Daughter of Independence by Simon Brown

Author:Simon Brown [Brown, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781743340301
Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

17

‘I need a special detachment,’ Paimer told Montranto first thing in the morning.

‘Your Grace?’

‘Of your best soldiers.’

‘Yes, your Grace. What duty will they be performing?’

‘Guard duty,’ Paimer answered.

‘For yourself? Is the special guards unit attached to the palace not sufficient?’

‘More than sufficient, thank you. This new detachment will not be on duty at the palace.’

‘May I ask where they will be assigned, your Grace?’

Paimer nodded to Avenel, who cleared his throat and said, ‘An estate less than a day’s march from here.’

‘An estate?’

‘Once belonging to Queen Sarra,’ Avenel went on. ‘Her winter residence.’

‘She never did like the sea storms in winter,’ Montranto remembered.

‘And on the queen’s death it passed into the hands of the Safety Committee.’

‘And on the demise of the Safety Committee,’ Paimer picked up, ‘passed into my purview. Avenel was kind enough to reconnoitre the place for me, arrange for any minor repairs and hire servants, gardeners, that sort of thing.’

‘You are going to use it yourself as a retreat, your Grace?’ Montranto asked neutrally.

‘It has its own forest and stream,’ Paimer went on, ignoring the question. ‘And a sizeable but not unduly ostentatious house.’ He traced a pattern on his desk with his finger. ‘In fact, Commander Montranto, I’m transferring my estate from Hamilay to Rivald.’

Montranto blinked. ‘This is . . .’

‘Yes, I know, a great burden after going through all the trouble of deposing Queen Sarra and all my other distant relatives.’

Montranto blushed. ‘Your Grace! I was going to say it was a great honour for Rivald!’

Paimer studied the soldier carefully, understanding the necessity of the lie but almost believing him. Not quite, but almost.

‘You are very generous,’ Paimer said sincerely. ‘The point is, my estate in Hamilay currently plays host to several guests, and these will be coming with my household to the new estate outside Beferen. Undoubtedly they will have to get used to the cold, but I’m sure that will be more than compensated for by the distance from Omeralt.’

‘The distance from Omeralt?’

Paimer said carefully, ‘I will not elaborate further at this point in time. A messenger from me left here two days ago and will probably arrive at my estates inside a tenday. Obviously it will take some time to prepare the move, but within another tenday I expect my people to set off from Hamilay. Give them another two tendays to arrive at the estate – taking into account everything they will be bringing with them and that I have instructed them to come by horse instead of sedan. That gives you almost four tendays.’

‘My Lord Protector, I do not need that long to raise the unit.’

‘And get them to the estate, and get them to know its terrain as well as they know their own mothers’ faces, and to build them their own barracks, and so on.’

Montranto nodded. ‘Of course. I will see to it right away.’

‘Excellent,’ Paimer said. ‘Let me know when they are established and I will give you more details.’

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