Antiagon Fire

16

The remainder of Solayi promised to be uneventful, if busy, for Quaeryt. Once the three finished with the hearing, Quaeryt and Skarpa met to work out what supplies would be necessary while Vaelora wrote out a record of the hearing and the findings to include with the dispatch Quaeryt would be sending to Bhayar, including the reasons for the “token” tariffs, and a suggestion that it be applied to other factors besides those in Laaryn. Next, while she talked with the girls rescued from Aelsam’s cellar prison, Quaeryt summoned the imager undercaptains to the Canal Inn, where they met in the smaller plaques room.

He stood before the circular table, waiting until all eight undercaptains had entered and stood silently. Only then did he speak.

“I’m sure all of you know what has happened here in Laaryn, but to make sure that there’s no misunderstanding, I’m going to go over a few things. The most important of these is something that you all have experienced, but we haven’t talked much about it directly. That is the fact that Bovaria has been governed very differently from Telaryn. Rex Kharst and his predecessors demanded comparatively less of factors and High Holders than does Lord Bhayar, but in those matters that were important to the rex, absolute obedience was demanded, and failure to comply meant loss of everything, and most often death…” From there, Quaeryt explained how that had led to the situation in Laaryn. “… because this city is critical to trade and control of the southwest of old Bovaria, we have decided that, at least for a time, one of Submarshal Skarpa’s regiments will remain here, and I will be detaching two imager undercaptains to support Subcommander Meinyt and Fifth Regiment. Once we reach Ephra, I will be assigning two others to support Submarshal Skarpa and Southern Army.” Quaeryt paused and looked over the imagers. “Those of you who are detached have a great responsibility-to me, to Lord Bhayar, and to yourselves. You must conduct yourselves with the full awareness that not only your future but that of all imagers in Lydar rests on your conduct and your success. That does not mean concealing your abilities, but using them wisely in support of your commander. Wisely, but not excessively.

“The two undercaptains who will be assigned to Subcommander Meinyt are Undercaptain Desyrk and Undercaptain Smaethyl. Desyrk will be in charge and all imaging acts must be with his knowledge and approval, except in combat situations where that is not possible. I will make the decision on which imagers will support Southern Army once we reach Ephra.” Quaeryt paused, then asked, “Any questions?”

“Why’d you pick Desyrk, begging your pardon, sir?” asked Threkhyl.

Always trying to stir the pot and make trouble. Quaeryt smiled. “Because his talents suit Subcommander Meinyt’s needs, Undercaptain. I always try to fit the task to the capabilities, and Undercaptain Desyrk has shown that he can maintain his composure under all sorts of stress, especially the stress required in the kind of situations likely to occur here in Laaryn. I’d be happy to discuss your strengths and capabilities privately, if you so desire. Any other questions?”

“What about Ephra?” asked Voltyr.

“Nothing new. You may recall that, several years back, Autarch Aliaro had his imagers and his cannoneers blockade Ephra. That lasted several months, until Rex Kharst used the River Laar to send troopers downstream. He landed them in Kephria and fired the port quarter there.”

“They didn’t go to war?” asked Horan.

“Kharst was still engaged in fighting in Khel. Aliaro was angry because some of the Bovarian forces along the border with Antiago had harassed Antiagon traders and confiscated their goods. He figured that Kharst didn’t want to fight two different wars. Kharst didn’t, but he did deliver a warning.”

“Why didn’t Aliaro attack?”

“He did use imagers against the Bovarian troopers and imagers and killed the attackers in Kephria. That was bad enough from Kharst’s point of view that he let it go. Aliaro didn’t do more because the Antiagons’ strengths are more defensive. They’ve developed their imagers and Antiagon Fire, and a huge wall encircles Kephria, except for the side on the River Laar. Now that Kharst is dead, there’s no telling what Aliaro might do.” Seeing that there were no more questions, Quaeryt said, “That’s all for now. Desyrk … if you’d remain.”

Once the others had left, Quaeryt pulled two chairs out from the table, gestured for the undercaptain to sit, then seated himself.

