Rex Regis (60 page)

“You may go, Deucalon.” Bhayar turned to Quaeryt. “Commander, you may escort High Holder Deucalon to his quarters. They are the ones two doors down from yours.”

Quaeryt inclined his head, then gestured toward the door, following the former marshal out into the north corridor. Once outside, he said, “This way, sir.”

They walked several yards before Deucalon spoke. “You think you saved my life, don’t you?”

“Lord Bhayar made that decision, based on your long service,” replied Quaeryt.

“I’ve seen his anger, Commander. And I’ve seen his father’s. Did you recommend my fate to humiliate me?”

“No. I think you were misled, as was Rescalyn, and it would have served no purpose to have you executed. You will be given, I understand, a good high holding, if one that is somewhat isolated, but prosperous enough that you will be able to live in great comfort.”

“You and the imagers will be my gaolers.”

Quaeryt shook his head. “The Collegium will serve, if you will, as patrollers of the High Holders and the army command, doing nothing unless a High Holder or a senior officer proves disloyal or commits a heinous crime. There are too few imagers, as you well know, to do otherwise. We can destroy individuals or bodies of troopers, but we cannot follow small crimes or pettiness.”

“You’ve thought it all out, haven’t you … from the beginning?”

“Not everything, but most of it. Myskyl and Rescalyn made it necessary if Vaelora and I were to survive.”

“And when will you become rex?”

“Never,” said Quaeryt. “Never. That is not my position, nor would that be good for anyone, especially for any children we might have.”

“You really believe that, don’t you?”

“No. I
know
it.” Quaeryt halted outside the half-open door. “Your quarters, sir.”

The former marshal looked at Quaeryt for a long time, then said, “You’re the one who will be looking over your shoulder the rest of your life.”

“I know that, too,” replied Quaeryt.
I already have, and what is to come is a small part of the prices yet to pay.

Abruptly Deucalon turned and pushed the door wide open, walking into the apartments and away from Quaeryt.

Quaeryt turned and walked toward the grand staircase, leaving the door open.

Once Quaeryt had seen Deucalon to his quarters, he confirmed with Vaelora that the quarters on Imagisle were complete, if rudimentary in some aspects, and then conferred with Calkoran and Zhelan about billeting. They also settled on having a squad remaining at Chateau Regis to supplement the single squad from Eleventh Regiment that had been providing guards.

Bhayar did not invite Quaeryt and Vaelora to eat with him on Jeudi evening, as he had on every other night that Quaeryt had returned from missions or assignments, but took his meals in his apartments. He also sent a note saying that he would meet with Quaeryt at seventh glass on Vendrei morning. Quaeryt and Vaelora ate in the family dining quarters, by themselves, and Vaelora made certain that meals were sent up to Deucalon. Quaeryt wondered if Deucalon would eat them or reject them, fearing poison, although poisoning Deucalon in the Chateau Regis would have defeated the entire purpose of sparing his life.

Deucalon apparently came to the same conclusion, because the server reported that he had eaten most of what had been sent up-although he had questioned her and seemed pleased to have learned he was eating exactly what Quaeryt and Vaelora were-pork cutlets with fried and seasoned apples and lace potatoes.

Vaelora and Quaeryt finished eating and repaired to their apartments.

Much later that evening, Vaelora drew the sheet around her and looked across her pillow at Quaeryt. “You didn’t tell the entire story about what happened at Rivages.”

“No … I didn’t … but I will … to you, and only you … although the three imagers saw some of it.” With that, Quaeryt related exactly what had happened from the time Myskyl had tried to leave the officers’ salon through what his inspection of the ruins had revealed the following morning. He even pointed out that Elsior had seen the linkage between him and Erion.

Vaelora asked no questions during his recollection of events.

When Quaeryt finished, he looked to her and added, “I can’t explain how it happened, but that is what occurred, and I wouldn’t have been able to do a thing against Myskyl and the renegade imagers without Khalis, Lhandor, and Elsior.” He shook his head.

“You expected treachery from Myskyl. You didn’t expect the imagers.”

