Rex Regis (13 page)

“If it is about what has happened, I should be here,” Vaelora said firmly.

Abruptly Bhayar laughed. “I will not insist. I would that my marshals showed even the slightest hint of the loyalty for each other that you two have for one another.” After a moment he said, “I have questions. They are not about what you have done. What is done is done, and it was as well done as you could do with what you had. I would like your thoughts about what lies ahead. About what troubles you foresee.” He looked expectantly at Vaelora.

“I have had no such foresights. Not yet.”

“Then your feelings and thoughts.”

“You need strong regional governors,” said Quaeryt. “The factors cannot be trusted without someone over them. Nor can the High Holders.”

“I thought your imagers would assure that,” replied Bhayar sardonically.

“No, they can only do that if you have effective governors who can call upon us. That the governors report to you, and we support the governors, is necessary for the comfort of both factors and High Holders.” Quaeryt took a swallow of the wine. All the talking had left him almost hoarse. “Have you heard from Subcommander Meinyt? I left him acting as a regional governor.”

“He has sent dispatches every week, as well as the token tariffs from High Holders as he has collected them. He reports that all is going well.”

“Good.”
One less worry there.

“You were saying?” prompted Bhayar. “About the imagers?”

“You need the imagers to repair the worst in the roads, as we can. We did improve the road from Eluthyn to Kephria, but the part from Semlem south to Daaren needs widening…”

Bhayar’s questions continued for another glass before he said, “I will have other questions once I have thought over what you have said.” He looked to his sister. “I need Quaeryt to brief the senior officers at fifth glass. Then, after that, we shall have dinner together, but I will not badger you with questions then. At least, not with too many. You have rooms on the south side, and I have ordered them to be as comfortable as possible.”

Vaelora rose. “Thank you. Might Quaeryt escort and settle me, brother dear?”

“So long as he returns within the quint.”

The three of them left the study and walked back south to the large foyer and across it to the corridor back along the east side. The doorway to which Bhayar led them was the first one outside an archway guarded by two Telaryn troopers.

“Your quarters?” asked Vaelora, gesturing in the direction of the guards.

Bhayar nodded. “Some precautions are necessary. That is another reason why I wanted you in these quarters, especially for those times when Quaeryt may be traveling.”

“For now,” replied Quaeryt. “Until we can build a suitable compound for imagers on the river isle.”

Bhayar chuckled. “You never lose sight of goals.”

“No,” said Vaelora, “and one of those goals is to make you the absolute and secure ruler of all Lydar.”

“For which I am grateful, if apprehensive about the means.”

As if there were any others that were practical.
Quaeryt opened the door to the quarters, discovering a sitting room with archways on both sides.

“You have a study, a sitting room, and a bedchamber with a small bath chamber,” said Bhayar.

“Thank you.” Vaelora smiled warmly at her brother.

“There should be several chambermaids up here shortly with warm water for a bath,” said Bhayar. “I look forward to dinner.” With a smile, he turned.

Once Bhayar had left, the two walked around the quarters, which Quaeryt could see were truly spacious and elegantly furnished. Quaeryt couldn’t help but wonder from whom Bhayar had commandeered the furnishings, which included an overlarge bed with a pillared headboard and matching bed tables and a pair of armoires, a pale green velvet settee in the sitting room, with a pair of green velvet upholstered side chairs, and both a desk and a writing table in the study.

“These are quarters fit for the lord’s sister, but far better than a commander deserves…”

“And far less than the man who has delivered most of Lydar to Bhayar deserves…”

“It’s far better this way, that I remain a commander and not more.”

“That remains to be seen, dearest. If … if matters turn out as you plan … that may be.”

If not …
Quaeryt knew what she meant, and the problem was that intrigue would determine as much as skill and imaging now that they had returned to Variana. “You didn’t mention your farsight…”

“That was about you, not about Bhayar or Lydar.”

Quaeryt didn’t object. “I need to return to meet with Bhayar.”

“Say as little as possible,” cautioned Vaelora.

“Or as little as Bhayar will allow.”

