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

well as note the quality of the cloth of his uniform. He did not seem to notice Taryl or Rahl until Taryl cleared his throat.
    â€œCyphryt,” said Taryl pleasantly, “what a pleasant surprise. It’s rather distant from Cigoerne, and I would not have expected to see you here.”
    â€œNor I you,” replied the round-faced and cheery-looking mage-guard, who carried a strong aura of white chaos. “But one must occasionally review rather unpleasant situations. As I am sure you know.”
    Taryl smiled and gestured. “Oh…this is Rahl. He’s been transferred from Swartheld to be my assistant.”
    Cyphryt gave a nod slightly more than perfunctory. “You will learn much from Taryl, in more ways than most would believe.”
    â€œAnd in more ways than I would have as well, ser,” replied Rahl.
    Cyphryt tilted his head slightly. “For an Atlan, you’re remarkably well spoken.”
    â€œAs you suggested, ser, I’ve already learned a great deal from Senior Mage-Guard Taryl.” Rahl sensed that Cyphryt harbored the same kind of arrogance as Puvort did…and roused the same kind of anger within Rahl. Rahl nodded politely.
    â€œThat’s always for the best.” Cyphryt continued to smile cheerfully. “I wish you both well. I understand that, after the untimely and unfortunate death of Marshal Charynat, the Emperor and the High Command have settled on Marshal Bryna to command the campaign. I would have expected you to continue doing penance in Luba, Taryl, but the vast expanses of Merowey will do as well, I assume, after you do what you must in Cigoerne.”
    â€œWe’ve been requested to report on our last commission.”
    â€œAh, yes. Placating the black barbarians. So troublesome, but necessary. You do deal with unpleasantness so well and so patiently.”
    â€œAs do you,” replied Taryl.
    â€œI can see that your…sabbatical…has done you well, Taryl, and that is for the best.” Cyphryt nodded pleasantly. “I am certain I will see you in Cigoerne.” With a continuing smile, he walked toward the rear of the upper deck, where he joined two younger mage-guards—both chaos-mages—at a table under the awning overlooking the lower rear deck. One was a striking red-haired woman.
    Even Cyphryt’s bearing and walk reminded Rahl of Puvort, although the two looked not in the slightest alike.
    â€œI take it that Cyphryt is to be treated with the same care as…I did with Undercaptain Craelyt?”
    â€œI would suggest even greater care. For all his outward cheerfulness, Cyphryt can muster more chaos with one finger in an instant than the late undercaptain could have with his entire being in an eightday.”
    â€œHe is highly placed, also?”
    â€œHe is the administrative director of the Triad. Officially, he’s not in the chain of command. That suits him and his approach, but in practice he has close to the same authority as the Mage-Guard Overcommander—without the accountability.”
    Rahl didn’t know quite what else to say. It was clear that Taryl and Cyphryt disliked each other intensely.
    â€œYou will have to watch for him, now,” Taryl went on. “He takes any remark that offers the slightest disagreement with him as a personal affront. He won’t deign to deal with you personally, but it’s more than likely that one of those who wishes to please him will attempt to make your life less pleasant. It will mostly probably be a woman, one such as Saulya—she’s the redhead there.”
    Rahl kept his head lowered, as if he continued to study the shore, behind the Khamyl, but let his eyes and order-senses focus on Saulya. Like all the others at the table, she held firm shields, and there was a sense of coolness behind those shields. “She’s cold.”
    â€œOthers have not found her so,” Taryl said dryly, “not until they tried to do her a