Treachery's Tools Read Online Free Page B

me not to. I didn’t.”
    â€œThen, you can sell some of it to the guilds. At a profit, but not enough that they can’t afford it. If matters get dangerous by midwinter, have the regial kitchens bake a lot of bread and distribute it to the poor a few times.”
    â€œWhat good will that do?”
    â€œIt will buy you goodwill. You can also then suggest that the wealthier factors might follow your lead. Most High Holders can’t or won’t do so.”
    â€œI still don’t see…” Lorien shook his head.
    â€œThe factors are growing stronger. They’re not strong enough, and you don’t want to use the army to stop the High Holders from uniting against the factors.” Especially since it’s not large enough to deal with all the High Holders at once … and not with senior officers who are the sons of High Holders scattered through the army, possibly even as regimental commanders.
    â€œYou’re the one who insisted the army was too large.”
    â€œI did. So did a number of others. As a result, you have a surplus of golds, far more than you’re letting on. Using some of them is far cheaper than using the army.…” Alastar went on to explain.
    Even so, he felt exhausted when he left the study more than a glass later and headed down the grand staircase and then to the center north door that opened into the rear courtyard. The good thing was that the rain had diminished to more of a drizzle.

 
    2
    When Alastar and Alyna set out from the Maitre’s dwelling on Meredi morning, the drizzle had faded into a foggy mist, thick enough that he could only see the faint outlines of the nearest cottages of the married imagers. Lystara had departed less than a tenth of a quint earlier, wearing only her imager grays, with a spring in her step that had definitely been missing during the more than a week of heavy rain.
    â€œShe was more cheerful this morning,” observed Alastar. “I don’t think it was just because she didn’t have to run with us this morning or wear her oilskin.”
    â€œI haven’t minded the break, either,” replied Alyna, with the half-mischievous smile that Alastar so enjoyed. “She imaged a set of jet buttons. Each had an embedded brass shank.”
    â€œYou were there, I hope?”
    â€œI was. She was worried that she might not be able to do them. The other junior seconds have been doing buttons at the factorage for over a month. Hers were perfect.” Alyna paused, then added, “The second time around. She shouldn’t have any trouble keeping up with the others when they do their afternoon duties.”
    â€œYou had better fortune than I did. Her essay for rhetoric was grammatically good, but her penmanship…” Alastar shook his head. “She’s even more in a hurry than I was at her age.”
    â€œDearest, I doubt you were ever in a hurry. I fear that trait comes from me. I hated penmanship. Father had to switch me once.”
    â€œYou?” That did surprise Alastar, given how deliberate his wife had always been, since he’d known her, anyway.
    â€œMe.” Alyna offered a rueful grin. “Deliberation has never come naturally. I’ve told you that before. It was so hard to be deliberate with you. Some nights I came back to the cottage and almost sobbed. I knew it was for the best, but…”
    â€œAlmost sobbed, except you didn’t want to let Tiranya know?” Alastar had heard it before, but still liked to hear it again.
    â€œI just couldn’t.” In a voice that was more subdued, she added, “Call it pride.”
    â€œYou weren’t the only one who didn’t want to be deliberate … but you’ve known that all along.”
    â€œI did get that idea, but you were so polite about it.”
    â€œI’d never been really in love before. I do believe I did mention that.”
    â€œOnce or twice … perhaps