25.

Before leaving Fauxyn's holding, Quaeryt took the time and the precaution of inspecting the storehouses, where he discovered several hundred barrels of assorted provisions, including almost a hundred barrels of flour and ten of rice, not to mention other staples.

Once he'd completed the inspection and the companies were on the road back to Caernyn, he couldn't help thinking over the incident with Fauxyn. Fauxyn had been insolent, almost seeking a fight, creating a situation that no commander could have afforded to let stand, yet one that would most likely resulted in his own death. He couldn't have been so stupid as to think otherwise. Why had he behaved so? He'd been equally scornful and contemptuous of his wife a despite the fact that he'd gained title and lands because, under the laws of Bovaria Quaeryt had studied so many years before and which it was clear had not been changed, she'd been forced to marry him to keep the holding in her own bloodline.

At the same time, it bothered Quaeryt that he'd had to depend on his shields to avoid being wounded. It was another form of battle, wasn't it? Fauxyn attempted to cheat as well, after all. Still, the fact that he thought of shields as cheating bothered him.

"You are concerned about what happened?" asked Arion after they had ridden for several quints.

"More about why it happened," replied Quaeryt dryly. "Why were the holder and his wife still there?" He had his own ideas, but wanted to hear what Arion thought.

"He was ordered to remain," suggested the major. "Only Kharst could have done that."

"And?"

"You would know better than I, sir."

"He wanted to offend me enough that we would destroy the hold a and thus destroy his wife's heritage? And leave nothing for Kharst to claim if we'd executed the entire family?"

"I could not see any other reason for his acts."

Neither could Quaeryt.

"You have destroyed him," added Arion. "He will die or live as a shell of himself."

"Because his wife will make sure he survives as a cripple?"

Arion nodded.

"I thought that only fair. The lands were hers, and so long as he lives, she cannot be forced to marry someone else."

"If she has no children, he will live only long enough for her to find another High Holder suitable for her. If she has children a he will live only long enough for her to claim that he died of natural causes that came from his stupidity in attacking you."

Quaeryt nodded. Arion sounded as though he knew the Bovarian laws of succession better than did Quaeryt. "How do you know the laws of Bovaria?"

"I studied to become an advocate a until the time of the Red Death and the Bovarian invasion. Then there was greater need for skill with arms than with law."

"Isn't there a great deal of difference between the laws of Khel and those of Bovaria?"

"In many areas, they are similar. In the matter of property-holding and legal standing, women have more rights in Khel than they do in Bovaria a or Telaryn."

That scarcely surprised Quaeryt, not given what he had learned about Pharsi women, especially in the last year. "But why did you study the laws of Bovaria and Telaryn?"

"Not so much the laws of Telaryn. Because there was much trade between Bovaria and Khel, our factors needed to know what recourse they had under Bovarian law."

"Not much, I imagine," said Quaeryt dryly.

"More than the Bovarians wanted us to have. That was another reason for the invasion. Many Bovarian factors owed thousands of golds to Khellan factors and traders, and they did not wish to pay what they oweda"

As Arion explained, Quaeryt listened, discovering in greater depth yet another reason for the Bovarian invasion of Khel.

In the end, it wasn't much before the evening meal by the time the companies returned to Caernyn. Because Skarpa was tied up with his regimental quartermaster and requested that Meinyt and Quaeryt meet with him after the evening meal, Quaeryt checked with the other Fifth Battalion company commanders and the imagers, barely finishing before it was time to eat.

Afterward, Quaeryt and Meinyt waited until the public room of the River Inn emptied before joining Skarpa, as he had requested, in the corner farthest from the kitchen and the entry archway. Quaeryt brought a recently refilled mug of pale lager to the table. Meinyt's mug contained lager, Quaeryt suspected, while Skarpa's likely held ale.

Skarpa set down his mug and motioned for them to sit, then looked to Quaeryt. "How did your venture with the High Holder go?"

"Let's say that it didn't go exactly as planned, but he does have supplies that will be available to us. We also learned a few things a perhaps confirmed is a better worda" Quaeryt went on to explain what had happened.

When he had finished, Skarpa nodded. "That sounds like what I've heard about Rex Kharst. It's good to know about the supplies." He paused. "I'll need to report about your encounter."

"I had thought as much. I'll also note it in my observations of High Holders."

