Scholar by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Read Free Book Online

true…”
    â€œIt wouldn’t work. Or worse, would misfire.” Bhayar shook his head. “It must have taken Kharst’s smiths years to hammer out the parts for the muskets he supposedly used at Khel. They take forever to load, and they’re not very accurate. I’d wager that they were mostly for effect, and that his cavalry was what routed the Pharsi.”
    â€œIt could be.”
    â€œYou don’t sound convinced, scholar.”
    â€œThe Pharsi won most of the battles where cavalry were important. Rex Kharst had to have done something different at Khel.”
    â€œMaybe he just had more cavalry by then. Or imagers.”
    â€œThat’s very possible.”
    â€œI understand my sister summoned you,” Bhayar said evenly, “and gave you a document detailing her thoughts on history.”
    â€œShe did. I thought it unwise to refuse it.”
    Bhayar laughed. “I have found it unwise to refuse her more reasonable requests as well. Yet you were most proper. Even Savaityl thought so, and he is not generous in his judgments. Most proper. Were it not for your reputation, scholar, one might think that your interests did not lie in women.”
    â€œI have great interests in women, and your sister is most attractive. Most attractive. It is not my place to make advances to her or to respond to such.”
    â€œYou’re right. You also have good judgment in that and in many other matters.” Bhayar picked a leather pouch off the desk and extended it. “Your silvers and golds for travel.” He then handed Quaeryt a thin leather folder. “That holds your appointment as scholar assistant to the princeps. I thought an easily concealed case would be more suitable.”
    â€œThank you.” Quaeryt bowed his head. “I appreciate your thoughtfulness.”
    â€œI also have sent a dispatch telling both Rescalyn and Straesyr to expect you. Upon your return, I want a detailed report on the state of matters in Tilbor. An honest report.” A chuckle followed. “Knowing you, that is doubtless an unnecessary warning. I still felt compelled to make it.”
    â€œYou’ve never left much to chance.”
    â€œWith you around, how could I?” Bhayar shook his head again. “Go. Go and pester my governor and princeps with your questions.”
    Sensing both exasperation and humor in Bhayar’s words, Quaeryt bowed. “At your command, Lord.”
    Quaeryt was almost to the study door when Bhayar added in a low voice, “And take care of yourself. If you think it necessary—and it had better be—I will come to Tilbor.”
    â€œThank you … and don’t be too hard on those who ask questions while I’m gone.”
    â€œOnly those who ask stupid ones.”
    Quaeryt smiled, but kept walking. He still had to meet with Ghoryn … and he wanted to read whatever it was Vaelora had written—if only to be able to protect himself.
    Are you certain that’s the only reason? He didn’t laugh softly to himself until he was walking down the private staircase.

6
    Once he left the palace, Quaeryt immediately made his way back to his chamber in the Scholarium, where he could read Vaelora’s missive without interruption. Before he met with the mate of the Diamond Naclia , and parted with silvers, he wanted to know why Bhayar’s sister was sending him a missive … and what she had in mind. While it might be exactly what she had claimed, he had more than casual doubts—far more. Vaelora might be only nineteen, going on twenty, but not a one of that family was lacking in brains and cunning, and for a mere scholar to get drawn into whatever might be on the young woman’s mind was bound to be risky.
    But she definitely is attractive. He pushed that thought away.
    Once he closed the door and slid the lock plate, just for practice, he imaged the seal from where it joined the edges of the paper to