that all?”

Egen stood and bowed his head briefly before speaking. “There is little more to be said about that, Lord Justicer. The renderer attacked the Watch in performance of its duties.” He cleared his throat. “There is one other matter, Lord Justicer. Just yesterday morning, we discovered that vagrants had been using a hidden space behind the renderer’s rear courtyard wall to hide from the Watch. One of those hiding there may have been a murdereras well. The murderer who was there has been reported to have left Brysta, but the renderer allowed him shelter.”

“That will be considered, Captain Egen.”

Egen smiled and seated himself.

The captain and the serjeant had both been lying throughout-or slanting things so much that what had been reported might as well have been lies. Kharl could sense that. But how could he make that clear without revealing that he knew it through magery?

Reynol looked to Kharl. “Are you ready to address the charges, advocate?”

“If it please your lordship.”

“You may begin.”

Kharl turned. “Serjeant Feryt?”

“Yes, ser?” The patroller stood.

“You said that you knocked on the gate twice?”

“Yes, ser?”

“Did you say anything?” Kharl projected a feeling that the patroller should tell the truth. He hoped it was strong enough. He also looked hard at the serjeant.

“Wasn’t nothing to say, ser. We were there to do our duty.”

Kharl had recalled what Erdyl had told him. “When was this? What part of the day?”

The serjeant glanced toward Egen.

“You must recall what time of day it was,” Kharl suggested.

“We were late, ser, by the time we got orders.”

“Was it dark out?”

“Yes … ser.” The words sounded dragged out.

“It was dark. Did you have lanterns or torches?”

“No, ser.”

“In the darkness, the renderer could not see your uniforms, then?” Kharl projected another compulsion at the patroller.

The man turned, opened his mouth, then swallowed. Finally, he answered. “No, ser.”

“Was there any other reason why the renderer might not have seen you clearly? Any reason at all?”

Feryt did not answer.

“Serjeant?” Kharl intensified the projection of order.

“Captain Egen made us blacken our faces.”

“Did you announce that you were Watch patrollers?”

The patroller serjeant swallowed again. He did not speak.

“You must answer the question,” Reynol admonished the serjeant, “and you must answer with the truth.”

“No, ser. The captain said he’d know well enough who we were.”

Kharl looked hard at the serjeant. “You have said that the renderer was supposed to know that you and your men were patrollers. Yet it was dark. You carried no lanterns, and you have said that you had all blackened your faces. You never announced that you were Watch patrollers. How was the renderer to know that you were patrollers?”

“He shoulda known.”

“Can you tell me how?”

“He shoulda known,” the serjeant repeated, helplessly.

Kharl turned to the lord justicer. “I have no more questions for the serjeant. I do have questions for Captain Egen.”

“Captain, would you step forward, please?”

Egen rose.

Kharl could sense the anger and the chaos within Egen. He ignored it. “Captain, your serjeant has said that the renderer was supposed to know that they were patrollers. Yet it was dark. They carried no lanterns, and they did not identify themselves. Their faces and uniforms were hidden. Was what the serjeant said correct?”

“I did not tell them to act that way,” Egen lied. “They were supposed to tell him who they were.”

“So you gave them proper orders?”

“Yes.”

“You were not there?”

“No. That was their task.”

“Then you were not there to enforce your orders?

“I just said that I was not.”

Kharl nodded, then cleared his throat gently. “There is also the question of the space behind the rear wall. Captain Egen, you said that the hidden space was behind the rear wall. Most rear walls are solid. Was there any evidence of an entrance to the renderer’s courtyard?”

Egen paused, as if he thought about lying. “No. But the renderer should have known about it.”

“You said that the space was used to hide a murderer. Was this murderer ever charged?”

“He escaped Brysta. There was no point in charging him.”

Kharl fingered his chin, turning back to Reynol. “Perhaps I have missed something, your lordship. While there may indeed have been a murder, I do not believe that the renderer can be charged with aiding a murder that has never been brought to the Hall of Justice.”

“Your point is taken, advocate. That charge is dismissed.” Reynol looked blandly at Egen.

Kharl could sense the growing anger and frustration in Egen.

