Assassin's Price

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  At Alastar’s blank look, Charyn realized that there were some things that the knowledgeable Maitre didn’t know. He laughed softly, and said, “I actually have a factor’s account at the L’Excelsis Factors’ Exchange.”

  “I think the joint council may be in for more surprises than they expected from you.”

  “I’ll try to keep them from being unpleasant.”

  A quint passed, and Charyn heard nothing. After another half quint, he walked to the base of the ornate black marble staircase and called, “Marshal! Perhaps you should check on my aunt.”

  Before long, the marshal descended the black marble staircase. He stopped before Charyn, looking coldly at the rex. “She hung herself, but I think she took poison as well. Her body was contorted and damp.”

  Charyn returned the look with one even more frigid. “Don’t ever look at me again that way, Marshal. Doryana and Ryel were behind the last High Holders’ revolt as well as behind this. They would have broken Solidar into pieces in their efforts to control everything and to destroy my mother, myself, and the rest of the family. I did what was necessary when no one else would or could.”

  Vaelln stiffened.

  “Isn’t that what a rex is for, Marshal? To do what he must for his land?” Charyn’s voice was pleasant, not that he felt that way. “I won’t speak of this again. I trust you won’t, either. You’re a good man and a good marshal, and I couldn’t have done what needed to be done without your help and that of Maitre Alastar.”

  Vaelln looked to Alastar.

  The Maitre nodded. “He’s right, Vaelln. In everything he said. It’s best to leave it at that.”

  Vaelln’s face lost some of its stiffness.

  That was likely the best Charyn could hope for. “We’ll need to collect the letter Aunt Doryana wrote, as well as Karyel and Iryella, and allow the staff to deal with the memorial arrangements, modest as they must be.”

  He turned and started for the staircase. Alastar accompanied him. Vaelln did not.

  Charyn wanted to ask Alastar if he’d overreacted with Vaelln, but decided against it. That would be looking for approval.

  The trooper at the door to Doryana’s rooms just said, “In the dressing room, sir.”

  Charyn stopped by the table desk in the sitting room. There was indeed a letter there, very simply stating that in the event of her untimely death, Doryana’s wish was that the guardianship of her grandchildren be exercised by Chelia D’Lorien, widow of Rex Lorien.

  Charyn took the letter, and then he and Alastar went into the dressing room.

  Doryana had simply used a chair to tie a long silk sash around the heavy cornice of the tall and massive wardrobe in her dressing chamber. Then she’d fastened it around her neck and kicked the chair out from under herself. The wardrobe hadn’t even moved. Doryana’s contorted face was tinted grayish blue. The sight wasn’t pleasant, but it was far less gruesome than the remains of the courier trapped with his explosives inside Howal’s shields.

  “You thought she would,” offered Alastar.

  “I forced her to. The last thing she would have wanted was confirmed public disgrace. Without a trial, that won’t happen.”

  “A trial would have made your position seem fairer.”

  “For a short time, perhaps. But then I would have been seen as vindictive if I seized the holding, and weak if I’d returned it to Karyel.”

  “You think so?”

  “Do you think otherwise after all that’s happened in the past two months?” Charyn shook his head. “We need to tell her grandchildren.”

  “You’re going to tell them?”

  “Who else?”

  Less than a quint later Charyn stood in the receiving study as Alastar ushered in Karyel and Iryella. From what Charyn recalled, Karyel was fourteen, Iryella twelve. Karyel didn’t look that much like his grandfather, although he did have sandy blond hair, but his eyes were brown and his face narrower. Iryella looked much the way Charyn thought his mother might have as a girl, with bright blond hair and wide-spaced deep blue eyes.

  “This is Rex Charyn,” Alastar said, stepping back as the two young people stopped short of Charyn. “He has some things to tell you both.”

  “Karyel, Iryella … something’s happened to your grandmother.”

  “Did you kill her?” demanded the youth. “She said you hated her and Grandfather.”

