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about commerce and trade& I guess. Taryl didn t say, except that I d have to
be paired with a very experienced mage-guard.
 That s tough duty, said Rhiobyn.
 I d wager that s why Taryl worked on your weapons training so much, added
Talanyr.  They get sailors and bravos from all over the world there.
 Is Clyanaka far from Jabuti? asked Rahl, wanting to change the subject away
from himself and Swartheld.
 Only some six hundred kays over roads that are barely that. Talanyr grinned.
 But I ll be able to ride again, and not be so hemmed in. I miss the open
skies& 
Rahl listened to Talanyr, realizing that he had been the first adult male
friend Rahl had ever had& and that he would miss Talanyr s quiet steadiness in
the days and seasons ahead. He doubted that he would miss much else about Luba
station and the ironworks, except Taryl, who was far more than he seemed.
 & and there aren t that many people around, except near the Clyan River. ..
Even Rhiobyn listened as Talanyr went on.
LXXXVI
Although Rahl looked for Taryl on fourday morning to say good-bye, the older
ordermage had already left the station, according to the mage-guard on duty.
He still wished he d been able to say a true good-bye to Taryl. He d asked why
Talanyr and Rhiobyn weren t taking the wagon, but Talanyr had pointed out that
they were going upriver, rather than down, and that the next river steamer
would not port at Luba until fiveday. 
So Rahl found himself on the transport wagon to Luba port, seated beside
Jyrolt, as they rode eastward. The older mage-guard dozed in the wagon, as if
he were still exhausted from his evaluation efforts of the previous day. Rahl
could not rest and contented himself with studying the highway and the barren
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flatlands that stretched toward a line of hills ahead.
The hills looked as though a massive layer of black basalt had formed and then
been tipped on its side. The road itself ascended a long and gradual ramp to
the lowest point in the hills. For a moment, Rahl wondered why the ramp was so
long and gradual until he realized that the iron wagons had to travel it to
the river port.
Near the top of the road, Jyrolt stirred himself, stretched, and looked at
Rahl.  You ve been pleasantly quiet, Rahl, but I d wager you have more than a
few questions.
 Yes, ser. He paused.  Ser& what exactly is Mage-Guard Taryl s function at
Luba station? Beyond training, that is? He is more than he seems, I feel.
Jyrolt raised two bushy eyebrows.  Why do you think that?
 He sees more, but he says little.
 Ha! At least, you saw that, young Rahl. Jyrolt cleared his throat.  He was
one of the Triad. Let us just say that he made an error. Only the great make
errors of such magnitude. None thought it his fault, but he felt it was his
responsibility, and he stepped down and came to Luba. Jyrolt paused.  There
are rumors that a woman and a relative of the Emperor were involved. They are
false. I will only say that the error involved judgment and magery, and none,
save a few, will ever know the details, and none should. This is the last I
will speak to you of it. Should any ask you, you should answer as I answered
you.
 Yes, ser.
 Now& what other questions do you have? Preferably dealing with your
assignment and duties.
 Taryl only told me that I had been assigned to Swartheld station and that I
would be paired with an experienced mage-guard. I don t know enough beyond
that to ask a good question, except for what my duties might be and what
skills would be most useful.
n  The most useful skills in Swartheld are skills with weapons, which you
have, shields, and yours are adequate, the ability to sense when something is
not as it should be, and a knowledge of commerce. Beyond petty thievery and
violence, the majority of evildoing there lies in attempting to misuse trade
for great personal gain& or worse, to obtain power over others. Your duties at
first will be simple. You will patrol with another mage and keep order
according to the Manual and Codex. I can t say where you ll patrol, because [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]