Princeps: A Novel in the Imager Portfolio (39 page)

“I don’t know that he’s dead, but no … I don’t.”

“Might I ask why, Governor?”

“I think you know. He paid himself exorbitantly, let the patrol chief reduce the number of patrollers and pocket the wages not paid. So far as I can tell, it appears as though he received more than ten thousand golds a year, and I’m not certain I’ve tracked down all that he took.”

“I’d wager he extorted even more, but what do I know? I’m just a has-been high justicer who tried to keep a certain amount of justice in the application of the law.”

“That’s why I’m here, sir.”

“I appreciate your kindness, Governor. I can’t do it. My mind and spirit are willing, but my body’s not what it used to be. Come to think of it, it wasn’t what it used to be when I stepped down, and that was close to six years ago.”

“When Scythn became governor?”

Aextyl nodded.

“Are there any other justicers or advocates here in Extela who would make acceptable justicers?”

The old justicer barked a laugh. “You might as well ask if you could find an ox here that could wield a pen.”

Quaeryt paused, then asked, “If I have to act as justicer, can I pay you to sit beside me and help with the law and the precedents … at least for a time?”

“I might consider it for a few cases. That’s if you’d read Ekyrd’s treatise on the law. That shouldn’t be a problem for a scholar.”

“Reading it wouldn’t be a problem,” Quaeryt said. “Finding a copy to read would be, since all of the governor’s square is buried in ash and lava.”

“I have a copy you can borrow. Over there, the second shelf down, on the end, the maroon binding.”

Quaeryt rose, walked to the bookcase indicated by the justicer’s bony finger, and extracted the comparatively slim volume. “This one?”

“That’s the one. Read it. If you understand it, you’ll know more law and procedures than most justicers ever do.”

Quaeryt returned to the chair and sat down, still holding the book.

“Do you know why there’s no scholars’ house here? There was one, once, you know?”

“I can’t say that I do.”

Aextyl smiled. “That book you hold is one reason. The scholars had their apprentices copy it. Some of the local merchants and small factors read it. They disputed the findings and the handling of various trials and hearings, especially those dealing with some of the larger factors, particular factors, and one High Holder who, I hear, recently got so angry he suffered a seizure. No great loss there. Governor Scythn imposed a tariff on the scholars, claiming that the copying of books made them merchants. Other harassments followed, and then the scholarium burned in a fire. The surviving scholars dispersed.”

Quaeryt winced.

“You think that is strange, Governor?”

“No. It has happened elsewhere recently. That was what bothered me.”

“Knowledge held by those without power is always regarded as a danger by those with power.”

“That is why we have laws,” suggested Quaeryt.

“Everyone knows that power without law is tyranny, but they fail to recognize that law without power is useless. The laws here had no power. You are trying to change that. I applaud your efforts, but I fear you will fail, even with your ties to Lord Bhayar.”

“We will see.” Quaeryt smiled politely. “Will you consider advising me through a few hearings after I read this treatise?”

“I will consider it. I make no promises.”

“On another subject … what do you know about a factor named Hyleor?”

“Ah … Hyleor Cylonsyn. He was a supporter of Governor Scythn. He also owned and still does, I believe, a share of at least one pleasure house, if not more. I have not had the dubious pleasure of meeting him and suspect I am the better for that.”

“Are there any other factors whose acquaintance might be, as you put it, a dubious pleasure?”

“In recent years, there have been more than a few. Aerambyr, Thaltyn … and, of course, Lysienk and Pulam.”

“Why should I look out for from them?”

“The usual … overcharges, delays in goods or substandard goods, and, occasionally, accidents to retainers or relatives. Your predecessor had a tendency to turn the other way, with his hand out, I suspect.”

Quaeryt managed not to wince a second time. “I see. What do you know about a patroller first by the name of Jaramyr?”

Aextyl shook his head.

“What do you know about a Captain Faastyl?”

“Only that you would be best not to have him in the Civic Patrol, although I have heard he has left Extela.”

“Are there any other factors or High Holders with whom I should be especially cautious?”

