seen more trade and saved time because of the bridge.” Quaeryt looked evenly at the pair, imaging projecting a slight compulsion to reply honestly.
“Ah … that may be … but…”
“You will not have to pay to replace it anytime soon, and there will be more benefits from Lord Bhayar’s rule. He is not seizing your goods or your women. He is not taking your factorages and turning them over to Telaryn merchants. He is asking for reasonable compensation for putting Bovaria back together under a fairer ruler. Can you honestly tell me that Rex Kharst was fair?”
Neither factor would meet Quaeryt’s gaze.
After several moments Vaelora said quietly, “Do you wish me to report to my brother that you refuse to pay this pittance?”
“Lady Vaelora … ten golds is not a pittance…” sputtered the white-haired Palumyn.
“To keep your factorages and your livelihood after you supported a ruler as evil as Kharst … I would not call it exorbitant. Would you?” Vaelora raised her eyebrows.
Again, both men lowered their eyes.
“Are there any other matters you would like to bring before Lady Vaelora?”
“No … Commander,” replied Jarell. “We appreciate your guidance and forbearance, and that of Lord Bhayar.”
Quaeryt had strong doubts that either man felt much appreciation.
After the pair left, he shook his head. “I’m going to need to visit the factors’ council tomorrow and obtain a listing of all factors … and make it clear that we really don’t want to have to make an example of Daaren, but that we will … if we must.”
Vaelora nodded sadly.
“Now … if you would like to repair to your chamber and wash up…”
“What about you? You aren’t exactly the freshest of spring mint, dearest.”
Quaeryt grinned. “I will follow your example … after I check with Zhelan.”
Not surprisingly, Quaeryt found the major out in the side courtyard, watching as the squad leaders carried out their duties. When he finished with Zhelan, Quaeryt met with the imager undercaptains and gave them a simple duty for the next day-to ride up and down the streets of Daaren and to take note and write down the names of all factorages, first thing in the morning.
Finally, well after washing up-and sunset, if before complete darkness-Quaeryt and Vaelora joined Zhelan, Calkoran, and Khaern in the same private room at the Grande Laar Inn they had used months before, where they ate an adequate meal of mutton slices and gravy with slightly overfried lace potatoes.
“What are your plans, sir?” asked Khaern. “Will we be riding out for Laaryn on Jeudi or Vendrei?”
“I’m considering not going that way at all. There are roads up the Phraan. The distance would be shorter, and we’d rejoin the Great Canal at Eluthyn. After that we can use the road along the Great Canal.”
“How good are those roads to Eluthyn? Do you know?” asked Zhelan.
“The maps I have show that there are roads. I doubt they’re any better than the ones we’ve been traveling.” Quaeryt decided against asking if they could be worse. He knew from experience just how bad the roads in Bovaria could be-except for those ancient stone roads laid down by the Naedarans, roads so durable that they still put to shame anything built more recently by Bovarians. “There’s another reason I’d like to take the way along the Phraan. The people will see that Lord Bhayar does indeed hold Bovaria … and Bhayar won’t have to send a regiment on a special trip along the Phraan. Since Meinyt has, or had, Fifth Regiment in Laaryn, we won’t accomplish anything by going that way.”
“The factors and merchants all over Bovaria need a little shaking up,” said Khaern. “That’s just my opinion, sir, Lady Vaelora. I think going up the Phraan would help.”
“It will be harder,” prophesied Calkoran. “They do not know what a true road is. For them a mud track is a road.”
Quaeryt chuckled. “You’re right, but we might as well travel in a
“Ah … that may be … but…”
“You will not have to pay to replace it anytime soon, and there will be more benefits from Lord Bhayar’s rule. He is not seizing your goods or your women. He is not taking your factorages and turning them over to Telaryn merchants. He is asking for reasonable compensation for putting Bovaria back together under a fairer ruler. Can you honestly tell me that Rex Kharst was fair?”
Neither factor would meet Quaeryt’s gaze.
After several moments Vaelora said quietly, “Do you wish me to report to my brother that you refuse to pay this pittance?”
“Lady Vaelora … ten golds is not a pittance…” sputtered the white-haired Palumyn.
“To keep your factorages and your livelihood after you supported a ruler as evil as Kharst … I would not call it exorbitant. Would you?” Vaelora raised her eyebrows.
Again, both men lowered their eyes.
“Are there any other matters you would like to bring before Lady Vaelora?”
“No … Commander,” replied Jarell. “We appreciate your guidance and forbearance, and that of Lord Bhayar.”
Quaeryt had strong doubts that either man felt much appreciation.
After the pair left, he shook his head. “I’m going to need to visit the factors’ council tomorrow and obtain a listing of all factors … and make it clear that we really don’t want to have to make an example of Daaren, but that we will … if we must.”
Vaelora nodded sadly.
“Now … if you would like to repair to your chamber and wash up…”
“What about you? You aren’t exactly the freshest of spring mint, dearest.”
Quaeryt grinned. “I will follow your example … after I check with Zhelan.”
Not surprisingly, Quaeryt found the major out in the side courtyard, watching as the squad leaders carried out their duties. When he finished with Zhelan, Quaeryt met with the imager undercaptains and gave them a simple duty for the next day-to ride up and down the streets of Daaren and to take note and write down the names of all factorages, first thing in the morning.
Finally, well after washing up-and sunset, if before complete darkness-Quaeryt and Vaelora joined Zhelan, Calkoran, and Khaern in the same private room at the Grande Laar Inn they had used months before, where they ate an adequate meal of mutton slices and gravy with slightly overfried lace potatoes.
“What are your plans, sir?” asked Khaern. “Will we be riding out for Laaryn on Jeudi or Vendrei?”
“I’m considering not going that way at all. There are roads up the Phraan. The distance would be shorter, and we’d rejoin the Great Canal at Eluthyn. After that we can use the road along the Great Canal.”
“How good are those roads to Eluthyn? Do you know?” asked Zhelan.
“The maps I have show that there are roads. I doubt they’re any better than the ones we’ve been traveling.” Quaeryt decided against asking if they could be worse. He knew from experience just how bad the roads in Bovaria could be-except for those ancient stone roads laid down by the Naedarans, roads so durable that they still put to shame anything built more recently by Bovarians. “There’s another reason I’d like to take the way along the Phraan. The people will see that Lord Bhayar does indeed hold Bovaria … and Bhayar won’t have to send a regiment on a special trip along the Phraan. Since Meinyt has, or had, Fifth Regiment in Laaryn, we won’t accomplish anything by going that way.”
“The factors and merchants all over Bovaria need a little shaking up,” said Khaern. “That’s just my opinion, sir, Lady Vaelora. I think going up the Phraan would help.”
“It will be harder,” prophesied Calkoran. “They do not know what a true road is. For them a mud track is a road.”
Quaeryt chuckled. “You’re right, but we might as well travel in a
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