L. Modesitt - Mage-Guard of Hamor

"The submarshal is not with us. I find myself effectively acting as commander, and that's not my expertise. Fortunately, Commander Muyr has been a great help. I suggest something, and he tells me whether it is possible or wise, and then we discuss that." Taryl sighed. "I'm a little sore. I'm not so young as I used to be."

Rahl just nodded. He didn't really want to admit how stiff and sore he was.

"Before I hear what you've been doing, could you recommend where we might set up temporary headquarters?"

Rahl almost laughed. "I would suggest the rather elaborate residence of the town administrator."

"Oh?" Taryl paused as the servingwoman set two mugs of lager on the table.

"Thank you." Rahl did slip her a pair of coppers, because the lager was special, and got a momentary smile in return.

Once she left, Taryl looked to Rahl. "About the town administrator?"

"I have him in custody. He also owns and operates one of the barge businesses shipping goods up and down the river to Nubyat. He threw in with the rebels, but I couldn't find out much, except that he fed and supplied a squad, and that he's been sending all the tariffs to Golyat because he thinks Mythalt is weak and ruled by his consort."

Taryl smiled faintly. "Do you think he is that much in error on that judgment?"

For a moment, Rahl was stunned. Then he reflected on what he had seen at the Imperial Palace, and the interaction between Taryl and the Empress. There had been something else there, too. He'd seen it at the time, in the way Taryl had looked at the Empress, almost sadly, yet with something more. Rahl decided not to mention that. Whatever that had been was Taryl's business. "I'd say she influences him. I don't see that as bad."

"It is not bad. She has excellent judgment, far better than either Mythalt or Golyat, and she is more than Mythalt deserves, but what all Hamor needs." Taryl nodded, as if to dismiss the issue of the Empress. "You think this residence is suitable?"

"It's the largest one I've seen. It has some grounds, a small coach house and stable, and the owner is a traitor, not only to the Emperor, but to his position as administrator. There are two other inns, but they're smaller…" Rahl shrugged, then winced.

"You've been injured, I see. What else happened?" Taryl's voice was almost tart, as if Rahl were a spoiled child.

"After the problems on the causeway, there was this hay wagon.. " Rahl went on to explain what had happened, both with the makeshift barrel cannon, and then with the rebel squad on the roof.

Taryl just nodded, but with the overcommander's tight order shields, Rahl couldn't tell what the older mage-guard really felt.

"Anyway… we've been following orders, and checking the town. There are more than a few rebel sympathizers, but there don't seem to be any more outright rebels."

"Have you checked to see who's not here?"

"Not here?"

"If there are a number of dwellings without men, particularly with young consorts, they've likely taken up arms with Golyat and gone to Nubyat. There can't be too many, because, if there were, they'd have mounted more resistance here. Still, that would give you a better idea of how many tacitly support the rebels."

Rahl nodded slowly. He hadn't thought of that. Why was it that Taryl always could think of something he'd overlooked?

"Because I do have experience, and because you've gotten sloppy with holding your shields." Taryl smiled, but there was an edge to his voice.

Rahl winced. The past days had not been good, and matters were not getting better.

"Did you check the tariff books to see how much was sent to Golyat?"

"No, ser."

"What about the records of the barge business? What in the way of goods has he shipped downriver?"

"I don't know, ser."

"You should." Taryl sighed. "It could be that I'm expecting too much of you. I wouldn't have thought you'd have forgotten about commerce."

"It was difficult to remember when so many people have been attacking us."

"And afterward?"

Rahl didn't want to admit that he'd just been exhausted.

"I will question this administrator, but you will execute him tomorrow in public, in the square. That is not usually done, but there is a reason for that this time. Not a good one, but a necessary one."

"Ser?"

"I will tell you later, when it is appropriate."

Inside, Rahl stiffened, then forced himself to relax. Taryl had always acted in Rahl's best interests, and Rahl would just have to trust the over-commander. But he still hated it when people did things for his benefit without telling him why.

"And you will go over the records of the town and the barge operations."

"Yes, ser." After a moment, Rahl ventured, "I've had a few difficulties…"

"Most of us usually do in matters such as these." There was little sympathy behind Taryl's words.

"There was something strange about the swamp and the causeway. I didn't want to put it in a message. I couldn't order-sense anything beyond a hundred cubits there, and nothing like that has happened to me recently."

"That's because swamps are high in life force, and that provides a high level of background chaos of the type that's hard to sense. Also, that swamp had quite a number of stun-lizards, and they inhibit either order-or chaos-sensing. That's how they get close to prey. We're fortunate it's winter. They're not so active in the cooler weather."

Rahl had to wonder if he would ever be able to learn everything Taryl wanted-or to meet all of Taryl's expectations. He could meet any one, or even two or three, at a time, but Taryl seemed to expect that Rahl could handle a score of them, all at once, even after almost being killed.

For a moment, he just closed his eyes. Then he took another swallow of the lager.

At midday on fiveday, Third Company rode into the small square west and south of the barge piers. The troopers lined up in formation with the statue of one of the earlier emperors at their backs. Then Taryl and a squad of the headquarters company followed and took position at right angles to Third Company. A good hundred townspeople had already gathered-the result of passing the word through the inns and elsewhere that justice was to be meted out upon the former town administrator. All the women were fully covered, and a number wore black head scarves, something he had not seen before.

Once the troopers were in place, Quelsyn and four troopers marched Esryk into the open space before the company. His hands were bound behind his back, and a white blindfold was across his eyes. Rahl then stepped forward, carrying his battle truncheon.

"Esryk, you have betrayed your post as town administrator. You have supported the enemies of the Emperor. You have sent the tariffs rightfully due the Emperor to the rebels, and you have attacked a mage-guard with a poisoned dagger. Each of these is an offense against the Codex, and for each the sentence is death."

Rahl looked at the troopers. "On his knees."

"I won't kneel to anyone, not to…"

The troopers backed away at Rahl's gesture.

Rahl had already determined what to do, even before he struck. He used his order-skills to move order from Esryk's neck, just below the base of his skull, then struck there with the order-boosted truncheon. The man's neck snapped, and he pitched forward onto the pavement in a heap.

"The fate of all traitors."

A refuse cart, pulled by a bony swaybacked mare, creaked toward the dead body. Rahl turned and remounted, but waited, extending his senses, despite his continuing headache, and trying to gather reactions from those around the square.

"… didn't do anything a good merchant wouldn't…"

"… can't risk family and business for a weakling thousands of kays away…"

"… uppity bastard… always thought he was above everyone.."