Chris laughed. “Did you at least have something good to eat?”
Kevin shook his head. “Most of it was dainty little stuff, the type of food Dara would like. And the tea cups were demitasse size. Ridiculous little things. Barely hold a good swallow.”
“Sorry,” Chris managed between chuckles.
“At one place the girl had a bag with her. She wanted to come back with me and play hostess, said it would give us time to get to know each other. I told her I didn’t need a hostess, that I wasn’t running the conference. The governor was, and his wife was the hostess.” Kevin shook his head. “How am I going to get this mess stopped?”
“Actually it would be pretty easy to put an end to it.”
“How?”
“Karl’s scheduled a formal banquet for Thursday night. All you’d have to do is get Rhianna to walk in with you and sit at the head table.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“People might get the idea we’re interested in each other.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t that the goal four months ago? To make everyone think you two were involved?”
“But that was to get Rolan’s men out of North Amden.”
“True, but the fact that the two of you are still seeing each other is not a secret. Everyone in Milhaven knows.”
“That’s so no one figures out it was all an act.”
“Kevin, all anyone has to do is see the two of you together to know it’s no act.”
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone knows you’re interested in each other. It’s written all over your faces. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cryslyn and Miranda are already planning your wedding, so you might as well let the ministers start getting used to the idea. Your family already knows, so they won’t be surprised if they hear about it. Why not make it official? It’ll get all those women off your back.”
Kevin shook his head. “I’m not saying I haven’t thought about it, but I don’t know how she feels.”
“Want me to find out? Or better yet, want Xantha to look?”
“Absolutely not! This isn’t ninth grade. We’ll figure it out for ourselves.”
“Let me know if you change your mind,” Chris said as he stood up. “But in the meantime, it’s time for dinner, and you’ve got to welcome the ministers to Milhaven before Miranda will serve the food. We need to get going.”
~~~~
Shortly after breakfast Monday morning Karl watched as the ministers straggled into the Entrance Hall. After the last one sat down, Karl called the meeting to order. “Before we get started, there’s someone who wants to speak with you.” Karl motioned towards the door where Doreen was standing. She nodded and walked across the room to stand beside him.
“Thank you,” Doreen said to Karl as he sat down. Then she turned to face the ministers. “Good morning. My name’s Doreen. I wasn’t here the last time you were in Milhaven. I was living on Parson’s Branch about a mile from Heron’s Gulf. I’d be living there today if slavers hadn’t attacked.”
Doreen gazed around the entrance hall. “I can imagine what you’re thinking, that we shouldn’t have been there anyway, that living on the coast is asking for trouble. Well, if you’re a fisherman, you don’t have a lot of choice. And Heron’s Gulf is one of the safer places for fishermen. The mouth is fairly narrow, and soldiers patrol it night and day. We should have been safe.” Doreen paused. “My aunt’s screams woke me up that night. As I pulled on my robe I saw my father run out the front door. Before he made it ten feet, a man stepped out of the shadows and stabbed him with a sword. I knew he was dead before he hit the ground. I screamed and reached for the fire poker, the only weapon within reach, but before my fingers could close around the handle, something crashed into the back of my head and the world went dark.” Doreen took a moment to glance around the room. “When I came to, I was on the floor in a damp, dark room. Three of the walls were stone, but the fourth was iron bars with a door on one end. As my head cleared, I realized I was not alone. There were over a dozen women in there with me, along with children ranging from infants to teens. You’d have thought it would have been noisy, but it was strangely quiet. No one was talking, not even the children.”
Doreen glanced around the room again. The men appeared to be listening, but only a few seemed to be concerned. “There must have been a door somewhere down the hall. We couldn’t see it, but we could hear it clang, and every time we heard it, we cringed, hoping it was just the changing of the guard, because otherwise it meant they were taking someone away.” Doreen took a deep breath and continued. “I marked time by the changing of the guard. There were three sets of guards, so I figured three rotations made a day. After each third rotation, I made a small mark on one of the stones, and by my count, I was in that cell for fifty days. We got water twice a day and stale bread and moldy cheese once a day. It didn’t take long to figure out we were being stored in a cage until we could be sold, traded, or given as gifts.”
Doreen paused a few moments. “I’ll never forget the horror of the raid, the anger as I watched my father die, the despair of being caged, or the fear of not knowing what would happen next. But I was rescued from that nightmare by the kindness of complete strangers who risked their lives to come for us. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel, and I’m sure the others who were handed their lives back that night feel the same way.” Doreen took a deep breath. “You have slaves working in your district right now. They may not be in dungeons, but they’re slaves even so. Their lives are not their own. You are in a position to grant them their freedom, to let them live their lives as they wish. I hope you choose to do it. Thank you.”
Doreen nodded at Karl and quietly left the room as he stood up. After the door shut behind her, he said, “I’m sure those of you who were here last fall remember the two children who survived the raid on Syrando. They were victims of the slaver raids every bit as much as Doreen was. Their father was killed and their mother was taken away. Sad to say, we haven’t been able to locate her yet. Over the past year, slavers have killed twenty-three of our citizens and captured over two hundred and thirty. It was an unusually active year because one group targeted Camden, and that group had access to a seated sorcerer’s key. That made them more difficult to find, but Myron did it. Most of those slavers are either dead or behind bars, and over a hundred and forty of those captured have been rescued. Unfortunately around ninety of our citizens are still suffering in captivity. We’re searching for them, but with each passing day the chances of success fade.”
