L. Modesitt - Mage-Guard of Hamor

Neshyl sighed, and Rahl could sense the honest exasperation and resignation, but he waited for the water-master to speak.

"That's the factors' quarter, mostly. The problem is that the sewers there have sunk in places, and the sewage backs up. They built that all of harbor fill years ago, and it sinks. We'd need to tear up the streets in three places. Every time I put forth a proposal to the previous administrator, asking for the golds to do it, I was turned down."

"Do you know why?"

"The factors near the sewers where the work has to be done claimed that it was all a ruse to push trade to their competitors in the east quarter, or to those in Elmari or in Sastak… or who knows where. That was what the dispatches I got back from the administrator said, anyway."

"You never talked to him?"

"Once in three years, and that was about increasing the flow in the south aqueduct that serves the Residence."

"There were golds for that, I take it?" Rahl asked.

Neshyl nodded.

"Do you have a copy of the proposal you made for repairing the Northend sewers?"

"It's in the files. It might take a moment to find it."

"I'll wait." Rahl smiled politely.

Neshyl stood. "You think it will do any good?"

"I don't know. The administrator will decide that," Rahl said deliberately, "but it seems that it might be best to repair them when the factors have less trade to worry about and can't complain so loudly."

Neshyl laughed as he left the study.

Sitting there, Rahl had to wonder. Taryl had never mentioned that he'd been in Nubyat before, although he'd never denied it, either.

Seemingly in moments, Neshyl returned, holding a roll of papers tied with a dark cord. "Never been unwrapped. You can keep this one. I've got the original here."

Rahl stood and took the rolled papers. "Thank you."

"We'd be happy to reset those drains as soon as we could get the golds."

"I'll let the administrator know that."

"I'd be much obliged." Neshyl smiled. "If you'd also tell Taryl that the rock is solid, I'd appreciate that, too."

Rahl grinned. "I can do that." After a nod, he turned and left.

Outside, after carefully easing the papers into his saddlebags and then mounting the gelding, he glanced to the west. From the hilly ridge that formed the western edge of the reservoir, he could see most of Nubyat as well as the Southern Ocean beyond the port. While there were a handful of puffy clouds on the horizon, the sky was clear elsewhere, and the breeze was light, suggesting that spring might not be all that far away. He thought he could make out a merchanter well to sea, but he wasn't certain, let alone whether it was inbound to Nubyat.

"Let's go. We'll take the river road back all the way to the Harbor Road."

"Yes, ser."

Sovarth eased his mount beside Rahl's, and the other two followed.

Rahl wasn't about to miss the anticipated porting of the merchanter that was due. Taryl had been most insistent that Rahl be there, telling him to do whatever else he could around the harbor, but not to miss being there on the pier when the ship tied up because of such cargo as battle dressings, ointments, and brinn, as well as the replacement mage-guards.

As Rahl turned the gelding onto the Harbor Road, he caught sight of one of the new patrollers stepping away from a peddler. It took a moment for him to recall the man's name. "Salamyn!" Rahl reined up and asked, "How is the patrolling going?"

"Majer, ser!" The former pier guard's face lit up. "It's not bad, now that folks know that we're reporting to a mage-guard and that there will be more mage-guards coming. Some ask about them." Salamyn grinned. "Some don't."

"That's where I'm headed now, to see if they're aboard a ship that's supposed to be porting before long. Just keep at it." Rahl smiled, then nodded, before urging the gelding into a walk. While it wasn't what either he or Taryl would have liked, the city was going to have to deal with both patrollers and mage-guards for some time to come. There just weren't enough spare mage-guards in Hamor to make up for all those who had either been killed or defected to Golyat. That was just one more of the costs of the revolt that would never appear on the accounting ledgers.

Rahl recognized the faces of the two pier guards at the gates to the harbor area, but not their names. He slowed the gelding and asked, "How are things? Any problems?"

"No, ser. Not today," answered the taller one. "Hesyr, here, he caught a cutpurse yesterday."

"I was lucky," replied Hesyr.

"It counts all the same," Rahl said with a smile. "Keep an eye out. We've got a merchanter coming in."

"Yes, ser."

Rahl nodded and eased the gelding toward pier three. When he reached the foot of the pier, he was pleased to see that the three wagons from the quartermaster were waiting.

A thin line of smoke rising from the ship passing the outer breakwater told Rahl he had arrived in more than enough time, but not with enough time to attend to anything else. He dismounted and handed the gelding's reins to Sovarth. "It'll be a while. Go on over to the harbor mage-guard station. You three can water the horses there and take a break. Check back after the ship's made fast."

"Yes, ser."

Before long, the merchanter hove into view, and Rahl watched as the Kienelth backed down, and the captain of the merchanter walked her into the pier. The lines went out, and before long, the ship was secured between the bollards, and the crew extended the gangway.

A tall and angular senior mage-guard walked down the ramp empty-handed while a junior mage-guard following him struggled under the burden of several canvas duffels. Seeing-and sensing-the arrogance of the senior mage-guard, Rahl checked his order shields while he waited for the other to reach him.

"I'm Senior Mage-Guard Chewyrt. I take it I'll be in charge of one of the stations." Watery blue eyes practically glared at Rahl.

Rahl smiled politely as he replied. "It's good to see you, Chewyrt. I'm sure that you'll be able to make a valuable contribution here. Oh, I'm Rahl, and Overcommander Taryl assigned me to reestablish and organize both mage-guard stations here. You'll be reporting to me until the over-commander can set up a more traditional structure. That may be a little while."

"I was the most senior at Kyalasa."

"I'm most certain you were," Rahl replied, "and I'm sure that the overcommander was well aware of that. Now… if you'll take your gear and put it in the first wagon there, the driver will take you to the harbor mage-guard station. That's where you'll all be quartered for the next day… until I have a chance to talk with each of you."

"I cannot believe-"

Rahl offered a cold and hard smile, projecting absolute power and control, even while he kept his voice mild and pleasant. "We've spent close to a season riding a thousand kays and fighting battles, and we still have rebels in two cities in Merowey that we have to deal with. You'll have to pardon the overcommander if he and I have a few matters to take care of in addition to reestablishing the mage-guard stations. I'd like to have you take over those duties just as much as you would. I should be back at the station later this afternoon, but if I'm not, it will be early tomorrow. Now, if you'd organize the others and get them and their gear in the wagon, I'd appreciate it."

Chewyrt paled. "Yes, ser."

"Thank you. I need to talk to the ship's master, and I'll get back to all of you as soon as I can."

Rahl turned and started toward the gangway, where he saw a woman in mage-guard greens-a healer-coming down. Her curly hair was light brown, and even from a score of cubits he could see those eyes-brown with gold flecks.

Deybri…

Rahl just stood there for a long moment. Then, forcing himself not to run, he walked quickly toward her. He stopped and just looked and let himself take in all of her, with eyes and order-senses.