"Just say that this a Fauxyn was insolent and unwilling to be cooperative. He attacked you, and rather than killing him, you merely broke his knee and jaw. That should be sufficient, and that is what I will also report. His acts come from Bovarian law and customs, and Bhayar doesn't much care for them. So they shouldn't concern us or the campaign." Skarpa turned to Meinyt. "Do you have anything to add?"

"We've seen boats putting out from the north side of the river. They've had Bovarians in uniform watching us." Meinyt looked to Quaeryt. "You didn't see any sign of scouts, did you?"

"No tracks, no sign of them."

"Except for the river, neither have we," said the grizzled subcommander. "How long does Deucalon want us to sit here waiting?"

"He's decided to move," replied Skarpa. "This afternoon, just before supper, I received orders to advance to the town just east of Villerive. That's why I was talking to the quartermasters about supplies. We're to head west immediately and take up positions to be able to move within glasses to intercept any Bovarians using the bridge at Villerive. We're also to keep the bridge from being destroyed." Skarpa glanced at Quaeryt. "Or be prepared to rebuild it."

Quaeryt winced. "I think we need to be closer than that to the bridge."

"We'll see."

"Did the marshal say anything about how they're doing?"

"Only that they are advancing steadily without significant opposition." Skarpa snorted. "We'll likely run into that at Villerive."

"Or Nordeau," suggested Quaeryt.

"Why do you think they'll wait until Nordeau?" Skarpa's voice was level.

"If the maps are accurate, Nordeau is only a hundred milles from Variana. We're already two hundred milles into Bovaria. Villerive is close to eighty milles east of Nordeau. If they wait at Nordeau, rather than Villerive, Kharst will have more time to bring forces from the west and southwest. He has to know that he'll need every man and mount he can gather."

"You don't think they'll just let us take Villerive?"

"No. If I were Kharst, I'd try to bleed us as much as possible, using as few troopers as necessary, all the way from Villerive to Nordeau."

"They'll try and hold us until the fall rains come," said Meinyt. "Until winter, maybe. Said that Deucalon should have moved faster."

"It may be that Lord Bhayar has made that point," suggested Skarpa. "Regardless a we are where we are, and you need to have your men ready to move out at seventh glass in the morning, Subcommander Meinyt."

"Sixth glass for Fifth Battalion?" asked Quaeryt. "So we can pick up those supplies from Fauxheld?"

Skarpa nodded. "I'll have the quartermasters' wagons following you. You'll need to have all dispatches and reports ready just before sixth glass." He swallowed the last from his mug, then set it on the table and stood. "That's all."

Quaeryt and Meinyt rose as well, and then left to inform their officers.

It was more than a glass later before Quaeryt entered his room, and half a glass more before he finished his report to Bhayar. Only then did he turn to finishing his letter to Vaelora, beginning by recounting the events at Fauxheld before adding his own musings.

I cannot help but be amazed at the convolutions implied by their acts and attitudes toward each other. Fauxyn owes all that he enjoys to his wife, and attractive as she is, if not nearly so beautiful and charming as you, and certainly far colder within, neither she nor any other woman appeals to him, yet it appears as though he would deny her the pleasure of masculine company while pursuing his own interests a to the point that Kharst seems to have banished him to his own holding. Fauxyn even left her to face us as occupiers, and then intruded when it appeared that she might succeed in mollifying us and saving the holding. These events suggest much about Bovaria, at least as it appears to me. A man must hold title to the lands of a High Holder, but a weak man or one who is overt in his interests in other men is banished to his lands, and not removed, yet a woman who is of the bloodline and competent cannot hold and direct those lands. Kharst has enough power to restrict that holder to his lands, but not enough to allow a woman to administer them in preference to an incompetent consort not of the bloodline. Or he is unwilling to do so for other reasons.

Such banishment suggests that Kharst holds enough power that he can compel, by force of arms, or other means, High Holders to his will to a far greater extent than can Lord Bhayar, and yet he is either unwilling or unable to impose justice upon them.

This, of course, raises questions for the future. How can a ruler have enough power to keep High Holders within limits and yet be limited in his use of power to the extent that he or his successors do not become the willful sort of tyrant that, from all reports, Kharst has become? I confess, at this moment, I have no answers, even in theory.

And now, my dearest, I must close, if I am to dispatch this tomorrow morning, and I know not when I will next be able to send what I write, far more often than it can be dispatched. My love to you and the child that is and will be.

Quaeryt swallowed as he signed the bottom of the last sheet, thinking about the fact that he and Vaelora would have a child, the Nameless willing. Then he smiled ironically in realizing he had once more called on a deity he did not even know existed.