“What’s to stop that sorcerer from letting slavers have the key again?” one of the ministers yelled out. “How are you going to stop that?”
“Yeah, I’d like an answer to that one, too,” another joined in. “My wife’s still fussing at me about those children and Yani’s niece.”
As several other ministers added their voices to the mix, Karl waited for the room to settle back down. “As to the sorcerer, I guess you haven’t heard, but when she found out Myron had rescued the captives, she challenged him to a duel. He defeated her last February. Her heir has shown no sign of using his key in the slave trade.” Then he cut his eyes over to the minister who had brought up Serra. “As to Yani’s niece, she’s still here, working at the castle, by her choice. Ask Thanzer.”
Thanzer stood up and nodded. “Myron has been kind enough to bring Serra to visit several times so she can get to know her family, but Governor Karl’s right. The girl wants to stay here. She’s never been treated as a slave. She didn’t know she’d ever been captured until it came out last fall.”
As Thanzer sat back down, Karl continued. “Now, what I want to know is what have you done to put an end to slavery? You’ve made it very clear how you feel about any of our citizens being turned into slaves, but what about the citizens of other provinces who work as slaves in your districts? Have you found a way to put an end to that yet? After everything you’ve said, there’s no w
ay you can justify using slaves.”
“We can’t stop using slaves,” one of the ministers said. “How else can we fill our soldier ranks?”
“I don’t know,” Karl said. “That’s something you need to figure out. I want a plan from each of you on my desk before the end of this year addressing how you’re going to do it, and I mean before the first of January. I want to review the plans, return the ones that need more work, and get revisions back before we meet next summer.”
“We’ve always used slaves. It’s how it’s done,” another minister yelled out. “You can’t expect us to stop!”
“It’s how it was done in the past, but not anymore. Look, you made your views clear last November. You want slavery ended, so we’re ending it,” Karl answered. “Camden’s becoming a slave-free province.”
“How?!” someone asked while someone else said, “No, it won’t.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Karl said. “Talk amongst yourselves, consult your town directors, talk to your captains and lieutenants. I have no doubt if you put your mind to it, you’ll come up with a workable plan.”
“You can’t make us do that,” the first minister said. “Not if we all refuse.”
“And I won’t try,” Karl said quietly. “No one’s forcing any of you to do anything you don’t want to. All you have to do is submit your resignation and it will no longer be your problem. I’m sure we can find someone else who’ll be willing to assume the duties and responsibilities of minister.”
At that point Joan walked in, so Karl said, “Joan would like to talk to you about another matter,” and sat down.
As soon as Joan reminded the ministers she’d asked them to find out how many of their towns, settlements, and rural areas had no easy access to a Chapel of Light, the grumbling started up again. “Look, I’m not asking you to set up the clinics, or to find aides to staff them. I’ll handle that. All I need from you is the number of clinics your district needs and where they need to be located. Surely you can find the time to get that information together, but if you can’t, ask your wife to do it, or your assistant. All of you have assistants, right? If you can’t get your assistant to do it, ask the army captain to have his lieutenants look into it. I don’t care how you do it, just get it done, but I’m warning you, if you don’t have that information to me by the first of January, you’ll find me on your doorstep one day and I won’t leave until we find someone who can get it done. Do you understand me?”
As the ministers sat in stunned silence, it was all Karl could do not to laugh.
When no one spoke, Joan nodded. “Good. I’m glad we understand each other.” Then she turned to Karl. “Thank you. I’ll hand it back over to you now.”
As Joan left the room, there was an audible sigh of relief.
Karl held up two sheets of paper. “Those of you who would like an appointment with Gen. Crandal need to sign this sheet,” he said as he set it on a table near the left hall door. Then he crossed the room to a table near the right door. “And those who wish to speak with Myron need to sign this one. When you’re done, break for lunch. We’ll meet back in here in two hours.”
~~~~
Monday evening while Chris was scheduling conferences for the next day, Kevin asked him to schedule Ryan, the minister of Ragenon, for first thing Tuesday morning.
“Okay, but he didn’t request a conference so don’t be surprised when he doesn’t show up.”
“Where’s he staying tonight?”
“I don’t know. Petri has that list.”
Kevin wrote a quick note, folded it, and put Ryan’s name on the outside. “Ask Ariel to find Ryan and give him this note.”
Chris frowned as he took the note.
“I want to find out what he knows about where Warren and Torrey are and what they’re doing. Torrey and Ryan’s wife, Sheryl, are close friends. If she’s told anyone the truth, she’s told Sheryl, and if she’s told Sheryl, Ryan knows.”
“Are you going to come right out and ask him?”
“I’ll ask about Colin first, then steer the conversation over to Warren. I’ll have to play it by ear from there, but I’m hoping that given the opening, he’ll tell me what he knows without my having to ask.”
