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“As an officer, you will be paid an adequate allowance for your room and board, in excess of your wages, which you may draw upon as soon as we arrive in Altaruk,” said Kieran. “If you are reasonably frugal, it should allow you to secure comfortable lodgings and enjoy three meals a day, if at least one of those meals is a light one. The enlisted men live in the barracks, but I think you would prefer private quarters.” He said this casually, with no obvious inference regarding Ryana. “Besides, I do not approve of officers living in the barracks with enlisted men. It encourages familiarity.”
“Room and board and one hundred silvers?” Sorak was impressed.
“As I said, the House of Jhamri pays its soldiers well. But they do not do so merely out of the goodness of their hearts.” He grinned. “Merchants have no hearts. The high salaries they pay ensure that they attract top men and keep their loyalty. Should you fall ill during your service, or become wounded, you will have free access to a healer. Should you become crippled in the service of the House, you will receive a pension that should keep you from resorting to the beggar’s cup. And should you die while in the service of the House, a onetime cash benefit shall be paid to your assigns, or they may accept the equivalent value in House shares.”
“With such terms, it is amazing they have any vacancies at all,” said Sorak sincerely.
Kieran indicated a large group of men milling around near the entrance to the camp. “As you see, there is never any shortage of applicants. However, the work can be hazardous, as I am sure you know, and while the terms are generous, the conditions are equally strict. After leaving service with the House of Jhamri, you may not enter into service with a competing merchant house for at least five years.”
Sorak frowned. “I suppose I can understand the reasoning, but how could they enforce that?”
“Violating that condition of your employment results in a bounty placed upon your head,” said Kieran. “A bounty lucrative enough to ensure that you will be looking over your shoulder for the remainder of your days, as there is no time limit to the bounty. Once offered, it is not rescinded.”
“I see,” said Sorak.
“This is to discourage you from accepting a better offer with another merchant house and, in the process, divulging any secrets you may have learned,” said Kieran. “Still interested?”
“Continue,” Sorak said. “Anything else?”
“Yes, one more thing,” said Kieran. “The word of your superiors is law. Pure and simple. In other words, my word. The punishment for disobedience to orders, whether direct or indirect, can be quite severe.”
“How severe?” asked Sorak.
“That is entirely up to my discretion as captain of the house guard,” Kieran said. “It could be as mild as extra duty and a dock in pay, if I felt the infraction a minor one and unintentional, or as severe as fifty lashes, possibly even death.”
“What sort of offense would merit a sentence of death?” asked Ryana.
“Murder; desertion or direct disobedience to orders in the field or under conditions of combat; sabotage or espionage for a competing merchant house; and striking a superior officer in the field or under conditions of combat. Under other circumstances, the normal penalty is fifty lashes. However, it is possible to die from that, as well. Those are the rules of the House of Jhamri. I have a certain amount of latitude in how I choose to interpret them.”
“Which means?” said Sorak.
“Which means I consider fifty lashes for striking a superior officer an excessive penalty,” said Kieran. “I can easily imagine conditions under which an officer might well deserve to be struck. I would judge such matters under individual circumstances.”
“And if someone under your command struck you?” asked Ryana.
“Under conditions of combat, my lady, I would kill him instantly,” said Kieran. “Otherwise, I would simply strike him back. Repeatedly.” He glanced at Sorak. “Have you a problem with any of those conditions?”
Sorak shook his head. “No, they seem straightforward.”
“Good. Then you accept?”
“I accept,” said Sorak with a nod.
“Excellent! Raise your right hand.”
Sorak did so.
“Repeat after me,” said Kieran. “On my oath and on my life, I hereby swear to abide by the terms and conditions of service with the House of Jhamri, which have been explained to me and which I My understand.”
Sorak repeated the words.
“That’s it,” said Kieran. “You are now the executive officer and my second-in-command of the House Guard of Jhamri. Congratulations, Lieutenant. Henceforth, except in private, you will address me as Captain.”
“Second-in-command?” said Sorak, with surprise. “But… we have only just met! You barely even know me!”
“I know what I need to know,” said Kieran. “Your past does not concern me. In the present, you have demonstrated your courage and saved my life not once, but twice—once indirectly, on the boat; and once directly, in the Desert Damsel. And I feel confident that in the future, I shall not regret my decision.”
“But… with all due respect, Captain,” Sorak said, “is this wise? Surely, there is already a senior officer in service with the house guard whom my appointment will displace. Will this not incur resentment?”
