Ordermaster

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  He leaned back, trying to recall the road.

  After a time, he folded his crude map, uncertain that he had accomplished anything.

  Then there was Jeka. According to Erdyl, she was still with Gharan. What should he do there? He hadn’t been able to do anything for Jenevra and Charee, and they were dead. He’d tried to talk Arthal out of leaving, but his older son had been far too stubborn-like his father. He’d been too late to save Warrl, and Warrl had asked the very least of him.

  He put his head in his hands. Why Warrl? He’d been only a child. He couldn’t have hurt Egen. He was too gentle to have hurt anyone.

  After a time, Kharl lifted his head. He had to look ahead. He couldn’t undo what was done. What could he do for Jeka? Or Gharan? Did he have to do anything immediately?

  LXXII

  As he rose from the breakfast table on oneday, Kharl turned to Erdyl. “I’ll be going out. I want to take another tour along Crafters’ Lane.”

  “Do you want me to come?” The secretary scrambled to his feet. “I’ll only be a moment.”

  “No. Not this time. Demyst will come with me. You’d said that the assistant to the Sarronnese envoy ...”

  “Jemelya.”

  “She said that she’d be happy to meet with you after I met with Envoy Luryessa. I think you should meet with her. Don’t tell her about how far we went or about the fort and the quarries, but mention the gray stone road- and the new patroller barracks on the

  south side of Brysta- and the lancer drills. See what her reaction is.”

  “She’s very sharp, ser.”

  “So is the envoy,” Kharl replied dryly. He had the feeling that everyone was smarter than he was, and it wasn’t the most cheering of thoughts.

  “Do you want me to have Mantar ready the carriage, ser?” asked Demyst, rising from the table.

  “Please. I’ll be washing up, then in the library.” Kharl forced a smile he did not feel before turning and heading up to his quarters. He had not slept all that long and certainly not that well. He’d dreamed of Warrl, a nightmare about what had befallen his son, and he’d been trying to reach him, and had never gotten close enough.

  He felt as though everywhere he went, unrest and chaos followed. Or was he bound to follow trouble? Was it him, or just circumstances? He laughed softly, wryly. Did it matter?

  He washed quickly, then donned a lighter black jacket, also trimmed in Austran green, to go with the silver shirt. He made his way down to the library. Enelya was in the front hall, dusting the pair of portraits on the inside wall.

  “Good morning, Enelya.”

  “Good mornin’, Lord Kharl.” Her eyes did not meet his.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “I’ve been sleeping. Wasn’t doing much of that for more ‘n few eight-days. Khelaya’s teaching me to cook the better stuff, too.”

  “Good.” He paused. “That’s if you like it.”

  “Can’t be a tavern server forever, specially not here.”

  Kharl smiled and stepped into the library. It was clear she didn’t associate him with the ragged beggar who had bribed food from her almost a year earlier. Would Jeka or Gharan recognize him? There was only one way to find out.

  Less than a quarter glass later, he and Demyst were seated in the carriage, riding through another warm and cloudless morning that promised to become a sweltering day.

  “Are we looking for something special like, ser?” asked the undercap-tain.

  “In a way... I want to talk to the weaver-Gharan. He might have some cloth I’d like to buy and ship to Cantyl. I’ll have to see. He’s had some before that I liked.” Kharl had liked some of what Gharan had woven, but he’d never been able to afford much, and some of it Charee had not liked at all. So, for one reason or another, he’d bought little from his former neighbor, and that had nagged at him as well.

  As Mantar brought the carriage to a halt outside Gharan’s shop, Kharl swallowed. Was he doing the right thing? How would he know? He’d waited far too long with Warrl. He shook his head. It wouldn’t have mattered. Yet, no matter how much he told himself that, he still felt that he had caused Warrl’s death. He wasn’t certain, and probably wouldn’t be, ever, what else he could have done-except confess to a murder he hadn’t committed. If he had just let himself be hanged .. . then his consort and children might still be alive.

  .. . and Ghrant and his consort and children would be dead, and Hamor would hold all of Ausrra . ..