Kharl addressed Reynol. “A Lord of a land has right to know what property a man has in order to set the tariff properly. The Lord also has the right to use force when his officers are opposed. That is the law. The renderer would not contest that. But he must know who the proper officials are. He must be able to identify them. Otherwise, he could lose everything to brigands posing as officials. Both the Code and the precedents allow a man to protect what is his against unlawful acts. The Watch has the duty to identify themselves. They did not do so. The accused did not know that he was opposing patrollers. He thought he was defending his property against brigands. That is not an offense in any land. Also, the renderer had the right to ask for a warrant from the tariff farmer. He may have been unwise, because such a warrant would be granted. But turning away the tariff farmer because he had no warrant was not an offense against the Lord.”

“There seems to be a reasonable doubt in the eyes of all involved in this.” Reynol glanced at Egen.

Kharl could sense the growing anger in the young captain.

“He still turned away the tariff farmer and attacked the Watch, Lord Justicer,” Egen replied.

“What do you say to that, advocate?”

“The renderer did not use force against the tariff farmer, your lordship. He asked for a warrant. The tariff farmer did not show one. He did not show his medallion. The renderer was not wise, because the right to tariff is well established, but foolishness should be punished far less severely than defiance or a crime against the Lord.”

“Your points are taken, advocate.”

“Your lordship,” Egen said. “At the very least, the renderer used force against others and disturbed the peace.”

“Your point is also taken, Captain Egen.” Reynol coughed, then spoke. “Werwal the renderer. Step forth.”

Werwal was yanked into a standing position, not gently, but Kharl was not about to make a point about that.

“You are hereby sentenced to five lashes for disturbing the peace. You are ordered to make your premises open to Fyngel the tariff farmer, and to pay all tariffs imposed. You are also sentenced to pay one gold for the time and costs of this trial.” Reynol paused. “Consider yourself most fortunate, renderer.”

“Yes, your lordship.”

“Take him away. The sentence is to be carried out immediately, and he is then to be released.”

“All stand!” The bailiff’s voice boomed through the chamber.

The patrollers led Werwal out of the Hall.

Almost as the renderer went through the doors, Egen stepped up to Kharl. “Lord envoy, you are a most effective advocate.” The captain’s voice dropped slightly. “Might it be that you have had other … means? Magery, perhaps?”

Kharl offered a smile. “It is doubtless no secret that I do have a very slight ability with order. It is just enough to see who tells the truth and who does not, Captain Egen. That can be helpful, I will admit, but I cannot make anyone tell a lie or what is not so. Not even the greatest of order-mages can do that.” His eyes met those of the smaller man.

“Even envoys must recognize what is, Lord Kharl, and I do not forget.”

Kharl smiled again, politely. “I am certain you do not, Captain. I hope that you are not suggesting that I should suffer for pursuing justice within the law.”

Egen’s smile was cold. “I would never say that. Good day, envoy.” He turned and strode stiffly from the chamber.

The woman who had been in the front benches eased toward Kharl. “Ser?”

“Yes.”

“Thank you. I would pay you all I have for my consort’s life, but we …”

“You have paid enough.” Kharl lowered his voice. “As soon as he is released, come to the Austran residence on the east hill. You can stay there.”

“Ser?”

“Captain Egen will find someone, I would judge …” Kharl let the words hang.

“Ser?”

“Tell Werwal what I said, then. Let him decide.”

“Yes, ser.” The woman backed away.

At that moment, Fasyn hurried up. “Lord Justicer Reynol would appreciate it if you would do him the honor of seeing him in his chamber, Lord Kharl.”

“I would be happy to see the lord justicer.”

Kharl followed the chief clerk through the side entrance behind the dais, and to a chamber not all that much larger than that of the chief clerk’s. Unlike Fasyn’s chamber, Reynol’s did have a window that looked out on the courtyard.

“Lord Kharl, ser.” Fasyn bowed, then stepped back and closed the door, leaving the two men alone together.

“Lord Justicer.” Kharl bowed his head briefly, then looked directly at Reynol.

“I have the sense that we may have met before, Lord Kharl, although I cannot recall where.” Reynol’s smile was brittle.

Kharl could sense that the justicer was being truthful. He did feel that he had seen Kharl before, but he did not recognize the former cooper. For now, that was just as well. “It could be, Lord Justicer, that I have watched in the Hall so often in recent eightdays that you feel that you should know me.”

