In The Beginning, Gail Daley [red white royal blue .TXT] 📗

"You believe the threat from Jacite is real," Andre said.

Shahen Rupert nodded. "Yes, it is real. Their Emperor is an ambitious man. I believe sooner or later he will attack and we must be ready."

"I understand your concern, Sire," Lewys told him. "However, the Proctors must be curbed. Young Magi women shouldn't be forced into their breeding programs. Children must not be torn from their parents. Raids on Magi communities must cease. There must be recourse for those abused by the Proctors, and the abusers must be judged and punished; not by the Proctors, but by an independent panel of free Magi and regular citizens. These changes need to be published so all in the kingdom know their rights under our laws. Upon these matters we cannot, will not yield."

"Do you have a list of the changes you wish made prepared?" the Shahen inquired.

Lewys went to the desk and drew out several sheets from a drawer. "Here it is. I hope we can come to a mutual agreement, Sire."

The Shahen took the list from him. "I will read these over and see if accommodation can be made. For now, I'm tired and wish to retire."

"Of course," Lewys replied. He beckoned his youngest granddaughter. "Selene, would you please show the Shahen to his rooms?"

The Shahen trod wearily up Ironlyn’s steep staircase, accompanied by Magobian’s youngest granddaughter and her escort. At his door, he thanked her for bearing him company. She dropped a curtsy, saying softly, “I hope you sleep well, Sire.”

He shut the door and read through documents before he dropped the papers on a nearby table and collapsed into one of the comfortable chairs, leaning his head back and closing his eyes.

“Are you well, Sire?” asked Jeffrey Simple, the young nobleman who had served as his squire for the last ten years. He supposed he would have to do something about his investure soon. He would be sorry to lose him when that happened.

“Just tired, Jeffrey,” he said without opening his eyes. “Tell me what you hear about the family here?”

Jeffrey had often served as the Shahen’s eyes and ears and he knew his duty. “For the most part, the retainers are happy with them and were relieved when the present Dracon came home to take up residence. They like the Draconi and her husband too.”

“He is a former Merc,” the Shahen said.

“They all know that, and they are proud the Draconi chose so wisely. They trust him to protect them. They brag about Benoit charging a powerful Magi with only a sword and bringing him down. The servants all seem to love the youngest granddaughter, though they worry she could hurt herself when she has one of her visions, so were glad Drake Andre assigned Dracho Tyrel to watch over her.”

“The child is a Seer?”

“It would seem so. As for the middle granddaughter, Draya Catrin, she seems universally admired and they all say she is a wonderful healer.”

“The boy, Owen doesn’t inherit? Is he happy for it to be so?”

“The family tradition is title goes to the eldest child. I don’t see a path to spread dissention through the family, Sire," Jeffrey said frankly.

“What about these Wild Magi, Benoit brought in?”

“It doesn’t seem likely they would betray the family. I understand all of them except the girl Issa who is too young, took the Merc oath to Ironlyn. The probability they could be coaxed or bribed to violate it, isn’t high. The Wild Magi are closely affiliated with the Merc Guild. They won’t risk being shunned by betraying someone they took the Merc Oath to. In any case, the servants all think the Magi they call The Weathermen is in love with Draya Catrin, and she has apparently adopted his child. I doubt he could be turned. Of the other Wild Magi, the girl Issa is still a child. Her brother Cedric is the Illusionist, and he seems to be assigned to one of the border watches. The young woman Shynian is a healer who works closely with Draya Catrin, and Kenwyn, the other Magi, is her husband. The Earthshaker and his companion The Ice Queen are stationed at the pass where our men died.”

“As always, Jeffrey your analysis is insightful.” He gestured at the proposal on the table, “There is the list of their demands. Among other demands it requires Magi hires be done through the Mercenary Guild. If I sign it, even I will have to buy Magi services through them.”

Jeffrey walked over to the table, “May I?” He asked.

The Shahen nodded. If truth be told, it was the sections concerning the Merc Guild which irked him the most. He despised working with Mercs, because however polite they might be, one couldn’t count on complete obedience to orders from them. They would be courteous when they refused an order, but there was no way to force them to obey one they didn't like. Mercs were also unimpressed by rank. Benoit, for example. He just sat listening while his wife’s grandfather explained the Cadre's terms, but Rupert knew Andre would have killed him without hesitation if it had been necessary. No considerations of rank would have dissuaded him.

Jeffrey laid the papers back on the table. “May I speak frankly, Sire?”

When the Shahen nodded, he continued, “I think if the Proctors are totally disbanded, it will just change one set of problems for another. Disaffected Proctors might take up the Jacite offer instead of the free Magi doing so, and they would be far more dangerous as enemies. I know they have been useful in some ways, but it is the way they handle their authority which causes the Jacite offer to be so attractive to unaffiliated Magi. The nature of the Proctors authority as it pertains to other Magi can be changed without disbanding them. You simply reorganize them to meet these conditions."

"What about the requirement the changes be published?"

Jeffrey smiled, "Why Sire, after reviewing complaints made to you, you have concluded there