“Good luck with that,” Chris said. “After I give Ariel that note, I’m going to dismiss the pages, shut down the office, and head upstairs. Want anything other than scog?”
Kevin shook his head. “Did you get a chance to check on Nikki?”
Chris nodded. “Marshall was finishing up in the stable when I got out there and Nikki was crashed out in her crate. I don’t know where they went today, but she was worn out. He said they were going home as soon as he was done.”
“Good,” Kevin said as he stood up. “Guess I’ll head out back and play host.”
~~~~
Shortly after breakfast Ryan knocked on Kevin’s open door. “You wanted to see me?”
“Come on in,” Kevin said as he gestured towards the visitors’ chairs in front of his desk. “How are things going with Colin? I haven’t been to Walnut Springs lately.”
Ryan smiled. “He’s doing fine. Everyone loves him. Half the women want to adopt him, the other half want to marry him. He’s gaining respect as a sorcerer now that he’s not standing in Warren’s shadow.”
“Good. I was hoping he would work out.”
“He’s more than worked out. If Warren’s not careful, he’s going to take his place before long.”
“That might not be a bad thing. I think Warren’s hoping Colin will be the district sorcerer by the time he gets home.”
“I don’t know about that.” Ryan leaned back in his chair. “I can’t see Warren giving up being a sorcerer any more than I can see me resigning as minister.”
“There’s a difference between being a sorcerer and being a district sorcerer. I think Warren’s ready to end his career as a district sorcerer, but you’re right, he’ll always be a sorcerer.”
“Is that why you sent him wherever you sent him? To let him be a sorcerer without the responsibility of a district?”
“Yes and no. I needed a topnotch sorcerer for a special assignment, and since Colin was already in Walnut Springs, Warren was a logical choice. That he was ready for something new had more to do with his accepting the position than with my offering it.”
Ryan nodded. “Well, I don’t know what he’s doing, but the couple of times I’ve seen him, he’s been in a terrific mood. Whatever he’s doing suits him, and he’s having a good time. So is Torrey.” Ryan laughed. “And that’s driving my wife crazy. She’s done everything she can to get Torrey to tell her where she is and what they’re doing, but so far Torrey’s answered her questions without telling her anything. Sheryl’s hinted that she wants to go back with Torrey for a visit, but Torrey hasn’t taken the bait. She won’t tell Sheryl anything about the people she’s meeting other than they’re nice and have been helpful, but Sheryl hasn’t been able to find out anything else. One thing I do know, someone Torrey’s met is a really good cook. She brought some sweet buns home with her last time that were wonderful, even better than hers, and I didn’t think anyone could top hers. I hope she remembers to bring Sheryl the recipe. I want some more of those.”
Kevin’s grin spread from ear to ear. “Well, if she doesn’t, let me know. I know who made them and I’ll get you the recipe.”
“Thanks. I’ll hold you to that.” Ryan leaned forward. “Anything else?”
Kevin shook his head. “That was all.”
“Then I’ll let you get on with your day.”
After Ryan left, Chris stepped in. “Find out?”
Kevin nodded. “We’re fine. She’s not talking.”
“Good.” Chris handed Kevin a list of his appointments for the day. “The minister of Lormere, Namir, is your first appointment. Ready to get started?”
Kevin took a deep breath as he looked at the list. “I guess so. Send him in.”
Namir wanted to know where Darwyn
had ended up. “I’ve asked around, but no one’s taken on a new sorcerer lately except Kirken, and he hired Calhoun’s apprentice when Calhoun took Darwyn’s place. I know it’s none of my business, but Darwyn was with us for over ten years, and I consider him a personal friend. I’d like to know where he is so I can make sure he’s all right.”
Kevin bit back a smile. “He’s not in Camden.”
Namir’s eyes widened. “What? Where is he? What did you do with him?”
“He’s fine. I can’t tell you where he is, but he’s enjoying himself. He’s in an isolated area working as the sorcerer for a small settlement. The only way to get there is by key, and as only a handful of us know where they are, they’re perfectly safe.”
“Then why do they need a sorcerer?”
“For building houses, clearing trees, everyday things. I can’t tell you much, but I can tell you he’s warm. He won’t have to deal with snow or ice the whole time he’s there.”
“I want to believe you, but he’s a friend. I want to be sure he’s all right.” Then Namir sighed. “He saved my life five years ago. I’d never forgive myself if he was in a bad situation and I didn’t do something to help him.”
Kevin nodded. “I understand, but I’m afraid you’ll just have to take my word for it that he’s fine. Sorry.”
Namir didn’t look happy when he left the office.
Chris stepped back in and asked, “Everything okay?”
Kevin shrugged. “As okay as it can be, I guess. I’ll fill you in later. Who’s next?”
For the next couple of hours, Kevin saw a steady stream of ministers. Duncan, the minister of Sandifer, wanted an update on the search for the residents of Syrando and to find out if the slavers who attacked Syrando had been captured.
Kirken, the minister of Brystal, dropped by to let Kevin know the sorcerer he’d hired to replace Calhoun, Maury, was working out and to thank him for making it so easy to hire him.
The Rambling Spy Page 5
