Ordermaster

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  The same held for Jeka. If she was still working for Gharan as a weaver, then she was safe. If not, he could scour the city for her-or even all of the West Quadrant-and never find her. As for Sanyle, he hadn’t even known where she had gone before he’d left Brysta.

  Could he employ Erdyl to look around?

  Kharl shook his head. The secretary was likely to be watched in some ways even more closely than Kharl himself, and if Kharl gave any premature indication of interest in his son or the young women, Egen or Lord West would not be above using them against Kharl and Austra, even if they had no idea what the linkage was. Nor would the Hamorians. After Kharl had sent Erdyl on various errands, he might be able to work things in, but not first off. That also meant that, when Kharl acted, he would have to act decisively and quickly.

  He did not sleep well. He woke early, washed, dressed, and ate, then went to his study-library.

  Erdyl was still yawning when Kharl summoned him into the library.

  “Have you eaten yet this morning?”

  “Yes, ser. I just finished. What would you like of me?”

  “You get to scour the hoops,” Kharl said. “The dirty work. Write out a fancy letter to Lord West saying that I’ve just arrived from Valmurl as Lord Ghrant’s appointed envoy to the West Quadrant of Nordla and would like to pay my respects to Lord West and present my credentials to him in person, as is usual and customary.”

  “Ah ... you shouldn’t say it’s usual and customary.”

  “But I can say that I wish to present myself and the credentials in person?”

  “Yes, ser.”

  “Then ... you write it as you think best, and I’ll sign it, and then you get to deliver it. When you do, be charming, but most insistent that Lord West see it. Listen for names. While you’re writing that, I’ll be at the Factors’ Exchange, first, arranging for the transfer of golds to the residence account. After that, we’ll come back. I’ll sign the letter. Then I’ll have the driver take me to the Hall of Justice. I’ll introduce myself as a visiting scholar. The driver can take you to deliver the message, and then come back and find me.”

  “You’re not going alone, ser?”

  “No. I’ll take Undercaptain Demyst. You take either Cevor or Alynar with you.”

  Erdyl nodded. “Yes, ser.”

  “You can use the library here to write out that letter.” Kharl picked up the leather case that held his credentials and the authorizations to draw on the account at the Factors’ Exchange, then walked out into the main foyer, catching sight of himself in one of the full-length mirrors set into the wall. Without the beard, his hair cut short, and wearing the dark gray tunic trimmed in Austran green, and the black jacket, he looked like a different man. Then, in many ways, he was.

  “Fundal!”

  Even before Kharl’s call finished echoing through the main foyer, the steward appeared.

  “Ser?”

  “We’re heading to the Factors’ Exchange. They should be open on fiveday.”

  “Yes, ser. They close on sevenday afternoon and on eightday. You want me to accompany you?”

  “They know you. They don’t know me.”

  “But everyone has heard that a new envoy has arrived from Valmurl.”

  “What else have they heard?”

  “Just that you are a strong supporter of Lord Ghrant and that you were effective in the battles that ended the rebellion.” Kharl looked hard at Fundal. “How would they know that?”

  “Ser ... you are the envoy. Lord Ghrant is the ruler. Anyone he sent would have to be a supporter who had been effective.”

  Kharl could detect no sense of deceit or chaos ... or even something withheld. Still... for some reason, Fundal’s statement bothered him. Was it because everyone who dealt with power would draw similar conclusions? Or that Kharl would have to accept such sharpness, even in secretaries and stewards-and even greater perception among those whom those underlings served? Those thoughts were disturbing enough, and once Lord West and the other envoys heard from their spies in Austra, more would be known about Kharl than he would have preferred.

  “Ser?”

  “Let’s go. The sooner we get this done, the sooner you have the golds to resupply the residence and pay the retainers, and the sooner I can get on to what I need to do.”

  “Ser?”

  “I’m also a scholar of justice. You can tell people that.”

  Fundal’s brow crinkled, but the steward did not say more.

