have to be gone so long? Did either of you men set aside a jewel for the boy?" The father of any children saw to their welfare by providing a gem or other item of value to start them off in life once they were grown. That was true of any family.
Both men hung their heads. Tameron tried to figure out what else was wrong. He turned towards the Guardian. "My lady, I thought a new mage spent a year in a village, and then returned to the Wizards' College. How many did Jarrett talk to? If there were more than one, were they all greedy? Or did they have other reasons for ruling against him?"
"Some larger towns have a mage there permanently," she said. "Bogatay is just big enough. The one who's there now has often petitioned me for some other duty."
Tam wished he didn't have to ask for magical help, but he knew he'd better he become used to it. "My lady, is there some way to find out if the woman and her family are still alive?"
"Yes, but it'll take time unless we can get something that belongs to her. Otherwise, I'll have to trace the emotional connection between either man and her. I expect that will be quite difficult." Jarrett had the grace to blush, though Honnold clenched his fists once more.
Tameron was afraid of acting too soon, but this had gone on for long enough. "I will now make a temporary judgment till all the facts are known," he said.
"You have that right," the Guardian added.
He couldn't tell if she approved or not, but he had to do something! Lord Honnold might be profiting by the wickedness of those around him, even though his own hands appeared to be clean.
Tam cleared his throat and stood. "We have a disputed woman, a disputed child, and disputed land," he said, glad he'd remembered some of the rules of rhetoric Scholar Tayn had taught him. "Marysalian must be found, alive or dead, as well as her son and the rest of her family. She belongs to herself. She will decide where she will live and with whom. The same goes for the land that went with her at her marriage. It is hers. The land her parents own must go back to them if they live, or to their heirs if they are dead. Until we know, all that land must be separated from Lord Honnold's own holdings. Someone must find out how much of his wealth came from that land, because it might have to be returned. Since he's paid his Tenth on all his produce, no matter where it came from, there shouldn't be any further taxes. This also holds true for Marysalian and her kin, for they should not have to pay for what they didn't receive. My lady, I would appreciate your assistance in making these determinations."
She dipped her head in agreement.
"What if they're never found?" Honnold asked. His face was deathly pale.
"You may never control that land again," Tameron said. "You may lose even more if evil has been done in your name or to gain your goodwill."
"If Marysalian is well, will she go back to her husband?" Jarrett asked.
"Only if she wants to," Tam said. "Responsibility for the child is divided evenly between you both, unless one of you wishes to give up his claim. Jarrett, can you provide this without depending on your cousin's wealth?"
The younger man lifted his chin. "Yes. I traded for myself when I was Outside, and when I returned, I was wounded subduing a thief. After I recovered, I was allowed to keep his goods for my own, at least the ones nobody recognized. I don't care what you do with the land, if only she's all right!" The water darkened a little, but not much.
Tameron hoped the two were someday reunited, though he felt a little sorry for Honnold. Some mages complained about their Duty for the same reason the older man had ruined his marriage.
Both men dried their hands and left when the Guardian dismissed them. Tam sat down. "My lady," he asked, "was Lord Honnold right--I mean, is it true about my father and Coris Mimn being like he said they were?"
"Yes. He wanted to keep it from you till you were older. My brother cared as deeply for your
Both men hung their heads. Tameron tried to figure out what else was wrong. He turned towards the Guardian. "My lady, I thought a new mage spent a year in a village, and then returned to the Wizards' College. How many did Jarrett talk to? If there were more than one, were they all greedy? Or did they have other reasons for ruling against him?"
"Some larger towns have a mage there permanently," she said. "Bogatay is just big enough. The one who's there now has often petitioned me for some other duty."
Tam wished he didn't have to ask for magical help, but he knew he'd better he become used to it. "My lady, is there some way to find out if the woman and her family are still alive?"
"Yes, but it'll take time unless we can get something that belongs to her. Otherwise, I'll have to trace the emotional connection between either man and her. I expect that will be quite difficult." Jarrett had the grace to blush, though Honnold clenched his fists once more.
Tameron was afraid of acting too soon, but this had gone on for long enough. "I will now make a temporary judgment till all the facts are known," he said.
"You have that right," the Guardian added.
He couldn't tell if she approved or not, but he had to do something! Lord Honnold might be profiting by the wickedness of those around him, even though his own hands appeared to be clean.
Tam cleared his throat and stood. "We have a disputed woman, a disputed child, and disputed land," he said, glad he'd remembered some of the rules of rhetoric Scholar Tayn had taught him. "Marysalian must be found, alive or dead, as well as her son and the rest of her family. She belongs to herself. She will decide where she will live and with whom. The same goes for the land that went with her at her marriage. It is hers. The land her parents own must go back to them if they live, or to their heirs if they are dead. Until we know, all that land must be separated from Lord Honnold's own holdings. Someone must find out how much of his wealth came from that land, because it might have to be returned. Since he's paid his Tenth on all his produce, no matter where it came from, there shouldn't be any further taxes. This also holds true for Marysalian and her kin, for they should not have to pay for what they didn't receive. My lady, I would appreciate your assistance in making these determinations."
She dipped her head in agreement.
"What if they're never found?" Honnold asked. His face was deathly pale.
"You may never control that land again," Tameron said. "You may lose even more if evil has been done in your name or to gain your goodwill."
"If Marysalian is well, will she go back to her husband?" Jarrett asked.
"Only if she wants to," Tam said. "Responsibility for the child is divided evenly between you both, unless one of you wishes to give up his claim. Jarrett, can you provide this without depending on your cousin's wealth?"
The younger man lifted his chin. "Yes. I traded for myself when I was Outside, and when I returned, I was wounded subduing a thief. After I recovered, I was allowed to keep his goods for my own, at least the ones nobody recognized. I don't care what you do with the land, if only she's all right!" The water darkened a little, but not much.
Tameron hoped the two were someday reunited, though he felt a little sorry for Honnold. Some mages complained about their Duty for the same reason the older man had ruined his marriage.
Both men dried their hands and left when the Guardian dismissed them. Tam sat down. "My lady," he asked, "was Lord Honnold right--I mean, is it true about my father and Coris Mimn being like he said they were?"
"Yes. He wanted to keep it from you till you were older. My brother cared as deeply for your
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