Imager’s Battalion

66

On Vendrei, Quaeryt mustered the imager undercaptains and put them through imaging drills, both morning and afternoon, allowing several glasses rest in between. He did not press Shaelyt excessively, but Shaelyt did seem to be recovering somewhat more quickly than had Quaeryt, possibly because he was younger … or because he had not taken the brunt of the musket fire. By the end of the afternoon session, it was clear that both young Pharsi undercaptains had greatly improved. Quaeryt had to smile at the thought that they were now the “young” imagers, and Shaelyt, who he had thought was young, was now no longer so, at least comparatively.

But then, battles and death age us all, in mind if not in body. He paused, then had a second thought. Except for those not wise enough to age.

He went to bed on Vendrei evening having heard nothing from Skarpa, not that the lack of information surprised him. He was certain Skarpa had heard nothing, either.

On Samedi morning, after returning from arranging for the undercaptains to work with the best of Zhelan’s squad leaders on improving their use of the sabre, he was sitting alone in the public room of the Stone’s Rest, looking at a mug of lager that a serving girl had just brought him, when a trooper hurried in.

“Sir! Lord Bhayar is looking for you.”

“I’ll need to saddle the mare.” Quaeryt thought he was up to that, finally. He took a swallow of the lager that he had not even sipped and then stood. “That won’t take but a fraction of a quint, and then I’ll be on my way.”

“No, sir. He just reined up outside. He’s coming inside.”

Quaeryt barely managed not to choke on the lager. “Tell him I’ll be right there.” He glanced around, then headed for the kitchen. He’d no more than reached the archway when the woman he thought was the innkeeper’s wife appeared.

“Sir?”

“Do you have a small private room, like a plaques room?”

“Why … yes, sir. It’s the door right across from the entrance to the public room. Not used much these days.” She gave him a quizzical glance, as if to inquire why he hadn’t asked earlier.

“I just discovered Lord Bhayar is here, outside, and wants to meet with me. Is the room presentable?”

“Lord Bhayar?” The woman’s mouth opened. “The … Lord Bhayar?”

My thoughts exactly. “The same. Is the room fit to be used?” Quaeryt pressed again.

“Oh, yes, sir. We keep it clean all the time.” She hurried past Quaeryt, and he followed her to the door to the plaques room.

“I’ll be opening the shutters, sir.”

Quaeryt turned and headed for the front entry, meeting Bhayar outside. “Welcome, sir.”

Bhayar scanned Quaeryt. “You’re looking better. Not much, but better. We need to talk before I resume my tour.”

“There’s a small room just inside. Would you like a lager?”

“Not now. It’s early yet, and I’ll have to drink something when I see Commander Skarpa.” Bhayar turned to the major who had followed him. “Just wait out here, Major. I won’t be that long.” His eyes went to Quaeryt.

Quaeryt turned and led the way inside and through the small entry foyer, where the innkeeper’s wife stood to the side, bowing, and then to the open door. He gestured for Bhayar to enter the plaques chamber that could hold comfortably the round table and five chairs, then closed the door quietly but firmly, and turned to Bhayar. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”

“I do try to inspect the areas we have acquired,” Bhayar said dryly, looking toward the high narrow window with its recently opened shutters. “I learn something about the towns and the people, and more about my commanders. Both are useful.” He settled himself at the table and gestured for Quaeryt to sit.

Quaeryt did so, across the table from Bhayar. He forbore asking what Bhayar had learned in touring the south of Nordeau.

“You and the imagers did a rather remarkable job in reducing a walled city without siege engines. Those stone ramps are quite something.” His voice turned wry. “We’d best not have to defend Nordeau in the future, though.”

“It did take all of us,” Quaeryt said.

“Given the distances between the imaged efforts, I gained that impression.” Bhayar leaned forward. “Since our last meeting, I’ve thought some more.”

“You’ve always kept thinking,” Quaeryt said cautiously.

“I know you’ve wondered how much I know about you, Quaeryt. I’ve always had suspicions that you were more than you represented yourself as. Vaelora loves you so much, and she would not, were you not more than you seem. That has created problems, as we both know. I am pleased that you are considering ways to extend your usefulness while solving a problem that has vexed every ruler in Lydar, if not across all Terahnar.”

“The imagers?”

Bhayar nodded, then went on. “About many things we agree. Do you know why?”

“Not exactly, except that you’ve always known a great deal and taken care not to reveal nearly so much as you’ve learned.”

“As have you. In that regard we are similar. I’m going to read you something that came from a very old book of my grandmere. She wouldn’t tell me from where it came, except that it had been in the family for a very long time.”

Quaeryt waited.

Bhayar extracted a single sheet of paper from his belt pouch, unfolded it, and smoothed it out. Then he cleared his throat.

The older ones, how did they build so much

to leave no quarries, tools, or plans and such?

Ah, by image, wrenched from servant dreams,

they built the roads and bridges over streams,

with perfect stone no tool can mar or tame

so they did dream and live the Namer’s Name.

But when the dreamers dreamed full awake,

their masters found the Namer’s fate and take …

Who’er would seize the image and the dream

know now that imaging holds more than seem.

Bhayar looked directly across the table at Quaeryt. “When I saw the outer walls of Nordeau, for the first time I understood fully from where those verses came.”

“The Naedarans,” said Quaeryt. “After I saw the canals-”

“Canals?”

“There are two ancient canals on this side of the river. The stonework is the same. The stones used to built the last five milles or so were removed and used to build many of the dwellings in the newer part of Nordeau.”

“Was that why you proposed using the imagers the way you did?”

“No, sir. That reinforced my feelings, but if you wish, you can ask Vaelora. This is something I have considered for some time.” Quaeryt paused just briefly. “Do you recall the bedchamber of the old chateau at Gahenyara?”

Bhayar frowned for a moment. “The one with the storeroom that had shutters?”

“It wasn’t a storeroom. It was a separate bedchamber for your great-grandmere. That’s where the book your grandmere gave you came from.”

“There’s always been farsight in the family. That’s from the Pharsi.”

“There are ten imagers in Fifth Battalion. At least four come from Pharsi stock.” Should you tell him? After a moment, Quaeryt went on. “Vaelora’s with child.”

“I got that impression.”

From reading her letters, no doubt. “There’s a very good chance the child will be an imager.” Quaeryt hadn’t realized it, but he knew that was so.

Abruptly Bhayar laughed, a warm and amused sound, not the cold laugh that meant the worst. “So we both have every reason to create what you have in mind.”

“I would hope so,” replied Quaeryt. “It’s in Vaelora’s and my interest, and it’s certainly in yours.”

“There are others who will oppose that.”

“We can face that when the time comes. They may see that their worth and abilities are not threatened. If we are careful, they will, at least in time.”

“Oh?”

“It will take some time to … stabilize Bovaria-but you’ll need to come up with a new name for the land. And Autarch Aliaro will present certain problems.”

“Quaeryt … first we need to defeat Kharst and capture Variana.”

“True … but you need to think beyond that so that you are prepared. Not that you doubtless are not already.”

“That’s also what you’re here for.” Bhayar stood. “You’ve done well. I would that all were both so capable and loyal. Too many who are capable are not loyal, and too many who are loyal are not capable.”

Quaeryt rose, trying to do so smoothly, despite his aches and stiffness. “That is why you need to set up matters so that the capable must be loyal.”

“After … Variana, we will talk of such.” Bhayar smiled broadly. “We will leave Nordeau tomorrow, but let your commander tell you so.”

“I will.” With a nod, Quaeryt followed Bhayar out through the door that the Lord of Telaryn opened for himself.