  The trip to the Factors’ Exchange was short, less than a kay downhill and south to an old structure above the now-unused and marshy waters that had once been the back bay. Not all that far from the White Pony, Kharl reflected although it was farther to the east.

  When they alighted from the carriage, Kharl was vaguely surprised to see a pair of Watch patrollers on the opposite corner, wearing maroon- and-blue uniforms of a type he had not seen when he had left Brysta. Yet neither appeared to be watching the Factors’ Exchange.

  At the Exchange, Fundal introduced him to the bursar and head clerk. Kharl produced his credentials and authentications, then transferred one hundred golds from the drawing account into the residence account. At that, Fundal looked noticeably relieved. Kharl hoped the relief was from normal worry, but he resolved to watch the accounts closely.

  By the time they returned to the residence, Erdyl had finished a draft letter, but it took almost a glass before Kharl and Erdyl were both satisfied, and Kharl signed the missive, somewhat more flowery than he would have preferred, but the minimum necessary according to Erdyl.

  Then Kharl and Erdyl set off in the residence carriage, accompanied by Undercaptain Demyst and Cevor.

  Mantar drove at a measured pace. Demyst kept looking out the carriage window.

  Occasionally, Kharl nodded. Mostly, he frowned, especially when he saw the burned-out ruins of what he recalled had been a large factor’s warehouse. He couldn’t remember the factor’s name, because he’d never dealt with the man, but the faint sense of chaos lingering within the burned-out structure bothered him.

  Somehow, the Hall of Justice appeared less imposing than Kharl had remembered it, although it was larger than the Hall in Valmurl. After he stepped out of the carriage, his eyes went to the walled courtyard to his left. Behind those walls, Charee had been hanged, and he had been flogged. The leather case under his arm almost forgotten, Kharl studied the walls for a time. “Ser? Lord Kharl?”

  At the sound of the driver’s voice, Kharl started, then turned. “I’m sorry. Go ahead and attend to Erdyl’s business. We’ll be here for a time, at least several glasses.” “How will I know when to come for you?”

  “The second glass past noon, unless Erdyl needs me sooner.” That was a guess, but as good as any. If he had troubles in getting access to the library, he and Demyst could always walk back to the residence. It wasn’t that far, and Kharl had certainly walked far greater distances without even giving it a thought.

  “Second glass past noon. Yes, ser.”

  As the carriage pulled away, Kharl started for the open double doors. Demyst kept pace with him. Once inside the doors, Kharl paused in the foyer, a good thirty cubits long and half that in width. At the end of the foyer was a single set of double doors, guarded by two patrollers, also in the newer maroon uniforms. Before, when he had been at the Hall, where he had been tried by Reynol, the guards had been armsmen.

  Kharl decided that viewing the justicers inside the Hall of Justice could wait. He needed to get his introductions and begin his studies in the library.

  He had his own plans for Lord Justicer Reynol... and for Egen.

  One of the patroller guards hurried across the foyer.

  Kharl turned and fixed the man, a good head shorter than he was, with his eyes. The guard stopped. “Blades, weapons are not allowed in the Hall, ser ... ?”

  “This is Lord Kharl, the Austran envoy to Brysta,” Demyst announced, his hand on the hilt of his sabre.

  Before the guard could prote
st, Kharl cleared his throat. “We’re not going into the Hall itself. I’m here to see the lord justicers’ chief clerk.”

  “Fasyn is the overclerk, ser. His chamber is on the upper level, off the front stairs. I suppose the blade would be all right there .. . but not in the Hall itself.”

  “Thank you,” Kharl said politely. He turned toward the narrow staircase to the left, a stairwell he had not even noticed when he had been in the Hall before.

  “No blades...” murmured the other guard to the one who had stopped Kharl.

  “Austran lord ... says ... envoy to Lord West... you want to tell him?”

  “So long as he doesn’t bring it into the Hall...”

  “. .. what I say ...”

  At the top of the staircase was a long and narrow foyer. The first chamber held a table desk piled with papers and volumes, but no one was within. Kharl moved to the doorway of the second.

