(eng) L. E. Modesitt by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

26

The soarer’s presence might have been comforting, or Mykella just might have been totally exhausted. Whatever the reason, she slept soundly and without nightmares and awoke refreshed on Octdi morning. She remained cheerful until after breakfast, when she made her way down to the lower level of the palace and to the accounting chamber.

Haelyt immediately turned and bowed as Mykella entered. “Mistress.”

“I don’t see Shenyl. Have you heard from him?”

“Haven’t you heard, Mistress?” asked Haelyt. “He was attacked and murdered by brigands the night before last, apparently on his way home. We just got word this morning.”

“Oh…” Mykella shook her head. She’d feared just that, but having it confirmed still upset her. “Oh…” She did not speak for a moment. “Was he married?”

“His wife was the one who told me. She was carrying their youngest.” Haelyt’s eyes were bright.

Mykella could sense that the older clerk had been taken by surprise and that he was truly disturbed. That both reassured and concerned her. “We need… to do something for her.”

“Shenyl had been here ten years, Mistress. She will get a widow’s stipend. It’s not much, but…”

“You’ll make sure she gets it? If you have trouble, let me know.” i nanK you, Mistress iviyiceiia. naeiyt swanowea. ne was a good man.”

“Thank you.” Mykella inclined her head, then turned.

“… wish she were Finance Minister…”

The murmur had come from Wasdahl, Mykella thought. Much as she believed she could do a far better job than Joramyl, that would never happen.

She walked down the corridor, then up the main staircase and to the right to the Finance study.

As she closed the outer door behind her, Maxymt looked up from the pile of ledgers stacked beside him. “We have had an unfortunate occurrence, Mistress Mykella…”

“Yes?”

“You may know that the Southern Guard accounts and ledgers were kept by Shenyl. He was most accurate and dependable.”

Mykella wanted to scream—or slip a dagger between the lizard-like clerk’s ribs. Two weeks before, Maxymt hadn’t even known who Shenyl was.

“Unhappily, he was assaulted and murdered the other night, and we will need to find another entry clerk.”

“I’m very, very sorry to hear that. He was among the best.” Mykella paused. “What about his family?”

“He had a wife. Of course, we’ll have to pay a widow’s stipend.”

“That’s only right,” Mykella said as she moved to her table. “He served loyally for more than ten years.”

“In the future, it might be better to require a fifteen-year service…”

“That is something that the Lord-Protector must address.”

“Of course… of course.”

“From where do you plan to obtain a replacement?” asked Mykella, trying to keep her voice idle.

“I have not talked to Lord Joramyl about it. He will have to make that decision. He hasn’t come in.”

“They have clerks in the Southern Guards,” observed iviyKeiia. some or mem might Know enougn about tne accounts.”

“That is possible.”

From the feelings behind the acting chief clerk’s words, Mykella knew he had someone in mind, someone who wasn’t in the Southern Guards. That didn’t surprise her, but she just nodded as she adjusted the high-backed stool.

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