The Phoenix Guards Read online

  Pel said, “Read it aloud, if you please.”

  “Well then,” said Tazendra. “Here it is: ‘Order to arrest the Lady Seodra wherever she may be found, and to convey her to the prisons in the lorich Wing. (Signed) Tortaalik.’”

  “Well,” said Khaavren. “And the second?”

  “Here it is.”

  This time Tazendra read, “‘Order to hold the Lady Seodra in my prisons in the Issola Wing. (Signed) Tortaalik.’”

  “Well?” said the Captain.

  “It will be a pleasure,” said Khaavren, and—it is to their credit we say it—in less than an hour Seodra had been arrested in her apartments and conveyed to the prison which, thirty hours before, had contained our friends.

  The arrest being complete, the companions, as they had promised, repaired to their favorite hostel, where, being joined by Kathana and Uttrik, with Mica serving at the table, Khaavren related the entire conversation with Tortaalik, after which they drank the health of his Majesty until well into the night.

  Conclusion

  SOME MONTHS AFTER THE EVENTS we have had the honor to relate, we can find our friends, Khaavren, Aerich, Tazendra, Pel, and Mica, once more riding on the long road across the pushta, back toward Dragaera City from the Eastern Mountains. In their pockets are leaves of absence which are due to expire soon.

  Pel, who happened to be riding next to Aerich, said, “I think the journey has been a good one; our young friend seems to have recovered from the blow.”

  Aerich shrugged, as if to say, “One never fully recovers from the first betrayal of love.”

  Tazendra, who rode next to Khaavren, said, “Well, my lord Ensign, I hope you were delighted with the ceremony.”

  “Indeed yes,” said Khaavren with a bit of a start, for he had not quite gotten used to his new rank. “Lord Adron carried it off in fine style; it was kind of him, after all that has happened, to allow Uttrik to be his child’s name-giver.”

  “And to allow Kathana to stand for the mother.”

  Pel, who had heard this remark said, “That is true, but it gives one to wonder who the child’s mother really is. I cannot help remembering the look on Lord Adron’s face when he thought he knew. Do you recall, Aerich?”

  “As if I were still seeing it,” said the Lyorn.

  “Well, what then?” said Tazendra. “We’ll never know, I think.”

  Mica said, “The gossip in the kitchens is that the child’s mother was a goddess.”

  “No doubt Lord Adron thought so at the time,” said Khaavren with a trace of bitterness. “And yet, where was she?”

  “If she was a goddess,” said Pel, “then no doubt she had her own reasons for her absence. And if she was not, well, then no doubt she had reasons as well.”

  Tazendra shook her head. “For my part, it gives me great cause to think, however: the offspring of Adron e’Kieron and a goddess, with the Reign of the Dragon perhaps only a few hundred years away. I think we shall hear more of—stay, what is the child’s name?”

  “Aliera,” said Pel.

  “That is it. Well, I think we shall hear more from her.”

  “Cha!” said Khaavren. “More than we would have heard, I think, if we had allowed her father to be assassinated as that Seodra had planned.”

  “Oh, there is no question of that,” said Pel.

  “It is a shame,” said Khaavren, “that Uttrik did not choose to join our battalion.”

  “For us, yes,” said Pel. “But it is better for him. He has the stewardship of the Pepperfields, which he loves, and serves under Lord Adron, whom he nearly worships.”

  “Apropos the Pepperfields,” said Tazendra. “Did you not hear Uttrik remark that the negotiations were nearly complete?”

  “It seems likely,” said Pel.

  “Imagine,” said Tazendra. “Peace with the Easterners. That such a thing should happen in our lifetimes, and to consider that we, ourselves, were responsible.”

  “It is,” said Khaavren, “certainly something with which one may console one’s self on lonely nights.”

  Something in the way he said this caused Pel and Aerich to look at each other, as if both had the thought that Khaavren had been experiencing many of these lonely nights of late. Aerich sighed.