  An older man with sunken cheeks and jowls looked up from the narrow table set against the right sidewall.

  “Yes?”

  “You’re Chief Clerk Fasyn?”

  “None other, ser.” ,

  “I’m Lord Kharl. I’m here from Austra to study the records. Lord Hagen felt that such a measure would be useful.” “Lord Hagen?”

  “He’s Lord Ghrant’s new lord-chancellor.”

  Undercaptain Demyst cleared his throat. “Lord Kharl tends to be too modest. He is also the Austran envoy to the West Quadrant.” The elderly man rose, almost laboriously. “An envoy and a lord from Austra, up here?”

  “I am also a scholar of the law, in a fashion,” Kharl said. “I have letters from the Lord Justicer of Austra.” He opened the leather case and extracted the heavy envelope.

  “Most properly, that should go to one of lord justicers ... ser.”

  “I’m sure that your hands are most trustworthy.” Kharl smiled.

  Fasyn opened the envelope and began to read. Then he looked up. “Most unusual... only seen one other of these, and that was years back, some young captain from Certis. He only stayed an eightday or so.”

  “I’m likely to be here far longer than that.” The elderly man studied Kharl. “What exactly are you looking for, ser?”

  “The divergence in case law over the past three centuries, particularly in how it defines the role of the lord justicers.” Kharl was very glad for the study with Jusof. He hadn’t even known of legal divergence.

  “So ... this Lord Hagen wants greater control over his justicers.” Fasyn laughed, with almost a cackling sound.

  Kharl smiled politely. “I would not be so bold as to make such a guess.”

  “I’m sure you wouldn’t.” After a moment, the clerk added, “Lord or not, ser, you’ll need to sign the scholars’ register.” He took a bound volume from the shelf beside him, opened it, and extended it, nodding toward the inkpot and pen on the forward part of the desk.

  Kharl wrote “Kharl of Cantyl, Austra.”

  The clerk took the book back and read. “Are those lands yours, or is that where you’re from?”

  “They’re mine.”

  “Well. .. Lord Kharl, we’ll do what we can to help you.”

  “You must be kept busy, Fasyn.”

  “At times ... at times. What volumes ... or cases ... do you wish first?”

  “Is there an interpretive guide that outlines current procedures? I would like to review that, if it exists. That way, I will not be led into false assumptions.”

  “There aren’t that many differences ... Both Austran and Nordlan justicer codes derive from the Code of Cyad .. . the same as Lydiar and Delapra. They’re so close that sometimes merchanters, in civil cases, tariff adjustments and claims, you understand, they bring in their own advocates.” “Could they do so in criminal cases?”

  “There’s no bar to that.” Fasyn tilted his head. “I don’t know that it’s been done in years. You have someone ... ?”

  “No. I just thought that, as an envoy, it might be useful, if the matter ever came up.” Kharl smiled politely. “About the guide?”

  “Oh ... yes, there is a guide of sorts. It’s incomplete. My predecessor did not finish it... but there are a number of precedents, established since . .. still...”

  Kharl waited.

  “I cannot imagine that there are significant differences, though ...”

  Kharl smiled apologetically. “Small differences in past years can lead...”

  “You advocates ...” The clerk shook his head. “We’ll go into the library. There’s a table in the middle of the back wall. It’s handy to most of what would be of the greatest interest to you.”

  Kharl followed Fasyn, as did Demyst, his hand still on the hilt of his sabre, his eyes checking every shadow in the ancient and musty library.

  Unlike the library in the Hall of Justice in Valmurl, there was not a single advocate or student in the library.

  “If you would wait a moment...” Fasyn walked slowly around one of the freestanding shelves and toward a locked cabinet. From the ring on his belt he took a small key and unlocked the cabinet, extracting a folder and a thick volume bound in faded green leather. After relocking the cabinet, he carried both back, setting them on the table.

