L. Modesitt: Colors of Chaos

In his greed and arrogance, the emperor sent more than a score of vessels, all filled with armsmen and weapons of every type and size, and those ships sailed into the port known as Land’s End and attacked the small keep therein, for Creslin was seeking the high and great winds far away.

Yet, even in Creslin’s absence, Megaera the black-hearted raised mighty fires and turned many of the emperor’s ships into funeral pyres for sailors and armsmen alike.

Creslin returned, with both his killing blade and the great winds, and all but a single ship perished, and all but a score of all those thousands of men who had sought the talismans of order perished as well.

The single ship that remained Creslin rebuilt and refitted, as the beginning to the Black fleets….

Colors of White, (Manual of the Guild at Fairhaven), Preface

CERRYL NODDED TO the Tower guards on duty, although he didn’t know either by name, as he passed on his way to report to the overmage Kinowin.

“Good day, ser,” the older guard returned.

Cerryl smiled politely, glad that this day was drawing to a close, although it hadn’t been that eventful, unlike the time with the oil smugglers several eight-days before. Most days were quiet-and long.

Kinowin’s quarters were on the lowest level of the Tower-and the door was around the corner to the left from the guard station-Derka’s door was the other way, not that Cerryl had been there, but Faltar had told him.

Outside of the time when Jeslek had tried to insist that Cerryl had not succeeded in accomplishing his magely task-or rather when Jeslek had insisted that he had not set such a task-and the High Wizard Sterol had brought in Kinowin, Myral, and Derka to judge the situation, Cerryl had never really had much conversation or contact with the stooped, silver-haired Derka. Then…Cerryl had seen how much power the kindly voice and stooped posture concealed.

Jeslek, thank the light, had been forced to admit he had set a magely task for Cerryl, whether he had so intended or not, and Sterol and the others had agreed that Cerryl was fit to be a full mage.

Cerryl snorted as he thought about it. If sneaking into a strange city and killing the ruler with chaos fire and escaping unseen didn’t make for a magely task, he wasn’t certain what did. Then, because he was an orphan from a suspect background, he’d been held to a more difficult standard in many ways-except for one thing. Sterol had known that Cerryl had used chaos fire before the Guild had found Cerryl, and the High Wizard had let that pass. Cerryl’s father hadn’t been so fortunate-which was why Cerryl had ended up an orphan almost right after he was born.

“Cerryl, ser,” he announced as he rapped on the white oak door. He didn’t mind reporting to Kinowin, the other Guild overmage that he knew of besides Jeslek, but that was because the big overmage had also surmounted poverty-and far more disciplinary actions than Cerryl-in becoming a mage.

“Come in,” Kinowin’s voice rumbled.

Cerryl eased into the room-so different from that of Myral or Jeslek. Myral’s quarters were filled with books and Jeslek’s almost bare of all but essentials. Kinowin’s walls were filled with colored hangings of different types and styles, but all of them featuring shades of purple, accented with other colors. His books were limited to a single four-shelf case on the wall beside the sole window. Even the table that held his screeing glass was covered with a purple cloth-trimmed with green.

“I take it that nothing untoward happened today.” Kinowin’s lips curled into a friendly but sardonic smile, lifting slightly the purple blotch on his left cheek.

“No, ser. Not a thing. There weren’t many wagons, and only the coach from Lydiar. Just two passengers, a grain merchant from Worrak and one from Ruzor.”

“Wasn’t there an olive merchant from Kyphros the other day?”

“Ah…two days ago, I think.”

“Not much trade coming to Fairhaven at all, is there?” Kinowin nodded to the chair across from him. “We need to talk.”

Cerryl’s stomach tightened.

“No…you haven’t done anything wrong, and the great Jeslek has been quiet so far as you are concerned. He’s still out in Gallos raising more mountains. To protect the Great White Highway, he says…”

Cerryl wondered. Jeslek claimed that such a use of chaos was to show the force of the Guild to the prefect of Gallos, but Cerryl doubted such was the sole reason.

“…also,” continued Kinowin, “Jeslek’s been reporting cattle theft in the northern part of Kyphros. His scrolls indicate that the locals are complaining that the thieves are being allowed to steal Analerian cattle and take them to Fenard for slaughter. He’s sent a scroll to the new prefect-your ‘friend’ Syrma-suggesting that Gallos could use more evenhanded justice.”

“Syrma won’t like that, not from the little I saw.”

“No, he won’t, but Jeslek is convinced that Fairhaven must apply a stronger hand. Both Sterol and I agree…about the need for a greater presence.” Kinowin offered a short laugh. “That brings up what we need to talk about…. Sterol and I were talking the other day, and we decided that some of the junior mages need to know more about what is happening. But…we’re telling you each individually. I’d like you to keep this to yourself. You may discuss it with me, with Myral, with Sterol-and with Jeslek, of course. You may also talk with other junior mages, but only about things which have in fact already happened.” Kinowin cocked his big head slightly to one side. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, ser.” Cerryl frowned. “I think so. People are talking, but it’s not always right what they’re saying, and you need to make sure we understand what’s really happening. But you don’t want it spread all over the place, and there are some people who won’t be told everything because they-” Cerryl stopped as he saw the glimmer in Kinowin’s eyes. “I’m sorry, ser. Maybe I don’t understand.”

Kinowin laughed and shook his head. “You understand. You even understand the intrigue. No wonder Jeslek worries about you. Just don’t share something like you just said with anyone but me or Myral.”

Cerryl nodded slowly. He noted that the overmage had not mentioned the High Wizard Sterol or the overmage Jeslek.

Kinowin squared himself in his chair, put both elbows on the table, and leaned forward. “You know that Syrma is now the prefect of Gallos. Lyam’s family-they are largely wool factors and timber merchants-is not pleased with the situation. Nor are the overcaptains of the Gallosian forces, especially a fellow by the name of Taynet. He’s the most senior of the overcaptains. What this means for the Guild is that we really can’t press Syrma for payment of all the golds that Lyam owed Fairhaven from when he was prefect.”

Cerryl wasn’t sure how the intrigue of Gallos had anything at all to do with him or the Guild, but Kinowin wasn’t one for idle gossip.

“The traders in Gallos have been bringing in goods from Recluce through Spidlar-wool, spices, even copper. The Black traders have also been bringing in Austran cotton and linen-and it’s cheaper than what comes from Hydlen. They’re shipping that copper from Southport to Spidlaria cheaper than our traders can cart it across the Westhorns.” Kinowin paused, cocking his head again, as if uncertain as to what else to say. “And they’re using the profit to buy our grains and tubers. They can raise grain on Recluce, but not enough.”

The junior mage waited.

“The Duke of Lydiar is beginning to expand the copper mines south of Hrisbarg…and might be persuaded to reopen the old iron mines. He’s not happy about the cheaper copper…or the iron.” Kinowin stopped. “Does this tell you anything?”

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