Rex Regis (34 page)

“Do you think it will?” countered Bhayar.

“No, but I’ll agree to that only if you issue orders that Eleventh Regiment reports only to you or me, and not to Deucalon.” Quaeryt paused. “Or to the Minister of Administration and Supply for Bovaria.”

Bhayar shook his head ruefully. “I think that’s unnecessary, but if it will make you feel better, I’ll issue that order.”

“In writing, so that I can give a copy to Subcommander Khaern before we leave.”

Bhayar nodded.

“We’ll leave on Meredi morning, if that’s agreeable.”

“Good.” Bhayar paused and took a sip from his goblet. “I don’t like this … I have to tell you. I’ve sent messengers with instructions twice in the last six weeks … and I’ve heard nothing.”

Quaeryt refrained from commenting, only acknowledging that he had heard Bhayar’s words with a nod and an attentive expression.

“I’ve also considered what you heard from the widow of High Holder Ryel … do you think her report is accurate?”

“I fear that it is very accurate,” replied Quaeryt.

“As do I,” added Vaelora. “I talked to her privately for a time as well.”

“Well,” Bhayar said almost ruefully, if with a touch of humor in his voice, “you did say that holding Bovaria would be difficult.”

“I did,” admitted Quaeryt, “but I would that I’d been wrong.”
And I didn’t expect Myskyl and Deucalon to play matters out in quite this fashion.

“I won’t give you instructions, because you’ll do what you will in any case. Just do what you think is best.”

Haven’t I always?
“I do have one request, though.”

“Oh?”

“It would be most helpful if you avoid talking to Deucalon about anything before Meredi, but especially about what the imagers and I will be doing.”

“You think that’s necessary?”

“I don’t know. If there’s some collusion between the two, the delay could make a difference. If there’s no collusion, the delay won’t matter.”

Bhayar nodded. “I can see that. But won’t he see what you’re doing?”

“Someone will see two companies going in two different directions, but not Eleventh Regiment, and neither will head north immediately.”

“I’ll take care not to say anything.” Bhayar’s tone was resigned.

“Thank you. I’ll do my best on this, and I’m certain Vaelora can handle the ministry in my absence.”

“She can, but some might not be too pleased.”

Such as Deucalon.
“They won’t say anything,” replied Quaeryt, “not to you.”

“Now that we covered that,” Bhayar said, “I’d like Vaelora’s thoughts on how the grounds you and the imagers re-shaped might be planted, and what sort of gardens might be appropriate.”

“I would think that you might wish a stone promenade down from the carriage waiting area to the circular road, with narrow gardens on each side…”

Quaeryt was happy to listen as the two discussed the grounds. He had his own ideas for Imagisle, and he doubted Bhayar even cared, so long as the Chateau Regis was to his and Aelina’s tastes.

Later, after a dessert consisting of cherry tarts, the three rose, and Bhayar made his way to the rear staircase that led directly to his study.

“I don’t like the idea of your not having Eleventh Regiment,” said Vaelora as she and Quaeryt walked up the grand staircase toward their quarters.

“If this is a Bovarian plot, I certainly don’t need a full regiment.”

“Do you really think that?”

“I think it’s the least likely possibility, but sometimes it is the least likely possibilities that are what has happened … as we discussed earlier this afternoon.” Quaeryt grinned at his wife.

“You don’t believe that Bovarians are behind this, do you?”

“I don’t know who or what is, but if Myskyl’s in full revolt against Bhayar, one regiment won’t make a difference, not when he has six, and I can trust Khaern to protect you and the remaining imagers. Besides, if there is a revolt or plot, I’ll have to figure out how to deal with it without destroying Bhayar’s own regiments. Otherwise, everything will fall apart in any case.”

“Why can’t people be loyal?” Vaelora shook her head. “I know. They all think they can do a better job.”

“Sometimes they might be able to,” said Quaeryt, thinking of Rescalyn, “but usually they never think of the costs to others caused by their efforts to gain the power to do what they think is best. That’s why trying to overthrow a decent ruler because you think you can do a better job often leads to a far worse situation … even if you succeed in toppling the ruler. And nothing works very well for months or years. Look at the mess we had in Extela and how much remains to be done here.”

