Princeps

workbench. “He comes up with ideas that seem very original.”

“Excellent.” Quaeryt image-projected approval. “That’s all I had.”

From the engineering workroom, Quaeryt walked back into the courtyard and then across to the supply major’s study, opening the door with a cheerful, “Good morning, Heireg.”

“Good morning, sir.”

“I met with Commander Zhrensyl earlier this morning…”

“Yes, sir. He stopped by to tell me that he’ll be taking some sick leave … and that you might be asking me to take over some duties…”

“I suspect you’ve already been dealing with some of them.”

A crooked smile appeared on Heireg’s face. “As I could, sir, without … causing any disruptions.”

Quaeryt nodded. “We’ll make it more official. I’d like to hear your thoughts about how we should handle this…” As he spoke he could see what he thought was relief on the major’s face. He forced himself to concentrate on Heireg, although he couldn’t help but worry about needing to talk to Siemprit’s junior chorister … and to work out a homily for Solayi evening.

Again, after he left Heireg, details and more details piled up through the day, from the handful of women in tattered clothes who appeared outside the post, begging for flour-to which he acquiesced, if with the statement that such disbursement would be the last free flour-to a handful of missives from various advocates touting their credentials to be appointed as high or low justicer. After the hearing over the water business, he’d go over the names with Aextyl.

In the end, he didn’t get back to the villa until close to fourth glass of the afternoon. And this was on a Samedi, he reflected, as he dismounted outside the villa’s stable.

Vaelora walked down to meet him.

“What is it?”

“Lysienk did not waste much time.”

“Shenna heard from him?”

“Indirectly. Less than a glass after you left, one of his minions appeared. She is to meet with Lysienk himself on Meredi, most properly, here in the villa,” said Vaelora, “after you leave that morning, around seventh glass.”

Quaeryt nodded. “That will require a little arranging, but I can manage it.”

Vaelora looked puzzled.

“I’ll need to get back here without being seen, and without my escort wanting to come with me.” He offered a crooked smile. “Some of the things that were the easiest when I was a simple scholar have become more difficult now that I’m a governor.”

“You were never a simple scholar.”

“One to whom few paid any attention, then.”

“Some of us did.” Vaelora smiled broadly.

“For which I am most grateful.” And he was, even with all the complications entailed in wedding the sister of the Lord of Telaryn.

48

Thankfully, Samedi evening and Solayi were uneventful. They were not without effort, not once Vaelora decided to try several different arrangements of furniture in the master suite on Solayi, and then, after a brief respite, in the receiving parlor.

Quaeryt also listened, commenting appropriately, as Vaelora talked once more about the lack of social invitations. He had to admit, if only to himself, that she might well be right, although he couldn’t understand why. He’d seen and read about the excesses perpetrated by other governors, and his attempts at rebuilding, reform, and reducing corruption seemed comparatively mild, almost harmless, by comparison … and he couldn’t believe that factors and High Holders would snub the Lord of Telaryn’s sister for marrying a mere scholar … would they?

Yet … if that were the reason, that suggested that he needed to find a way to implement his plans for improving the situation for scholars and imagers. All that would have to wait, of course, until he managed to get Extela back to a better semblance of order.

On Solayi evening, he managed a homily about vanity, and the fact that vanity was not merely about appearance and trappings, but about attitude … and some of the officers and rankers actually nodded in agreement.

He left the villa early on Lundi morning, and the first thing he did upon reaching the post and stabling the mare was to arrange with Heireg to have a wagon pick up Justicer Aextyl early on Mardi with a pair of rankers for an escort to the Civic Patrol station. The second thing he did was to check with the duty desk to see if any dispatches had arrived. None had. That bothered him almost as much as if Bhayar had sent orders for Third Regiment to move out immediately.

Why? he wondered, but he couldn’t answer his own question.

After that, he went from one task to another. He read several letters from young men who wanted to be clerks for the governor, and kept them for future use, because, before long, he was going to need more clerks, except at the moment he had no place for them to work, although that would change when Third Regiment left. He read through the schedule of Mardi’s hearings and the written report Pharyl had left for him. At the end of the report were a few lines about Factor Andryt noting that the factor had possessed a solid reputation for honesty and quality, if a certain stubbornness, and that Pharyl would pursue other inquiries as possible.

Especially in that light, Quaeryt couldn’t help but worry about Shenna’s meeting with Lysienk, but there was nothing he could do about that until Meredi. He also wondered when he’d hear from Dhaeryn on possible locations for a building that would house all the clerks and functions he needed to direct as governor. He pushed those thoughts away and began to reread the recommendation Aextyl had drafted in response to Caesyt’s petition. After a time, he began to write what he would say at the hearing. All in all, he was busy until he reached the villa late that afternoon … when he ended up moving recently delivered furniture in the salon, since Vaelora wanted to try several arrangements.

Mardi morning he left for the post early because he wanted to make sure that the wagon got off to pick up Aextyl, but Heireg had just sent it and two troopers off when Quaeryt rode through the post gates.

With that in hand, Quaeryt went to meet with Skarpa, and then with Dhaeryn, before returning to the courtyard almost two quints later. He mounted and rode out and down the avenue, and then to the Civic Patrol station, where he waited for about a quint until the wagon carrying Aextyl arrived.

He dismounted, handed the mare’s reins to the nearer ranker, and walked to the wagon as it pulled up. “Greetings, Justicer.”

“Good morning, Governor.”

Quaeryt extended a hand to help Aextyl down, then looked to the ranker teamster. “Shastyn, Justicer Aextyl should not be that long. I would judge it will be less than a glass, and I would appreciate your waiting nearby for him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Quaeryt and Aextyl walked from the wagon into the patrol station, past the receiving desk and the duty patroller and into the corridor behind the desk, where Pharyl hurried from his study to meet them.

“Chief Pharyl, this is former high justicer Aextyl. As I mentioned before, he will be assisting me in matters of the law this morning in the first hearing.” While Quaeryt had earlier told Pharyl, he repeated the information so that anyone who might overhear understood, as well as reminding the chief.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Justicer.”

“Thank you.”

“Could we borrow your study until the hearing begins, Chief?” asked Quaeryt.

“Of course, sir.”

Once inside the small study, Quaeryt had Aextyl sit down immediately, then handed him what he had drafted the day before. “Is this the proper way to introduce this?”