Both men backed away, slowly, then more quickly.
In moments, both were almost running.
Mykella let herself drop slowly until her boots touched the loosely packed damp soil and grass of the clearing. She took a last look at the Vedra, a shimmering silvery strip under the light of Selena, then reached down to the darkness.
She eased her way through the chill and the granite of the palace walls until she was back in the study. Her tunic was edged in frost, and she was shivering. After several moments, she walked toward the bedchamber.
She could already feel the soreness in her lower back and buttocks. She’d definitely have a large bruise there. The Talent shields might keep her from being struck directly, but she was so small, and her skin was so sensitive that falling would end up bruising her as much as getting hit would. Her shields would keep her from getting killed, but the way the night had gone, she could easily end up bruised all over her body. She’d have to figure out some way to anchor the shields to something … or they wouldn’t be nearly as useful as she’d hoped.
Nothing is as simple as you think. Nothing.
She undressed methodically and pulled on a nightdress, then climbed under the covers, still shivering occasionally. As she began to drift off to sleep, another thought slipped into her mind. Had Mykel the Great laid out the Preserve because of the greenish-black pathways? He’d never hunted, according to all the histories …
She had to get some sleep, and she pushed that thought away and closed her eyes.
5
Immediately after breakfast on Octdi, Mykella walked down to the main level of the palace, all too conscious of the soreness on her backside and of Southern Guards who followed her as she made her way to the lower accounting chambers, although the palace was not yet open to outsiders.
When she walked into the large main-floor room, Haelyt—the graying clerk in charge of the other clerks—bowed. “Lady-Protector.”
Mykella could feel his apprehension even before she spoke. “Haelyt … I have not forgotten all the years you have served faithfully.” She smiled. “And yet, I must ask more of you. Will you take up the duties—and the stipend—of the chief clerk?”
“I would be honored, Lady.” After the slightest hesitation, he asked, “Maxymt?”
“The former chief clerk of the Finance Ministry left rather precipitously. For the time being, I serve as my own Finance Minister.” She turned, and her eyes fell on the red-haired youth who was the most junior clerk. “As I believe you once murmured you wished, Wasdahl.”
The young clerk paled.
Mykella smiled at him warmly. “Others might have held it against you. I do not, but you should be aware that anything you say might be heard and repeated.” Then she turned back to Haelyt. “You will need to find two more clerks, I think. If you will walk with me back to my study, we can discuss those matters. I will need to provide you with the chief clerk’s key and signet and a letter of passage that you can use until all the guards know you have access to the upper level.”
“Yes, Lady.”
No one whispered a word as Haelyt and Mykella left the accounting chamber. Once they were outside in the corridor and walking toward the center stone staircase to the upper level, Haelyt turned to Mykella. “Lady … I never expected…”
“I know. But you are accurate and trustworthy, and I value both. Can Vyahm take your place as assistant chief clerk? Should he, now that Minister Porofyr has resigned?”
“He is very accurate and most scrupulous in his duties, Lady. He served under both Lord Porofyr and old Lord Kuerlt.”
Mykella sensed no reservations behind Haelyt’s words. “Then he will succeed you. Do you know who could take Shenyl’s place handling the Southern Guard accounts, or should I ask Commander Areyst for a recommendation from among his clerks?”
“If he would part with Jainara … She is most accurate.”
Mykella repressed a smile. She hadn’t known that there was a woman clerking for the Southern Guards. “Tell me about her.” She started up the steps.
“Her uncle was Majer Allahyr, and she began by keeping the accounts for his battalion in Soupat. For several years, she dressed as a youth, and no one questioned. When the majer returned to Tempre, Commander Nephryt commended her work, not knowing Jainara was a young woman—she was listed as ‘Jainar’ on the pay list. Then he found out and made an order that, in the future, no women were to be clerks. She was moved to procurement accounts after the majer’s death. After your father’s death, the commander said she would be terminated, but Commander Areyst stopped that. Still…”
Mykella suspected the reason why Nephryt hadn’t acted sooner was because the majer’s daughter Eranya had been the mistress of Mykella’s father. “It might be better for Jainara and the Finance Ministry if she became one of your clerks?”
“She is a good clerk.”
“Then make her one of yours.”
“I would be pleased to do so.…”
“I doubt Commander Areyst will complain, but if he does, I will explain to him.”
“Thank you, Lady.”
Once they reached the anteroom, Mykella outlined the situation to Chalmyr and left the two to make the necessary arrangements and draft the requisite documents for her signature.
She turned at the door to her study. “Would you also draft letters to First Seltyr Khanasyl and Chief High Factor Lhanyr requesting they meet with me next week, on Londi, if possible.”
“Yes, Lady.” Chalmyr smiled and nodded.
On her desk, Mykella found a short stack of notes and letters congratulating her on becoming Lady-Protector, most from more junior factors or Seltyrs, but among the missives from more junior traders were one from Khanasyl and another from Lhanyr. Mykella wasn’t surprised. Both were astute, and felicitations cost nothing.
