Berndyt. Under him are the Land Marshal and the Sea Marshal, and under each of them are marshals with specific military or geographical commands . . ."
Rahl forced himself to listen as Taryl outlined the military chain of command and subsidiary organizations in exceedingly fine detail. At times, he glanced out the window, taking in the paved road and the small steads to the southwest. On the northeast side of the road, the dwellings were far closer together, as though the ring road were a sort of boundary.
After quite a time, Taryl paused. "We'll be there shortly. I doubt you'll remember everything I've told you, but this way, you won't look like a steer blinded by a chaos-bolt when someone mentions something you should know."
"In other words," replied Rahl, "I'm not supposed to look surprised or stunned no matter what."
"Exactly."
The building housing the High Command was markedly smaller than that holding the Mage-Guard Headquarters, just a single-story stone structure, with two wings in a chevron shape coming off a central rotunda.
"It's smaller . . ." ventured Rahl.
"Not really," replied Taryl. "All the dwellings and buildings behind the hill to the west are part of the post. The marshals have large dwellings, and even those of the commanders are not small. The armory is half the size of the Mage-Guard Headquarters, but it's not obvious because much of it's underground."
Rahl didn't see any of those buildings, just the command building on the grassy slope that ran down to the river.
"See that berm to the south?" Taryl pointed. "All the river docks and warehouses are behind that. All the other buildings are to the west and south of the hill that holds the command headquarters. It's a matter of impressions."
Impressions. So the mage-guards wanted an impression of greaterpresence, while the High Command wanted to create the opposite impression?
"The thing about impressions, Rahl, is that, while we can tell ourselves that they are merely impressions, we still tend to believe what we see and experience. There's a reason why they're called impressions. They do impress themselves upon our mind and feelings. That's why those in power who are wise take care in the impressions they create. It's always harder to deal with opponents when you must not only overcome their physical power, but also the power they create within people and even within you."
Rahl was still considering Taryl's words when the coach came to a halt.
Taryl stepped out, and Rahl followed. The receiving concourse was at the foot of a long set of wide stone steps that rose to the entrance—little more than a square arch supported by plain circular stone pillars. Taryl and Rahl started up the steps.
"This part of the hill isn't natural, is it?" asked Rahl.
"No. They built the hill around the hidden lower levels. I suggest you merely observe unless addressed directly."
"Yes, ser."
Once through the archway, they found themselves in an oblong foyer. A single long desk dominated the space, with two uniformed figures seated behind it.
An undercaptain who looked to be even younger than Rahl stepped forward from one side of the desk as he caught sight of the two mage-guards. "Senior Mage-Guard Taryl, ser?"
Taryl nodded. "This is my assistant, Rahl."
"Ah . . . yes, ser. Marshal Byrna is expecting you. I'll escort you to the briefing room and tell him that you are here."
As they followed the young officer down the corridor that led from the right-hand side of the entry hall, Rahl had the definite impression neither the officer nor the marshal happened to be expecting Rahl.
After walking briskly for over a hundred cubits—roughly a third of the way down the corridor—the undercaptain opened an unmarked door on the right-hand side of the corridor and stood back for the mage-guards to enter, then followed them inside. The walls of the briefing room were paneled in a golden wood, as were the casements of the three tall,narrow windows. There were no window
Rahl forced himself to listen as Taryl outlined the military chain of command and subsidiary organizations in exceedingly fine detail. At times, he glanced out the window, taking in the paved road and the small steads to the southwest. On the northeast side of the road, the dwellings were far closer together, as though the ring road were a sort of boundary.
After quite a time, Taryl paused. "We'll be there shortly. I doubt you'll remember everything I've told you, but this way, you won't look like a steer blinded by a chaos-bolt when someone mentions something you should know."
"In other words," replied Rahl, "I'm not supposed to look surprised or stunned no matter what."
"Exactly."
The building housing the High Command was markedly smaller than that holding the Mage-Guard Headquarters, just a single-story stone structure, with two wings in a chevron shape coming off a central rotunda.
"It's smaller . . ." ventured Rahl.
"Not really," replied Taryl. "All the dwellings and buildings behind the hill to the west are part of the post. The marshals have large dwellings, and even those of the commanders are not small. The armory is half the size of the Mage-Guard Headquarters, but it's not obvious because much of it's underground."
Rahl didn't see any of those buildings, just the command building on the grassy slope that ran down to the river.
"See that berm to the south?" Taryl pointed. "All the river docks and warehouses are behind that. All the other buildings are to the west and south of the hill that holds the command headquarters. It's a matter of impressions."
Impressions. So the mage-guards wanted an impression of greaterpresence, while the High Command wanted to create the opposite impression?
"The thing about impressions, Rahl, is that, while we can tell ourselves that they are merely impressions, we still tend to believe what we see and experience. There's a reason why they're called impressions. They do impress themselves upon our mind and feelings. That's why those in power who are wise take care in the impressions they create. It's always harder to deal with opponents when you must not only overcome their physical power, but also the power they create within people and even within you."
Rahl was still considering Taryl's words when the coach came to a halt.
Taryl stepped out, and Rahl followed. The receiving concourse was at the foot of a long set of wide stone steps that rose to the entrance—little more than a square arch supported by plain circular stone pillars. Taryl and Rahl started up the steps.
"This part of the hill isn't natural, is it?" asked Rahl.
"No. They built the hill around the hidden lower levels. I suggest you merely observe unless addressed directly."
"Yes, ser."
Once through the archway, they found themselves in an oblong foyer. A single long desk dominated the space, with two uniformed figures seated behind it.
An undercaptain who looked to be even younger than Rahl stepped forward from one side of the desk as he caught sight of the two mage-guards. "Senior Mage-Guard Taryl, ser?"
Taryl nodded. "This is my assistant, Rahl."
"Ah . . . yes, ser. Marshal Byrna is expecting you. I'll escort you to the briefing room and tell him that you are here."
As they followed the young officer down the corridor that led from the right-hand side of the entry hall, Rahl had the definite impression neither the officer nor the marshal happened to be expecting Rahl.
After walking briskly for over a hundred cubits—roughly a third of the way down the corridor—the undercaptain opened an unmarked door on the right-hand side of the corridor and stood back for the mage-guards to enter, then followed them inside. The walls of the briefing room were paneled in a golden wood, as were the casements of the three tall,narrow windows. There were no window
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