“He won’t wish you to say more than necessary,” observed Vaelora.

Quaeryt bent forward and gave her a brief hug. “I hope this won’t take too long.” Then he slipped out of the quarters and walked back to Bhayar’s study.

The study door was open, and Bhayar motioned for Quaeryt to enter and close the door. Quaeryt did and walked over to the side of the desk where Bhayar stood.

“The two of us will talk tomorrow,” said Bhayar, “about what tasks may be appropriate and necessary for you and the imagers. At this meeting, I just want you to give a solid briefing about what happened as far as Southern Army and your imagers accomplished. If asked about Khel, just say that the High Council is considering the terms you presented.”

“If Deucalon or one of his commanders presses as to why we attacked Antiago and not Khel, can I say that it seemed unwise to attack a land that neither threatened us nor that presents no threat when Antiago sent troops and Antiagon Fire to support Kharst, offered sanctuary to rebellious High Holders, and attacked without provocation vessels under your flag on three occasions.”

“If appropriate, you can mention that earlier.”

Quaeryt nodded.

“We can walk down to the conference room. By now, Deucalon should have assembled all the senior officers who are available.”

“Where might that be?”

“Oh … that’s at the south end of the chateau on the main floor.”

“Where is Submarshal Myskyl? I assume he’s not here.”

“He spent the winter, with half of Northern Army, in a place called Rivages. It’s up the Aluse, supposedly as far to the north as Laaryn is to the west. He sent regular dispatches over the course of the fall, but I’ve heard nothing since the turn of winter. He observed that reaching the High Holders there is a time-consuming task because the roads are poor and the winter has been long.”

And because he really doesn’t want to do anything terribly difficult if he doesn’t have to,
thought Quaeryt.

“So far, he hasn’t reported the trouble you had with High Holders.”

“He wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t report or wouldn’t have?”

“It’s hard to have trouble with High Holders you haven’t met,” said Quaeryt dryly.

“You’ve never cared much for him.”

“I’ve never trusted him. There are officers I don’t care for that I’ve still trusted.”

“Why not?”

“In this case, I worry that he wouldn’t demand allegiance of the High Holders. He’d just assume that they would be loyal, and he’d believe that he could later crush anyone who wasn’t.”

“Why is that so bad?” asked Bhayar, an amused tone in his voice, as if he knew what Quaeryt might say. “It does give them time to adjust.”

“That approach has its advantages, and it’s better suited to the north than the south. In some ways, it’s similar to what Rescalyn did in Tilbor.”

“Because there’s no real escape in the north, except distance or outright rebellion?”

“Among other things,” admitted Quaeryt. After a moment he realized something and asked, “You said that Myskyl hasn’t sent any dispatches recently?”

“No. Not since the first days of Ianus, but I wouldn’t have expected dispatches in the dead of winter.”

But we’re nearing the end of spring.
Quaeryt frowned, but said nothing as the two walked down the grand staircase and to the southwest corner of the main floor.

Quaeryt had the feeling that Bhayar was having him brief all the senior officers present near the Chateau Regis just so that Deucalon or others would have a more difficult time misrepresenting what Quaeryt said.

As Quaeryt stepped into the conference room followed by Bhayar, as required by protocol and courtesy, Deucalon stood. “Lord Bhayar!”

The officers seated around the long oblong table rose.

Quaeryt could see that two places had been left vacant, the one at the head of the conference table, and the seat adjoining it at the left side. Deucalon stood at the first chair on the right side.

“As you were,” said Bhayar. “Please be seated.”

Quaeryt only knew a handful of the commanders and subcommanders by both face and name, including Subcommander Ernyld, who had been Deucalon’s chief of staff from before the battles at Ferravyl. Quaeryt was intrigued to see Pulaskyr, because he’d thought Pulaskyr would have been with Myskyl at Rivages. The only other commander he recognized by both name and face was Dafaul. There were only two other subcommanders besides Ernyld present. That did not surprise Quaeryt because the majority of regiments headed by subcommanders had been assigned to Skarpa’s Southern Army. Quaeryt assumed the others were with Northern Army, and that suggested that the commanders present had not wished to brave winter in northern Bovaria, and that Deucalon had accommodated them.