  In an effort to turn the conversation, Aerich said, “His Majesty seems determined to have done with intriguers at court.”

  Pel said, “For my part, I think it a doomed cause; intrigues are as much a part of the court as blood is a part of battle.”

  Tazendra laughed. “And you love the one as much as the other, do you not, my good Yendi?”

  “In faith,” said Pel, smiling. “I don’t deny it.”

  “And you,” said Tazendra, looking at Aerich. “What now? You have your name back; there is no reason to remain in the service any longer.”

  Aerich said, “Well, to be truthful, I have been thinking of leaving the service and returning to my estates. A career as a soldier is worthy for a gentleman, but, and I’m sorry to say it, I think that in a few years the Phoenix Guards will be nothing more than police, and I confess that I am too proud to be a police-officer.”

  Khaavren, to whom these words brought a pang that was not the less painful because it was expected, said, “I will be sorry to see you go.”

  “And I will be sorry to leave; in faith, it is only my love for you, my friends, that has held me here so long.”

  “Nevertheless,” said Tazendra, “it must be a pleasure to have the burden of shame lifted. And, I must say, you lifted it in a most elegant manner. Ah, I can still see your hands upon that wretch Shaltre! If only—”

  She stopped, and turned her face away. Khaavren reached over and pressed her hand.

  “Well, come,” said Khaavren, who was nearly able to read her thoughts as one reads the pages of a book. “In a few years we will have accumulated some leave, and we will go looking for these famous estates of yours, and at least settle matters with them. No doubt Aerich, wherever he is, will join us in this quest.”

  “Gladly,” said Aerich. “We will search together for, what was the name of your duchy?”

  “It was a barony,” said Tazendra. “I know not where, only that it is called Daavya, and—”

  “Daavya!” said Aerich. “Well, but that lies within the duchy of Arylle.”

  “How, Arylle?” said Tazendra. She laughed. “But then, if I were to take my title, I should be your vassal.”

  “Bah,” said Aerich. “It means nothing.”

  “On the contrary,” said Tazendra. “I should be honored to have you as overlord.”

  “And yet,” said Aerich. “There is a circumstance that I wish to remember.”

  “Well,” said Tazendra, “I hope you do.”

  “I was told of it by my nurse at a time when I was very young.”

  “So then?”

  “I remember everything that was important to me then, but, what would you? Not everything that is important when one is young is the same as what is important when one is older.”

  “I know that well, dear Aerich, yet tell us what you can.”

  “It seems that, upon learning of his disgrace, my father anticipated what would follow, and made certain preparations.”

  “That was well thought,” said Tazendra. “But what were the preparations against?”

  “Against an attack on my life.”

  “It is good that you were protected.”

  “Do you think so?”

  “I do indeed.”

  “Well, I am glad of that.”

  “Only, what were the preparations?”

  “That is what I am trying to recall. Ah, yes; I remember now.”

  “Well, and I hope you will tell me.”

  “I will, the more readily because it concerns you.”

  “How, concerns me?”

  “Yes, and very much so.”

  “Then I will listen closely.”

  “I am glad that you will.”

  “Speak, then, for I
am hanging upon your words.”

  “Here it is, then: upon determining that my life was at risk—”

  “Yes, yes, I understand that.”

  “And learning that the Count of Shaltre—”

  “He whom you killed.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, go on.”

  “Upon learning that he had received permission from her Majesty Cherova, the last Empress, to hire a mercenary army of Dragonlords—”

  “Well, yes?”

  “He made arrangements with certain vassals for my protection.”

  “That was well done.”

  “You think so?”

  “I have said it already, and I repeat it, dear Aerich.”

  “He knew these vassals were the best for this task, because they were discreet, and understood duty, and were without fear.”

  “A good choice, it seems.”

  “They were, in fact, Dzurlords.”

  “Well, but go on.”

  “How, you don’t see?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “But they were the Baron and Baroness of Daavya.”

