Rex Regis

19

On Solayi evening, Quaeryt and Vaelora dined with Bhayar, who peppered them with questions about what they had observed on their journey back from Kephria. Their observations on the High Holders and factors led into Bhayar’s tales of the endless petitions he had received from factors, not to mention the suggestions for improving trade, and removing the tariffs on trade sent down the River Aluse to Solis. That Bhayar had received almost no communications from High Holders tended to confirm Quaeryt’s sense of how Kharst had ruled.

A quint before seventh glass on Lundi morning, Quaeryt was in Bhayar’s study.

“Deucalon will be here shortly,” announced Bhayar, standing beside his desk. “I thought you might have a few things you wanted to talk over first.”

“I do.” Quaeryt spread the rough map on the writing table, remaining on his feet. “This is the map we mentioned to you last night. It shows the boundaries for four regions of Bovaria, with regional governors located in Laaryn, Villerive, Rivages, and Asseroiles. In time, as roads improve, you might wish to change those cities, but all of them are located on rivers for access.”

Bhayar studied the map, then nodded. “I need to think about this.”

Quaeryt had expected no less, especially given the small number of regional governors he and Valeora had suggested. “There’s also the question of how soon you want me to begin as Minister of Administration and Supply. There are unoccupied studies on the main level”-more than a few, in fact-“but I’ll need clerks and some small amount of golds for tables and cases. Not to mention ledgers. I’m assuming that you don’t want me operating out of the headquarters holding.”

“Take the studies you need, and I’ll get you some golds.”

“Do you want me to take custody of the Bovarian treasury, or just draw on it?”

“Draw on it until you think you can handle it, and then we’ll talk again.”

“Also, I’d like to involve Vaelora. She has a good head, and she’s trustworthy.” And I can trust her if you send me off somewhere.

Bhayar frowned, tilted his head, but finally nodded.

“I’m going to have to find clerks as well. I thought I’d ask for rankers or squad leaders who were wounded, leg injuries, and the like, who know their letters and numbers and who are well recommended. If there aren’t any … then I’ll have to look to local clerks from factors who’ve lost their master to failure or death.” From there Quaeryt went on, until he’d reached the last matter dealing with administration. “How do you want me to proceed in notifying the factors about their ‘token’ tariffs? I’d suggest my having letters prepared for your signature.”

“I’m agreeable to that. Anything that brings in more golds would be useful.”

“Has Deucalon said anything about Meinyt acting as a regional governor? Or Skarpa as acting governor of Antiago?”

“Only that he hopes such can be temporary.” Bhayar’s smile was sardonic.

“Temporary? In Antiago? When you still have a marshal as governor in Tilbor after twelve years?”

“Oh … he certainly thinks there will be a need for a governor there for years.”

“He’d prefer, perhaps, Commander Kharllon? Or would he like the position?”

“Kharllon, I would think,” replied Bhayar. “In time, Deucalon would likely prefer a high holding and the position of whatever regional governor whose territory includes the River Aluse from Ferravyl to Variana.”

“Deucalon might actually be adequate at that,” conceded Quaeryt. Maybe.

Bhayar’s eyebrows lifted. “You’ve never cared for him. Why would you approve him as a regional governor?”

“Because the behaviors I dislike in him as a marshal are those that might make him useful as a governor. He’s cautious and deliberate.” And I don’t want to give the impression of disliking all the old senior officers. “Myskyl is the one I not only dislike, but distrust. When the time comes, if you have to, give him a high holding in the most distant locale possible, but one with a great deal of land, most of it rugged or inhospitable.”

Bhayar chuckled. “And you … you don’t want such?”

“You know what I want.”

Bhayar nodded. “You’ve made that clear. You’ve also shown how useful the imagers can be under you, just since your return. What are your immediate plans for them?”

“To finish a circular avenue around Chateau Regis with paved avenues to the north and south bridges. To rebuild both bridges, and then to rebuild the isle of piers … as you agreed.”

“I did agree,” said Bhayar. “I didn’t say when.” He held up a hand. “I’m not telling you to stop with your projects. I hope I don’t have to, because they’ll benefit everyone. I do reserve the right to call you and the imagers in case of need. There’s no need at present, but I still have not had a recent dispatch from Submarshal Myskyl.”

That sounds like trouble. But Quaeryt said nothing, and only nodded.

There was a knock on the study door, and the squad leader stationed there announced, “Marshal Deucalon, sir.”

“Have him come in.”

Deucalon stepped into the study.