Areyst arrived at Mykella’s study a glass before midday. He did not even seat himself before announcing, “The clerk Maxymt departed Tempre the afternoon you became Lady-Protector … healer Treghyt has fled Tempre. His daughter and son have not seen him since you became Lady-Protector. They said he was greatly troubled but would not tell them why.”
“You could sit down, Commander,” said Mykella with a smile. “Or have the demands I have placed on you kept you so busy that you’ve forgotten how?”
Her impish tone and smile seemed to touch Areyst, and he settled into the chair across from her. “There have been a few matters more than I had anticipated … including my losing one of the few clerks who seemed to understand the Southern Guard accounts.”
“Jainara, you mean?”
“I just found that out less than half a glass ago. Seasons ago, she did reveal her doubts about some of the disbursements.”
“Such as those to the nonexistent Berjor for tack that is not to be found in the storerooms? I believe I inquired about that sometime ago, did I not?”
“You did indeed, Lady.” Although Areyst managed to keep his voice level, Mykella could sense a wryness hidden behind his even tone and serene expression. “And I have learned over the past weeks never to discount what you tell me.” He paused. “You did not seem perturbed by my report about those who fled.”
“No doubt Joramyl threatened Treghyt with consequences to his family if Treghyt revealed his suspicions about how my father was killed. So … the healer said nothing and is fleeing for his life because he had not the courage of his convictions. Maxymt was in a way station somewhere last evening, and Treghyt was sheltering in a poor cot. Cheleyza was still on the River Vedra.”
“You saw this in your Table?” Areyst frowned. “There were no reports of your leaving your apartments.”
“That was not the fault of your guards, Commander. I have ways of reaching the Table that they cannot see.”
“I have difficulty…”
Mykella called up the concealment shield.
“What—”
“I am still here, Commander.” She released the shield. Better to let him see
that than to learn of her other abilities.
“Might I ask a question, Lady?”
“You may.”
“In the past few days, you have shown great abilities…?”
“You would like to know why, if I have such abilities, I could not have prevented all that has happened?” Mykella let herself sigh. “I would that I could have. I knew Joramyl was taking golds. You know I knew because I asked you about Berjor. I had none of the abilities you see now—except that I could see and sense the ancient soarers and the Table. I would that I could have done something. But at first all I could do was to tell my father about the missing golds and show him the account books. Joramyl convinced him that Kiedryn was the guilty one. I protested, but I could not prove it to my father. I asked the soarer for help, and she touched me. Nothing happened at first, except that I learned how to conceal myself, the way you just saw, and I used that and what I saw in the Table to discover Joramyl’s plot with Nephryt—but so far you are the only one who can see what I see in the Table, and no one would believe me.” She smiled sadly. “I kept trying to learn, but I could only learn the shields and how to kill after Rachylana and Father were poisoned.”
“Your sister was poisoned?” Areyst stiffened.
“By Cheleyza, at an afternoon gathering, but I was standing right beside her when the poison attacked her, and I managed to save her. You can ask Salyna, if you want. I tried to do the same with Father, but Joramyl was clever enough that it was too late when I reached Father for anyone to save him.” What Mykella said was not exactly the way things had happened, but she had no intention of talking about the Ifrit or certain other happenings. Not at the moment, at least. “I had never killed anyone until the day I became Lady-Protector.”
“How did you know how?”
Mykella shook her head. “I learned from the soarer and the Table and hid in the slaughterhouse and killed animals just before they were struck with the hammer.” Again, what she said was mostly true, if not in precisely the way she implied.
“Do you think this soarer, this Ancient … why would she help you?”
“She said I was the only one to save the land. I have not seen her in weeks.”
Areyst was the one to shake his head. “Lady … I have seen enough to know that all this must be true, strange as it seems. But I beg you not to mention it to anyone else.”
“You and my sister Salyna are the only ones who know. She saw enough to need to know, and you must know as Arms-Commander.”
Areyst inclined his head. “I will not betray that trust.”
Mykella already knew that. His honesty shone as much as the strand of green in his life-thread, that thread of green that doubtless allowed him to see what appeared in the Table. “That is why you are Arms-Commander and my designated heir.”
“Lady … I am not of noble blood. I do not wish to be the heir.”
“I know that is not your wish. For now, it is necessary. For me, for my sisters, and for Lanachrona. I will lift that burden as I can.”
Although Areyst did not speak but merely nodded, Mykella could sense that he truly wanted to protect her, and she had to fight to keep her eyes from burning. After a moment, she spoke. “How long will we have before we see the armies of Midcoast and Northcoast?”
“It will be late in spring or early in summer … if they still choose to attack. I believe they will. The lady Cheleyza cannot reach Northcoast for at least another tenday, and possibly twice that if the coastal rains are heavy. It will take a tenday for Prince Chalcaer to ready an envoy or his own entourage and travel south to Hafin. If … if his army readies itself while he is gone … and departs on word from a fast courier, it will be another two tendays before they could join Prince Skrelyn’s forces at Salcer—that is what I would do, were I they.”
“It’s almost the end of the fourth week of spring, and by your count, they could not meet in Salcer for another five weeks, with a week’s ride after that to our borders. That would be right after season-turn.”
