Princeps

36

After leaving the Civic Patrol station, Quaeryt detoured to find the dwelling described by Yuell, only to be told by Aextyl’s granddaughter that the former justicer was visiting his other daughter in Tulagne and wasn’t expected back until the following Mardi. Once Quaeryt returned to the post, he went to work on a dispatch to Bhayar. In the end, he spent almost two glasses drafting and redrafting the report, explaining everything, including the problems with Wystgahl and his unfortunate death-something that Quaeryt still regretted and still could see no other practical solution for-and the purchase of the “new” governor’s villa … everything except for the problem with Versoryn and Hyleor, since he wanted to know more before he put anything about that situation in writing.

Then he went over the ledgers with Jhalyt and calculated what the likely expenditures for Avryl might be. His figures showed that there should be a fair reserve, even if he had to pay out the same amounts in Mayas and Juyn, before all the midyear tariffs were collected … but then, he was spending far less than he would be once he had the provincial government replaced and restaffed, even at a lower and less extravagant level than that enjoyed by his predecessor.

He noted when both Pharyl and Hrehn returned, and much as he wanted to ask how matters had gone, he did not. The day-to-day operations of the Civic Patrol were now their duty, and while he intended to meet with them on a weekly basis-or at their request-more frequent inquiries would merely undermine their authority and sense of responsibility.

Abruptly he realized he hadn’t checked with Heireg about the feasibility of stopping or cutting back on the sales of flour and potatoes … and he hurried from his study to the quartermaster’s, where he waited for a third of a quint or so for the major to return.

“Sir? What is it?”

“The flour and potato sales … how are they coming?”

“As you told us, we’re only selling on Meredi and Samedi. They just got back. That’s where I was, counting the totals with Jhalyt and adding the coins to the receipts’ chest. The locals are starting to try to bargain…”

“Do you think that means they’re not so desperate … or that they’re out of coins?”

“The squad leader says they’ve got more coins.”

“Why don’t you have them announce on Meredi that after this week, we’ll only be selling on Samedi?”

“The squad leader suggested that, sir.”

“How are we coming on flour and potatoes?”

“Gone through a lot, sir, with all that the regiment takes and what we’ve sold…” Heireg opened the ledger he had carried into the study. “Oh … and we got twenty-five barrels of good flour from young holder Wystgahl … and he left this for you.” The major handed over a sealed envelope.

Quaeryt broke the seal, extracted the single heavy sheet of paper, and read.

Governor Quaeryt,

As we discussed, I have delivered the additional barrels of good flour, and will fulfill the contract my father failed to meet.

I apologize for that difficulty.

Below was a signature and a seal. Quaeryt didn’t quite wince. He had as much of an apology as he would ever get. At least, there was a written acknowledgment of the former High Holder’s failure.

Quaeryt handed the note to Heireg. “You should read this.”

Heireg did, then handed it back. “Right kind of him. He didn’t mention all the bad flour and all the extra time it took us to sift it clean.”

“High Holders sometimes have a different view of things,” Quaeryt said mildly.

Heireg nodded.

Quaeryt finally got back to his study at a quint past second glass.

Vaelora returned to the post, although he didn’t realize it until she knocked on the study door several quints after third glass. At that point he put aside the ledgers and walked with her to their quarters.

“How did your day go?” he asked as he closed the door.

“Grelyana returned some of the furnishings to the villa … almost enough for us to live there.”

“Almost?”

“The master suite now has a bedstead, bedside tables, and two matching armoires … and a dressing table. They’re a little worn, but they’ll be fine with oil and polish. The main study has a desk and several chairs, as well as a table and four chairs … and there are several old-style parlor pieces that could go in either the receiving parlor or the salon. They’re in the salon at present. There’s nothing for the upstairs study, but I wouldn’t have expected that. Those pieces were likely hers. There are several worktables for the kitchen, and a small and very battered dining table and chairs for the private dining and breakfast room.”

“That’s a beginning,” he said cautiously.

“The beginning of a beginning. There are no linens, and we need a mattress for the bedstead. There are no kitchen utensils, no cutlery, no plates, no platters, no cauldrons, no pots, no table linens, no towels. We have no staff…”

“Do we have anything else at all?”

“There are platform beds in the servants’ quarters and in the stable quarters, but no mattresses.”

Quaeryt couldn’t even imagine what it was going to cost to set up even a minimal household in the villa. More to the point, at that moment, he didn’t want to.

“Some of that will not cost all that much,” added Vaelora. “It will take time, and I will need a steward or someone in that capacity.”

“Do you know where to find one that we can trust?”

“Shenna has some ideas.”

Quaeryt had no idea who Shenna was, and it must have shown on his face.

“She’s the older sister of Rhyena. Rhyena was a friend when we were both little. She-Rhyena, that is-married a High Holder somewhere near Cloisonyt. He was an older widower. Shenna hasn’t married, and she’s a governess for Aramyn’s youngest daughter. When she found out I’d come back…”

“You’re thinking of Shenna as … a female steward?”

“That would never be accepted. But she could be my private secretary and be a great help.”

“Then ask her.”

“I already have … but I’m glad you approve.”

“What else…” Quaeryt stopped. “How long will setting up the villa take?”

“Several weeks before anyone else should see it. A week before we can move in-if we can find basic staff.”

“Skarpa will agree to detailing some troopers for temporary guards. They’ll only be available for little more than a month.”

“That will help.” Vaelora smiled. “How was your day?”

“I think yours was better. What do you know about a High Holder named Cransyr?”

“Dear Cousin Cransyr? He was always a nettle to Father, but he’s tried to play up to Bhayar. Why do you ask?”

“Because his nephews and their friends tried to beat up a local factor. The patrol caught them, and one of the nephews-Versoryn-fell on the point of an iron fence. It went through his eye and killed him. We have his brother, the other nephew, locked up in the brig here. He says Bhayar will make sure all the rankers are executed. He also threatened me, but backed off that somewhat. He still believes, I think, that he can get me dismissed as governor.”

“That won’t happen. Nephews who aren’t the sons of High Holders can’t claim privilege. Even ‘nephews’ like Versoryn can’t claim it.”

“Privilege? That’s in the case of wrongful death. Being caught in committing a crime and dying in trying to escape isn’t wrongful death.” Quaeryt paused. “And what did you mean with that cynical comment about ‘nephews’ like that? That there was a much closer relationship?”

Vaelora nodded. “Their mother was Cransyr’s mistress. She died several years ago. It was quite a quiet scandal because everyone thought Cransyr’s wife had poisoned her. It happened on his lands, and he had the right to apply justice even to his wife…”

Quaeryt knew that High Holders had that right for offenses taking place on their lands.

“… but Cransyr pronounced it an accidental poisoning. He built separate quarters for his wife and hasn’t spoken to her since … or so it’s said. The boys were sent to live with the sister of the mistress here in Extela.”

“Why didn’t he find his wife guilty?”

“She was always Bhayar’s favorite cousin. I never cared for her much, but I was only ten or so when it happened.” Vaelora shook her head. “Still … it would be best to handle the boy carefully. You’d be surprised at what the High Justicer of Telaryn has found to be wrongful death, dearest, especially when well-connected High Holders and their sons are involved.”

“I don’t know that I’d find it that surprising. Depressing, but not surprising. I need to find a justicer. I could act as justicer. Scythn was his own high justicer.”

“He was?”

“That’s what several of the patrollers first said.”

“Bhayar forbid that practice except as a very temporary expedient. I know. I heard him tell Aelina that.”

That was another item that Quaeryt would need to put in the dispatch he planned to send off on Lundi. He wondered what else he’d remember to add.