L. Modesitt - Mage-Guard of Hamor

"Seize? We've offered script before…"

"After a few eightdays, the food becomes more valuable than the script, and if we paid what it would be worth, the cost would be as much as shipping rations, if not more."

Was war always a matter of coins? Or did the coins just provide the measure of what was lost in war? Rahl leaned toward the second, but he wasn't so certain that some favored the first.

"Now… how many men are on this ridge?"

"Earlier today, there were no more than two thousand, if that, but there are two roads from the south-the main road from Sastak and a farm road. They both can be used to reinforce the ridge, and while we were scouting I could see another battalion moving into position. They have one mage using a screeing glass as well, and his detection of Third Company-"

"You didn't try to find out anything, did you?"

"No. I just kept my shields tight and took in what I could. He kept coming back to us when we got close to the southeastern earthworks, then seemed to lose interest once we headed back north."

"Was he focused on you?"

"No, ser. It seemed to be on the entire squad, at least from what I could tell."

"Let us hope so. What else?"

"The rice paddies to the west of the road are flooded, but we could see no trace of rebels or encampments there…" Rahl described the total lack of rebel presence north of the ridge, giving as many details as he could. "That's what makes this all so strange. They've collected food and supplies, but there are no outlying posts or forts and no sign of scouts."

"Given Golyat and Ulmaryt, that's less than surprising. He's rather good with the screeing glass. Besides, what's really the point of scouting when we have to attack them?"

"To see how many troopers we have," suggested Rahl.

"They either destroy us, or they don't. Our force is more than a third smaller than when we set out, and that must give them confidence."

"Why hasn't Dhoryk sent reinforcements?"

"Because there aren't that many to send, and those that there are wouldn't add a great deal."

No more to send? Rahl found that hard to believe.

"Hamor can support a mighty fleet or a mighty army, but not both," Taryl said. "The fleet keeps us prosperous because it protects our trade. The army regiments, while necessary, are a drain on the land, because the mage-guards keep order with fewer coins." He paused. "Is Recluce any different?"

Rahl knew Recluce followed that philosophy, but he hadn't considered that Hamor did as well.

"I can tell that I've made you think," Taryl said dryly. "Go and do so elsewhere for a time. But stay around the villa, because I've arranged for you and Deybri to join me for a short evening meal before the commanders' briefing, and it won't be that long before we eat. You will be the one to brief them on the disposition of the rebel forces. Do not voice any conclusions whatsoever. Just point out what is where and what is not, and only answer any questions from the Triads by repeating the facts, and saying that those are the facts, and that decisions about how and why are to be made by those in higher authority."

"Yes, ser."

Taryl gestured toward the study door, and Rahl inclined his head, then slipped out.

Once in the corridor, he debated what he should do until they ate. He wouldn't have had enough time to ride back to the stead housing Third Company, and yet, just standing around seemed… wasteful. At the same time, he had the feeling that the dinner with Deybri was more than a gesture by Taryl, but even if it were not, he appreciated the invitation.

He surveyed several rooms, all of which retained the majority of furnishings, but none of the artwork or hangings, and finally settled himself in a comfortable chair in the front parlor to try to puzzle out what lay behind Taryl's words, because something always lay behind the over-commander's words.

Golyat-or his advisors-had obviously known that the High Command was well provided with warships and less well provided with troopers, but the troopers Rahl had encountered were all well trained and able-far more so than the rebels they had fought, even given that at least some of the rebel forces had to have been former High Command troopers. Under those circumstances, several things made more sense. Sending Rahl out with Third Company had been designed to reduce unnecessary casualties. By the same token, the traps set by the rebels had been planned with the idea of reducing the number of troopers while not reducing the rebel forces. Fieryn and Dhoryk were present, not because they cared for Taryl or even for the Emperor, but presumably because, if Taryl failed, they also risked losing power and position, either because they would be linked to the inability to subdue the rebels or, in the worst case, because Golyat would not retain Triads ostensibly loyal to the Emperor. That also suggested that the two Triads and Taryl were aware of far more mages in the rebel forces than had appeared heretofore, and that meant the result of the coming battle would be anything but as certain as those that had preceded it.

Rahl was trying to consider what he had not seen, his eyes directed out the windows into a small walled garden, but not really seeing the early spring flowers, thinking over what Taryl had not said when he heard steps and sensed Deybri. She'd barely crossed the foyer when Rahl met her.

A warm smile appeared. "Taryl said you'd be here."

Rahl embraced her, and for a time they were lost in each other.

Deybri was the one to slip back. "I'm a mess."

"I didn't notice." Rahl heard a set of chimes in the background, but he concentrated on what Deybri was saying and feeling.

"I'm grateful for that."

"It is time for dinner." Taryl stood behind them, beside the parlor door.

"Oh…" The most fleeting feeling of embarrassment and confusion accompanied Deybri's inadvertent syllable. "I didn't know.."

"I can understand why." Taryl gestured. "We are limited to the main dining chamber." He turned.

Rahl and Deybri followed, holding hands.

The dining chamber was modest-for a villa-with the same white walls and a green-tile floor that had once been covered by some form of carpet-and a table that had six chairs on a side and two chairs with arms at each end. The end farthest from the archway off the main hall was set for three. All three settings had pale cream porcelain platters, rimmed in green, with a crystal wine goblet for each as well.

Taryl took the seat at the end of the table but waited for Deybri to seat herself. "It's very much a treat to have a beautiful woman at dinner."

Deybri inclined her head slightly. "You say that with such gallantry."

"That does not mean it is not sincere, although I need gallantry because I cannot express my pleasure merely by looking in the way that your intended does. I can tell you," Taryl finished as he seated himself, "that I have never seen him look at any other woman that way, even the Empress, and she is most beautiful."

While there was nothing in the tone of Taryl's voice nor any indication of feeling other than pleasantry, Rahl wondered just what emotion lay beneath the overcommander's shields.

"You are kind to include me with the Empress, but I doubt I merit such comparison."

"You do," Rahl said quietly. "Although she is most beautiful, so are you."

"That is something I would not argue with Rahl about," added Taryl with a laugh. He lifted the crystal pitcher and poured the amber wine into Deybri's goblet, then Rahl's, and finally his own. "I'm told that this is a fair wine. The best of the cellar departed with the previous owner."

At that moment, an orderly in a trooper's uniform brought in a large platter, setting it before Taryl, then returned with two other casserole dishes, and a basket of a thin hard bread, broken into irregular chunks.