Lerial waits.
“You may be able to help Afrit. Or you may be able to help me. Or yourself. Or none. You will, I think, know what must be done when the choice is before you.” After a moment, Rhamuel adds, “I would ask that you never aid Khesyn, but since that is so against your interests and those of your sire and your people, I trust I should not have to ask that.”
Neatly done … asking without asking.
“You asked about what Khesyn will do. There will be an attack. It will come soon. If we repulse it without many casualties, or if we inflict massive casualties, Khesyn will withdraw. That has been his pattern.”
“Then why do you need me…” Lerial shakes his head. Of course!
“I think you understand.”
“What better way than to smooth over past differences? In a fashion that even those who are less than charitably inclined cannot but accept?”
Rhamuel nods. “And there is also the possibility that Khesyn may attack again.”
“Would you like me to tell you about my family, especially about those you did not meet or spend much time with when you were in Cigoerne—my brother, my younger sister, my aunt, and her daughter?”
“That would be helpful, especially if the duke calls upon me to advise him on such matters. That has happened, upon occasion, if less often in recent years.”
“You may recall that my brother Lephi is two years older. As an overcaptain he is in command of two companies posted to Sudstrym—that’s a newer post just across the river from Amaershyn…” Lerial goes on with obvious information about his parents and Ryalah, and then his aunt Emerya … “remains as the head of healing at the Healing Hall in Cigoerne. She was the one who first instructed me in field healing. She has one daughter. That is Amaira. She has brown hair and brown eyes, much like you, and she is warm and has a good sense of humor.” Lerial almost mentions that Amaira is deeply grounded in order, but decides against that because it would raise too many questions about how he would know and what else he knows. “She’s very intelligent, and she is quietly strong, but sensitive. She’s been very good for my sister Ryalah and far more patient with her than I’d have been likely to be in the same circumstance. Her mother thinks she might have the talent for being a healer, and she’s been spending time at the Hall of Healing…”
When Lerial finishes, Rhamuel nods and smiles, almost sadly. “That’s quite a family you have, even the girls.”
“Ryalah has been a challenge now and then … Amaira, never, not that I can recall. She’s very thoughtful. She should make a good healer, but that’s something that only time will tell.”
“Like a good officer.”
Lerial laughs. “I think my father despaired of my ever being a decent officer, let alone a good one.”
“I’m afraid my father felt the same way,” Rhamuel says pleasantly.
When he finally leaves the study, more than a glass later, after more general conversation, what puzzles Lerial most is why Rhamuel hadn’t requested that Emerya come to Swartheld. Or had Atroyan forbidden him to do so? Or had Grandmere? Or is there more going on? He almost laughs at the last thought. One thing he has learned is that there is always more happening than is known by most.
He is halfway across the main hall and headed for the staircase to the north wing when a figure slips from the less well-lighted corner near the archway leading to the north wing.
“You’re carrying a concerned expression. After leaving the arms-commander’s study, that doesn’t bode well.” Drusyn smiles pleasantly.
“Does anything about what Khesyn may plan bode well?” Lerial replies dryly. “What I learned was that Khesyn will attack, probably sooner than later, and our success will depend almost entirely on how few casualties we take and how many we inflict on his forces.” He pauses for just an instant and adds sardonically, “Just as in any battle or war.”
Drusyn laughs. “That’s all?”
“Of course not. He detailed why most precisely, then asked about my family and how Cigoerne had changed since he visited it years ago. I told him what he seemed to want to know. Then he bid me good evening … and here I am.”
“He never does anything without a purpose.”
“I got that impression. One purpose was to impress on me the importance of quickly destroying any attacking force. Another purpose was likely to find out more about how Cigoerne has changed over the years, at least from my perspective, and he will doubtless compare what I said to what he has learned from traders, factors, and others.”
“That is the way he works.” Drusyn pauses. “Well … good evening.”
“Good evening to you. I’ll see you in the morning. As usual.” With a smile, Lerial turns and makes his way up the stairs to the second level.
XI