“I should have. We talked about the missing imagers. It made perfect sense that Myskyl would recruit them for his scheme. And I have to believe that Myskyl was the greater traitor, not Rescalyn or Deucalon. Myskyl set both of them up as his stalking horses. I should have seen that much earlier.”

“That’s in hindsight, dearest. In hindsight.” Vaelora smiled. “And you did … in your dream.”

Quaeryt shook his head. “My own dreams were telling me, and I still didn’t see it.”

“You couldn’t believe it.”

“Maybe I didn’t want to. That would have meant that I killed the wrong man.”

“No, dearest. You killed the right men. Rescalyn had to have known what he was doing and why. He was as guilty as Myskyl, if only because he went along with what Myskyl laid out for him, just as Deucalon has.”

“There was very little hard proof in dealing with Deucalon. Very little compared to the extent of his and Myskyl’s treachery, and he is the marshal that all too many troopers and officers believe led them to victory over the Bovarians. Some of them have never served under any other marshal. I still don’t like the fact that he won’t have to pay…” Quaeryt shook his head again. “Given who he is, it could be that he will pay more in some ways…”

“Rholan had something to say about that…” ventured Vaelora with a smile between mischievous and sad.

“You’re still reading and rereading it?”

“It’s interesting, and there’s more there than meets the eye in a first reading. Just as there is with you, dearest.”

“So what did Rholan say?”

“You know. You’ve read the book.”

“I’m tired. It’s been a very long day. You tell me.”

“I’ll read it. The writer-or Rholan-says it better than I could.” Keeping the sheet about her, she reached for the bedside table and retrieved the small leatherbound volume, opening it and paging through it. Finally, she reached the page for which she searched and began to read.

“Rholan said nothing about whether the spirit of a man or even a woman endured after death. What he did say, more than once, was that death was too quick an end for the great Namers and villains. Far greater is the punishment of living and seeing their name die before they do, of never hearing a word about their past greatness. If they die at the height of their villainy, or Naming, for they are opposing sides of the same coin, they die believing in the delusions of their greatness. All greatness fades, some sooner, some later, and for those who pursue Naming and the glory of their accomplishments, and not the accomplishments themselves, a long and lonely life, accomplishments long since forgotten, is far less merciful than a quick death…”

Vaelora lowered the book. “You see?”

“It’s a good thing I’ve already learned that,” said Quaeryt dryly. “That’s just another reason not to want to be a marshal or a submarshal.”

“You have more important tasks ahead,” said Vaelora.

“Making the Collegium strong enough to survive and prosper, among other things.” He looked not quite lecherously at his wife.

“Dearest … you don’t have to make up for absences all at once.”

“I’ll try to restrain myself.”

“For a little while, at least.” Her smile was warm. “Besides, what happened at Rivages and the other places while you were there has already proved you were right.”

Quaeryt suspected he knew what she might say, but he only raised his eyebrows and waited.

“Voltyr acted as you would have, without instructions, and already your Collegium is bigger than you. I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but Gauswn now has another five students.”

“In addition to the four he brought?”

Vaelora nodded. “There will be others, as word spreads that young imagers have powerful protectors in you and Bhayar.”

“Mostly Bhayar, right now.”

“Dearest … that is false modesty, and it doesn’t become you. All Bovaria knows who you are and of what you are capable.”

“That’s not necessarily good.”

“If you step away from direct power, as you plan, that will make Bhayar seem more powerful in time. It will also reassure people. At the moment, though, all Lydar needs to know of your power.”

“And, just say, what happens if some ill chance befalls me?”

“If anything happened to you, Bhayar would have to continue the Collegium.” Her eyes flashed. “That doesn’t mean you can go off and do something stupid. I won’t have you courting ill fate to prove you are what you are. It’s time for others to do that.”

“I think I’ve done enough foolish things for a lifetime.”
Except life always has surprises. We just don’t need any more at the moment.

“We both have.” Vaelora looked at him shyly. “I’m going to need to be more careful … as well.”

