Ordermaster

LII

Kharl walked down the main floor corridor of the Great House toward the lord-chancellor’s chamber, for the private midday meal to which he had been invited by a messenger. Had his brief for Jusof and the lord-justicer been so bad that Hagen had reconsidered sending him to Brysta as an envoy? Kharl frowned. He knew what he had written had been simple, but all he could write about the law and the case was simple.

As he neared the chamber, the guard on the left opened the door. “He’s expecting you, Lord Kharl.”

Hagen rose from behind the table desk as Kharl entered the chamber. The mage turned to close the door, but the armsman had already shut it.

“Greetings, Kharl.” Hagen smiled. “I’m glad you could join me.” He gestured to the place set across from him. Only a goblet and a beaker were on the polished wood surface, and Hagen’s goblet held red wine, the beaker for Kharl a lager.

“I appreciate it. Not too many wish to eat with me, except for Casolan and Norgen.”

“That’s not surprising,” Hagen replied, seating himself once more. “You have the power to punish, but not reward. People generally risk the chance of hearing bad news from me because they feel I can also reward them-or provide information or some sort of advantage.”

Kharl settled into the chair, studying Hagen.

The lord-chancellor looked tired, with blackish circles under his eyes. His face was thinner, and one eye twitched. “You’ve met several times with Erdyl now.”

“We’ve talked over meals,” Kharl replied. “I’ve told him what to expect in Brysta, a little about how it’s laid out … that sort of thing.”

“Good.” Hagen paused. “You’ve now been studying under Jusof for almost four eightdays. How have you found it?”

Kharl’s lips twisted into a wry smile. “I have found that I write poorly. The more I learn about the law, the less I like it. Yet the less I like it, the more I understand how necessary it is for a land.”

“You already understand more than some advocates.” Hagen paused to take a sip from his goblet.

Kharl doubted that, but did not say so.

“Be that as it may, I’ve talked with Lord Justicer Priost and with Jusof. Jusof feels that within the next eightday, it is likely that you will have learned as much as is necessary for an envoy to know. He and the lord justicer are also willing to provide you with a letter of introduction to the lord justicers of Brysta. It will state that you have been a most diligent scholar of the law in Valmurl, and that they hope that their peers in Nordla will extend you every courtesy in allowing you to pursue your studies there, as your other duties permit.”

Kharl took a sip of the lager. “You need me to go to Brysta soon, I take it. Are things bad there?”

“Not yet, but they will be, I fear. We had received word that Lord West had fallen ill. That happens. Then we later heard indirectly from a Sarronnese trader that Lord West was poisoned, but will recover.” Hagen paused. “When there is an attempt such as this, there is most likely to be another one. From what you have said, I would wager that young Egen has enlisted some Hamorian assistance in the matter of his sire’s illness. We do not know this, but as you have seen here, there is a certain pattern to the way the emperor and his minions work. As you can, we need you to discover what is really happening and how deeply Hamor is involved.”

“You said you had spies …” ventured Kharl.

“We did. That is another reason for concern. Two are dead, and one has vanished. That is why we must rely on indirect reports. That also concerns Lord Ghrant.”

“The Hamorians seem to be moving quickly after their defeat here.”

“The emperor does not admit defeats. He suffers but temporary setbacks. That is what his late envoy Joharak once told me. I would also imagine that they would like to make such an effort before Lord Ghrant can rebuild Austra.”

“Lord Ghrant has no designs on Nordla, does he?”

“Of course not.” Hagen snorted. “Because the Hamorians have such designs, though, they imagine everyone else has the same motivations.” He paused at the knock on the door.

“Your dinner, sers,” came the voice of one of the guards.

“Come on in.”

One of the serving girls from the kitchen stepped into the chamber carrying a tray. She inclined her head. “Lord-chancellor, Lord Kharl.”

The platters both contained ascalyn-veal thinly sliced, marinated in a mint sauce, braised quickly, and served with a browned butter sauce and fried pearapples. A large basket of bread came with the meal. Kharl had only tasted ascalyn once, and that had been at the consort feast of Charee’s cousin Vertya.

Once the server had left, Hagen raised his goblet. “To better days.”

“To better days.”

They both ate silently for a time. Kharl found the veal far better than he had remembered it, but he suspected that his memory had been accurate, and that the preparation at the Great House was far better.

Hagen broke off a chunk of the brown bread. “You’ll have to leave within a few days, as soon as the Seastag is loaded. She ported yesterday. She was on a short-leg voyage to Nylan, Lydiar, Renklaar, and Worrak.”

“How else do you think I should prepare? Is there anything else I should know? Can I tell Erdyl?”

“You can tell young Erdyl. He has said nothing to anyone, except that he is learning what he can at the Great House. There is little else that we can provide, except that Lord Ghrant will have to proclaim you as an envoy. That will be as late as possible, the day before you depart on the Seastag. But you cannot be recognized as an envoy without the audience and proclamation. It will be a short ceremony.” Hagen added, “There is one other thing. I shouldn’t have to tell you, but we all overlook things. The Hamorians will not wish you in Brysta. I would not put it past them to attempt some action against you.”

“How would they find out if the ceremony is just before I leave?”

“We have spies in Swartheld, and they have spies here. Most spies know that it is difficult to kill a mage who is forewarned or alert. I would doubt that you will have much difficulty in such a fashion, but … many spies are good at indirection. I know you can detect poison … but that ability does little good if you do not realize that even food prepared by close friends can be poisoned without their knowing it. Crossbow bolts kill if you do not see them coming. Even cliffs have been toppled on mages, I’ve been told.” Hagen shook his head.

“Are you trying to tell me not to go to Brysta?”

“No. I want you to come back … And one last thing, Kharl. About that beard …”

“I know. It would be foolish to go to Brysta looking the way I once did.”

“You might also want people here to see what you look like without it, before the audience.”

“Do you want me to shave it off tonight?” Kharl asked. “Would that be soon enough?”

“No,” parried the lord-chancellor, “tomorrow morning would be most suitable.”

They both burst into laughter.