  “How, my mother and father?”

  “Exactly.”

  “But then, they were killed.”

  “Yes, only not running from battle; rather, they had already placed me beyond Shaltre’s reach, after which they allowed themselves to be killed so that the secret would be safe.”

  “So, you mean—?”

  “Yes, that is why they ran when their holdings were attacked; they knew the attack meant that my father was about to be set upon, and they had made a vow to see to my safety.”

  “Then, they were not cowards!”

  “Far from it, good Tazendra, they were heroes, and I will so testify before your House. They did not run from battle, but toward duty and honor.”

  Tazendra’s eyes were glowing like the fire from Dzur Mountain. “There is no shame in that.”

  “Not in the least, Tazendra.”

  “Bah. Call me Daavya.”

  “As you wish, my lady Baroness.”

  “At your service, my lord Duke.”

  Khaavren said, “I am delighted for you, Baroness.”

  “Thank you, Ensign.”

  Khaavren sighed.

  Pel said, “What is it, Khaavren? You seem unhappy.”

  “Well, I am pleased for Tazendra, pardon me, for the Baroness, and I am pleased for Aerich, and yet—”

  “Well, and yet?” said Tazendra (for so we, at least, will continue to call her, lest our readers become confused).

  “There is no doubt that both of our friends will be leaving the service, and I, for one, will miss them. Will you not miss them also, Pel? Speak truly.”

  “In faith I will, Khaavren. And yet—”

  “Well, and yet?”

  “I am afraid that I, too, will not be staying in the service much longer.”

  “How,” said Khaavren, both surprised and hurt. “You, too?”

  “I have petitioned his Majesty, who has expressed some interest in me, to request of His Discretion the Duke of Wellborn that I be granted an apprenticeship in his art.”

  Khaavren sighed, “Well, you will be a great Discreet, my friend, and yet—”

  “Well?”

  “I cannot see what else there is for me. You, Aerich, can say that the Guards will become mere police, and no doubt you are right, but what choice have I? And, without you, my friends, it will be a melancholy sort of life.”

  “Bah,” said Pel. “You are young; friendship turns up everywhere. Besides, though I will be busy, I will still be at court, and we will no doubt meet each other from time to time.”

  Khaavren made no answer to this, and for some leagues no one spoke. Then, at last, Khaavren said, “Well, so be it. You will all leave me to pursue your fortunes, and I wish you well. But now I have the income of an ensign, and that is good for one thing at least.”

  “What is that,” said Tazendra.

  “I can afford to maintain our house; and I declare that I will continue to live there, and to hold your rooms ready in case you should ever wish for them.”

  “That is well done,” said the others.

  “And, who knows,” said Khaavren, looking at the road before them as if he were peering into the future. “Fate might well bring us together for reasons we have no inkling of.”

  Aerich said, “Khaavren, I have heard you say that you have sometimes the gift of prophecy, and in this case, well, I think I am convinced of it. And, moreover—”

  “Yes, moreover?”

  “As Pel told the Captain so long ago—”

  “Well?”

  “We ask nothing better.”

  Epilogue

  AS IT TURNED OUT, SEODRA retained too much influence at court for her execution to be practical, but she remained in prison until she died some four hundred years later. Lytra was able to hold her position as Warlord until, some ninety years after the events we have had the honor to relate, she was caught up in the matter of the White Goblets, which cost her both her position and her head.

  Illista and her brother were exiled, and they were believed to have lived out the remainder of their lives on an island kingdom to the west.

  Lanmarea was dismissed from the service, and G’aereth was promoted to Brigadier of the Phoenix Guards, and took command of both troops. He turned the White Sash Battalion into what was effectively a police force, which allowed him to keep the Red Boots, with Khaavren as ensign, as the elite palace guard and fighting corps which Khaavren had thought he had joined. While this did not diminish the rivalry between the two brigades, it did take them out of contact with each other, and a potentially problematical situation was thus resolved before it could become serious. Whether this was good or bad is left to the judgement of the reader; the historian makes no choice, seeing his task, as Master Hunter has so aptly put it, as merely the shedding of light into the dark spaces of the past.

