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

request that others behave honorably?”
    â€œBut…murder…fratricide? How is that just?”
    â€œIt is not just. That, I admit, and that is why the Emperor could not and should not do such,” Taryl said. “If emperors are allowed such latitude, all too soon they will see anyone who opposes them in anything as a threat to be removed, and they will become corrupt.”
    Rahl realized, then, exactly what Taryl had said and meant. “The Triad and the High Command? They should have acted? Was that why…?”
    â€œThe Triad and the High Command are supposed to act as a check upon the Emperor.”
    â€œYou were involved, weren’t you?”
    â€œLet us just say that is why one member of the Triad died and one stepped down after recovering from his injuries. All Hamor will now suffer from that lack of resolution.” Taryl looked directly at Rahl. “A good mage-guard always does his best. Sometimes, it is not enough. That does not mean the effort was wasted, for it must always be made. Bitter as it can be, those who risk all and fail, or only partly succeed, have held true to themselves. Those who weigh the odds and never try unless they have absolute certainty…they never know their true worth.” The older mage-guard offered an ironic smile. “That’s enough philosophy for now. Just remember that all loyalties have their prices, and make sure you understand what those prices are before you act.”
    Taryl gestured toward the southeast. “We’ll be porting shortly, and I need to finish writing my report to the Emperor.” He turned and headed down the ladder.
    After Taryl had left, Rahl looked toward the stone lighthouse and the white cliffs beneath it.

VI
    Fourday morning found Rahl following Taryl onto the Khamyl —a river steamship headed for Cigoerne. The two had spent the night before at the naval mage-guard quarters in Swartheld, a space largely deserted, since there was only one other warship ported at the naval piers—an older coastal patroller—and two broad-beamed iron-hulled cargo transports.
    â€œThe transports will be dispatched once we have word that we have control of a deep-water port in Merowey,” Taryl had said. “Golyat’s forces control Sastak and Nubyat.”
    Rahl had merely nodded, knowing only that the two cities were ports in the southwestern part of the continent that was Hamor. Still, the fact that the rebel chief held two major ports suggested that the Emperor faced something more like a civil war than a mere rebellion.
    The Khamyl was smaller than the Ascadya, and Rahl and Taryl shared a small room with two bunks. Taryl suggested that the upper was more appropriate for Rahl, and the younger mage-guard had to agree. Small as their room was, it was on the upper deck, the one reserved for those passengers who were either wealthy or on official business of some sort.
    Rahl and Taryl had taken a position on the starboard railing of the upper deck, from where Rahl was observing the various commercial buildings on the south side of Swartheld and trying to see if he could pick out where the Nylan Merchant Association had stood.
    â€œRahl,” Taryl said quietly, “in a moment, I’ll be introducing you to someone.”
    As the older mage-guard spoke, Taryl tightened his order shields to the point that Rahl could not determine in the slightest what Taryl was feeling. Even before Rahl turned, he followed Taryl’s example, although he doubted his shields were as effective.
    A slender but muscular mage-guard walked along the deck toward them. Those near him, the men in their ornately embroidered fharongs and the women in silks and with head scarves of even more sheer shimmersilk, eased away with a swiftness that they had not evidenced when Rahl and Taryl had taken their place at the railing. From more than twenty cubits away Rahl could sense the tightness of the newcomer’s shields, as