  “Ser . .. we’re here.” Demyst’s voice was apologetic as he opened the carriage door and stepped out, holding the door for Kharl.

  “I’m sorry. I was just thinking ...” Forcing a smile, Kharl eased his frame through the narrow doorway. The faintest breath of wind swirled around him, then died away. “I’d like you to remain here and guard the carriage and the doorway, if you would.” “Are you sure that’s wise?”

  “I’m not certain that anything is wise anymore.” Kharl studied the entrance to the weaver’s shop. The door was half-open to catch what vagrant morning breezes there might be.

  He squared his shoulders and stepped into the shop, past the racks just inside that showed four separate wool patterns. One was a variation on what was considered the “Brystan” design, a plaid of burgundy and blue, with faint lines of black. Beyond the display racks was the open main room that held the looms. There were three, one more than when he had left Brysta.

  Gharan hurried away from his loom. “Ser? How might we help you?”

  “It’s me, Gharan. Kharl. The cooper.”

  The weaver’s mouth opened. Then he closed it, and shook his head.

  “My secretary was here last threeday. He asked you about the cotton cloth used for the patrollers’ uniforms.”

  “He said ... he said that he worked for the Austran envoy .. .”

  Kharl grinned. “He does. He works for me. A lot’s happened in the last year.” He tried to look beyond Gharan without being too obvious, but neither Amy la nor Jeka had looked up from their looms. “It’d be true then . .. that... that you’re a lord? An Austran lord? Ser?”

  “It is.” Kharl’s lips curled. “I took a position as a subofficer- after a while-on an Austran ship-the Seastag. Her captain was a lord, and he ended up as the lord-chancellor of Austra.”

  “A real lord ...” Gharan shook his head. “Hard to believe.”

  “It’s true. But I’m the same Kharl who gave you the silvers to try Jeka as a weaver, and you’re the same man who warned me to flee before Egen got his patrollers after me.”

  “Egen . .. he’ll never forget,” Gharan said.

  “He won’t expect to see me as the Austran envoy, or without a beard. You’re the only one who knows.”

  The weaver looked down for a moment. “And you’re telling me?”

  “I owe you-and Jeka-too much to deceive you. Besides, I always wanted to buy some of your wool, but I never could afford it before.” Kharl smiled. “You had a pattern of dark and light green. I always wanted a set of blankets out of that.”

  “The green grid pattern.” Gharan laughed. “Charee .. .” His face stiffened. “I’m sorry ... I didn’t mean.”

  “I know you didn’t. She never liked it. I’d also like you to design a pattern for me, for my lands.”

  “Lands, too?”

  “Some. Will you do it?”

  “Why did you come back? If Egen finds out...”

  “He’s not likely to.” Kharl wasn’t so sure about that, but there was no point in telling Gharan that. “If he does, he does. I came back to get Warrl.. . and to see about some other things.” “How are your boys?”

  Kharl shook his head. “Arthal was killed when a Hamorian warship sank the Fleuryl. Egen, some way or another, killed Warrl... and Charee’s sister and her family. That’s another reason why I’m here.”

  “Kharl... Lord Kharl... I’m sorry.”

  “Kharl... just Kharl.”

  “You’re an envoy? Really?”

  Kharl nodded.
“How is Jeka?”

  “Do you want her to know?”

  “She saved my life. She can keep a secret.”

  Gharan grinned. “You’d best tell her yourself.” He turned. “Jeka... please to come here.”

  From behind the second loom appeared a gaminelike face, but the face was framed by longer hair, and set above blue trousers and shirt. She walked toward the two men briskly. Her steps slowed as her eyes took in Kharl.

  He watched her closely, amazed at the transformation from an urchin boy to a woman.

  “Cooper .. . Master Kharl...”

  “He’s Lord Kharl of Austra, now,” Gharan said. With the slightest of winks, he stepped away, moving toward the back room. “I’ll be getting that pattern book. Might take me a while. Amyla ... I’ll need you.”

  The weaver and his consort left Kharl and Jeka standing in the loom room, alone.