“High Holder Cransyr is known to be especially partisan, as is Suletar. For the factors, besides Hyleor, it might be wise to handle several others with care, Assoul and Dyetryn in particular. Factoria Grelyana can be vicious if she believes her interests are infringed, as can Lysienk.”

“Any others?”

“All of them will be your friend to your face and whatever is necessary to advance their interests when your back is turned or your eyes are elsewhere.”

Justicer Aextyl definitely had a skeptical, and probably realistic, view of people, reflected Quaeryt. “I suspect that is true of every governor.”

“Indeed.” Aextyl coughed, then lifted a large handkerchief to stifle the paroxysm that followed.

Quaeryt waited until the coughing spasms ceased before standing. “I will not take more of your time, but I do appreciate your advice and the loan of the law treatise.”

“My pleasure, Governor. I trust it will do more good in your hands than on the bookshelf here.”

Quaeryt inclined his head. “Thank you.”

Then he turned and walked to the door, opening it, and started toward the entry hall.

The narrow-faced daughter met him there. “Governor … I hope you didn’t press him. He’s not well. Being a justicer took years off his life.”

“I asked if he would sit beside me for the first few hearings and advise me. He said he would think about it—and only if I read this treatise.”

Her eyes went from the thin book Quaeryt carried to the scholar’s browns. “You’re going to read it, aren’t you?” Her tone was almost despairing.

“He made it rather clear that whether or not he decided to advise me, I needed to read it to have any chance of following the proper procedures. I’m taking his advice.”

“Would that others had, sir.” Gently as the words were spoken, bitterness suffused them.

“Sometimes, good men are treated ill by the times and their peers, but I do greatly appreciate his counsel and advice … and your courtesy in allowing me to see him.” Quaeryt inclined his head, then left.

As he rode away, he considered what Aextyl had said about Grelyana … and that concerned him, especially given how they had pressed the factoria in dealings over the villa.

Upon his return to the post, Quaeryt checked to see if he had received any dispatches, but there were none, and he made his way to his study. There he wrote down the names of the factors mentioned as difficult by Aextyl. Once Pharyl was a bit more settled in as chief, Quaeryt wanted to have the chief make a few inquiries about each of them.

Almost a glass later, as he finished reviewing the master ledger showing expenditures, the duty ranker knocked on the door of the small study. “There’s a fellow here to see you, sir. He claims he was a justicer, gave his name as Tharyn Ashsyn.”

“I’ll see him.”

A few moments later the door opened, and a slender man stepped inside, wearing a tailored gray tunic and matching trousers. His polished boots were gray, and he wore a large gold ring on his right hand. He inclined his head. “Governor.”

“What can I do for you?” asked Quaeryt, gesturing to the pair of chairs before the desk.

The man sat down and smiled, revealing slightly yellow teeth. “I heard that you’re looking for justicers, Governor. I might be able to help you out.”

“In what way?” asked Quaeryt politely.

“Being that I was low justicer for Extela under Governor Scythn, I bring some experience that might be helpful to you.”

“I’ve heard your name, but not much more.” Quaeryt smiled. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself?”

“I grew up west of here in a little place called Wesron. My da was a smallholder, and I was the youngest. So when I was old enough I came to Extela and became a patroller. Worked my way up to patroller first.” Tharyn shrugged. “That’s just the way it happened.”

“What have you been doing lately … since the eruption?”

“Waiting to see what happened. I was thinking about moving to Solis, but I heard you might need a justicer or two.” Tharyn smiled broadly. “If you know what I mean.”

“When did you become a justicer?”

“I was a patroller first for Chief Besant. That was under Governor Thailwyt. I told Governor Scythn that he needed someone who understood patrolling for the low justicer position. He thought about what I said, and then he appointed me.”

Quaeryt doubted it had been anywhere that direct or simple. “From a justicer’s point of view, how do you think the Civic Patrol was doing under the last chief?”

“The chief really kept ’em in line. Have to say that.”

“I’d heard that the size of the patrol decreased some.”

“No … it was always the same size, like around six patrols … leastwise while I was a patroller.”

