Imager’s Battalion Read Free

“We will have to discuss my reading later, my lady. Shall we go greet your brother?”
    “We should.” Vaelora rose. “He would be disappointed otherwise.”
    Left unsaid, as they reentered the hold house and walked toward the main entrance, was that neither intended to disappoint Bhayar—at present.
    The Lord of Telaryn had not yet reached the largely neglected circular garden around which the entry drive curved to the main entrance when Quaeryt and Vaelora took positions on the wide stone stoop. They watched the company of Telaryn troopers follow Bhayar and then rein up around the drive as Bhayar rode forward to the entry, followed by a single ranker, and halted the large gray gelding.
    “You both look far happier than when I last saw either of you,” announced Bhayar as he dismounted and handed the gelding’s reins to the trooper behind him. He walked up the steps briskly and stopped, surveying the couple. “I had hoped that would be the case.”
    “Dear brother, you did more than hope,” said Vaelora. “You made it possible.”
    “One still hopes. Not everyone knows what is in their best interests, even those to whom one is related.”
    “You have always held our interests dear,” replied Quaeryt.
    “As I should, for those who are related and who hold a ruler’s interests as dearly as their own are few indeed.” Bhayar smiled, and for an instant even his dark blue eyes smiled as well. “But, alas, I am here to inform you of your increased responsibilities.” His eyes turned to his sister. “You should join us in the study as well, so that you may tell Aelina all that is planned when you return to Solis. You will return with my personal guard this time, because your husband will need every company under his command and that of Subcommander Meinyt.”
    Subcommander Meinyt? Quaeryt didn’t like the sound of Meinyt’s promotion at all; not that Meinyt didn’t deserve it, but because it signified that Bhayar had something in mind that was potentially dangerous to Quaeryt and the imagers. Still, Quaeryt merely nodded as he and Vaelora followed Bhayar into the hold house.
    Behind them the company of troopers rode slowly to the side courtyard.
    When the three entered the study, Vaelora nodded to Quaeryt, then closed the door from the corridor before walking to the double doors and closing them.
    Bhayar pulled a chair up to the small circular table, but waited for Quaeryt and Vaelora to move to the other chairs before seating himself.
    The Lord of Telaryn looked to his sister. “I think this marriage has been good for you.”
    “I don’t know that marriage has been good to me, but Quaeryt has been,” replied Vaelora.
    “Good. Keep it that way … both of you.” After a pause, he went on. “Much as your domestic happiness pleases me, that is obviously not why I am here.”
    “You’re here to tell us what our roles are in the coming campaign.” Vaelora smiled sweetly. “I am to provide you and Quaeryt with my thoughts and observations and then retire to Solis and console Aelina while you and Quaeryt begin the long and arduous conquest of Bovaria.”
    “Not exactly, sister dearest. You and Aelina know the internal and court politics as well as anyone. You also have seen Quaeryt struggle with balancing the finances of a province, as Aelina has seen me do with all Telaryn. You will return to Solis with a document of financial regency which places you and Aelina in command of the finances of Telaryn until my return to Solis, with full access to all ledgers and accounts. In practice, what this means is that you two jointly have the power to stop any uses of tariff revenues that do not directly support the war against Bovaria. There is also a letter to Finance Minister Haaraxes that declares that any attempt on his part to thwart or oppose your exercise of that power will be regarded as treason. He may appeal a decision you make to me, but he must abide by it, until I decide.”
    “In short, matters