  “Master Kharl.. . you’d be looking far better dressed .. .” Jeka looked down abruptly.

  “You look ...” He wanted to say “beautiful,” but only could come up with “good.” He hadn’t realized how green her eyes were, or how lustrous her sandy hair. He’d also forgotten how tiny she was, her head not even to his shoulder. “So do you.” Her eyes flashed. “Why’d you come here?”

  “I owe you. Without you, I’d never have lasted until the Seastag ported.” He found himself moistening his lips.

  “You’re a real lord?”

  “Yes. With lands. I’m also the envoy from Lord Ghrant of Austra to Lord West.”

  “What you do want from me?”

  Kharl almost laughed. Jeka was still Jeka, fierce and independent as ever.

  “You’re not saying. You think golds and lands make a difference?”

  He did understand what she meant. “Not that way. I’m not here ...” He wasn’t quite certain how to say what he meant without being condescending on the one hand or crude on the other. “I’d never be like Egen or his type.”

  Her expression softened, but only slightly. “Why?”

  “Because ...” he swallowed. “Everyone I left. .. even if I had to ... they’re all dead-except Sanyle, I think, but she got away, the scrivener said.”

  “Your boys?”

  Kharl nodded.

  “Egen?”

  “Warrl and his aunt. Arthal was on a ship the Hamorians sank.”

  Jeka shook her head slowly. “Shoulda stayed with you.”

  “I had to make sure you were all right.”

  “I’m fine. Better ‘n a long time.”

  “I’m glad.” He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he’d never touched her, except to break the bonds of the white wizard.

  Their eyes met, hers fierce like those of an untamed hawk. “You see me. Now what?”

  Another good question, and one he didn’t have an answer for, not that he wanted to state. “I worried about you so much,” he finally said. “I didn’t think much beyond that.”

  She laughed, not loudly, but almost melodically, and he realized that he’d never heard her laugh. He liked the sound.

  “I’m not your daughter. Won’t be a plaything, either.”

  “I know.”

  “Need to think about it. You’re a lord. Me, I’m a weaver girl.” She smiled wryly. “Amyla helped me finish learning my letters. I wanted to write a letter to Enelya. Don’t dare go near the White Pony, but wanted her to know I was still safe. Probably Selda’d have to read it to her.”

  “Enelya was hiding from Egen behind Werwal’s place. We found her. She’s working in the kitchen at the envoy’s residence. She’s got a good room...”

  “You collecting playthings?”

  “No.” For some reason, her question hurt.

  Jeka looked down. “Sorry. Wasn’t fair. You saved a lot of us.”

  “I didn’t want Egen to get her. I’ve got guards and a staff there. She’s learning to cook from Khelaya.” Kharl paused. “She doesn’t know who I am. She thinks I heard about her from a nameless old beggar who was with you. An old beggar.” His last words were dry.

  Jeka laughed once more. “You’re older ‘n us.”

  He was. That was true, but he didn’t feel that old.

  “You did leave in an awful hurry, too.”

  He almost missed the teasing sound in her voice. “You would have, too, in my boots.”

  “Never had boots. What you going to do ‘bout pissprick Egen?”

  “Whatever I have to,” Kharl said. “He’s not in Brysta right now, from what I’ve been able to find out.” After a moment, he added, “Things are going to get bad here in Brysta, before too long.”

  “Gharan and Amyla and me, we wondered ‘bout that. Lots of Hamori-ans around, and those patrollers are mean bastards, just like Egen.” Her chin set, and her green eyes hardened. “You still got that staff?”

  “No. I’ve learned how to do some of that without it.”

  Her eyes took in the black jacket and trousers, as well as the black boots. “Thought you might be a mage.”

  “Not a full mage, but enough to do some things.”

  “More ‘n a few, I’d wager.”

  “Enough.”

  They stood there, looking at each other, and Kharl had no idea what else to say. He didn’t want to leave her, and yet... in some ways, he knew her better than any woman, and in others not at all.

  “Ah.. .”

  At the sound of Gharan’s voice, Kharl turned.