“That might be.” Reynol took a long pause before continuing. “Might I ask why you chose to defend the renderer?”

“I cannot say, your lordship.” That was true. Kharl could not say, not yet at least. “He looked honest. I might have been mistaken, though. That would not have been the first time I have been deceived.”

“I do not think you are often deceived, Lord Kharl. Still … you are fortunate you are an envoy. The captain is not pleased.”

“I would hope justice would always be served.”

“We all hope that, even the heirs of Lord West, but justice is a tool, and it can be turned many ways.”

“Heirs of Lord West? Is the captain …?″

“His youngest.”

Kharl forced an ironic laugh. “I am glad I am an envoy. I will have to tender my apologies. I had not thought … ″

“Having arrived so recently, it is not something that would have come to your attention.”

Kharl understood the reproof. “It should have come to my attention,and I will discuss this at some length with my secretary.” Again, he was being truthful, but the discussion would not go the way Kharl implied.

“It is not all that great a problem,” Reynol lied. “Captain Egen will understand that there are often … unforeseen circumstances in life.”

“I would rather not have contributed to that … understanding.”

This time Reynol laughed. “I understand that.” He paused. “I have read your letter of recommendation from Lord Justicer Priost of Austra. Seldom does one get that fine a recommendation, and particularly for a lord who does not practice often as an advocate. Might I ask your scholarly interest?”

“I would have to say that my interest is more practical,” Kharl said, drawing on what Hagen had stated. “I am the envoy to the West Quadrant. I need to understand Brysta to be a good envoy. Studying the way laws have been made and how they are carried out and judged helps in understanding.”

Reynol tilted his head slightly, as if pondering what Kharl had said. He waited several moments before replying. ″I do not recall any envoy before being so assiduous. I also note that your choice of garb is almost … magely.″

“I have been told I have some small abilities in that area, Lord Justicer. I do have some ability to know when people are not telling the truth. I do not believe that this should be any bar to representing an accused. I doubt that anything I can do is of the scope of the great mages of Reduce or of the past.”

Reynol nodded, then laughed softly. “You are a dangerous man, Lord Kharl.”

“I am?” Kharl replied, almost without thinking.

“A scholar of the law, a talented, if unpracticed advocate, a man who is physically imposing, and who can tell when others are not telling the truth-those are traits that make a good envoy, but a dangerous opponent. It is a good thing that you represent a ruler who has no designs on Nordla.”

“I can assure you that Lord Ghrant does not,” Kharl said. “He wishes nothing more than for the Quadrants of Nordla to remain as they have always been. He was most clear about that.”

“Were that all rulers were so impartial.” Reynol offered another smile. “Do you intend to make a practice of appearing in the Hall?”

“No, your lordship. I fear that I may already have appeared more than is wise. If you encounter the captain, you might convey that to him as well.”

“I will indeed.”

“Thank you.”

“Good day, Lord Kharl. It may be that your appearance was indeed for the best.” Reynol nodded.

“Good day,” Kharl replied, before turning and letting himself out of the chamber. He had not liked the thought that his appearance was for the best, because Reynol had been truthful, and anything that the lord justicer thought was for the best was not likely to be good for Kharl-or for Brysta.

Kharl followed Fasyn, who had been waiting in the corridor outside, back to the front foyer, where the undercaptain waited. Neither said a word until they were in the carriage. The rain continued, steadily falling, neither heavier nor lighter than earlier in the day.

“What happened, ser?” Demyst’s voice carried concern.

“I represented the renderer. Captain Egen was not exactly happy. Did you see where he went?”

“He looked less than pleased, but he rode off up the hill.”

“The renderer may show up at the residence. We might as well use him, if he does. He has some ability with a staff. Enough to take out three of Egen’s patrollers.”

Kharl glanced out the carriage window, toward the harbor. One of the Sarronnese warships was swinging clear of the pier, and the other looked to be ready to follow the first.

If matters in Brysta simmered on, and no conflict appeared in the next few days, Kharl would have to have Erdyl write a letter begging Egen’s indulgence, but he could do that. He’d also have to tell Fundal to expect Werwal.

Kharl smiled. At the least, if Werwal could fight off Egen’s patrollers, he wouldn’t make a bad guard until Kharl could make arrangements to have the renderer and his consort leave Brysta.