about the progress of Second and Third Regiments?”
“They feel that Second Regiment is largely ready and that Third Regiment will be ready for whatever duties it may be assigned by the end of spring. Commander Skarpa feels that if necessary, he could accomplish the last of the training while traveling.”
Quaeryt missed eating in the mess with the officers, but as princeps, he was not in the military chain of command, except in the event that Straesyr was killed or incapacitated. Twice, he had taken the governor’s place at mess night, once when the governor had the flux and once when a snowstorm had stranded him at High Holder Thurl’s estate, even though the estate gates were less than five milles from the Telaryn Palace.
“I’ll be meeting with Cohausyt at eighth glass,” Quaeryt offered. “You saw the revisions to the calculations based on your recommendations.”
“I did. Cohausyt will still do well, but Lord Bhayar can use the golds, especially if Kharst attacks.”
“He’s a produce factor, isn’t he, not a grain factor?”
“He is both, and Major Meinyt mentioned that he includes some rougher grains in his cakes, and they travel better, and the horses seem to do better. After you pointed out that there won’t be much forage when they’re leaving, I thought I should look into it.”
Straesyr nodded. “I’m already getting to the point where I’ll miss you when you go.”
“Go? I’m not going anywhere, not that I know.”
The governor smiled, and his icy blue eyes seemed to soften for a moment. “You manage to get things done. You’re old enough to understand, mostly, and young enough to try the almost impossible. You also know the difference between impossible and not quite impossible. You’re trustworthy, and Bhayar trusts you. There will be fewer and fewer advisors and officers whom he can trust totally. Sooner or later, he’ll need you again. For your sake, I hope it’s later.”
So did Quaeryt.
“Is there anything else?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. I’ll talk to you later.”
Quaeryt rose and made his way back across the second level of the palace. Cohausyt was already in the anteroom waiting when Quaeryt returned to his chambers.
“Princeps, sir.”
“Do come in.” Quaeryt smiled and kept walking.
The timber factor followed, and Vhorym closed the study door behind them.
Quaeryt gestured to the chairs, then settled behind his desk. “Lord Bhayar has agreed that the mature goldenwoods and oaks can be cut, but there are a number of conditions involved.”
“There are always conditions in everything,” said Cohausyt.
“There are indeed.” Quaeryt picked up the sheet of paper from the desk and handed it over. “Here are the terms.”
Quaeryt could see the tic in the factor’s left eye begin to twitch as the older man read the sheet of paper.
“I don’t know about leaving the softwoods untouched…” said the factor slowly.
“We know that the goldenwoods and oaks are heavier. There will be times when they bring down the evergreens. The terms state that you can only log those brought down incidentally … and not incidentally on purpose. Is that unreasonable?”
“Well … no, sir, but at times the best goldenwoods are surrounded by stands of pines, and there’s no way to get to them…”
Quaeryt listened until Cohausyt finished, then said, “You’d best make those points of access very narrow.”
“I suppose we can handle that … but no goldenwoods less than two-thirds of a yard across or two yards around at a yard above the ground?”
“That’s what the best foresters recommend…”
“Begging your pardon, Princeps, but foresters aren’t the ones who have to cut and mill the timber.”
“That’s true. They’re the ones who have to make sure that there are trees there for your sons to cut and mill.”
Cohausyt sighed and went back to reading, but only for a few moments. “… smoothing and tamping the logging roads?”
“Lord Bhayar doesn’t want large gullies in the middle of his woods.”
“But, sir, tamping takes men and time, and…”
Again, Quaeryt listened, before finally saying, quietly, “You are getting access to prime goldenwoods and oaks. There’s not a stand like them anywhere else in Tilbor.”
“But these terms…”
“I suppose I could post the terms and have others bid on them…” mused Quaeryt. Not that he wanted to, because Cohausyt was by far the most honest of the timber factors, and that meant that Bhayar would likely not be shorted on the golds from the sale of the timber. Quaeryt would have liked to have sold the rights for a flat fee, but there wasn’t a timber factor in Tilbor who possessed that amount of golds to pay up front.
“No … I’ll do what’s right, Princeps.” Cohausyt looked to Quaeryt. “I’ve heard you’re fair. Hard mayhap, but fair. It’ll take a bit longer, though.”
“I understand.” And Quaeryt did.
He couldn’t say that he was looking forward to the meeting with Raurem. With all the nit-picking and endless details required in everything, it seemed, he understood more than ever why Straesyr had been more than happy to relinquish his duties as princeps to Quaeryt.
2
Jeudi morning dawned clear and bright, but there was still frost on the windows, and Quaeryt was most happy that the dressing chamber had a large carpet, because he could see frost in places on the polished marble floor. Even the lukewarm wash water pitchers showed warm vapor rising into the air.
“The pitchers-they look like the hot springs below Mount Extel,” said Vaelora. “Well … they don’t really, but they remind me of them. I wish we had hot springs here. A truly hot bath would be so wonderful.”
“If the springs were so wonderful, why did he move the capital from there?” bantered Quaeryt. He knew about the mountains of fire, but not about the hot springs. “Bhayar said his father did it because Solis was better located for trade and transport. He never mentioned hot springs in winter. But then, maybe he wasn’t one for baths.”
“Quaeryt…”
“Well … why haven’t I ever heard about these wonderful warm baths?”
“It’s not something we talk about.”
Quaeryt frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a family secret.” Vaelora smiled.
“Am I not part of the family now?”
“You are, and I’ll tell you because I don’t want any secrets between us. Promise me that you won’t keep secrets from me.”
“I promise.”
“I mean it.”
“I understand,” Quaeryt replied, and he did. He already knew that when she set her mind to something, nothing changed her course.
