“I suppose…” mused Bhayar.
“You can point out that it’s a small recompense for a man who lost his homeland in opposing Rex Kharst and essentially made it possible for you to unite Solidar.”
“I’ll think about that. Go on.”
“They do not want Khellan lands confiscated for high holdings…”
“I can’t agree to that!”
“You can … in a way,” suggested Quaeryt. “Kharst already confiscated lands and established six large high holdings. You can agree to not confiscating any more lands, but on maintaining those six … and on recognizing any landholder or factor whose success in creating a holding that meets the standards of a high holding can be recognized as such in the future. That way, any future additional high holdings would be established in the same way that many already have been.”
“What else?”
“They want to maintain their own laws.”
“So?”
“You don’t want that. We need to come up with a way of combining their laws with the code you’re already working on. Maybe put in a provision that the laws of Solidar will take full force in five years or some such.”
“Which laws? The ones you sent me?”
“Exactly.” Quaeryt grinned. “Vaelora and I worked on the codex, and you changed it, and we sent it back to you. Most important, it was based on both the Telaryn codex issued by your grandsire and what reasonable Bovarian laws there were. It also creates more controls over the factors. If you’ve lost your copy…” He took the sheaf of papers from the leather folder and laid it on the conference table.
Bhayar shook his head. “I have what you sent me. You two did take some liberties with the codex.”
“Very few. We did add a section on imagers, saying that, while they were subject to the laws of Solidar, they could not be executed or imprisoned for more than two seasons for violations of the code without the express written consent of the Rex Regis, and that the Collegium Imago had the right to investigate any death or injury to an imager. We also simplified the sections on tariffs, and made misuse of tariff revenues by a regional governor a crime with penalties ranging from fines to death, depending on the severity of the abuse, and we spelled out each level of abuse. We also allowed High Holders to retain the right of low justice, but high justice must be meted out by regional justicers appointed by the Rex Regis-”
“Enough! After we work out the terms with Khel, I’ll sign it, and the Ministry of Administration and Supply can send copies to everyone, and you’ll spend the next year explaining it to all the High Holders and factors. Here and in Khel.” Bhayar paused. “What about governing?”
“They want the High Council to govern on your behalf.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
“We suggested that you appoint a regional governor and that he have two princeps, rather than the usual one. One would be for logistics, and the second would be to advise the governor, and would be the head councilor of the High Council-or, alternatively, an appointee of the High Council.”
“That might work. Who would you suggest as regional governor for Khel?”
“Subcommander Meinyt. Promote him to Commander and make it clear to both Meinyt and the Council that the governor’s role is gentle oversight, the collection of tariffs, and that, so long as the Council maintains order under the code of laws you’ve promulgated…” Quaeryt offered both a smile and a shrug.
“I’ll have to think about that.” Bhayar squared his shoulders. “We might as well go over the terms line by line.”
Quaeryt did not sigh, much as he felt like it.
64
As Quaeryt had feared, the next two days were long, and while not exactly unpleasant, he found them tiring in first explaining to Khaliost and Chiana why some of the High Council’s proposals would not work or could not be accepted, and conversely, pointing out to Bhayar how the accommodations suggested by either the Khellans or Vaelora and Quaeryt would not measurably affect his rule and power. The largest sticking point was the issue of governance, but in the end, Khaliost and Bhayar agreed on the point that the High Council would appoint the princeps of Khel, while an assistant princeps, not a second princeps, largely for logistics and supply, would be appointed by the Rex Regis.
On Vendrei morning, at eighth glass, two glasses before the final agreement was to be signed, Quaeryt and Vaelora met once more with Bhayar in his study.
Quaeryt handed a single-page document to Bhayar.
“What is this?”
“It’s the proclamation you’ll issue after signing the terms with Khel. It declares that the united lands of Lydar, comprising the former lands of Tilbor, Telaryn, Bovaria, Antiago, and Khel, are henceforth united and to be known as Solidar, and that the capital city, formerly known as Variana, is now L’Excelsis, and that your title as ruler is also henceforth Rex Regis.”
“L’Excelsis?” Bhayar frowned, as he had for much of the week.
“Just let it be, brother dear, and sign it,” snapped Vaelora.
“Don’t get snippy with me…”
“Who else dares to be honest with you?” she said quietly.
“Your husband, but he’s more politely insistent.”
“That’s because he didn’t grow up with you.”
Bhayar shook his head and looked to Quaeryt. “I am glad she married you … and I’m looking forward to the time when you’re maître of the Collegium.”
“Even when that happens, and we have quarters there,” replied Vaelora, “I’ll still be your Minister for Administration.”
Bhayar mock-groaned. “I know. I know.” Then he picked up the document and read through it. After a moment he reached for the pen in the holder, dipped it in the inkwell, and signed the proclamation. “There!”
“Good,” said Vaelora. “I’ll have the clerks make copies and we’ll send them out everywhere.”
Quaeryt eased the proclamation away from Bhayar and slipped another one before him. “Here’s the other document you requested-the assignment of the high holding of Khunthan, one of the largest in Solidar, to Deucalon.”
“Given its size, he shouldn’t complain,” said Bhayar, “even if it is just about as far from … L’Excelsis … as possible.”
“Eshtora’s not close,” admitted Quaeryt, “and we will convey to Deucalon that the regional governor and princeps will be watching closely to see how he handles those lands. Meinyt will be perfect for that.”
“You’re sure he’ll accept being regional governor of Khel?”
“He’s done well so far as acting regional governor of the west of Bovaria, and you can always hint that other possibilities exist in time if he does well in Khel.” Quaeryt paused. “He will, though. He’s tough and practical, yet reasonable, and that’s what you need to deal with the High Council, especially when they’re collecting the tariffs.” And Meinyt won’t put up with any foolishness … from either the Council or Deucalon.
65
As they dressed for the comparatively small formal dinner on Samedi evening to celebrate the signing of the terms between Khel and Solidar, Quaeryt stood behind Vaelora as she sat peering into the mirror and studying her reflection, an image with which Quaeryt could find no fault … although he suspected she would discover some way to improve it.
“You have that distant expression on your face,” she said abruptly after glancing up at him. “Are you still thinking about how everything happened?”
“I wasn’t … but I have on and off. It’s hard not to. I couldn’t have done it without you … and Khalis and Lhandor … and Elsior.” Elsior was the one who knew the dangers of metal-lined rooms. “I should have thought about the metal rooms and darkness after your flash…”
“How could you have known…”
“You were the one who told me about how Aliaro kept his imagers in metal-lined rooms … but I didn’t even think about Myskyl and his imagers…” Quaeryt shook his head.