After seating himself, Desyrk looked at Quaeryt. “Sir … if I might ask…”

“Why I selected you and Smaethyl?” Quaeryt smiled. “Because you’re levelheaded and competent, and Smaethyl’s a strong imager who will listen to you. I could be wrong, but I think any imaging required in Laaryn is within your capabilities, even without Smaethyl, but your safety as an imager is greatly enhanced by having another imager undercaptain with you. So is the impression of imager presence. You can project a shield somewhat, I know. There may be times when you should accompany the subcommander closely…”

“To keep people from attacking him, you mean?”

“It’s better to prevent an attack with locals than to allow it and have to kill people in order to maintain authority,” Quaeryt explained quietly.

Desyrk nodded. “I can see that, sir. You’ve shown that.”

And I’ve also killed more people than I should have, far more, because of what I didn’t know. “I also want you to brief Smaethyl. I’m having you do it, because that reinforces your position and authority.” Quaeryt looked at Desyrk. “One other thing. If you and Smaethyl come across young imagers, and they and their parents are willing, take them on as apprentices.”

“Sir?”

“As Voltyr may have told you, I’m interested in what will happen to all imagers in Lydar, both now and in the future. If we are successful in dealing with Khel and possibly Antiago, Lord Bhayar has agreed to let us have the isle of piers for a scholarium of imagers and scholars. We need to gather as many imagers as possible, but not through force.”

“If anyone can assure that, you can. I’ll keep my eyes open.” Desyrk paused.

From there Quaeryt went on to reinforce specifics of what he expected of Desyrk.

A quint later, when Desyrk had left, Quaeryt went to see if Meinyt had arrived, only to find him in the public room. Quaeryt decided to join the older officer there, gesturing to the server. “A pale lager, if you would.”

Her eyes took in the collar insignia. “Yes, sir.”

Then Quaeryt slid into the chair across the square oak table from Meinyt. “Thank you for coming here. Things have been a little … hurried.”

The grizzled subcommander barked a laugh. “They always are around you. Skarpa said I’d be holding down this area with Fifth Regiment and that you had a present of sorts for me.”

“I wouldn’t call it that. I’m detaching two imagers to report directly to you.”

“Which two?” Meinyt’s voice was wary.

“Desyrk and Smaethyl. Desyrk’s the senior … very levelheaded.”

“Heard good things about him.”

Quaeryt waited as the server neared and set down a beaker of the pale lager. He set three coppers on the table. The server nodded and scooped them up. Quaeryt took a slow swallow to ease a throat dry from talking.

“Why imagers here?”

“They can be useful in situations where force would be awkward. They’re very good at opening locked buildings without making messes, and providing certain kinds of protection.”

“The way things that should have wounded you never seemed to reach you?”

“Something like that. Desyrk probably couldn’t stop an attack of massed crossbows or muskets, but should be able to handle single weapons.”

“That might be handy.”

“Especially in dealing with recalcitrant factors or High Holders.”

“You know I’m not good at politely telling people to do what they should.”

“You’re polite enough, and having a regiment behind you should mean that they’ll have to be polite. If they’re not … well … things could happen to them. After all, you do have to establish and maintain Bhayar’s authority. Quietly and gently, if possible.”

“He said something like that,” Meinyt said with a wry smile. “Why did you pick me?”

“It was Skarpa’s decision in the end.”

“You suggested me, didn’t you? Why?”

“Because you’re honest, loyal, trustworthy, and good at whatever you do. And you have a good feel for things.”

“I’m supposed to live up to all that?” Meinyt’s tone was wry.

“You have so far. Now you have to while surrounded by corrupt factors and sleazy High Holders.”

“I knew you’d be trouble the day you pulled a crossbow bolt out of your chest and rode back to base without collapsing.”

“I should have listened more carefully to you. I wouldn’t have been hit in the first place.”

“You had to get hit. That way, I can tell every junior officer and ranker that even commanders get wounded and survive and that they’ve got no cause to bitch.” Meinyt grinned.

“Just for that, I’ll hope that there are some local beauties who are attracted to a subcommander.”

“I’ve seen what you’ve done for your lady. Don’t wish that on an old subcommander.”