Quaeryt thought that the slender, if wiry, gray-haired marshal looked more haggard, and definitely older, as if he had aged five years in the time Quaeryt had been away from Variana. But why? He hasn’t been doing any fighting … and what he’s been doing can’t be as hard as handling Northern Army was during the campaign. Or was it just the fact that Deucalon was getting older, and his age had caught up with his looks?

“Good morning, Lord Bhayar … Commander.” Deucalon smiled pleasantly.

Bhayar motioned to the conference table, but did not speak until the three were seated. “I’ve given Marshal Deucalon a brief description of your mission to Khel and the events that followed. Do you have any questions, Marshal?”

“I have many more questions than would be profitable, especially given that what has occurred has apparently turned out for the best.” Deucalon looked at Quaeryt. “I am somewhat surprised that you did not insist that Submarshal Skarpa send advance notice of his decision to invade Antiago … or even to request the approval of Lord Bhayar.” Deucalon smiled warmly.

“I can certainly understand your concerns, Marshal, but the submarshal was tasked with obtaining the allegiance of the southern High Holders. That would have been impossible and remained so as long as Aliaro continued as Autarch of Antiago. As you may recall, Antiagon forces and Antiagon Fire were deployed against Southern Army in the campaign to take Bovaria. In addition, Antiagon warships attacked the Montagne and the Solis on their voyage to Kherseilles. All element of surprise would have been lost, had the submarshal waited for approval.”

Deucalon nodded sagely. “I can understand that, but do you not feel that the effort of subduing and governing Antiago might … overextend our forces?”

“If we were talking about such an effort in Khel,” Quaeryt replied, “I would agree wholeheartedly. Even after years of battles and effort, Rex Kharst still only controlled Khelgror and the major port cities. Truly subduing Khel would be impossible at this time. Antiago is a very different land. There are only six cities, and one of them, Kephria, was little more than a shell of itself, while three will accede to whoever holds Liantiago. That leaves Liantiago and Westisle, and the submarshal’s forces are well able to control both.”

“You do seem to have considered those factors. Tell me,” asked Deucalon, still smiling, “if you would, when we might expect the allegiance of Khel?”

Quaeryt smiled politely in return. “The High Council of Khel is considering the matter. Once they receive word that Lord Bhayar holds Antiago, it is likely that they will reach a decision, but it will not be in the next few weeks. It is also possible that they may send a delegation here … or request another delegation to meet them in Saendeol or Khelgror to work out the terms of that allegiance.”

“Terms of allegiance?”

“Terms,” replied Quaeryt. “Even after the Khellans lost a third of their people to the Red Death, they still destroyed over half of the forces Kharst sent to conquer them. The land is rugged, and as you pointed out, any campaign to force a total capitulation from the High Council will be unfeasible for years. On the other hand, Khel has much to gain from pledging allegiance to Lord Bhayar, and negotiated terms would be far less costly, and far more beneficial.”

“What about your imagers? Surely they could force favorable terms.”

Quaeryt shook his head. “We could indeed level every town and city in Khel … but the Pharsi would flee into the hills, leaving us with a barren wasteland of little value. There is also the fact that the Pharsi have dealt with imagers for generations. We lost two of ten imagers in dealing with Kharst’s forces, who had never faced trained imagers. We would likely lose more in fighting Khel … and gain far less.”

“That seems…” Deucalon paused.

“Strange as it may seem, it is likely true,” interjected Bhayar smoothly. “Commander Quaeryt has been unusually effective … and accurate … in his understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of our enemies.”

Deucalon nodded. “I have seen just how effective he is at that, and how he has used that knowledge to the benefit of his forces.”

And you still can’t forget that I stopped you from squandering my men unnecessarily. But Quaeryt refrained from commenting.

“There is one other matter,” said Bhayar. “Commander Quaeryt has considerable experience in matters of supply and logistics. You may recall that he was princeps of Tilbor. Marshal Straesyr recommended his skills highly, and he put the Montagne governorship to rights more quickly than anyone could have imagined. Governor Markyl even wrote me to note how well organized he found matters in Extela.”

Deucalon’s forehead bore only the trace of a frown as he listened.

“I’ve decided to put his experience to use. For now, he will be acting as a minister for administration and supply for Bovaria.”

“The armies will be sad to lose such a valuable commander,” said Deucalon.

“Oh … he will remain a commander in charge of Eleventh Regiment, the Khellan battalion, and his first company,” replied Bhayar. “I’m just using his talents as I did in Montagne, to get matters better organized while we work out a permanent arrangement for governing three lands.”

