L. Modesitt - Colors of Chaos

Outside, the air was clear, and Cerryl could see the deep purple of the early-night sky past Kinowin’s profile.

“The Guild has laws, too. We are the White Order, and yet…some here also find it difficult to abide by those laws.” Kinowin turned. “Sterol told you how difficult it was for an outsider to become a White mage, and yet, in some ways, you-and I-for the same reasons, understand better than those raised in the crèche the need for order. Yet order, because of the Blacks of Recluce, has a bad name in Fairhaven.”

Cerryl tried not to hold his breath, knowing Kinowin might have more to say and afraid that if he spoke the older mage would stop. He still couldn’t help but think about the old woman, though he knew he could have done nothing else, not as a junior mage and gate guard.

“The ways to corrupt order are many. The allure of sex, or power, or the desperate desire to be respected-they can all corrupt. Who of us does not wish to be loved and wanted and respected and powerful?” The overmage laughed. “If anyone tells you any of those are not appealing to him-or her-watch that mage most carefully.”

“Ah…yes, ser.”

Kinowin turned. “Elsinot will stand your duty on the day the Council meets to confirm the new mages. I will summon you to the dais to tell the story of the old woman. Do not linger over it. Tell it briefly, but tell it with truth. Do you understand?”

“I will be there, ser. I cannot say I understand why.”

A sardonic smile crossed Kinowin’s face. “Let us just say that I see the need to let some of the brethren know that we are not universally loved and that our laws-fair as they are-do not seem fair to all.” He gestured to the door. “I have kept you long enough.”

Cerryl rose from the chair.

AS INSTRUCTED BY Kinowin, Cerryl sat behind a desk in the second row on the north side of the Council Hall, watching and listening as the meeting continued. Both Kinowin and Sterol stood on the dais, but Jeslek had remained in Gallos, and his place beside the High Wizard was vacant as mages stood and spoke and then reseated themselves.

“…we see no change in trading…”

“…a season has gone by, and still the Gallosian traders are accepting goods from Recluce.”

“Not directly, Disarj. They ship the ironwork and spices to Spidlaria, and then the Spidlarians barge it upriver to Elparta.”

“So? They still evade the surtax.”

Sterol stepped forward, his hand raised. “Peace! The surtax was imposed here, not a season ago, but by the time scrolls were drafted and messengers sent it has been less than a handful of eight-days since all traders have been notified. Some traders may not yet know. They cannot summon ships back or change cargoes in a matter of eight-days.”

“They will not change,” snapped the frizzy-haired and balding Disarj. “A serpent will slither all its days.”

“That may be,” conceded the gray-haired Sterol, his hand touching his trimmed iron-gray beard, his red-flecked brown eyes mild. “We have agreed that Eliasar should be dispatched to Fenard shortly with a suitable complement of lancers to offer encouragement to the new prefect.”

“…make sure there are enough lancers for that encouragement…”

“…too bad young Cerryl didn’t flame a few more…”

Cerryl winced at his name but kept his eyes on the High Wizard.

Sterol waited for a lull in the soft comments. “For us to act before the traders know of the tax will raise unrest even within our own lands.”

“Our traders are already uneasy,” pointed out the pudgy Isork. “They claim they lose coins every eight-day.”

Kinowin stepped forward and nodded to Sterol, who nodded back.

The overmage cleared his throat. “We hear from the traders. That is truth. The traders are not all of those we govern. Those who have the coins or the power to reach us are not a tenth part of the people who depend on us-or from whom we draw our armsmen and lancers. Nor is everything always as peaceable as it seems, even within and around Fairhaven itself.”

Low murmurs whispered across the chamber.

Kinowin squared himself on the dais. “One of our younger mages has been guarding the north gate. He told me of a meeting there. I also asked the guards, and all swore that it occurred exactly as told me. That is as it should be and speaks highly of the training he was given by the honorable Jeslek. Before we discuss matters further, I would like you to hear this story.” He gestured to Cerryl, who stepped forward. “Up here, Cerryl, where all can hear you. Now…tell all of the Guild what you told me.”

As Sterol eased off the south side of the dais, Cerryl stepped onto the gold-shot marble of the dais. He had to clear his throat before starting. He tried not to look at Anya, with Fydel seated beside her. Faltar was on duty at the south gate. Nor did Cerryl look at Myral, who was in the first row. “It was about two eight-days ago, and I was on duty. I looked out along the highway, and there was this old woman with a staff leading an old farm cart with some baskets in it. I could tell that she didn’t have a medallion. She looked poor and maybe ill. So I called down to Gyral-he was the lead lancer on duty-and I asked him to warn her that she needed to either pay for a medallion or get off the highway.” Cerryl cleared his throat gently, trying to overcome his nervousness before the assembled mages.

“She wouldn’t stop or get off the highway. She yelled at all of us something like, ‘The roads be for everyone!’ She said she was a common person and she needed the road to sell her baskets so that her family could live until harvest and that she had no spare coppers for the White ninnies. I told her she’d have to give up the cart and the baskets, since she wouldn’t pay for a medallion, and she screamed that the roads were for everyone. She took her staff and threatened the guards.” Cerryl swallowed. “I used a firebolt and turned the staff into ashes. Then she screamed that darkness and the Black angels should take us. She grabbed a knife and attacked the guards. I had to flame her.” Cerryl glanced toward Kinowin.

The overmage murmured, “Stay here for a moment.” Then he turned to the Hall. “I think that young Cerryl was attempting to be both fair and understanding while upholding the laws and ways of Recluce.”