“You think Bhayar is only decent?”

“He’s better than that, but he’s not outstanding yet, and he won’t be until he learns more and consolidates his power. Deucalon might be a bit better as an administrator, but he doesn’t really know when to take risks. Myskyl would be worse, and he doesn’t know it, but he’s a very able schemer, the type of man able to undermine anyone, but not all that good as a leader. He’s been fortunate because he’s always had a capable superior officer and good subordinates.”

“And what about you, dearest?”

“I’m decent, maybe a bit better with small groups, and I’ve had very good subordinates. I’m very good at getting distasteful but necessary tasks done for a ruler. I’d make a good maître of the Collegium.”

“I think you’re better than you think.”

“Even if I happen to be, no one-not High Holders, not factors, and not most of the people-would ever want a known imager to be the head of anything except other imagers. But no one except a strong imager can hold a group of imagers together. My experiences with the ones I command have made that very clear.”

“Let us hope that events unfold in a way that allows your expectations, dearest.”

“They won’t.” Quaeryt laughed softly. “Whatever may be occurring with Myskyl won’t unfold the way we wish without a great deal more effort. I know that, and so, I suspect, do you.”

“One can hope.”

“One can always hope, but hope without great effort is usually fruitless.”

Vaelora reached out and took his hand as they reached the top of the grand staircase, squeezing it gently.

Quaeryt was at the headquarters holding before seventh glass on Lundi morning, meeting with Khaern, Calkoran, and Zhelan in the small study that had become his.

“Matters aren’t looking good, sir?” asked Calkoran in his accented Bovarian, if with a knowing smile.

Quaeryt smiled back. “Why do you say that?”

“You’re here earlier than in weeks.”

“As a matter of fact, there may be some problems.” Quaeryt paused. “I’m going to ask the three of you not to mention a word of what I’m about to say to anyone else, and I do mean anyone. Nor are you to discuss it with each other unless you are absolutely certain that no one can overhear anything you may say. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir.” All three spoke as one.

“As you know, Submarshal Myskyl was dispatched to the north of Bovaria last fall. He sent dispatches reporting on his progress in meeting with High Holders until the beginning of winter. Lord Bhayar has received no dispatches since then. He has sent dispatches and couriers north, but they have not returned. Nor has he received any couriers sent from the north. Yet we have good information that Submarshal Myskyl is headquartered at a high holding near Rivages, and that his regiments are there as well, and that they conduct maneuvers on a regular basis. Lord Bhayar has ordered first company and your company, Subcommander Calkoran, to accompany me and whatever imagers I choose on a mission to investigate these circumstances. We are to leave tomorrow morning. I will provide the order and direction of riding tomorrow morning.”

“Not Eleventh Regiment, sir?” asked Khaern.

“Eleventh Regiment is required for duties here in the area of Variana. Lord Bhayar will be providing written orders for the regiment, which you will receive tomorrow. I do approve of those orders, however.”
Unlike some.

“Begging your pardon, sir,” offered Zhelan quietly, “but this stinks like month-old fish in midsummer.”

“It does, one way or another,” replied Quaeryt. “It could be as simple-and nefarious-as a small group of Bovarians waylaying dispatch riders going in both directions in order to create confusion and distrust among our forces. Or it could be something else entirely. Our task is to discover what the problem is and resolve it, if we can, and to send word back to Lord Bhayar if we cannot. We can guess or speculate on the reason for the lack of dispatches, but since we do not know, please keep all that among the four of us until we do. You’re to tell the men that the two companies are being dispatched on scouting missions and that you will be receiving complete orders tomorrow. I cannot see this taking less than a month, and possibly two. You may convey that as well.”

“You don’t want to say much, sir,” observed Khaern.

“No, I don’t. And I’d prefer that you say nothing at all. Tell your men the same, and tell them that since we will be likely traveling in areas where we’re less than welcome, and where others might be very happy to attack, letting anyone outside the companies and the regiment know that we’ll be setting out can do no good and could cause casualties.”

