Recluce 07 - Chaos Balance by L.E Modesitt Read Free Book Online Page A

all,” responded Duhru. “State your petition.”
       “The officers of the Eighth Mirror Lancers have dishonored my youngest daughter, and I ask redress. Only you can restore her honor.”
       Lephi glanced toward Themphi.
       “They say they used no force, and that they offered a dozen silvers toward her dowry,” whispered the white wizard.
       “Those officers have honored your daughter,” declared Lephi. “I will also increase that honor by adding two golds to that dowry.”
       The stocky man bowed, his forehead slick with sweat. “I seek no dowry. I seek honor. I humbly ask that you dishonor those officers. No officer of the greatest lord should defile a young girl.”
       “The Lord of Cyador has heard your petition,” boomed Duhru. “You may go and tell all of his generosity.”
       “NO!” The white-clad man charged the steps to the dais. “Your officers are pigs. They are sows, and you slop them.” A flaming arrow flashed from the balcony gratework, the mark of an Archer of the Rational Stars, catching the man in the chest. The other two petitioners watched, mouths partly open as the first petitioner crumpled.
       After a nod from Lephi toward Themphi, a fireball arced toward the dying man, then exploded. Only a handful of scattered ashes sifted through the air.
       “Question the lancer officers. If they dishonored the girl, do what is necessary. If not, have her join her father.”
       “So it is with unworthy petitions and petitioners, and those who reject the generosity of the lord,” intoned Duhru. “Let the next petitioner offer his petition.”
       “Most puissant Lord of Cyador, Protector of the Steps to Paradise, the citizens of Wybar humbly beseech Your Mightiness for a token of his support for the blessing of the new river piers.” The elderly man in the white surplice added in a wavering tone, “Only a token, Your Mightiness.”
       “They are fearful because Wybar is downstream from the Accursed Forest,” Themphi explained.
       Lephi nodded. “You shall have such a token. May your piers bring all prosperity and good trade.”
       “May the next petitioner approach,” rumbled Duhru, “if he is without darkness and a follower of the way of whiteness.”
       “Your Supreme Mightiness . . . the peasants in Geliendra have presented a petition, and the regional governor has endorsed it.” The functionary in gold bowed twice. On the second bow, droplets of perspiration splattered on the polished white tiles of the floor.
       “Lick those up, Husenar. I don't like the floors soiled, especially when my administrators are acting for others.”
       Husenar complied, then straightened, standing stiffly.
       “What about this petition? Why need it be brought to me? Why did they not present it themselves?”
       “The Accursed... Forest... rods and rods of the rice fields and the bean fields-those not already flooded-they are gone.”
       “Gone?”
       “The forest has awakened-”
       “The Forest of the Nameless? Have the wards failed? The wards have never failed.”
       Husenar bowed again. “The wards are no more, and the forest lives.”
       “I have taken their petition under advisement, and I will act accordingly.”
       After the petitioners and Duhru departed and the doors closed, Lephi turned to Themphi. “About that mess with the Eighth Mirror-”
       “They could not so dishonor a peasant.”
     
     “Themphi . . . did you not hear what I said? When a man is so distraught he will die rather than accept two years' wages for a dowry, something is wrong. She is doubtless a spineless wench, but when peasants believe such girls are innocent they do not pay taxes, except under duress, and we do not need that now. I tell you again: you will find the guilty parties. If they are the officers, they can also choose duty to protect the people of Geliendra from the Accursed Forest-for the rest of their lives.” Lephi smiled