Quaeryt took the vacant seat and waited.

Bhayar did not sit, but waited a moment before beginning. “I had you all summoned because Commander Quaeryt has returned with some news that I find … momentous, if unexpected. I’ve asked him to provide a short factual summary of events that led to the situation he will present.” Bhayar nodded to Quaeryt and seated himself.

Quaeryt rose and stepped back from the table just slightly. “The news is simple enough. Lord Bhayar is now ruler of Antiago, and the High Council of Khel is considering terms presented to them from Lord Bhayar.” He waited for several moments to let the import sink in before continuing.

“The mission assigned to Southern Army was to obtain the allegiance of the High Holders of southern Bovaria and to assure that the Autarch Aliaro did not continue hostilities against the lands held by Lord Bhayar. Lady Vaelora and I were dispatched to accompany Southern Army and then to depart from Ephra to present terms to the High Council of Khel, which has been reconstituted in a form similar to that which ruled Khel before the attacks and depredations of Rex Kharst…” From there Quaeryt gave a summary of the events that occurred, following Bhayar’s instructions to limit himself to the military events and the results. He concluded by saying, “Once we rebuilt the piers at Kephria and created a working trooper compound, we set out on the return to Variana.”

Quaeryt then turned to Bhayar.

Bhayar merely nodded.

“Might the commander answer a few questions?” asked Deucalon.

“I’m sure the commander can answer a few questions,” replied Bhayar. “So long as they deal with the matters at hand.”

“Did you not consider sending a dispatch rider to inform Lord Bhayar more quickly?” asked Deucalon.

“I did. Lady Vaelora and I considered it. We decided against it because we had determined to take the shorter route up the Phraan River. If we had sent a dispatch rider, because we have no dispatch stations established, the only place he would have been able to be assured of remounts would have been in Laaryn, and that route is much longer. If we had sent enough riders to assure his safety, he would not have arrived much sooner, if as soon as we did. Once we were close enough to assure that safety we did in fact send a dispatch rider.”

“Surely … Bovaria is not that dangerous. There are no armies or marauding armsmen roaming the land.”

“Marshal,” Quaeryt said firmly but quietly, projecting absolute assurance, “once one leaves the towpath of the Great Canal, the roads range from passable to abysmal. On the way to Ephra we repaired roads as we could. One of our tasks on the return, and one which took little time, was to use imagers to repair bridges and the causeway on the stretch of road from Eluthyn to Daaren. That will speed travel considerably in the future.”

“But surely…”

“I believe the commander has answered your question, Marshal,” said Bhayar quietly. “Are there other questions?”

“Success is often best not questioned, Commander, especially in war,” said Pulaskyr, “but could you say why you or Submarshal Skarpa felt you had a chance of defeating the Antiagons?”

“After seeing the pattern of Antiagon tactics, and noting how poorly defended Kephria was, and also seeing how much Aliaro relied on the Bovarian holders of the south to defend his northern borders, it appeared likely that Antiago was ruled by fear of the Autarch and that fear was reinforced by cruel and absolute punishment of those who disobeyed. In addition, Antiago is thinly populated in many areas. There are only three major cities, or four if one counts Westisle as separate from Liantiago, and the Autarch maintained a large fleet. It appeared unlikely that he had that many armsmen and troopers. And we had already destroyed a regiment or more of his troops on the advance up the Aluse to Variana. Because Aliaro had attacked us a number of times already and had given sanctuary to rebel High Holders, Lady Vaelora, Submarshal Skarpa, and I decided that it was best to take the risk and attack when Aliaro did not expect it.”

Pulaskyr nodded.

Another commander cleared his throat. “Did you not think the prerogative of declaring war belonged to Lord Bhayar?”

“In the documents which named Lady Vaelora and me envoys, there is a section which empowered us to take action against any powers or forces either rebelling against the rule of Lord Bhayar or hostile to and threatening his lands. After all that the Autarch did, I don’t believe we exceeded the authority he granted.”