“Be a shame if it had, ser.”
The duke laughs. “You’re right about that.” He turns to Lerial. “I would suggest that you personally inform Lady Haesychya of your mission this afternoon.”
“Thank you for the suggestion.” And the excuse to visit Aenslem’s villa. “I will do so.”
“Good.” Rhamuel smiles. “I don’t have anything else for you. I do have a long list of matters to take up with Commander Ascaar.”
“Then I will take my leave.” Lerial smiles and stands.
Before that long, he and Kusyl’s First Squad are riding out through the gates and onto the ring road. Lerial does notice more mourning drapes on houses and buildings to the north and west of the palace. Because it’s a more affluent part of Swartheld? And when they reach Aenslem’s villa, there are also drapes on the gates. But not until Rhamuel proclaimed mourning. That’s interesting.
While he is grateful for the opportunity to see Kyedra again, he worries about doing so. Is this just a futile hope? Will you make matters worse with Haesychya by appearing again on such a thin pretext? He is still fretting when he dismounts and walks to the villa.
A retainer greets Lerial at the entry. “Might I inform whoever you’re here to see that you are here, Lord Lerial?”
“I’m here to see Lady Haesychya, first, and then Lady Kyedra … on a different matter.”
“If you would not mind waiting in the entry hall, ser?”
“I’ll wait.”
Although Lerial doubtless waits only a small fraction of a glass—a very small fraction—it seems as though a good third or half glass has passed before Haesychya appears, coming from the north wing of the Villa.
Lerial inclines his head to her. “Lady.”
“I understand that you are here on two separate matters, Lerial. What is the one that concerns me, might I ask?”
“Duke Rhamuel has requested that I travel, with one Mirror Lancer company, escorted by one of his personal squads and Undercaptain Norstaan, to the area of Lake Jhulyn to look into the role certain merchanters may have played in the death of your consort and son and the disappearance of Lord Mykel.”
“I’m not interested in vengeance, Lerial.”
“Neither am I, Lady. I am interested in discovering anyone who cares so little about Afrit, its Guards, and its ruler that they would kill so many for mere personal gain and drag all the duchies in Hamor into war. If such is the case, they remain a danger to all Afrit, indeed all Hamor. I also don’t particularly wish to see them escape the consequences of their actions, because that would set a very poor example for which both Afrit and Cigoerne will pay dearly in years to come.”
“That is a rather eloquent statement. It is not exactly direct.”
“I’d like to put an end to it all. Emphatically.”
A cool smile crosses Haesychya’s face. “You just might. Then what?”
“Then … whatever will be will be.”
“Indeed.” Haesychya’s smile is enigmatic. “Thank you for informing me. I will not ask what you wish of Kyedra. She is in her study. I’ll walk that far with you.”
“I appreciate that.”
This time the study door is open, and Kyedra stands immediately as she sees Lerial.
Is she surprised to see you? That would seem to be the case, from her reaction, although Lerial wonders what her mother or grandfather may have said that has caused such a reaction. “Might I have some of your time?”
Abruptly, she smiles, that smile that enchants him. “You might. Please…”
He steps into the study. He is surprised that Haesychya, after her earlier coolness, closes the door to leave the two alone.
“I didn’t expect to see you today, Lerial.”
“I didn’t expect to be here. But … I’m leaving Swartheld … just for a few days, perhaps an eightday. Your uncle has asked me to go to the lakes area—”
“To see what happened to Uncle Mykel?”
“I don’t know if anyone has told you, but the bodies of some of his guards have been found…” Lerial explains briefly.
“Uncle Rham is sending you—”
“And Norstaan.”
“He’s sending you because he has so few with great ability that he can truly trust. That means Subcommander Ascaar has arrived?”
“He’s now Commander Ascaar. He arrived a few glasses ago. I just came from the palace.”
Kyedra gestures to the armchairs. “You don’t have to leave right now?”
“I don’t. I wanted to see you before I left. We’ll be leaving very early tomorrow.” He waits for her to seat herself before settling into the other chair.
“What if you discover that one of the wealthy merchanters is behind it? What will you do?”
Lerial smiles wryly. “That’s a good question, but I can’t believe any of them would admit it.”
“Then why go to the trouble of riding all that way?”
“Because there might be more to it.”
“Do you really think that anyone would be hiding an army at the lakes?”