For the first time, a puzzled expression flitted across Jarell’s face.
“I’ll explain later, Jarell. The commander understands.” Palumyn’s voice took on a resigned tone as he asked, “What brings you here?”
“Lord Bhayar and I require a listing of all the factors and large merchants in Daaren. I’m certain you have such a listing.”
“We have a listing of all those factors who belong to the council. Some merchants do, but not all do.”
“I’d appreciate a copy by the end of the day,” Quaeryt said politely. “Oh … and I’ve had my officers taking a count and notes on every large merchant and factorage in Daaren. Lord Bhayar’s clerks, I’m sure, will be comparing your listing against the tariff rolls you submit and against our census.”
Palumyn stiffened, if but for an instant. “We would expect thoroughness from a ruler as effective as Lord Bhayar.”
“And I expect the same from the noted factors of Daaren. I assume you will have no difficulty in delivering the list by fourth glass this afternoon.”
“I believe we can manage that, Commander.”
“Excellent,” replied Quaeryt.
“Is there anything else you need from us?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Then Jarell will deliver the listing before fourth glass.”
“Thank you.” Quaeryt inclined his head politely, then stepped back to allow Jarell to leave the study first.
After Quaeryt had closed the door behind himself, he and Jarell walked several steps farther before Quaeryt stopped.
Jarell said, “Most senior officers wouldn’t worry quite so much about matters such as tariffs.”
“They would if they were married to Lord Bhayar’s sister,” replied Quaeryt. “If they had any sense, anyway. Lord Bhayar expects much from those who serve him, and more than that from those who are close.”
The brown-haired factor smiled ruefully. “I’ve had a few inquiries made. It’s said that you are a fighting commander, and that you are effective. Most effective. From those inquiries and from what you have said, it would appear that Lord Bhayar can be a hard man.”
Quaeryt shook his head. “He makes a great effort to be effective and fair. He has been known to accept honest mistakes. Those who made them often have not remained in his service, or they have had to undertake duties that were demanding and onerous. He does not accept treachery, dishonesty, or duplicity.”
“And you?”
“I’ve been one of those who has made mistakes. I’d prefer not to make others.”
“I see.”
“Perhaps you do, Factor Jarell. It might be wise if you conveyed that understanding to other factors. It might prevent any misunderstandings. Lord Bhayar will not be as tolerant of factor excesses as Rex Kharst was. He has already shown that he will not tolerate excesses by High Holders.”
“Oh?”
“All five of the high holdings just north and east of Kephria have been leveled. Four of the High Holders have lost their lands. Three are dead. The fifth High Holder was removed and his heir installed as his successor. All the High Holders who were closest to Rex Kharst are dead. The factors of Laaryn attempted to deceive Submarshal Skarpa. Their reward was to supply the Southern Army and to support a full regiment quartered there until Lord Bhayar is convinced of their resolve not to attempt any further questionable actions. The leader of the deception fled and faces execution if he returns. His factorage and considerable wealth were seized.”
Jarell tried not to swallow. He did not succeed.
“If you wish to send someone to Laaryn to inquire, by all means do so,” Quaeryt added pleasantly. “As I’ve said, Lord Bhayar has no interest in arbitrarily punishing factors. He just doesn’t like deception … or other actions that suggest a lack of loyalty.” Quaeryt couldn’t say anything about obeying the laws of the land, because Bhayar had essentially repudiated the old privileges of the factors, and Quaeryt wasn’t aware that any new rules or laws had been issued. In fact, in his absence, he doubted that anyone had even considered the matter. Another problem for you to resolve … if he’ll listen and let you.
“Loyalty … that can be an ambiguous term, Commander,” offered Jarell.
Quaeryt faced the factor and projected a combination of power and withering scorn, so much so that Jarell stepped back several steps and paled. “Neither I nor Lord Bhayar care much for weasel-wording factors who seek to hide behind the meaning of words or who use them to shield themselves from punishment for doing what they know is wrong. You know what is right, and it is not always the same as what brings in the most golds.” Quaeryt dropped the projection and said quietly, “Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.” Jarell inclined his head.
Just before Quaeryt turned to leave, he noticed that the clerk who had been at the front desk had fainted. You weren’t that violent.
He didn’t shake his head as he walked out of the building. Why are so many of them always trying to avoid and evade? Is that truly what makes a successful factor? Then he paused, considering. Palumyn hadn’t tried to avoid. He’d been unhappy, and resigned, but he’d given every indication that he would do his best.
Quaeryt smiled ruefully. That suggested Jarell was another Myskyl, a lower-level schemer trying to get to the top by twisting everything to his advantage. And Myskyl is another problem you’ll have to face when you return to Variana.
When he rode into the side courtyard at the Grande Laar Inn, Quaeryt reined up and saw Undercaptain Ghaelyn. “Undercaptain! Do you know if the imager undercaptains have returned?”
“No, sir. They haven’t.”
“Thank you.” Quaeryt dismounted and led his mount to the waiting stable boy.
He needed to write out all the problems he faced-especially a set of rules to make things clear for the Bovarian factors and merchants, because it was all too obvious that the way they conducted business was not what was necessary for better trade between the different lands Bhayar now ruled.
Quaeryt took a deep breath as he walked toward the inn door.
11
In the end, Quaeryt, Vaelora, and their forces did not leave Daaren until Vendrei morning, partly because obtaining supplies took longer than Quaeryt had anticipated and partly because both Khaern and Calkoran felt that the mounts needed more rest. The additional day did give Quaeryt some time to start drafting what he thought of as a code for factors and trade. He had no illusions that what he wrote would be approved by Bhayar without change, but with three different sets of laws governing trade and commerce, Quaeryt felt that Bhayar would want some uniform code … and if Bhayar changed it, even for what Quaeryt might think was for the worse, one code was better than three-or four, if the High Councilors of Khel ever came to their senses and agreed to some sort of terms with Bhayar.
For the first eleven milles north on the east side of the Phraan River, all the way to the small town of Faantyl, the road was slightly better than it had been south of Daaren. In Faantyl, surprisingly, every building seemed to have been built of the pale yellow brick that Quaeryt had first observed in Daaren, except in Daaren, not every structure had been built of it. Once in the town proper of Faantyl, Quaeryt reined up and asked one of the local crofters, seated on his wagon seat, on the west side of the churned dirt open space that passed for a square, about the road to the north.
“Well … it’s not as bad as it might be this time of year, after the swampy part a mille or so north.”
“What about the roads on the west side of the river?”
The grizzled crofter shook his head. “Aren’t none to speak of.”
“How bad is the swampy part?”
“Right now, I wouldn’t be going there. It’s passable enough come summer.”
“All the way to Eluthyn?”
“I wouldn’t know about that. Never been farther north than Eelan, and not there recently.”