The Magic of Recluce - L. E. Modesitt [21]
I didn’t really expect mercy from the Brotherhood, but what did she mean? “Mercy?” I finally asked.
“All of you,” interrupted Talryn before Krystal could reply, “I promised you an introduction and an explanation. I will try to make both short and then answer questions. Some questions I may not answer until later, but I will try to provide as much information as I can.”
Once again, even before they started, they were saying they were going to hide something. I stifled a snort.
At the other end of the table, Tamra had adopted a look of resignation. Only Sammel looked really interested in what Talryn might have to say.
“First, the dangergeld. What is it, and why is it necessary? And, from your point of view, why were you selected?” Talryn took a sip from his mug.
“Stripped of all the piety, rhetoric, and rationalization, the dangergeld is simply a quest, a series of duties, or an exile—or some combination of all three—to enable you to discover whether you belong in Recluce, and, if so, in what capacity. None of you have been happy in what you have been doing. Unfocused discontent is contagious and leads to disorder. Disorder leads to chaos, and chaos to evil.
“After this meal, you each have a choice. You may accept dangergeld training, which can last several months, sometimes longer, or you can accept immediate exile. If you choose training, then depending on the results of that training you may be offered one or several options on how to fulfill your dangergeld obligation. Again, if you like none of the options, at that point you may choose exile.
“All exiles are transported, with their available funds and traveling gear, to one of three outside ports, depending on the time of year. Those are Freetown in Candar, Brysta in Nordla, or Swartheld in Afrit, north of Hamor.”
At the last two names, most of the eyebrows around the table went up. I’d heard of Brysta and certainly wouldn’t have been pleased to land there. Nordla was cold, and Brysta was as far north as you could get for an all-year port. Above Brysta, the winter ice sheets closed the coast.
“…may not bring more than you can comfortably carry on your person. If any of you choose exile, the next departure will be in about ten to twelve days. You will remain in Nylan, although you may participate in any or none of the dangergeld training, as you please.
“For those of you considering dangergeld, training begins tomorrow. There will be classes on the details of what the dangergeld obligation entails, on the geography and customs of most major countries outside Recluce, on their economies and trade, on how money is handled—customs surrounding funds do vary, by the way—and on weapons familiarization and self-defense.
“We will also provide some additional background on the Brotherhood, since some of you may choose, or be offered, the option of performing your dangergeld in some capacity with the Brotherhood, depending on your own inclinations and the progress of your training.
“As always, your participation is voluntary—with two stipulations. First, should you choose not to participate in any training, you will be regarded as choosing exile. Second, you may not leave Nylan. Any attempt to do so will result in confinement until you can be exiled.”
“Voluntary?” snorted Wrynn. “You don’t play the Brotherhood’s game, and you’re locked up until you can be shipped off to Nordla or Hamor.”
“You have already made a choice that you cannot accept living in Recluce,” Talryn observed mildly.
“No. You made that decision based on your rules,” countered the blond.
Talryn shrugged his broad shoulders. “The rules, as you call them, are accepted and honored by virtually everyone in Recluce. Do you honestly believe otherwise? That a handful of masters and brothers who have never raised a violent hand in centuries could override the will of our people?”
I almost laughed at that. The masters controlled all the education. They didn’t need swords. Besides, a bunch of boring sheep would agree to any rules that would send the wolves away. But no one raised that question,