Limits of Power Read Online Free PDF Page B

from earlier. It’s all kept sound, cleaned regularly. It would be quicker to modify that, I’m thinking, than to have someone make you a new suit.”
    His father’s mail did not fit as well as his own, but he could wear it. When he came back into the palace, he found Lady Tolmaric already there.
    He could see the effort she made to stay calm, and she answered his questions about the estate, about the children. Clearly she had been involved in management of the steading; she knew how many farms they had, the harvests of each, and how much land had been lost to the scathefire. Dealing with practical matters like this, she seemed much more competent than she had the day before.
    â€œMuch of our steading is swamp forest, you see,” she said. “It is large, I know that, but not all can be farmed, and the products of the swamp, valuable as they can be, are scattered and time-consuming to harvest. I would ask, sir king, if you find it in your power to extend our grant, if we might have some higher ground, not just that along the river to the east.”
    Into Kieri’s mind flashed the proposal made by Master-trader Geraint Chalvers. Some of the land he’d proposed for a port overlapped Tolmaric land. “I will certainly recompense you for land lost,” he said, “and grant you good land, suitable for farming. But I have a thought—would you be interested in a venture, you and the Crown together?”
    â€œA venture?” Her brows furrowed.
    â€œMaster-trader Chalvers, who is now on my Council, suggested digging out a harbor in that swamp and trading directly with the coastal cities and all the way south to Aarenis, as Pargun and Kostandan do. No more need to transport goods by land across Tsaia, paying their tolls. His best estimate of location included some of your land. If he is right, a town or even city there would bring income from the trade—and you, as part owner, would have money to improve your new lands.”
    â€œI don’t know anything about making a harbor.”
    â€œNor do I, but Chalvers seems to. I am not asking an answer now, but only that you consider it.”
    â€œIf it brought a way to pay for a new house for that family the Pargunese burnt out … cattle … farm tools…”
    â€œThose you will have from the Crown,” Kieri said. “But such a project as this could profit us both.”
    Her back straightened. “I … I think it might be a good idea.”
    â€œGood. I will talk more to Chalvers. It cannot be done in a day or ten hands of them—perhaps a year or two—but it seemed a good idea to me.” He reached out and laid his hand over hers. “Now … you can of course take Sier Tolmaric’s body to bury in your own burial ground, but we have a ground here where he could be laid with all honor, and when his bones are raised, you could take them instead.”
    â€œYou said he was bad to see. Maelith and Naren told me it’s better not to look sometimes. I thought it was my duty.” Her eyes filled with tears once more, but she did not break down this time.
    â€œI think not in this case,” Kieri said.
    â€œDoes he look … normal … in the shroud?”
    â€œNo,” Kieri said. “And that, besides the honor due him, is another reason I offer the royal burying ground, to prevent distress to your people.”
    â€œThe children,” she said. “Do you think they would notice?”
    â€œWe could not lay him straight,” Kieri said, hoping such bluntness would not start another storm of emotion.
    Her lips trembled, but she did not sob. “Then … to spare the children … lord king, you are so gracious … let him be laid in the ground here, and maybe Alyanya will mend his bones.”
    â€œThat is my hope as well,” Kieri said.
    â€œI will dream badly,” she said, “if I do not at least see him in his shroud. Let it be as