Princeps

32

In the end, Quaeryt and Vaelora spent close to four glasses with Thysor and Chaelyna, among the most pleasant four glasses Quaeryt had ever spent with a High Holder. As a result, they didn’t return to the post until well after the evening meal, and it was almost dark by the time they retired to their quarters. Both moons were already high in the sky, on a warmish evening that foreshadowed the heat of late spring and summer.

“I’m sorry we missed the evening meal,” said Quaeryt as he closed the door.

“I’m not,” replied Vaelora. “We had far better fare with afternoon refreshments … and delightful conversation.”

“Do you think he’ll attempt to cut corners on the timber?”

“No. He’s charming, and he’s been very successful. He’ll earn every copper he can, to the last letter of any agreement. He won’t cheat you, outright or indirectly.”

“Why do you think that?”

“He’s sharp. He knows you’re powerful. He doesn’t know why or how. You’re also close to Bhayar. Upsetting a young, ambitious, powerful, and well-connected man is dangerous, especially when that young man has guaranteed a profit. By doing it that way, whether you intended it or not, you told him that you wouldn’t cheat him, but that you’d destroy him if he cheated you.”

Quaeryt laughed softly. “I didn’t-”

“You did, dearest, and you know it.” Vaelora grinned at her husband.

“I wasn’t intimating destruction.”

“Whether or not you would go that far doesn’t matter. He knows you could, and it was deftly done, honestly and directly. He appreciated your tact.”

“I’m glad you-and Thysor-found my approach tactful. Or was it merely honest and direct?”

“You were indirectly direct, which is best in situations such as these.” Vaelora sat down on the end of the bed.

“I’m used to being indirect when I’ve been the one receiving the orders or instructions, but I don’t have that much practice at getting my point across indirectly without seeming either arrogant or weak.”

“No one would ever guess. Just don’t worry too much about it.”

“I don’t when I’m dealing with officers or patrollers, but the number of times I’ve dealt from a basis of power with High Holders I could count on my fingers.” He paused. “Look at what happened with Wystgahl.”

“That would have happened to any governor in that situation. Most would have handled it with greater difficulty.”

Quaeryt certainly hoped he’d done as well as he could, but didn’t see much point in belaboring his concerns. “How does your brother view the High Holders? It’s not a question I was in a position to ask, and I never observed him with any.”

“He is wary of any of them.”

“They can’t do that much to him … unless they unite, and I’ve not seen any evidence that many are dissatisfied.”

“Most of them trust no one. That’s because only one son can inherit. More than a few older sons have met their end in strange accidents. They’re always looking over their shoulders. They can’t help but wonder if Bhayar might be conspiring with a younger brother, especially if they think they’ve displeased Bhayar … or their father. You saw that with Wystgahl. So few High Holders tell Bhayar any more than they must. Except for the handful who wish to use Bhayar to gain an advantage over other High Holders, most avoid him except at functions and other gatherings that are largely ceremonial.”

“Do you think that’s why Aramyn was so cordial to us?”

“I feel that he was doing exactly what his actions implied. He was viewed unfavorably by Father, and he wants to change that. Because you weren’t unreasonable, it won’t even cost him anything … only a chance of forgoing a bit more profit … and that wouldn’t even be certain.”

“So why was Wystgahl so belligerent? I offered him the same terms.”

“I can’t say.” Vaelora shook her head. “Except that he was greedy and stupid.”

“Could it be that all that rebuilding overextended him? And that he saw the chance to make a greater profit on his grain and other crops? He had to use his own people, but when lien-tenants are doing stonework, they’re not planting or harvesting.”

“That’s possible, but I couldn’t say.”

He smiled and asked, “If you would tell me more about the dwelling that might be suitable…”

“It’s more like a villa. I told you that. It has a large main level, and only master sleeping quarters and the like on the upper level. The entire rear is a walled garden, but the walls are brick. They need much work. The garden is hopelessly overgrown. The interior looks solid, but every wall needs paint or plaster. There aren’t any paneled walls at all, except for the main study. There’s very little wood, either, except for the built-in bookcases in the main study. It might rather be called a library.…” Vaelora looked at Quaeryt.

“It sounds like there’s a fair amount of work to be done.”

“A great number of small things and several large ones, such as oiling all the outside wood, repairing and straightening most of the shutters…”

As Vaelora went through the list, Quaeryt nodded occasionally, torn between admiring her for all that she had noted and trying not to show the sense of being totally appalled at what needed to be done-and what that would likely cost. Yet they couldn’t stay in the officers’ quarters forever.