Quaeryt couldn’t help but laugh, and Meinyt joined him.

When Quaeryt finished with Meinyt-and his lager-he set out to check the canal. The rest of his day was consumed with minor activities of all sorts.

By the time he and Vaelora had eaten a late supper with Skarpa in the smaller plaques room and then retired to their chamber upstairs, Quaeryt was trying to stifle yawns.

Vaelora checked the bolt on the door and turned to Quaeryt. “What did you decide about that horrible steward?”

“The one who insisted he knew nothing?”

“He had to know!”

“I’m certain he did. That doesn’t mean he could do anything about it. Zhelan and I decided that he and the housekeeper, who also had to know, will be exiled from Laaryn, and that they’ll be allowed to take nothing. If they return, they’ll face floggings and branding. The others will lose their positions when Meinyt takes over the mansion as the regimental headquarters.”

“You’re being too easy on him.”

“How do we prove he knew? I could flog and execute all the factors in the town on those grounds. The only thing we can do that’s practical is have Meinyt here to change things.”

“I know, dearest.” She sighed. “You’re right. I don’t have to like it, though.”

“What did you find out from the girls?” Quaeryt sat on the straight-backed chair, letting Vaelora prop herself up in a sitting position on the bed, with her legs stretched out.

“They’d been kept there for over a month, more like two, and they were only fed when they did what Aelsam wanted.” Vaelora’s voice was cold.

“What he wanted were acts expected of women in pleasure houses?”

“What else? The longer they were there, the more often they had to perform.”

“Then he had to be giving his guards their favors.” And that meant Dallaen and others definitely had to know, not that you didn’t suspect that all along.

“Or others. The girls have no idea who, only that it seemed endless. They’ve been drugged. With curamyn, I’d suspect, to get them to associate sex with pleasure … or forgetfulness. I wish you’d caught Aelsam.”

“It might be for the best that he fled.”

“How can you possibly say that?” Anger colored her words.

“Because his life is forfeit because he fled. In either Bovaria or Telaryn, drugging indentured girls to induce them to do their chores is not against any law. Nor is requiring them to serve in a pleasure house. The most he might have been charged with is cruelty and battery-and that might require loss of a hand and a large penalty payment.”

“That’s all?” Vaelora’s voice held a mixture of aghast amazement and iron anger. “That’s it? For what he’s done to so many? I can’t believe it.”

Quaeryt smiled sadly. In some ways, Vaelora was still far too innocent. “Even High Holders’ wives can be punished by their husbands without legal recourse under the High Holders’ low justice. Do you think indentured servants would be treated better?”

“But they were held captive.”

“He would have claimed he was disciplining them for failing to carry out their duties as pleasure girls.”

“You could have done something.”

“I could. If he’d remained in Laaryn, I could have set it up so that he attacked me, and killed him in self-defense. Even were I a justicer, I couldn’t have sentenced him to execution. Not without risking being disciplined by Bhayar for exceeding my authority. Why do you think there are some things I’ve done about which no one knows anything?”

Vaelora sighed. “I don’t like to think about that, either. It’s terrible that so much of what Aelsam did isn’t considered wrong.”

“Most people would think it wrong, but the law doesn’t,” Quaeryt pointed out. “Especially the way Kharst viewed ruling. All this is just another example of all the changes Bhayar will have to make, and why uniting Telaryn and Bovaria will be anything but easy.”

“Do you think putting Khel under Bhayar’s rule will be as bad?”

“No. Pharsi laws are closer to those in Telaryn. I just hope we can get their High Council to see it that way.” He paused. “Do you have any ideas about what to do with the girls?”

“I’ve talked to them about what else they can do. I’ve also talked to the innkeeper’s wife. I’ll try to find places for them. One of them, the little blonde, I worry about her, especially.”

“Every time we try to make something better, there’s more to worry about.” Quaeryt shook his head.

“You need to worry about getting some sleep,” Vaelora suggested.

“Sleep?” asked Quaeryt dryly, looking intently at her.

“Sleep,” she said firmly … but her face softened after the single word.

Quaeryt blushed.