Free Mage-Guard of Hamor by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

emperor.”
    While what Taryl said made sense on the surface, Rahl needed to think about that. The same argument could be made about Recluce, and that suggested that his own personal revolt against bad magisters like Puvort was useless and meaningless, because he could do nothing to change the system.
    â€œWe’ve been traveling some time,” Rahl ventured after another period of silence.
    â€œThe Mage-Guard Headquarters is on a low hill on the western side of the city. The Imperial Palace is in the center of Cigoerne. Both the early emperors and the early Triads felt that some separation was desirable.”
    â€œI suppose the High Command is well to the north?”
    â€œA good five kays to the south, along the river. They have their docks, their own steam transports, and their garrisons there.” After a moment, Taryl added, “Our engineers design their equipment and train their mechanics.”
    Rahl considered Taryl’s last comment. While delivered offhandedly, the older mage-guard never spoke or acted without consideration. Finally, Rahl replied, “That’s your way of assuring some control over the…military?”
    â€œCall it our form of balance. The people need a single figure to respect and to hold accountable—that is the emperor. Hamor needs a single decision-maker as well. His power is balanced partly because the mage-guards screen out the most unsuitable heirs. The High Command is balanced because the number of troops in arms in Hamor is limited. Ships and crews are not, but the draft of most vessels is too deep to reach Cigoerne. The mage-guards are limited by their traditions and by the fact that there are never that many mages—and that people never truly trust mages.” Taryl took a deep breath. “The limited number of troops has now become a liability in dealing with Prince Golyat’s rebellion. The Triad has acceded to expanding the army, temporarily, but it will take seasons before some of the new recruits are truly ready for battle, and we do not have seasons if we are to prevent total disruption.”
    As the carriage drew up to a halt, Rahl peered outside. The building was of the same white limestone as most structures in Cigoerne, but was only two stories tall.
    Taryl stepped out of the carriage, kit bag in hand, and tendered four coppers to the driver.
    â€œThank you, ser.”
    As the hack departed, the older mage-guard looked at Rahl. “What do you think?”
    â€œIt’s…rather modest.”
    â€œWhat would you expect? It’s very simple in layout,” Taryl said. “The building is a rectangle of four wings around a central garden courtyard. The front wing is for the Mage-Guard Triad and his staff and clerks. The west wing is for the Mage-Guard Overcommander and his staff and support. The east wing is the quarters wing, and the rear wing holds the kitchens, and the dining and banquet areas. Each wing has an outside entry, and there is no internal entry from the other wings to either the Triad’s wing or that of the Mage-Guard Overcommander.” He motioned toward the square archway up three low stone steps from the mounting blocks.
    Rahl followed.
    Getting settled in Mage-Guard Headquarters on eightday evening went smoothly enough. Taryl had produced dispatch orders. The quartering clerk had assigned rooms, giving Rahl one on the far south end of the second level. Rahl had made his way there, where he hung out his gear, and then gone down to the mess.
    Taryl was nowhere to be seen, and from the entry, Rahl glanced across the long tables. The two in the center bore white linens trimmed in crimson, while the two adjacent and outside of those had linens of a pale tan—or faded khaki—but also trimmed in crimson, if with a thinner banding. Two other long tables set perpendicular to the other four bore plain khaki linen.
    â€œThe center two are for the seniors, and the two at the base are for the