  Aerich, true to his word, left the Phoenix Guards before the end of the year, taking Tazendra with him, who, in turn, took Mica. Pel remained a little longer, but, eventually his petition was granted and he began his apprenticeship in the art of Discretion, whereupon he took quarters within the Athyra Wing of the Palace. Despite his words to Khaavren, they rarely saw each other after that, and, when they did, it was only to exchange greetings and a few words as Pel would pass by where Khaavren was on duty in the Palace.

  In the fourth year of Tortaalik’s reign, in the month of the Orca, the entire court traveled to the Pepperfields to conclude the treaty with Crionofenarr; the matter having been arranged with extreme haste out of consideration to the short-lived Easterners. Khaavren was present in his role as ensign of the Red Boot Battalion.

  Kathana e’Marish’Chala, to Khaavren’s delight, remained in his brigade for thirty-eight years of the fifty-seven she had agreed to, after which, upon presenting her painting, “The Consort by the Fireside” to his Majesty, he granted her permission to return to her vocation.

  Khaavren, true to his word, continued in the house he had rented upon the Street of the Glass Cutters and retained the worthy Srahi to keep the house in order, and, as he had promised, he maintained all of the rooms his friends had once occupied, hoping that, someday, they would be of use once more.

  In this, we should add as a last note, he was not deceived, but as the details would be beyond the scope of this history, with which we hope our readers are not too dissatisfied, we shall, with regret mingled with some sense of satisfaction in the completion of a task, leave it to another time.

  Cast of Characters

  The Court

  His Majesty Tortaalik I—The Emperor

  Her Majesty, Noima—The Imperial Consort, Tortaalik’s wife

  Her Excellency Lytra e’Tenith—The Warlord

  G’aereth—Captain of the Red Boot Battalion

  Lanmarea—Captain of the White Sash Battalion

  Gyorg Lavode—Captain of the Lavodes

 
Duke Wellborn—The Imperial Discreet

  Count Shaltre—An advisor to His Majesty

  Her Ladyship Seodra—An advisor to His Majesty

  Lord Garland—The favorite

  House of the Phoenix

  Illista—Khaavren’s lover

  Allistar—Brother of Illista

  House of the Dragon

  Marquis of Pepperfield—Deceased

  Uttrik e’Lanya—Son of Pepperfield

  Kathana e’Marish’Chala, Baroness Kaluma—An artist

  Jenicor e’Terics—Fifth in line as Dragon Heir

  Diesep e’Lanya—A friend of Jenicor

  Adron e’Kieron, Duke of Eastmanswatch—Dragon Heir to the Throne

  Guardsmen in G’aereth’s Company

  Aerich

  Fanuial

  Frai

  Khaavren

  Pel

  Tazendra

  Tuci

  Guardsmen in Lanmarea’s Company

  Dekkaan e’Tenith

  Kurich

  Sergeant Lebouru

  Rekov

  Thack

  Uilliv

  House of the Iorich

  Guinn—A jailer

  House of the Jhereg

  Corris—A gaming room operator

  Fayaavik—Friend of Seodra

  Tukko—Runs the Hammerhead Inn

  House of the Teckla

  Srahi—A servant woman

  Yini—Maid of Jenicor e’Terics

  Mica—A peasant

  Easterners

  Crionofenarr—Leader of an Eastern army

  Ricardo—Librarian at the Zerika Library

  THE PHOENIX GUARDS

  Touching Upon Certain Events Which Occurred

  in the Year of the Phoenix,

  In the Phase of the Phoenix,

  In the Reign of the Phoenix,

  Of the Cycle of the Athyra

  Submitted To the Imperial Library

  By the Sliptower Estates

  House of the Hawk

  On This Eighth Day of the

  Month of the jbegaala