  “No. She killed herself rather than face trial for helping to kill my father and trying to kill me. Your grandfather did the same earlier today.”

  “You killed them.”

  “I did not,” replied Charyn, “but I might as well have because they were guilty, and they knew it. They didn’t want to face the disgrace of a trial before the High Justicer.” Later they could find out all the reasons.

  “You admit it?”

  “My father was killed by the orders of your grandfather. Five times people have tried to kill me by his orders. That’s murder and treason.” Charyn kept his voice absolutely firm, but not cold.

  Karyel looked shocked. “They wouldn’t do that.”

  “They did. There’s proof of that.”

  Karyel looked sideways to Alastar.

  “There is, unhappily,” said the Maitre.

  Karyel stood there.

  “What will happen to us?” asked Iryella.

  “Your grandmother asked that your great-aunt, my mother, be your guardian. Karyel, when you are older, you will hold the lands of your grandfather. You are already High Holder Ryel, but right now you can only run those lands through Lady Chelia. For the moment, you will accompany us to the Chateau D’Rex where you will live for a time.”

  “Can we go back to Rivages?” asked Iryella.

  “Not right now. That will be up to Lady Chelia, but I’m certain that it will not be that long before you can return there.”

  “And I’ll be High Holder?” asked Karyel.

  “Yes, but for the next few years, anything you do must be approved by Lady Chelia,” said Charyn. “You’ll be coming to the chateau with Maitre Alastar and me now. We’ll send for your things.” He had the feeling that Karyel was all too like his grandfather, but time would tell, and perhaps his mother could change some of that. Perhaps.

  68

  The coach ride back to the Chateau D’Rex was largely silent, and as soon as everyone was out of the coach in the rear courtyard, Charyn sent the driver and a guard back to the Collegium to pick up Palenya. Then, leaving his charges with Howal in the study, he walked back down to see Alastar off.

  The Maitre was in the rear courtyard about to mount when Charyn appeared.

  “I’m sorry that I’ve taken most of your day,” Charyn offered.

  “I cannot say I regret it,” replied Alastar. “You appear to have matters under control.”

  “We’ll see.” Charyn smiled pleasantly. “You helped me, quietly, but you still owe this family.”

  Alastar offered a faint smile. “What else do you need?”

  “I need nothing at present. I want a favor.”

  Alastar frowned.

  “I want you to appoint Palenya as master musician of the Collegium Imago. Permanently. With suitable quarters.”

  Alastar’s frown vanished, and he smiled. “Maitre Alyna would be pleased with that. At any time following next Lundi she would be more than welcome to move to quarters at the Collegium.”

  “I see you anticipated me.”

  Alastar shook his head. “Alyna did. She and Palenya have talked quite a bit over the last week.”

  “Thank you.” Even as he spoke the words, Charyn could feel a cold sense of gloom creeping over him, a feeling that remained with him as he headed back upstairs to Chelia’s sitting room.

  As he stepped into the chamber, Chelia looked up from where she sat at the desk. “You didn’t tell me.”

  “No, I didn’t. I had to get to the Chateau D’Council before Doryana heard and destroyed the evidence that she and Uncle Ryel were behind the assassination and all the att
acks.”

  “I take it you were successful. Where is Doryana dear?”

  “Dead. She went to gather a few things and took poison, and then hanged herself.”

  “She always did have a tendency to overdo things.”

  “Her death has left you with a slight problem,” Charyn said quietly.

  “Me?” Chelia raised her eyebrows.

  “Doryana left a letter naming you as Karyel and Iryella’s guardian.”

  “I doubt she did that of her own free will.”

  “You know that Uncle poisoned himself to avoid going before a High Justicer. If he had, I could have seized his holding. The lands then went to Doryana, as guardian of Karyel. She was part of the plot. She was the one who actually wrote the threatening notes. She has a very precise script, even in standard merchant hand. The seal ring hidden in her bookcase matches the seal on many of the envelopes containing the threats.” Charyn shrugged. “I did point out to her that if a High Justicer found her guilty of complicity in treason I could and would seize the holding.”

