L. Modesitt - Mage-Guard of Hamor

Somehow, that assessment didn't cheer Rahl much. It suggested that a good armsman could kill him, and that angered him, because he knew he could have done much better if he could just have held on to the blade without feeling chaos-pain all the time. He took a larger swallow of the ale. "I think I'd better stick to the truncheon."

"That you should, when you can. But even being able to hold a falchiona can hold some folks at bay."

Rahl knew that was doubtless true, but he didn't have to like it. "If you're around in the morning, I could use some help with the staff and the mage-clerks."

"If Taryl doesn't have something else planned, I'll be here."

"Good. I need to see to some papers with Elatyr. Leave the mug here when you go."

"Yes, ser."

Rahl watched the armsmaster hurry off, then slowly finished the ale. He could almost see normally by the time he stood and started back toward the main building.

Rahl didn't see Taryl as he walked through the quarters entry and headed to clean up, but he did see Edelya, and there was no polite way to avoid her as she smiled and walked toward him.

"You look like you've had a workout, Rahl."

Rahl managed a laugh. "I did."

"Helping Khedren with the mage-clerks again?"

"No. He had me sparring with another armsmaster. Elatyr. The truncheon and the staff weren't bad."

"He didn't bang you up too badly, then?"

Rahl couldn't help but be irritated by the condescension behind the inquiry. "Not with those. I disarmed him twice with the truncheon. The staff was a draw. No hits by either of us."

Rahl ignored the order-sensing. He was telling the truth.

"Not with those, you said," prompted Edelya.

"I had to use a falchiona after that. I've been working on techniques for defense in case I didn't have anything else with me. He did hit me a few times, but only glancing blows. Well, except once."

Edelya looked hard at him. "You're an ordermage. You went a full sparring round with a falchiona against Elatyr?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

Abruptly, she smiled, as if she had discovered something. "Oh, nothing. Most mage-guards don't. Even chaos types."

"If you'll excuse me… I really do need a shower."

The calculating smile changed to one that was more like a grin. "Yes, you do. I'll see you later."

As he walked back toward the washrooms, Rahl couldn't help but wonder what she had learned, or what he had revealed. Khedren hadn't hidden the fact that Elatyr was an armsmaster, and it was clear he wanted Rahl to spar against someone else of ability besides himself. That certainly made sense.

After showering and donning a clean uniform, Rahl returned to the lower level, then to the library. He walked some of the other corridors, and checked Taryl's quarters, but he did not see Taryl anywhere. So he returned to the library and settled into reading more of the mage-guard history. What was more intriguing were the observations on why things had happened. One short section, in particular, caught his attention:

As a result of the loss of the expeditionary fleet to Recluce and the previously unobserved powers of its weather mages, Emperor Cyth'alt resolved to change the very structure of Hamor. So many of what historians view as changes in lands or societies are nothing of the sort, but merely the replacement of one set of rulers for another with exactly the same beliefs and systems of ruling. Cyth'alt was wise enough to understand this. He was wiser than that, in that the reforms he put in place were designed not to change the appearance of existing institutions but to change their very functions without changing their outward appearance. By geographically separating two-thirds of the Triad from the Imperial Palace, and by creating an independent High Command, he not only limited the very powers of the emperor, but strengthened Hamor by attempting to assure that all decisions would require action by three separate power centers… Yet by reifying these essentially new sources of power in existing institutions, he also created the illusion that nothing had changed… Some skeptics suggest that his decisions were based on the fact that, since he had no sons, he wished to place checks on his brother's offspring.. Whatever the reason, the very structure of today's Hamor dates from those decisions…

Despite such occasionally and too infrequently interesting passages, Rahl found himself nodding off, doubtless because of his efforts against Elatyr, and he finally left the book open on his lap and let himself doze. When he woke, he shelved the volume and decided to make his way to the mess, although he knew he would be early for dinner.

In the foyer outside the mess, he saw Taryl in the middle of a group of mage-guards, mostly older men, although there were several women mage-guards as well. Rahl did not recognize any of them by name, although he had seen several at the seniors' table at previous meals.

Rahl started to ease away when Taryl caught his eye.

"If you would excuse me for a moment," Taryl said, stepping away from the group and toward Rahl.

Rahl realized that Taryl was not wearing the standard mage-guard starburst, but another insignia-one in which the starburst was set above a crossed staff and lightning bolt.

"New insignia, ser," Rahl offered.

"I've been appointed Mage-Guard Overcommander of Merowey. We'll need to meet after dinner. I don't know how long things will take. If I'm not here when you finish, do some reading, and I'll get you from the library."

"Yes, ser."

With a pleasant smile, Taryl nodded and returned to the others. "You'll pardon me, but this was such an unexpected promotion that neither I nor my assistant had any knowledge of the Emperor's and the Triad's decision, and this is the first time I have seen Rahl."

As Rahl turned away, he maintained a pleasant smile. While Taryl might not have known, it was clear to Rahl that Taryl's new position had resulted from the meetings of the previous days.

Once the mess doors opened, Rahl seated himself with the three mage-guards he knew more than just by name-Laryn, Devalyn, and Rhyett. The main course at dinner was burhka, with side platters of goat biastras. As he wrapped the flat bread around the thin tube of goat, Rahl couldn't help but think of Deybri… and the letter he still carried with him.

"Taryl's wearing an overcommander's insignia," observed Devalyn, looking to Rahl. "All the seniors are courting him… again." After a pause, he offered in a more formal tone,

"For those in power all will court, in seeking softer words of praise, and bringing harder truths up short, exalting self and sunlit days."

Rahl glanced at Devalyn.

"That's Elhazuryn, one of the old Afritan poets."

"Does everyone quote old poets?" asked Rahl curiously.

"Only in Cigoerne," injected Rhyett. "You're considered… uncultured… if you don't."

Rahl had a suspicion that Rhyett had almost said "Atlan," but he just smiled. "I'd better read a few of them, then. Are there any in the library here?"

"Ah… I don't know. I've never looked," replied Rhyett.

Rahl turned his eyes on Devalyn.

Devalyn shrugged. "Me, neither. I just memorized a bunch because my father said they'd be useful. It helps if you deal with Vladyrt. Saulya just laughs, but that helps, too."

"Do you know where Taryl's going?" asked Rhyett.

"He's been appointed Mage-Guard Overcommander in Merowey," Rahl replied, "but I don't know more than that."

"That won't go down well with Cyphryt or Welleyn," murmured Rhyett.

"You think not? I can't imagine why." Laryn's voice was pleasantly ironic.

"Are you going with him?" asked Rhyett.

"Yes. I don't know when we'll leave, though, except it's likely to be before too long."