Deucalon nodded.

“He will need one of your clerks who is familiar with the supply ledgers for the armies, but he will be finding others as well.”

“Will he be taking on the army logistics?”

“No. Your staff will function largely as it has. At some point, of course, the commander’s temporary ministry and the finance ministry of Telaryn will have to be combined, but that cannot happen for some time. The commander first has to build a staff that can be combined.”

“Of course.”

“I wanted you to know this so that there would not be any confusion.”

“I understand, sir,” replied Deucalon.

“Do you have any further inquiries of Commander Quaeryt?” asked Bhayar, in a tone that suggested further inquiries were unnecessary.

“No, sir.”

“Then you may go, Commander. I look forward to seeing the results of your imagers’ work.”

“Yes, sir,” replied Quaeryt as he rose, then inclined his head politely. He did not don his visor cap until he left the study.

Once he left the Chateau Regis, Quaeryt rode to meet with Khaern, Calkoran, and Zhelan in the headquarters study he’d taken over, after inquiries and negotiations with Subcommander Ernyld, since Skarpa wouldn’t be needing it anytime soon, and since Commander Luchan was in the north with Myskyl.

“Any news, sir?” asked Khaern.

“No. Lord Bhayar hasn’t heard from Submarshal Myskyl for a time, but we’re to make reasonable haste on his roadworks projects and the bridges before we can work on the isle of piers.”

“How long do you think the roads and bridges will take, sir?” asked Zhelan.

“Longer than I’d like, but we have fewer imagers.”

“The young one is already getting better, I hear,” said Zhelan.

“He is improving,” Quaeryt acknowledged.

“Do you think there’s trouble in the north, sir?” asked Khaern.

Wherever Myskyl is, there’s likely to be trouble. “If there is, we’ll likely be sent there. So far, there’s no word of trouble. There’s just no word.”

“Some have said that no word is a good word,” said Calkoran slowly. “In matters of arms and war, having no word is seldom good.”

“You could be right,” replied Quaeryt, “but we report to Lord Bhayar, and we’re to remain here until he says otherwise.”

When he finished with his senior officers, Quaeryt left the study to join the imager undercaptains and the day’s duty company from Eleventh Regiment. All were formed up and waiting when he stepped out into the rear courtyard of the headquarters building. In moments he had mounted and led the column out.

Lundi was similar to Solayi, except that the day was longer, and knowing that, Quaeryt spaced out the intervals between imaging. Part of that delay was required because the duty company had to clear people away from the area of imaging, and as the imagers proceeded, Quaeryt could see more than a few locals staring with eyes almost popping out of their heads.

He also heard a few remarks, some of them repeated more than once by different bystanders watching on different blocks.

“… do things like that, no wonder they defeated Rex Kharst…”

“… wish every street were like what they did here…”

“… Pharsi officers … may be good … don’t trust ’em…”

“… you want to tell them they’re blocking your shop?”

“… all for show … what good are a few stone roads…”

Quaeryt could have told them, but he just kept a pleasant expression on his face as the imaging proceeded. Even so, by just before fourth glass, when he and the imagers rode back to headquarters, he was satisfied. He and the imagers had finished the ring avenue around the Chateau Regis, and the service road, and had widened slightly and paved the north road halfway to the bridge. He did decide to begin with replacing the bridge first on Mardi before paving and replacing the street heading west from the bridge until they joined up with the already replaced section of the north road from the Chateau Regis.

As he rode back from the headquarters building, after dismissing the imagers for the day, he couldn’t help but worry about what was happening in northern Bovaria.

Vaelora had obviously been watching for him, because she was standing by the service entrance door when he rode into the rear courtyard of the chateau and reined up outside the modest stable, but she just waited for him while he turned the black gelding over to the ostler and then walked to join her.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“Tedious. I’ll tell you after you wash up. The most exciting thing was planning dinner for us-and we’re eating alone in the family dining room.”

“I’m sorry,” said Quaeryt as they walked into the chateau and then through the lower-level foyer and toward the east side staircase that circled up to their chambers.

“It’s not your fault. It’s almost as bad as when I was in Solis.”

That worried Quaeryt-a lot. He remembered Vaelora telling him how much she’d felt like a prisoner in Bhayar’s palace in Solis. “I do have some news for you, and something for you to do…”

“What? Write out a meaningless description of our trip to Khel and back?”

“No. You know that Bhayar asked me to act as a temporary minister of supply and administration.”

“Yes?” That single word contained a sea of wariness.