“We should not fight on the borders but just west of Viencet. They will have to travel four days farther, and there will be little forage, or anything else, on the lands west of Viencet.”
“You will have to instruct me on how you plan to defend against them.”
“Lady…” Areyst paused. “You are not trained in battle.”
“I am not, and I do not plan to attempt to fight in that fashion, as my sister might. But there are things that I may be able to do to assist you, and so long as I am not in the thick of the fighting, I will be safe enough, as you saw with Commander Nephryt.”
“Begging your pardon, Lady-Protector, but you must also rule.”
“That’s true enough, but Viencet is but a day’s ride, unlike Salcer or Hafin.” While Mykella had not ridden there in years, Jeraxylt had told her it was less than a day’s ride. “Still … I understand your concerns, and because Viencet is not that far, whether I should be there is a decision we can discuss later. I would still wish to know what you plan … when you are ready to tell me.”
“That will be several weeks, when I have reports on the companies I have summoned.”
“Tomorrow, at midmorning, we will visit the villa that Joramyl occupied. I hope to find some golds sequestered there. Perhaps enough to pay for those supplies.”
“That would be useful.”
More than useful. Most necessary, given the state of the Treasury. “Tell me anything you think I should know right now…”
Areyst squared his shoulders. “As your sister has doubtless told you, the training of First and Second Companies has been adequate for parades and duties in Tempre, but little beyond that. I have ordered Captain Maeltor to set up the training system used in Soupat.…”
Mykella listened.
After Areyst departed, she picked up one of the old pens and drafted the body of a thank-you letter, then took it out to Chalmyr with the pile of letters she’d received. “Use this as the basis for replying to all these, except for Khanasyl and Lhanyr. Change theirs to use as much of what I wrote as you can but suggest that we should meet on Duadi or Tridi, rather than Londi, as I told you earlier. Don’t use the phrase ‘at your convenience.’ You know this better than I do. If you can make my words more gracious, without showing weakness, please do so.”
She did have Chalmyr send for some slices of cold fowl and bread before she met with Cerlyk. She had the feeling that she wouldn’t last the afternoon without eating, but she accompanied the spare meal with cider because wine might have gone to her head—another disadvantage of being small, even if she did have muscles no one noticed because of her height.
Cerlyk arrived promptly at the chime of the first glass of afternoon. He was a slender man, lightly tanned, with wispy blond hair that was already receding although he did not appear to be more than a few years senior to Mykella. “Lady-Protector, you requested my presence.”
Mykella gestured for him to sit. “Tell me about the state of the Lady-Protector’s lands. I’d also like to know what the prospects are for timber harvests in the year ahead.”
“In general, the lands are in good condition. There were several timber harvests last summer for several sections of land west of Hyalt.” Cerlyk cleared his throat. “We do not plan any other harvests for several years.”
“Why not?”
“Your father … well, through Lord Joramyl, requested we move up the harvests scheduled for this year and next to last summer, in order to raise golds so that tariffs would not have to be increased in order to meet expenses … of the Southern Guards, we were told. If we cut more timber this year or the next…” He held up several sheets of paper. “These explain the loss in future timber revenues if we do not reduce harvests for several years.”
“I see. Would you have a copy of the revenues received from the harvests last year?”
“Oh, yes. We have the complete records.”
“I’d like to see those for last year and the year before.”
&n
bsp; “I can bring them up shortly after I’ve answered any other questions you may have.”
Mykella could sense no deception and nothing of ill ease in Cerlyk, only an almost-boyish enthusiasm as the Forester’s assistant went on to explain about each of the major timber stands. After he had finished, then returned with the records she had requested, she began to study them, as well as to compare the revenues from the sale of the timber to the receipts in the master ledger. Nearly immediately, she realized that, of the three major timber sales, the receipts for only one appeared in the master Finance ledger, although the Forester’s records had receipts from Joramyl for all three. Effectively, Joramyl had diverted or pocketed somewhere close to seven thousand golds.
Just where did all those golds happen to go? How long did he think he could get away with it? She hoped some of them were hidden in the villa that her father had allowed Joramyl to make his own; but if they had been, she suspected they were likely with Cheleyza unless Joramyl had hidden some from his wife.
“I will see her! Now!”
The angry voice—Rachylana’s—penetrated the door so sharply that Mykella bolted up from the ledgers. She took a deep breath and walked to the door, opening it.
Rachylana’s eyes were red, and she stalked into the formal study.
Mykella had barely closed the door when Rachylana began to talk, her voice surprisingly low, for the fury behind it.
“You didn’t even tell me. You just did it. I can’t believe that you were so cruel. But I can. It’s always been you. Never anyone else. Just you. Always you…”
“What did I do?” This time?
“You had his body burned and the ashes stuffed into an urn and mortared away without a word to anyone. Not a blessing. Not a word … nothing! How could you?”
Mykella finally understood—Berenyt. “He was a traitor. He knew about poisoning Father and killing Jeraxylt. You may have loved him, but traitors don’t get public memorials or ceremonies. He was family, and I didn’t deny him a place in the family mausoleum. I didn’t have his body left in the wild for the animals, and that has been done. I gave him a place. He didn’t deserve a memorial.”
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