L. Modesitt - Magi'i of Cyador

Lorn steps back, closing the door gently, and turns to Eileyt. “She told you to bring me in, even if she were with someone?”

“Yes, ser.”

Lorn nods. He gestures around the large room. “Tell me a bit about each person and what he does.”

Eileyt clears his throat. “Sygul-the one near the door-is a junior enumerators. He checks the commodities boards in the Plaza below, and lets me know if anything changes by more than a twentieth-or if he thinks something is happening to the prices of grains, fruits, the more widely traded metals. We don’t trade them, except for dried fruits and at times iron and cuprite, but the Lady Ryalth can tell from knowing that prices are changing what else may be affected. He also checks the bills of lading against the invoices to make sure the quantities are the same, and …”

Lorn follows the enumerator’s restrained gestures, listening.

“Kutyr-the one in the blond beard in the corner-he is a trader, mostly in fruits and spirits …. He will travel to Hydlen in several eightdays to purchase the advance contracts on dried fruit ….”

Lorn nods as Eileyt goes around the large room, although the overcaptain doubts he totally understands about half of what the enumerator says-or rather the meaning beyond the words themselves.

“And you,” Lorn says, when Eileyt has finished his summary, “you’re the one that makes sure everyone does what they must, and the one who keeps the ledgers?”

“The Lady keeps the ledgers, but she requires that I check them to ensure aught is well, and accurate.”

“You find mistakes … but not many, I’d guess.”

“Few,” Eileyt says, “but it is best that way, for the Emperor’s tariff enumerators require double any discrepancies as penalties. And Bluoyal-the Emperor’s Merchanter Advisor-is hardly loath to suggest that those houses that are caught cheating steal from the others because the rest of us must pay more in tariffs while they pay less.”

Lorn has never heard of the tariff enumerators, but he nods, wondering what else there is that his education and experience have overlooked. He also notes the vaguely distasteful manner in which Eileyt refers to Bluoyal, and reminds himself to ask Ryalth about the man.

The study door opens, and Ryalth escorts Duhabrah to the main doors of Ryalor House, where the foreign trader bows twice and departs, smiling effusively.

Eileyt slides away as Ryalth returns to where Lorn stands. Without speaking, he follows her into her study where she is the one to close the door.

They embrace.

After a long time, they separate, and Ryalth looks at Lorn, eye to eye. “You came here first, didn’t you?”

“Almost … I dropped my gear inside the door at my parents, said hello and left. I did kiss my mother. I wasn’t sure about trying to enter your quarters, if you even have the same ones, my wealthy merchanter lady …”

“I’m not that wealthy.”

“Everyone thinks you are.” Lorn grins. “And most beautiful.”

Ryalth shakes her head. “You are impossible. Still.”

“Very impossible … and wondering if we can depart before too long.”

She smiles. “I am almost through for the day, and we can leave shortly.”

“Ah … mother did ask if we could join them for dinner.” Lorn shrugs apologetically. “I would not … with so little time … yet …”

“I know. Jerial has already conveyed an invitation for whatever night you arrived, and I agreed.” She grins back. “I told her we would not stay late, and she said that she would make sure of that, as well.”

“You have everything arranged.” Lorn shakes his head. “You two.”

“Not everything, but your family has been far warmer than ever I would have imagined.” Her smile fades. “They are most cautious, though.” The redhead shivers. “I would not live like that, knowing every word be measured, every action watched.”

“It may come to that,” Lorn says.“You have seen that … or felt it … with me.”

“For you, that I will accept, but not merely because of birth and station.”

Lorn kisses her again.

“We will not soon leave here, and we will be late for dinner … if you do not permit me to finish.”

“Finish what?”

“The report that goes with the seasonal import tariffs for the Emperor.”

“I would ask,” Lorn says, letting go of her hands.

“I will hasten. Then we will take a carriage and pick up your things. From now on, you are staying with your consort in Cyad.” She smiles.

“I would hope so.”

“You have lecherous thoughts, my dearest of lancers. Were this not for the Emperor’s enumerators, we would already have departed.”

Lorn reaches out and squeezes her hand once more. “Then, do what you must.” He pulls out the seat on the side of the desk table and seats himself, wondering how to tell her what else he must, yet knowing that he must, for all that he doesaffects her, and she is in Cyad, where all are watched, both for power and weakness.

Ryalth continues to page through the sheets before her, occasionally lifting her pen. Finally, she signs the last page and looks at Lorn once more. “I am done, but you are not.”

He nods, then stands and moves toward her, embracing her gently, and murmuring in her ear as he does, “I am here … and I am most glad to be so. Yet … it is because Maran vanished … the Lancer officer of whom I told you, the one who was a magus. Commander Meylyd and perhaps the Majer-Commander of Lancers suspect I managed to remove him-but he was never found. He … Maran … kept putting more and more restrictions on my patrols ….”

“He wanted the Forest to kill you ….”

Lorn nods, his head against Ryalth’s warm cheek. “Yet … all I do … it may come to bear upon you ….”

“Long have I known that.” She returns his embrace-gently, but more tightly. “You stood by me … when none did … you have risked your ties with your family for me … and always have you kept your word to me. That you could not do, were you to die.”

“You know … for what I hope … and strive … and the dangers …” he murmurs, his arms still around her.

“Had you not risked yourself one night, long ago … I might be dead-or a fearful woman at any trader’s beck. Had you not stood for me to your family …” Her lips brush his cheek, and she lays her cheek against his. “Now … for what you have done, they see me as I am, not as they thought I was.”

“I worried … about Maran … yet I could see no other course.”

“Many worry … few act. You act, and I will be with you.” Her fingers tighten around his. “I will, and never doubt it. Never.” Her last word is whispered fiercely.

Whatever will come, whatever will be … they will face it together.

“ … even if we are thousands of kays apart,” Ryalth murmurs.

He holds her tightly, without barriers, without reservations … and her arms are as firmly around him as his are around her.