L. Modesitt - Ordermaster

“He cares little for Lord Ghrant, but he cared far less for Malcor and Hensolas. He was loyal, I would judge, only so long as it suited him.”

“That could be said of many lords over the history of Austra, indeed, of any land.” Hagen leaned back in his chair, just slightly, but his eyes never left Kharl. “What would you do?”

Kharl didn’t want to answer directly. “All of those who joined the revolt are guilty to some degree. That includes those like Deroh who provided golds. He’s less guilty, by far. I’m not a justicer or a ruler, but if you punish them all, what reason is there for anyone to support Lord Ghrant? Yet, if he ignores their guilt, he might appear either weak or stupid. Also, if he pardons them, some might say that shows weakness.”

“After what you did to the white wizards and the four lords who spearheaded the revolt, some form of mercy might not be considered as weak as it might otherwise.”

“Then he should pardon them, but require some golds to repay him for all the costs of the rebellion.” Kharl offered a crooked smile. “After all, if they were willing to part with golds to those they did not support willingly, they should certainly be willing to help rebuild Austra and support the rightful ruler.”

Hagen laughed. “For a former cooper, ser Kharl …”

“How will Lord Ghrant deal with Deroh, do you think?” Kharl paused. “Or should I ask what you will suggest as punishment?”

Hagen shrugged. “As you have said, most of them are guilty. I wouldsuggest that Lord Ghrant find him guilty, technically, but pardon his actions because of the necessity facing him.”

“What of the others he will see?”

“Much the same. I would hope that he finds them all guilty, then pardons all of them, save Azeolis.”

“What of Azeolis? The last I heard, he was harassing Casolan.”

“Casolan, once he heard of your victory, turned and crushed Azeolis’s forces. He captured Azeolis and brought him to the Great House, trussed like a fowl.”

“I thought Azeolis had pledged to Lord Ghrant?”

“He did so in haste as Casolan was bearing down upon him.” Hagen laughed. “It is easy to do so when you fear worse.”

“Does he have heirs?”

“He has two sons living, and a daughter. His consort died three years ago. I imagine Lord Ghrant will be merciful and allow them exile. The lands … Lord Ghrant will grant as he sees fit.”

“Perhaps to Norgen or Casolan? Or split them between the two?”

“That might be too generous. The lands are extensive.” Hagen frowned. “He should keep some for a time. His coffers are near empty. Perhaps an eighth part each to his faithful commanders.”

“What if he suggested that he was holding that part only for a time? Perhaps appoint an honest custodian, but one not beholden to him. He could still take the golds until he bestowed the lands, and by giving some to Casolan and Norgen …?”

“That might be best.” Hagen nodded. “Lord Ghrant will reward you, as well.”

“I have enough land, with Cantyl,” Kharl replied.

“The forest to the south of Cantyl is now Lord Ghrant’s. It was Ilteron′s, and so seldom mentioned that I was not even aware that it had come to Lord Ghrant, and”-Hagen grinned momentarily-“I understand that there are a few squares where there are white oaks. Not enough for commercial timbering, but enough for a cooper. There is also a cherry orchard, which has been neglected.”

“I leave that in your hands, ser. I have been well rewarded.”

“A modest additional reward, and the gratitude of Lord Ghrant. That is not too much for the mage who saved a land for its ruler.” Hagen’s tone was firm. “A ruler must always be seen to be fair.” He rose. “I am to meet Lord Ghrant. We will talk later.”

After leaving Hagen, Kharl walked slowly toward the steps to the north tower. He needed time to think, in a place where he didn’t feel walls all around him.

His steps were slow as he climbed to the top of the tower, then crossed to the eastern side, from where he could see all of Valmurl.

He had very mixed feelings about greater rewards. By the standards of what he had done, what Hagen had proposed was fair. Yet Kharl couldn’t help feeling uneasy about it. He’d received what amounted to a fortune, albeit smaller than that of a greatholder, for destroying Ghrant’s enemies. He’d accomplished that through the twisted application of order, uses which he doubted that true order-mages would have approved. When he had been a cooper, providing honest crafting for folk like himself, he’d needed to worry over every copper. If he had not had to worry so much, then perhaps Arthal …

He shook his head. More coppers would not have changed what had happened or what Arthal felt.

Now he needed to worry about coins little, provided he was even halfway careful, although he had done little constructive, and great destruction. He paused in thought. Yet … was not preserving a land from rebellion and chaos constructive?

He shook his head. It had been the lesser of two evils, and he disliked having been put in that position. But was that what having power meant? In a way, he envied Lyras, with his berry bushes. Yet … the white wizards would have killed Lyras had Kharl not come to Austra and done as he did.

Kharl looked out over Valmurl, the afternoon sun on his back.

The next two days were filled with audiences. Standing beside Hagen, Kharl watched, and occasionally made quiet observations to the lord-chancellor as Lord Ghrant heard the pleas of those lords who had not been so loyal as they might have been. The one guilty lord who did not appear before Lord Ghrant-and Kharl and Hagen-was Azeolis.

Several glasses after the last audience on sevenday, Kharl and Hagenwere sharing a small evening meal in the lord-chancellor’s study. Kharl’s thoughts went back to the last audience, the one for a Lord Benin, a round-faced man who had seemed more ineffectual than lordly to Kharl. As he had with the others, Ghrant had found Benin guilty of not fully supporting his Lord, had pardoned Benin, and like the others, required a slightly higher annual tariff from the lord for the next five years.

“How much longer will he hold audiences?” Kharl asked, after taking a sip of the lager he preferred over wine-at least the wine he had tasted at the Great House. “There can’t be many lords left, guilty ones who are still alive, anyway.”

“There’s only Azeolis,” Hagen said. “His audience will be the very last. For the first days on the coming eightday, Ghrant will be seeing the loyal lords-and the regents for those who were killed by the rebels for being loyal. He will praise them and honor them.” Hagen’s voice turned sardonic. “He will try not to have to honor them excessively, or with more golds or lands than he plans to take from the estates of the rebel lords.”

“Am I to be there?”

Hagen laughed. “How could you not be there? The most powerful mage in the history of Austra? That is part of the performance. You will not have to say anything, unless you discover something that is highly untoward, but part of the reason for the audiences is to remind each lord of what happened to the rebels.”

Kharl could see the need for that-unfortunately. “What about Azeolis?” He had an idea, but he was still learning about the politics of governing, and he felt more comfortable having Hagen explain than trying to guess.

“There will be one long audience to deal with the dead rebel lords, and their heirs-and with Azeolis. Lord Ghrant wants the most unpleasant aspects handled at one time. ”

“Will he take all their lands?”

Hagen paused to take a mouthful of the duck confit before replying. “He has already let that be known, if quietly.”