All three nodded.

“It still stinks, sir,” added Khaern.

“True, but since when didn’t we get orders that had a certain stench about them?” asked Quaeryt sardonically.

That brought reluctant nods from the three.

“Any questions?”

“What about extra mounts?” asked Zhelan.

Calkoran nodded in agreement.

“Work out what you think is a reasonable number, and we’ll find a way to get them.”
Even if it means borrowing them from Eleventh Regiment.

“Supplies?”

For the next quint the three officers offered questions, and Quaeryt did his best to address them.

When they left, Quaeryt summoned the imagers into the study. He looked over the small group, consisting of Baelthm, Horan, Lhandor, Khalis, and Elsior. Then he spoke. “Lord Bhayar has a problem, and that means we have one. In fact, there are several. So … I’d like to go over the smaller problems first. Elsior, you’re acting as a provisional undercaptain. You should be uniformed as one. Ask Major Zhelan what you need to get two sets of uniforms today, even if they don’t fit well.”

“He can have one of mine,” said Khalis.

“Thank you. Work it out as you can. Second-Baelthm, you looked over the Anomen D’Variana. What did you discover?”

“I wouldn’t call what needs to be done there a small problem, sir. We’re not talking about repairs. The walls have huge cracks. It’s been neglected for years, maybe a whole lot longer, and, begging your pardon, sir, the robes and vestments the chorister wears are of the finest quality. So are the furnishings in his private quarters. They consist of a good five rooms for him and his wife and children.”

“You’re saying that the building has been greatly neglected while the chorister has not neglected his own comforts.”

“Yes, sir,”

“How long would it take, say, for you and Horan to put it back in shape?”

“A good week, maybe two … if we could do it at all. Have to replace each section of each wall. Nameless knows if we could even do that without bringing down the roof. Timbers there don’t seem as solid as they should be. If we try to replace the timbers without strengthening the walls, the walls could give way.” The oldest imager shook his head.

Quaeryt nodded. “For now, I’m going to recommend to Lord Bhayar that the reconstruction of the Anomen D’Variana would require too much work and might even result in the destruction of the anomen. I might say that we will consider it once the imagers have greater experience in constructing buildings from scratch.”

“Yes, sir.”

“There’s one other matter. I’d like you to check with Chorister Gauswn on a daily basis while you finish repairing the Imagisle anomen. I’d appreciate it if you’d accommodate him as much as you can.”

“We can do that, sir.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“Now … there’s the major problem, and that is the fact that first company and Subcommander Calkoran’s company, and those imagers that I feel necessary have been ordered to investigate the lack of recent communications from Northern Army…” Quaeryt went on to explain the situation, then said, “I’ve decided that Lhandor, Khalis, and Elsior will accompany me and this force, while Baelthm and Horan will remain to continue the work in repairing and building the Collegium structures on Imagisle. In one sense, I’m reluctant to split up the imagers but I feel that Baelthm and Horan can do more good for both Lord Bhayar and the rest of the imagers by remaining here in Variana.

“That’s all I have for all of you for now. Horan, Baelthm … if you’d remain a moment. Undercaptain Lhandor, please stay nearby. I’ll need to talk to you about some plans, possibly the ones you already have or some variation on those … or new ones.”

“Yes, sir.”

Once the imagers who would be accompanying Quaeryt had left the study, he looked at the narrow-faced and graying Horan. “Outside of the fighting, how do you like being an imager?”

“Have to say I like the building and making good roads a lot better than the fighting. Pay’s good, too.”

“This mission to Rivages is likely to take longer than a month, and if you and Baelthm accompanied us, there’d be no work done on Imagisle. There’s also another aspect to this. You know I’ve mentioned building a place for imagers, with quarters for wives and families as well. That’s part of what you’ll be doing. When we return, I’m hopeful that it won’t be too long before we can have those of you with wives and children send for them. We’ll be able to send some coin so that they can make the journey.”

“Sir?” asked Baelthm. “Would we still be paid?”