L. E. Modesitt, Jr.

Dear Overcaptain!

I applaud the carefulness of Overcaptain Alyiakal’alt as he does what’s he’s commanded to, but looks for different ways to obey to the letter of the law. This becomes a key personality trait of the Overcaptain.
Alyiakal, leading his Mirror Lances is sent to Oldroad Post. A post near the border with Kyphros. At Oldroad Post he learns quite a bit about tarrif enumerators, bribes, and trade costs, and the rules for traders coming through a Cyador frontier post.
After Oldroad Post he's ordered to Luuval to close the Post there. It’s surrounded by lands sinking into the marsh. They’ve already lost houses, land and people.
At Luuval the Imperial Tariff Enumerator doesn’t want the Post closed and strongly encourages Alyiakal to delay the closing it. Of course that’s not about to happen. Alyiakal needs all his cunning and illicit mage craft (healing abilities) to survive.
In the background are hints of the enumerators charging higher tariffs and pocketing the difference, of Merchant Houses running deals, of Merchanters providing weapons to Kyphros. Politics are everywhere.
Alyiakal is still carefully corresponding with his lady Merchanter, Saelora of Loraan House. His mail is always opened and checked.
The letters between Alyiakal and Saelora are wonderful. Carefully constructed, warm and underneath conveying situations and discrepancies they’ve both noticed. Lovely warnings!
Later Alyiakal is posted to Fryad. This will become a major honing ground of many of his skills.
Everything Alyiakal does he has copies of letters witnessed and sent to the Mirror Lance headquarters. He’s being canny about having his actions transparent and above reproach. No prizes for understanding how careful Alyiakal has to be. He’s dodging the M’agi as much as he’s able.
I love that Modesitt’s male leads are always so careful and respectful of their leading lady. No means No!
Alyiakal and Saelora’s relationship develops despite various actions to take Alyiakal out altogether and the long times (sometimes years) between them seeing each other.
Another great tale about the early days of Recluse with characters I’ve become totally engaged with—as always!

A Tor ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.… (more)

6/10
This book acts as the second half of the story of Kharl the cooper. There was a lot of death and destruction that became a bit repetitive and almost routine. The deaths that should have impacted Kharl more deeply didn't seem to, and that is either the fault of the author or of the character, and I can't quite decide which. Kharl's difficulties with close personal relationships are certainly implied by Modesitt, so it could that Kharl's almost-callous attitudes are a deliberate part of the character's make-up.

Sometimes there are no good choices, only options that do less damage in the long run. Kharl seemed to learn that lesson well, if reluctantly. Hammering that lesson home made for a book that was mildly depressing.

Favorite characters were Kharl's secretary Erdyl, Undercaptain Demyst, and Luryessa, the envoy from Sarronnyn.… (more)