  “You did mention the blankets and a pattern ...”

  Kharl smiled. “I did, and I meant it.” He glanced at Jeka. “You stay here.”

  “Me?”

  “You’ll tell me exactly what you think, and since I don’t have a consort or a sister ...”

  “No playthings ...” Jeka’s words were half-playful, half-warning.

  “No playthings,” Kharl agreed.

  Gharan glanced uneasily from the lord to the weaver girl, then back to Kharl. “Here’s the pattern book, and this one here is one I never wove for no one.”

  Jeka shook her head.

  “It has to be black and green,” Kharl added, “and the green should be close to the Austran green ...”

  “Not thin-fancy, either,” suggested Jeka. “Lord Kharl’s a solid type. Pattern needs to be solid, too.”

  Kharl wasn’t certain he liked Jeka calling him Lord Kharl. Then, he wasn’t certain about much of anything where she was concerned. But he did owe Gharan, and he did need new fabric for some of the chairs and some new linens.

  As for Jeka, he needed to think, and he couldn’t do that with her so close to him.

  LXXIII

  Once he returned to the residence, Kharl went to the library to await Erdyl’s return from the Sarronnese envoy’s. He and Gharan-and Jeka- had worked out a pattern for Cantyl-one that could be woven in linen or wool. Kharl had ordered forty yards, in various weights and fabrics-enough to reupholster the not-quite-threadbare chairs in the dining room. Doubtless it was an extravagance of sorts, but Gharan had stood by him when few had.

  As for Jeka .. .

  Kharl walked to the window overlooking the garden. He shook his head. He’d forgotten her eyes ... and her directness. It didn’t matter to her that he was now a lord, and she’d suggested from the beginning that he was more than a cooper. Her insight and directness-those he had missed. And for all her blunt talk, she saw more than the educated and lordly young Erdyl. All that was fine. What had bothered him had been his physical reaction. He’d wanted to sweep her into his arms, to never let her go. It wasn’t just that he hadn’t been with a woman in a while, either. Herana- the second mate on the Southshield-had been attractive and had made a play for him. So had ser Arynal’s daughters, especially Meyena. But Jeka . .. she was a good ten years younger than he was, maybe fifteen. She was older than she let on, probably close to five or six years older than Arthal. .. than Arthal had been.

  Abruptly, Kharl turned and began to rummage through the stack of papers on one side of the desk, until he came up
with the listing of cases before the lord justicers. His eyes ran down the sheet. Werwal’s trial was set for fourday. Kharl would be there. What he could do for the renderer who had once befriended him was another matter.

  At the rap on the door, Kharl turned. “Yes?”

  “Ser ...” Erdyl took a step into the chamber.

  “I’d like to hear what you found out. She was there? The assistant?”

  Erdyl nodded.

  “Ah ... you’d better have the undercaptain join us, too.”

  “Yes, ser.”

  When Erdyl returned momentarily with Demyst, the three settled into chairs around the desk.

  “What did you find out from her?” asked Kharl.

  “Jemelya?” Erdyl’s voice was casual.

  “You like her?”

  Demyst smothered a grin at Kharl’s question.

  “She’s years older than I am, ser.” Erdyl smiled sheepishly. “She is beautiful, though.”

  “Beautiful women are dangerous,” suggested the undercaptain. “Then, maybe all women are.” He laughed nervously.

  “What did she say?” asked Kharl.

  “She didn’t say all that much. Well... she talked a lot, but... She knew about the patrollers’ barracks. She said that the one in the harbor has an armory, and that there are three companies billeted there, and none of the patroller rankers can have consorts.”

  “She said it that way?” asked Demyst.

  “Yes, ser.”

  “They think of them as armsmen, then,” Kharl said. *?

  “She never said that... oh, I see ... companies ... billeted ..”. rankers ... armory ...” Erdyl nodded. . “What about the other barracks in the south?”

  “She said that held five mounted companies and another four arms companies. She also said that there was another new barracks to the east, just off Angle Road. I’m sure she said Angle Road. That only holds six foot companies, but there’s an armory there that also has cannon.”