26.

Just as the sixth bell struck on Jeudi morning, Quaeryt lowered his arm, and Fifth Battalion rode out of Caernyn. When the remaining two regiments left a glass later, Skarpa would be leaving a company behind, but half of those were effectively riding wounded who would provide a continuing Telaryn presence while completing their recovery.

The early morning sky was filmed with a silver haze that suggested another hot day in harvest would follow. Not that almost all days in harvest aren't hot, sticky, and dusty, reflected Quaeryt. But then, Caernyn and the River Aluse, at least from Ferravyl to Variana, were only slightly north of Solis, and Solis had always been nearly unbearable to Quaeryt from midsummer to midharvest. At that recollection, Quaeryt thought of Vaelora, hoping that she would not suffer too much from the heat, although she did have the fountain garden at the palace, where he had first met her, and which was always much cooler.

Fifth Battalion reached Fauxheld somewhat after eighth glass. Two guards in peach livery awaited them and began to unlock the river road gates.

As they did, Quaeryt gathered the officers. "While the quartermasters are loading supplies, you can water the mounts down at the river, but the men are not to damage or remove anything. Once we're loaded, we'll be leaving."

"Yes, sir," came the reply.

"Imager undercaptains will water their mounts first and then return to where I am at the holding buildings."

The affirmation from the undercaptains was quick, but muted, and Quaeryt guided the mare to the side of the lane to let the undercaptains and Major Zhelan lead the battalion down to the river. Once they had passed, he led the wagons toward the hold house a and the storehouse beyond.

When he and the quartermasters and their supply wagons reached the paved area off the portico, he could see that Ghretana was waiting. She wore green trousers, a long-sleeved white shirt, and a sleeveless vest of a green that matched the trousers.

Quaeryt reined up short of her. "Good morning, Lady Fauxyn. We won't be long, and we'll leave enough for the holding, with supplies at least until the end of harvest, if not longer."

"I appreciate your consideration, Subcommander. We're not likely to receive such from Variana. Rex Kharst has announced that he will take the lands of any High Holder who supplies the enemies of Bovaria."

"Then we shall have to make certain that this part of Lydar remains Telaryn." Quaeryt smiled.

"It appears that we have little choice."

Quaeryt merely nodded, glancing toward the retainers. When he did not see the taller scarred man, he said, "There was a tall retainer a with a scar over his left eye?"

"Jaesyn a he took one of the boats and left soon after you did yesterday. That wasn't surprising. I always thought he was one of Kharst's men."

"And Fauxyn did nothing?"

"He wasn't in a position to complain about it, Subcommander."

Before Quaeryt could ask why, she continued quickly. "My men noticed an odd matter after you departed yesterday."

"Oh?"

"The gates were locked, and there was no sign of the locks having been severed or opened."

"Nonetheless, we did open the gates, Lady Fauxyn. How is High Holder Fauxyn?"

"He should survive. He remains in considerable pain. It will do him good, given all he has inflicted upon others."

"I take it that he was most successful with his blade in the past."

"He was most polite to those who might have bested him, or who were favorites of Rex Kharst, and most adept at discovering those who were neither his equal nor favorites of the rex."

"Then, if I might ask whya"

"He struck me when he thought no one was watching last spring in Variana. Kharst's spymaster discovered that." Ghretana shrugged. "I made certain, indirectly, that he would. Fauxyn was banished to Fauxheld as a result. He was also told that if I were touched, or if I died, so would he."

"This spymaster sounds rather accomplished. Who is he?"

"High Holder Ryel. He is, obviously, not known widely as such. He is officially the minister of waterways."

"You do not trust this Ryel, or you have not told me the truth."

"Why would you say that?" She smiled winningly, the same smile that had chilled Quaeryt on the previous day.

"The information is too valuable to offer so freely."

She shook her head, and the smile vanished. Her eyes turned icy. "The price for having that information conveyed unimpeachably to Kharst was high. Too high, except that it was the only way to save my daughter."

"How old is she?"

"Nine. You will never find her. That I have made sure of."

"Lady Fauxyn, I am not looking for her. I am here only for supplies." Quaeryt decided to let the conversation take its course and see if it would reveal more of why Jaesyn had departed, not that Quaeryt didn't already have a good idea why.

She frowned. "Might I ask who you are a truly?"

"I am a scholar and a subcommander, who discovered little more than a year ago that he was also Pharsi by birth. Those define who I am, Lady."