  He looked to Kharl. “The folder here holds Ghasad’s guide. It is not complete, as I said ... and here is the Code of Cyad. It’s not original, course, but it is the first-the only-version, and it’s a copy. The original, well, it would be more than a thousand years old, more like seventeen hundred, really, but every new chief clerk has it copied, and I am most certain it is accurate. The first part has the original Cyadoran text. Most of you don’t know that, but the translation is in part two, and it’s an honest transcription. Honest, but awkward.” Fasyn smiled.

  “You must be one of the few that know Cyadoran,” Kharl said.

  “There are not many, and fewer every year.”

  Kharl looked at the folder, then at the ancient volume. Would they help in his plans, or would they be little more than a cover? He could only read them and see.

  LVIII

  Again, Kharl, Demyst, and Erdyl ate the evening meal together, using but one end of the long table in the formal dining chamber. Supper was a stew, although Khelaya, the cook, had called it ratouyl. To Kharl, it was a stew, and not bad, but not so good as what Adelya had prepared. Khelaya’s brown bread was good, and that helped.

  “Tell me again how you were received.” Kharl took a swallow of his ale, then a last bite of the bread.

  “I presented myself and was shown to Mihalen, Lord West’s secretary.” Erdyl broke off a chunk of bread, then passed the silver bread tray to Demyst. “He was pleasant, but not warm. He left me in his chamber for several moments while he went into the adjoining study to talk with someone else. The door was ajar when he walked in, and I caught the name ... I thought he said Lord Osten.”

  “It might have been,” Kharl said. “Osten is Lord West’s older son. The youngest is Egen. There’s another one, I think, an overcaptain, but no one talks much about him. Does something with the tariff farmers, or he did several years ago.” Kharl couldn’t help frowning. Was Osten making decisions for Lord West? What was Egen doing? He pushed those thoughts away. He needed to know more. “What did they say?”

  “I couldn’t hear any more because they closed the door, and I didn’t want to get up and try to listen through the door itself. Mihalen came back and said that he expected that Lord West would receive you formally within the eightday, but that it had been noted that you were the representative and envoy for Lord Ghrant. He asked me to convey Lord West’s greetings and welcome.” Erdyl shrugged. “That was all that happened.” Abruptly, he looked down. “What is it?”

  “I am most sorry, Lord Kharl. I had forgotten. There is a missive. I left it on your desk in the library. I was told that it contained an invitation for you to have refreshments with the Sarronnese envoy on threeday afternoon.

  I’m most sorry, ser. I meant to tell you as soon as you returned this after
noon.”

  “That’s all right.” Kharl smiled. “A few glasses’ delay won’t matter.” Sarronnyn? That was one of the northwestern lands in Candar. Kharl thought it was one of the places that still followed the Legend. The ruler was called the Tyrant, or something like that. But why would he get such an invitation so quickly?

  “If it is an invitation,” Erdyl said, “you will need to send an acceptance.”

  “First thing in the morning, then.” ‘ i

  “Yes, ser.”

  “What do you think of Brysta?” Kharl looked to his secretary, then to the undercaptain.

  “Sort of... old ... run-down,” offered Demyst. “Didn’t see many ships in the harbor. Not when we ported. Looked at the docks from the hillside yesterday, and there weren’t any more, either. Valmurl’s smaller, and there are more ships in the harbor, all the time.”

  Kharl had noticed the same, but he just nodded. “What struck you, Erdyl?”

  The young secretary swallowed, then blushed, but did not speak. “Erdyl?”

  “Well... ser.” He swallowed again. “I didn’t see any girls out. Not any young women.

  Most places I’ve been, at least in Austra, you see a few.” ・

  Kharl frowned. Now that Erdyl had mentioned that, he couldn’t recall seeing any younger women, either.

  “I say something wrong, ser?” ‘

  “Oh, no. I think you’re right. I just hadn’t thought that way.” Was he getting old before his time, not noticing comely young women? Did dealing with order do that?

  “More than a few Watch patrollers out, too,” added Demyst. “In pairs, mostly.”

  More patrollers and no young women, Kharl reflected. That suggested that matters were not well, but, again, in what fashion he could not say. “Anything else that either of you saw or thought about?”