“You are?”

“She’ll be a girl. I’m certain.”

As he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Vaelora-gently-Quaeryt wasn’t about to dispute that.

Slightly before seventh glass on Vendrei morning, Quaeryt approached the half-open door to Bhayar’s study, half wondering with what sort of mood the ruler of Telaryn, Bovaria, and Antiago might greet him.

When Quaeryt stepped into the study and shut the door behind himself, Bhayar stood from behind the table desk and smiled warmly. “Good morning, Quaeryt.”

“Good morning.”

Bhayar gestured to the conference table. “Did you sleep well?”

“I did. It’s good to be back.”

“Vaelora worried about you.” Bhayar slipped into his chair.

Quaeryt took the chair on the other side of the circular table from Bhayar. He could see that Bhayar looked less worried, and that the circles under his eyes were much less pronounced. “I worried about me, too. I’m just glad matters worked out.”

Bhayar laughed softly. “You usually find a way to work them out … if not always in the fashion I might have originally preferred. I’ve gotten used to that … mostly. I already sent off a dispatch to Subcommander Ernyld announcing that with the success of the campaigns in Bovaria and Antiago, Marshal Deucalon has stepped down to a full stipend and will be shortly awarded a high holding for his long and devoted service, and that a new marshal of the armies will be determined within the next week. I also wrote that in order to assure a proper transition High Holder Deucalon will not be dealing with any issues of the armies, and that all inquiries will be handled by his chief of staff.”

“That leaves Ernyld in charge.”

“No. I also said that he was to refer any decisions to me until the new marshal is appointed. Now … yesterday, you recommended Commander Justanan as the successor to Deucalon as marshal. Why? I’d like to hear more about that.”

“There are several reasons. First, because he is the senior commander of Northern Army, and he’ll keep its commanders in line in a quiet way … and you need quiet. He also knows more about Bovaria than Pulaskyr, and you need Pulaskyr as the governor of Telaryn.” Quaeryt grinned. “You won’t be able to keep Aelina and Clayar and your other children in Solis all that much longer.”

“Did Vaelora tell you that?”

“No. I guessed that from what she’s said before.”

“I’ve gotten several letters along those lines. That’s another reason why I need to decide the marshal’s position.”

“You should talk to Commander Justanan by yourself … and then decide on whether he or Pulaskyr would make a better marshal … or if there is a better commander for the post.”

“You’d do a better job at it.” Before Quaeryt could say anything, Bhayar held up his hand to stop Quaeryt from replying. “I know. Appointing you would work for a while and then cause more and more problems.”

“Either of the two would do well.”

“Especially since they know you’d be looking over their shoulders.” Bhayar offered a smile. “But then, any marshal would know you’d be watching, and for now that’s probably just as well. What else?”

“Whoever you send back to Solis, though, should go with three regiments, perhaps four. That will reduce the strain on quarters and golds here and give the governor of Telaryn a little additional power.”

Bhayar nodded. “In time, we will need to reduce the size of the armies. But not yet. I know you want to devote more of your time to being maître or whatever you want to title yourself as head of your imagers’ Collegium, but until we hear from the Khellans, I need you as a commander.”

“I can do both. Vaelora’s obviously able to handle being Minister of Administration for Bovaria.”

“She’s managed to set up courier stations on the Aluse River road between Ferravyl and Variana, and along the Great Canal to Laaryn. She says that the stations between Eluthyn and Kephria will be operating by the end of Juyn.”

While Vaelora had not mentioned the courier stations, her progress didn’t surprise Quaeryt in the slightest. Nor did her decision to use the older but shorter route.
We’ll need to use imaging to improve the road even more once things settle down, though.
“In time, she ought to be Minister of Administration for all of Solidar.”

“It would be best not to use that name until all of Lydar is under one rule,” said Bhayar. “Do you think the Khellans will really accept terms?”

“They’ll try for the best they can get, but I think they will.”

“So long as you’re around.”

“No. There are five or six imagers now, who can wreak a fair amount of destruction.” Quaeryt paused. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”