hangings, and the only furnishings were an oblong table close to ten cubits in length, flanked by straight-backed chairs of the same golden wood as the paneling, and a set of cabinets against the wall at the foot of the table. The table was set parallel to the outer wall.
"The marshal and his senior staff will be here shortly, ser." The undercaptain bowed slightly, turned, and departed.
Mindful of Taryl's earlier observations, Rahl said nothing but walked to the middle window and gazed out. The parklike grounds sloped down to the Swarth River, creating a sweeping view that seemed more suited to a grand estate than to a military headquarters. To the south, he could see a haze that suggested the river docks and far more practical and working facilities.
As Taryl cleared his throat, Rahl immediately turned.
A number of officers began to enter the briefing room, followed by a short and squarish man in an immaculate khaki uniform with the gold insignia of a marshal on his collars—a starburst above three crossed blades.
"Marshal Byrna." Taryl's voice was polite, but he did not incline his head to the marshal.
"I believe that only your presence was requested, Mage-Guard." Byrna's voice was a flat high baritone that fitted his triangular face and sparse goatee. His eyes were close-set and brilliant blue, and he stood half a head shorter than Rahl.
Taryl's eyes slowly traveled across the two commanders, the overcaptain, and the two captains who had stationed themselves around the conference table. "You have quite a staff here, Marshal."
"I don't believe the size of my staff is exactly your purview."
"Nor, I might reply," said Taryl mildly, "is the size of mine yours."
"What you do with your . . . staff elsewhere is your business, Mage-Guard. You, and you alone, will be briefed."
"I think you might consider the matter in greater detail, Marshal," Taryl replied, his voice still calm. "If Rahl is excluded, then I will have to spend extra time briefing him. That means I will have less time and energy to devote to assisting you, Marshal, and that would not be good for anyone, but particularly for you . . ."
"Aren't you putting your time above mine, Mage-Guard?"
"No, Marshal, I'm not. It takes nothing from you to include Rahl. It takes time from me if you do not."
"I trust you, Mage-Guard Taryl. I do not even know this Rahl."
"If you trust me, Marshal, then you must trust my judgment. If you question my judgment in this, how can I be certain you will trust my judgment in other matters? Such lack of trust benefits neither of us."
The marshal frowned, then shook his head. "Words . . ."
"Do you wish the assistance of the mage-guards?" Taryl's voice remained calm, but each word was like iron.
"You are not on Triad anymore."
Taryl smiled. "No, but do you think I relinquished the abilities with the title?"
The oldest commander tried to conceal a wince.
"Do what you will." Byrna snorted and gestured toward the table, taking a seat at one end.
Taryl took his seat at the other end. After noting that the senior commander sat to the marshal's right, Rahl took the chair to Taryl's right.
"Before we begin the briefing proper," Byrna said, irritation still in his voice, "I'd like a clarification of what services the mage-guards will provide."
"We're detailed to provide a certain level of protection for you and your staff against rebel mages."
"Except to protect me and my staff, what other services do you provide?"
"An earlier knowledge of where the rebels are placing their chaos-mages, where they have explosives, and, in the case of storms, how long they are likely to last and where they are most likely to have the greatest effect. Also, where their largest concentrations of forces may be." Taryl inclined his head just slightly.
"Helpful, but hardly decisive," snorted Byrna.
"We do not claim to be decisive. We claim to be helpful and useful. Past marshals and emperors have found us so."
"We'll see." Byrna turned. "Commander
"The marshal and his senior staff will be here shortly, ser." The undercaptain bowed slightly, turned, and departed.
Mindful of Taryl's earlier observations, Rahl said nothing but walked to the middle window and gazed out. The parklike grounds sloped down to the Swarth River, creating a sweeping view that seemed more suited to a grand estate than to a military headquarters. To the south, he could see a haze that suggested the river docks and far more practical and working facilities.
As Taryl cleared his throat, Rahl immediately turned.
A number of officers began to enter the briefing room, followed by a short and squarish man in an immaculate khaki uniform with the gold insignia of a marshal on his collars—a starburst above three crossed blades.
"Marshal Byrna." Taryl's voice was polite, but he did not incline his head to the marshal.
"I believe that only your presence was requested, Mage-Guard." Byrna's voice was a flat high baritone that fitted his triangular face and sparse goatee. His eyes were close-set and brilliant blue, and he stood half a head shorter than Rahl.
Taryl's eyes slowly traveled across the two commanders, the overcaptain, and the two captains who had stationed themselves around the conference table. "You have quite a staff here, Marshal."
"I don't believe the size of my staff is exactly your purview."
"Nor, I might reply," said Taryl mildly, "is the size of mine yours."
"What you do with your . . . staff elsewhere is your business, Mage-Guard. You, and you alone, will be briefed."
"I think you might consider the matter in greater detail, Marshal," Taryl replied, his voice still calm. "If Rahl is excluded, then I will have to spend extra time briefing him. That means I will have less time and energy to devote to assisting you, Marshal, and that would not be good for anyone, but particularly for you . . ."
"Aren't you putting your time above mine, Mage-Guard?"
"No, Marshal, I'm not. It takes nothing from you to include Rahl. It takes time from me if you do not."
"I trust you, Mage-Guard Taryl. I do not even know this Rahl."
"If you trust me, Marshal, then you must trust my judgment. If you question my judgment in this, how can I be certain you will trust my judgment in other matters? Such lack of trust benefits neither of us."
The marshal frowned, then shook his head. "Words . . ."
"Do you wish the assistance of the mage-guards?" Taryl's voice remained calm, but each word was like iron.
"You are not on Triad anymore."
Taryl smiled. "No, but do you think I relinquished the abilities with the title?"
The oldest commander tried to conceal a wince.
"Do what you will." Byrna snorted and gestured toward the table, taking a seat at one end.
Taryl took his seat at the other end. After noting that the senior commander sat to the marshal's right, Rahl took the chair to Taryl's right.
"Before we begin the briefing proper," Byrna said, irritation still in his voice, "I'd like a clarification of what services the mage-guards will provide."
"We're detailed to provide a certain level of protection for you and your staff against rebel mages."
"Except to protect me and my staff, what other services do you provide?"
"An earlier knowledge of where the rebels are placing their chaos-mages, where they have explosives, and, in the case of storms, how long they are likely to last and where they are most likely to have the greatest effect. Also, where their largest concentrations of forces may be." Taryl inclined his head just slightly.
"Helpful, but hardly decisive," snorted Byrna.
"We do not claim to be decisive. We claim to be helpful and useful. Past marshals and emperors have found us so."
"We'll see." Byrna turned. "Commander
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