“I asked if you and I could work together on that. Bhayar agreed.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Because it’s going to be a bigger job than I can handle, and he and I need someone whom we can trust-especially if he sends me and the imagers off somewhere to fix something. You did an admirable job of finding the governor’s house in Extela, staffing it, furnishing it, and getting it running. Then you worked with Aelina as a partial finance minister in Solis. All we have here will be one clerk from Deucalon and three studies on the main level … and some golds. I’m supposed to be rebuilding roads … and I’d like to get the imagers started on the isle of piers.”

“That would be better than sitting around.”

Quaeryt refrained from speaking as they climbed the circular staircase to the upper level. When they reached the top, he replied, “If you have to go someplace to get goods, supplies, or people, though, you’ll need at least a squad of troopers.”

“I can see that,” Vaelora conceded.

While Quaeryt washed up, he and Vaelora discussed how they should set up their temporary ministry, although Quaeryt had his doubts that it would be all that temporary, given what they had observed of Bovaria.

Later, they sat down to dine in the chamber Vaelora had taken to calling the family dining room.

Quaeryt poured them each a goblet of white wine, then raised his. “To the lady who will likely end up doing much of the finance and logistics.”

“At least you recognize that.” Vaelora smiled before she sipped her wine.

Quaeryt looked at the platters between them on the table.

“It’s a river trout poached in wine, then fileted over rice grass with a lemon cream sauce.” Vaelora paused. “And don’t look at the dinner rolls first.”

Quaeryt laughed. He had been looking at the dinner rolls.

“Try the fish.”

“It’s not the fish, but the rice grass.”

“It’s tender, and nutlike in a way.”

Quaeryt served her and then himself. He took a bite of the fish and the rice grass, chewing slowly before swallowing. “I’ve had much worse.” He kept a straight face.

“Much worse?”

He grinned. “It’s quite good. You were right.”

“You need to say that more often.”

“Most men probably do,” he admitted.

“You should tell Bhayar that.”

“Better that you tell him … or Aelina.”

“She already has.”

That didn’t surprise Quaeryt, not at all.

“You know, in some ways, Bhayar is as close to a brother as you’ll ever have.”

“Why do you say that?”

“In my more than ample spare time,” Vaelora paused before continuing, “I was reading Rholan. The author mentioned that Rholan didn’t believe in brotherhood.”

“That makes sense. His half brother was a wastrel, and he didn’t have any other brothers or sisters.”

Vaelora took a sip of wine, then said, “There’s something about that passage. I’d like you to read it again.”

“I will … after we enjoy this tasty dinner.”

Vaelora shook her head.

Quaeryt smiled.

* * *

Later, while Vaelora was preparing for bed, Quaeryt paged through Rholan and the Nameless, finally locating the passage Vaelora had mentioned. He quickly read the entire section.

So often do men talk about brotherhood, as if it were some lofty ideal that transcends the boundaries of all lands, that some may find it interesting that Rholan never did. That is less than surprising. Rholan had no siblings except his half brother Nial, and they were never close. In fact, Rholan went out of his way to avoid Nial, not that such was difficult. Yet, Rholan’s mother was most close to her sister Clyana. Although his mother died when Rholan was only ten, Rholan often visited his aunt throughout his life and made no secret of their relationship. What is more interesting was that Clyana was a cabinetmaker of some skill, and several of her pieces adorned Rholan’s home. Yet he never mentioned that, even to his closest friends, perhaps because having an aunt who was a crafter of note did not fit his image. This was possible only because Rholan’s friends and acquaintances were entirely drawn from the ranks of those of considerable golds and property, either merchants, factors, or the younger sons of High Holders. Yet, for all of his private concern about finances and golds, and his rather hidden appreciation of the finer life, he understood and could speak to those of a more common background, perhaps just because of his closeness to Clyana. At the same time, he never seemed to accept the fact that sisterhood existed, even as he had seen it before his very eyes.

“What do you think?” asked Vaelora.

“It does seem strange that he couldn’t see either sisterhood or brotherhood.”

“Do you see it?”

Quaeryt smiled sheepishly. “Not really. Living with all the scholars wasn’t exactly brotherhood. Voltyr was the only one I felt even halfway close to.”

“That wasn’t what I had in mind. Do you see what’s strange about the passage? How did the writer know that he hadn’t told his closest acquaintances about his aunt? And if he hadn’t…”

“How did the writer know,” finished Quaeryt.

“Exactly.”

“I’ll have to think about that … later.” He turned toward her.