Mage-Guard of Hamor by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

executing the ones who are difficult to train or don’t fit into predetermined roles and patterns?”
    â€œI don’t think they see it that way.”
    â€œAll the better for us. They think we avoid conflict with them because we fear their black ships, but that’s not the real reason. Oh, the black ships could cause considerable damage, but we could build a score of these frigates in the time it would take them to build one black ship, and a half score of our new fast frigates could probably take out two of their ships.”
    â€œThen…” Rahl wasn’t sure he wanted to ask the question.
    â€œWhy don’t we attack Recluce and remove a problem? Because we’d gain nothing and lose a great deal. They provide goods we want. They send us black and white mages, and while they complain a lot, they don’t attack our shipping, and they buy our goods. A war would cost us golds, ships, and trained men, and in the end, we’d either have to rebuild Recluce the way it was or lose more coins.” Taryl shook his head. “Our navy’s best use is to keep trade free and open, and to track down pirates and raiders. Or to keep people from attacking us or meddling.”
    â€œLike in the rebellion?”
    Taryl snorted. “It’s not true all the time, but most of the time, lands have far more problems within their borders than without. Often, even when they are attacked, such attacks come because of the problems they have within and have failed to address.”
    â€œMight I ask what problem caused the rebellion?”
    â€œThe failure of the previous emperor and of the present emperor to recognize that Golyat was not qualified to be emperor and too self-centered and ambitious to serve his brother for longer than it would take him to raise an army and golds enough for him to attempt to seize the throne.”
    â€œWhat would you have done?” asked Rahl.
    â€œHad him perish as a young man while hunting some dangerous beast, then inform the Emperor of the unfortunate accident. Golyat is the kind who would only chafe in exile until he could find someone to back an invasion.”
    Rahl swallowed at the matter-of-fact tone—and the conviction within the older mage.
    â€œYou think I am cruel? That I have deceived you about who and what I am?” Taryl shook his head. “Hundreds have already died, and thousands will yet die. Crops and grasslands will be devastated. Hundreds, if not thousands, of women will become widows, and children will become orphans. Golds that could be spent on roads and reservoirs and other good works will be spent on weapons and supplies that would not be needed otherwise. The prices of food will rise, and the poor will become poorer. All this because a father and a son would not face the fact that a son and a brother cared for nothing but his own power and pleasure.”
    â€œBut…to order the death of his own son?” Rahl protested.
    â€œA ruler has a responsibility to those he rules, and one of those responsibilities is to assure that those who follow him provide good and just governance. Rebellions and civil wars do not do so, particularly when they are caused by an emperor’s offspring.”
    Rahl just looked at Taryl.
    The older mage sighed, then took a deep breath. “You killed Undercaptain Craelyt and at least a score of Jeranyi. Why?”
    â€œBecause the Jeranyi would have killed hundreds more.”
    â€œAnd the undercaptain?”
    â€œBecause he had killed the captain and…it wasn’t right. You know that, ser.”
    â€œI do, indeed,” replied Taryl, “and so does the Triad. Your actions prevented far greater harm. Now…is the Emperor more or less responsible for Hamor than are you?”
    â€œMore…” Rahl grudged.
    â€œThen he has an even greater responsibility than you do. If he is unwilling to do, or have done, what is best as a ruler, what right does he have to