L. E. Modesitt - Mage-Guard of Hamor

Even before breakfast on twoday, Rahl practiced with the small iron blocks. He also put small droplets of water on top of the blocks and tried to move the droplets. That was harder, but he managed. Was it because water embodied more order than moving water that was dispersed, as in the sand, was easier? He didn't know and wished that he now had a copy of The Basis of Order. At that thought, he laughed.

When Rahl walked into the mess for breakfast, he saw Edelya sitting at the women's table next to Saulya and another older mage-guard. He nodded politely to all three and took a seat beside Laryn and across from another mage-guard he hadn't met.

Rahl, this is Rhyett. He's the assistant to Triad Fieryn. Rhyett grimaced. I'm really the assistant to Kielora, and she's the principal assistant to the Triad.

Rahl sensed the whitish aura of chaos around Rhyett. That means you do everything that no one else wants to do?

That's absolutely right. What sorts of things?

I get to read all the routine dispatches and reports and sort them. I work with Laryn here to prepare the draft reports on past and projected expenditureswe have to track what the stations and regions are spending, and compare them. That way, we can see if anything's out of line...

Rahl half listened to Rhyett, but he was also aware of a conversation at the juniors' table that had begun after two of the juniors had glanced at Rahl, then looked away. Rahl extended his order-senses.

... he's the one. Not a senior...... claims he is... or might as well be one...... too young... Rahl just smiled. Let them wonder.

... and on top of all that, Rhyett went on, as if it weren't enough, I'm supposed to keep in touch with Director Cyphryt's assistants... His words died away as his eyes flicked toward the women's side of the mess.

Saulya? asked Rahl quietly.

She's one of them. At least, she smiles when she wants something, and she's good to look at. Vladyrt... Rhyett just shook his head.

Much as he almost instinctively liked Rhyett, Rahl understood exactly why he was an assistant to an assistant. There was such a thing as being too open, especially in a place like Cigoerne. He wanted to

snort. Much as Recluce supposedly valued honesty, even in Nylan few of the magisters wanted to hear the truth if it conflicted with what they wanted to believe.

He thinks he's as important as Cyphryt? Rahl asked with a smile.

He's not quite that deluded, but he thinks that the director couldn't do anything without his help, Rhyett replied.

We'd all like to believe that, said Laryn. Why, I could claim that nothing would happen here because no one would get fed.

I can't even claim that, Rahl said, taking a helping of sausage and egg toast.

Someone said you were an assistant envoy to Recluce, Laryn said. That's not exactly nothing.

Rahl shrugged helplessly. I'm just a mage-guard who does what he's told and goes where he's ordered. And happy to be that, considering what could have happened. He took a swallow of the pale lager that was becoming a morning staple for him.

Laryn and Rhyett exchanged glances. Then Laryn laughed and said,

A man who claims nothing of naught has never for blind honor fought.

The words were clearly a quote from someone, but Rahl didn't recognize them. He thought he agreed with the sentiment if he had heard it correctly. More important, he decided Taryl should know about the rumors, since Rahl himself had told no one. In the meantime, he tried the egg toast and berry syrup.

After breakfast, Rahl and Taryl walked toward the coach waiting for them outside the entrance to the quarters' wing.

I'm sorry if I haven't kept you more informed, Taryl said, but we'll have time to talk on the drive to High Command. It's a good six kays from here, even by the ring road. He gestured for Rahl to enter the coach. I like sitting on this side.

Rahl settled himself and waited until they were moving before speaking again. Someone has been spreading the word that I was an assistant envoy to Recluce.

You were, Taryl replied amiably.

But I've never told anyone. You told the mage-guard at the river docks, but I don't think he'd be telling people here.

Taryl laughed. As soon as Cyphryt saw you with me, I'm certain he checked on your assignmentif he didn't already know, which was more likely. He doubtless told his assistants, and they told others...

But... I wouldn't ever have been made that, except

Rahl, replied Taryl firmly, that's life. None of us would be anything except for something. It doesn't always happen, but sometimes good things do come from trials. You wouldn't be here if Shyret hadn't drugged you and tried to destroy your memories. You wouldn't have met the healer in Nylan if you hadn't upset the magisters in Land's End.

After a moment, Rahl nodded.

Now... let me give you some background. The High Command is the direct authority over both the army and the navyas well as over the naval marines and the mage-guards assigned to the army. Certain types of mage-guards are always assigned to the High Command. They're the chaos-mages who see things as either black or white. Who they are is better suited to military discipline and operations, but they never serve on vessels as crew, and the navy dislikes transporting them except when absolutely necessary. Chaos has no place in the normal working of a vessel. On the other hand, as the white wizards of Fairhaven have shown, it can be most useful in land battles. That is why you and I and other order-mages have been detailed to the High Command for the duration of the campaign against Prince Golyat and the rebels. The prince has almost no ordermages among his forces. Most ordermages would not be disposed to support a rebellion because it is, at least in most cases, a form of chaos. There are exceptions, of course, but this is not one of them.

Exceptions?

Were Emperor Mythalt a tyrant who acted arbitrarily and murdered and killed and created chaos, then the most ordered course of action might be a rebellion. He is not. Now... back to the High Command. The head of the High Command is the Overmarshal. That is Berndyt. Under him are the Land Marshal and the Sea Marshal, and under each of them are marshals with specific military or geographical commands...

Rahl forced himself to listen as Taryl outlined the military chain of command and subsidiary organizations in exceedingly fine detail. At times, he glanced out the window, taking in the paved road and the small steads to the southwest. On the northeast side of the road, the dwellings were far closer together, as though the ring road were a sort of boundary.

After quite a time, Taryl paused. We'll be there shortly. I doubt you'll remember everything I've told you, but this way, you won't look like a steer blinded by a chaos-bolt when someone mentions something you should know.

In other words, replied Rahl, I'm not supposed to look surprised or stunned no matter what. Exactly.

The building housing the High Command was markedly smaller than that holding the Mage-Guard Headquarters, just a single-story stone structure, with two wings in a chevron shape coming off a central rotunda.

It's smaller... ventured Rahl.

Not really, replied Taryl. All the dwellings and buildings behind the hill to the west are part of the post. The marshals have large dwellings, and even those of the commanders are not small. The armory is half the size of the Mage-Guard Headquarters, but it's not obvious because much of it's underground.

Rahl didn't see any of those buildings, just the command building on the grassy slope that ran down to the river.