  “You still could have returned it to the heirs after her death,” said Chelia.

  “I could, but that would have put a blot on the holding. Also, everyone would remember that I seized the lands, and not that I returned them. Also, if I didn’t seize them, then everyone would think I was weak. This way … I have no choice but to allow the lands to succeed to Karyel. When he is of age.”

  “My father would be proud of you.”

  Charyn winced.

  “So am I,” Chelia went on. “For different reasons. You suggested me as guardian, didn’t you?”

  “I thought you’d be fair. I also thought that, if anyone could, you might be able to change Karyel for the better. He’s more arrogant than I ever was.”

  “You’re not asking much,” she said sardonically.

  Charyn forced a grin. “It will give you something meaningful to do, and it’s something I would end up handing over to you if I’d been named as guardian, because you’d do it better.”

  “I never thought I’d go back to Rivages,” she mused. “Now, after winter, I suppose I must.”

  “I hope that won’t be too much of a travail.” Charyn hadn’t thought of that.

  “I will make many changes.”

  “Whatever you see fit to do.”

  “And I will insist on handling the regial balls until you find someone who is suitable to you personally to marry.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Charyn frowned. “There is one thing that bothers me. Ryel wanted us all dead. The one thing that doesn’t fit is that Churwyl could easily have killed Bhayrn. That would have made it easier for High Holder Regial to succeed as rex. But Ryel obviously instructed Churwyl not to kill Bhayrn.”

  “You’re missing one thing, dear,” said Chelia. “Brother dear was more devious than that. He didn’t want Bhayrn dead. Not immediately. He wanted Bhayrn to succeed you because Bhayrn would need a regent, and no woman can act as a regent, and as head of the High Council…”

  Charyn nodded, but he also realized that, because Bhayrn acted before he thought, before long, no one would be that displeased if some accident befell Bhayrn, and no one would likely have ever connected Ryel to the attacks because he would have been an excellent regent for Bhayrn … until …

  Chelia’s face became more serious. “Palenya?”

  “I’ve talked to Maitre Alastar. He and Maitre Alyna will be offering her a position as master musician to the Collegium, along with suitable quarters. I’d thought to supplement that with a stipend, the way chateau guards are when they’ve served faithfully. I haven’t told her yet, obviously.”

  “Don’t drag it out, dear. It won’t be fair to her nor good for you.”

  Charyn knew that, but he didn’t want to talk about it at the moment. “I need to take you to see Karyel and Iryella. They’re in my study with Howal.”

  “Of course.” Chelia immediately rose.

  Charyn realized, belatedly, that he had been standing the entire time since entering the sitting room. He moved to the door and held it for his mother.

  Once they were in the corridor, she asked, “What do they know?”

  “I told them that both their grandparents arranged Father’s assassination and the attacks on me and the regial family, and that when proof appeared, they took their lives to avoid public disgrace.”

  “That was all?”

  “I did say that there was a great deal of proof. Other than that … no.”

  “Don’t tell Bhayrn any more than that, either.”

  “I hadn’t planned on it.”

  “Good.”

  Moencriff opened the study door when Charyn and Chelia approached, then closed it behind them.

  Both Karyel and Iryella were seated at the conference table, but immediately stood when they saw Charyn. Both appeared very subdued.

  “This is the Lady Chelia … and my mother,” Charyn said. “She is your guardian, under the protection of the rex.” He added the last words just to emphasize Chelia’s authority.

  “You both have been through a great deal,” Chelia offered warmly. “We need to get you settled here—at least until the weather is warm enough that we can safely return to Rivages. I thought we’d begin by deciding which rooms would be suitable for each of you, and then, if you’re feeling better, I’ll show you the chateau so that you can get to know your way around.”

  She smiled. “Shall we go?”

  From where he stood beside his desk, Charyn watched as Iryella immediately moved toward Chelia, followed more slowly by Karyel.