That was interesting, if true, thought Quaeryt, and it suggested that the previous chief hadn’t changed matters so much as continued past practices. “Where did most offenses happen? In what part of Extela?”

“Oh … the southeast … all those Pharsis … always a problem…”

Quaeryt continued to ask questions for another quint before he finally said, “Thank you for coming in. I haven’t made any decisions yet, and it was good to have the benefit of your experience.”

“You’re kind to see me, Governor. I would make a good head justicer. Knowing what I know, if you know what I mean.”

“I do indeed.” Quaeryt stood. “I do.”
And I don’t like at all what I know.

Once the door closed, he sat down with a long deep breath.

Tharyn hadn’t exactly impressed Quaeryt.
And he wants to be the head justicer?

The encounter reminded Quaeryt that he still had to do something about the case involving Hyleor, and that meant he had to talk to the factor. Another thing to take care of on Jeudi.

After a moment he looked down at the thin maroon-bound volume on the desk.
Among other things, you have some reading to do.

39

With Vaelora occupied in supervising repairs and cleaning of the governor’s residence, as well as trying to locate kitchen equipment, pots, pans, and sundry other necessities for turning the villa into a functioning residence, Quaeryt left the post early on Jeudi to visit Hyleor. The only problem was that the spice factor had been traveling in the mountains to the north to purchase early spring herbs—or so his wife claimed—and was not expected to return until sometime late that afternoon or evening.

Quaeryt then rode to see how the repairs were coming on the east bridge and was gratified to see that the first timbers were being set in place. He was less gratified to learn from Major Dhaeryn that the cost of the timbers and planks would exceed 450 golds, and that more stonework would be necessary on the west end of the bridge before the last supporting timbers could be laid and braced.

On his return ride to the post, he swung by the patrol station, although he did not stop. From the outside, it looked complete, but he couldn’t tell if the cells had been finished.

Two quints past the first glass of the afternoon, the duty squad leader hurried into Quaeryt’s study to deliver a dispatch from Bhayar. As soon as the man left, Quaeryt opened the missive and began to read. After all the felicitations and appreciation of what Quaeryt had done so far there was just one other paragraph, stark in its simplicity.

More Bovarian troops continue to move toward Ferravyl. Regardless of any difficulties you may have, Third Regiment is to depart Extela no later than Lundi, the sixteenth of Mayas, and to move with deliberate speed to Ferravyl. Because this may change at any time, Third Regiment should be prepared to depart any day after the fifteenth of Avryl.

The seal and signature were those of Bhayar.

When Quaeryt went to find Skarpa, who had effectively taken over the post commander’s study, he waited until Skarpa had finished with Major Chaestyn before stepping into the study and closing the door.

“That dispatch that just came in? Bad news?”

Quaeryt handed the single sheet to the commander.

Skarpa read through the dispatch and handed it back before speaking. “It looks like we’ll be fighting by midsummer, if not sooner.”

“I’d wager on sooner. I just hope that the engineers will finish the bridge repairs in the next week or so. I am glad that the aqueduct is done.”

“Is there anything else urgent you need from the regiment?”

“Besides replacements for fifty patrollers, trustworthy justicers, more clerks, tariff collectors…” Quaeryt shook his head. “So much was buried in lava and ash and burned that I don’t really even know what else I need. I can’t trust most of those who might know, and the ones I can trust are so busy that they can’t do much more.”
And your wife is trying to put together a governor’s residence single-handedly as well.

“You seem to be managing it so far, sir.”

“Only with the help of the regiment. We need more patrollers, and soon.”

“Pharyl and Hrehn can take care of that.”

“If they have time.”

“There are bound to be young men who need work. With Pharyl and Hrehn, all you need is some coin, and I imagine you have enough of that. Beginning patrollers can’t cost you much more than trooper recruits.”

After talking more with Skarpa, Quaeryt felt slightly less overwhelmed and returned to his study to try to think through what else he needed quickly from the regiment. Slightly before second glass, Pharyl appeared at his door, slipping into one of the chairs before the desk.