Scion of Cyador

XXVII

The two men meet on the balcony on the north side of the fifth level of the Palace of Eternal Light. Even the lightest breeze whispers loudly across this balcony, making eavesdropping difficult. The Captain-Commander of the Mirror Lancers nods to the Second Magus.

“There will be changes in the coming year,” Luss suggests.

“There are always changes,” returns Kharl with a laugh. The breeze disarranges his reddish hair. He smoothes it back from his face. “Everything changes, and yet everything is the same, and that is how it has been, and how it will be. Do not deceive yourself, my valiant lancer officer.”

“The Emperor’s audiences are brief,” Luss points out.

“There is nothing new to be said, and he waits for the results of the ward-wall effort of the First Magus.”

“You opposed such; do you still?”

“I opposed that effort because I fear the loss of power for the Magi’i and for the Mirror Lancers, and because I had doubts that the plan would do little more than cost us the chaos-towers before they failed in their time. Chyenfel has convinced all, and there is now little merit in opposing what will be. It will be Chyenfel’s last great accomplishment, and who am I to deny him such?” Kharl smiles. “It appears as though it may indeed succeed, and if it does, then the Accursed Forest will sleep for generations, and the Mirror Lancers will be free to send greater forces to the north. But your casualties will be much greater, I fear.”

“Since we will have fewer firelances, we will need more lancers than even those stationed around the Accursed Forest,” counters Luss. “Will you support such?”

“When you speak of the need for more lancers, I am reminded that your young overcaptain is most ambitious,” Kharl observes.

“My overcaptain? I do not recall any being assigned to me recently.”

“The young one who was dispatched to Biehl. I believe we had some discussion about the poor fellow,” Kharl suggests, his green eyes seemingly laughing as he views both the harbor and the Captain-Commander of the Mirror Lancers.

“Ah…yes, that one, the one who is related by consorting to you, and who the Majer-Commander was kind enough to offer a less trying…position to.” Luss smiles politely.

Kharl returns the smile with one equally bland. “I understand he has been quite successful in returning the outpost to some semblance of discipline, and even in beginning to recruit and train new lancers who can be used to replace those who have fallen to the barbarians.” After the briefest of pauses, he adds, “And that the Majer-Commander was pleased with your initiative in sending him there.”

“I am most gratified that my understanding of the officer’s capabilities was recognized,” Luss’s eyes narrow slightly, “although I would expect nothing less of an officer so capable and of one related to you, even through consortship.”

“I am pleased that my son’s choice of a consort meets your approval. Although her brother is a lancer, and was not considered suitable to become one of the Magi’i, he comes from an old and worthy family, and it is clear he is a capable and hardworking lancer.”

“He has risked his life for Cyador on many occasions, and any lancer who has done such is most suitable for reward and promotion,” replies Luss.

“As you have ensured.” Kharl nods politely. “You might also find some other information concerning him of slight interest. I have been informed by…certain sources…. that the tariff collections of Emperor’s Enumerators in Biehl have nearly doubled in the past season.” Kharl frowns. “Yet Bluoyal has informed me that the number of vessels porting in Biehl has changed little. He seemed rather amused when I suggested that perhaps matters had been amiss previously. It is interesting that the collections improved once the senior enumerator disappeared. He was a cousin to Bluoyal, I believe.”

“That is a matter that might be of interest to the Majer-Commander.”

“I thought it might be so. And to the Hand of the Emperor, should the Majer-Commander think it worthy to be carried so far.”

“He will determine that. Of course, you could tell the Hand.”

“Me? No Hand would scarce believe a word I said, were I even permitted to speak to him in the shadows.”

“The wisdom of the Hand is legendary, I am told,” Luss says. “I will pass on the information, and the powers above me will do as they please.”

“As they always do.” Kharl laughs so softly that the sound is lost in the breeze that rustles around the balcony of the Palace of Light.