  Once the door closed, Howal moved toward Charyn. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you, sir. You got a dispatch directly from Sea Marshal Tynan. It’s on the corner of the desk. Also, all of the materials you used at the meeting are in your second drawer. I didn’t want to leave them out.”

  “Thank you.” A direct dispatch meant trouble. What else? Charyn picked up the envelope, opened it, extracted the dispatch, and began to read.

  Your Grace—

  In view of your immediate and pressing interest in Regional Governor Voralch, I am sending this directly to you with a copy to Marshal Vaelln.

  As soon as we received orders to place the governor in custody, I immediately sent a detachment of naval marines, under the command of Major Helsior, to the temporary residence of the governor. The major learned that Voralch had departed the previous day. Further inquiries revealed that he sailed aboard an Abiertan vessel—Maid of the Isles—the very day he left the residence. He also took with him the majority of the golds previously held in the Regional Governor’s account at the Banque D’Solis, which he had withdrawn under the pretext of needing to make a deposit on a new governor’s residence. Several crates belonging to him were also reported as being loaded onto the Abiertan vessel. It is probable that they contained valuables taken from the ancient palace …

  Charyn shook his head. He wordlessly handed the dispatch to Howal. You should have relieved him immediately. Another lesson learned too late.

  As he stood and walked to the window, where he pulled back the hangings and looked out into the courtyard, he supposed that ruling would always be a balance between patience and decisive swift action—and gaining the wisdom to know what problem required which approach.

  Abruptly, he turned. “I’ll be back in a bit. I need to go to the kitchen and make some arrangements.” Then he stopped. “There’s no reason for you to stay around here, Howal. Go get some rest or food. Or take a mount and go back to the Collegium for the night.”

  “I’d feel better staying at the chateau, but it has been a long day.”

  Charyn grinned. “Go. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Howal grinned back.

  Charyn waited for him to leave, then told Moencriff, “I’ll be back before long.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  When he returned from the kitchen and talking to Hassala, he had no more entered the study than Bhayrn appear
ed, moving inside even as Moencriff announced him.

  “Your guard wouldn’t let me wait in the study for you.”

  “That might be because they have orders not to let anyone in the study when I’m not there,” replied Charyn. “What do you have in mind?”

  “How could you even think of letting Mother foster those brats? How? After what their grandfather did?”

  “That’s exactly why she is. Do you want one of Ryel’s sisters or daughters doing it … with how they must hate us?”

  “I still don’t see why you didn’t seize their holding and be done with it.”

  “Because I can’t under the law. They have to be convicted of treason or high crimes. Why on Terahnar do you think they both killed themselves?”

  Bhayrn was silent for a moment. “They can get away with that?”

  “If you call killing yourself getting away with something, yes, they can. If you read the histories, it’s happened more than once.”

  “But in the High Holder revolt…”

  “If both father and heir take up arms in revolt, that’s considered equivalent to conviction before a High Justicer. But it has to be both. That’s why Father’s brother’s son is still High Holder Regial.”

  “Oh … sometimes the laws are stupid. You should change them.”

  “I have changed a few already. There will be more. Is there anything else?”

  “By next week, can I go riding…?”

  “By all means, if you wish to freeze, but I’d suggest the coach.”

  “Most humorous…”

  After Bhayrn left, Charyn moved to the window where he could watch for the coach returning Palenya while he thought over the day, wondering what he might have missed that he should have done.

  There’s bound to be something.

  CODA

  Mardi morning Charyn woke early, well before Palenya. In the grayness before true dawn, knowing that she would be gone before long, he let his eyes run across her face, taking in the fine, but disarrayed dark hair, even the tiny lines running from the corners of her eyes, her thin but well-formed lips, and the angle of her high cheekbones. He had insisted on spending the majority of the last five days, and all the nights, with her, including long glasses trying to perfect his playing of Farray’s Nocturne Number Three, but now he had little more than a glass before she would be gone.