Arms-Commander

LXX

Saryn did not press on the ride returning to Nuelda, and her force did not arrive until well after dark on sevenday. Even so, by the time she was riding past the nearly dark front entry to Jharyk’s redbrick villa, the lord-holder, accompanied by two servants bearing brass lanterns, had hurried out to meet her. As she reined up, she could see lanterns being hurriedly lit in the villa, and presumably in the rear courtyards as well.

Jharyk stood there fully dressed, and as dapper as before. “Commander, you sent no word, and we did not expect you, especially not so soon.”

“Good evening, Lord Jharyk.” Saryn had no trouble discerning the irritation in the lord-holder’s voice and posture. She forced the hoarseness from her voice and ignored the lightknives attacking her eyes and the throbbing in her skull.

“Might I ask what occurred?” His eyes flicked to the guards, then back to Saryn.

“You were right to be concerned.” Saryn smiled politely. “There was a good company or so of Jeranyi raiders who were attacking your lands and hamlets. They had sacked all of them except Suedara, mostly before we arrived, before we could bring them to bay.”

“And?”

“Ten of them escaped. The other eighty-three or so are dead.”

“I presume you have recovered some mounts and goods for us…to compensate us for the devastation we have suffered.”

“They’re Jeranyi horses, and they will be used to mount more Westwind guards to serve the regency.” Saryn kept her tone polite. “They were paid for in blood. Mostly Jeranyi blood, but also Lornian regency forces’ blood and Westwind guards’ blood.”

“My people have suffered greatly. Should they have no recompense?” asked Jharyk smoothly.

“If they need recompense, Lord Jharyk, perhaps they should turn to you. You did not have to raise and train armsmen to drive off the raiders, and that surely should leave some coins. We’ve removed the Jeranyi for now, and, after we get a good night’s rest and food and fodder, we’ll be heading back to Lornth in the morning.”

“You’re leaving that soon? What if they return?”

“They may return, but I doubt it will be soon. Not with nine-tenths of their force destroyed.”

“I see. Did you not capture any?”

“There were perhaps twenty wounded, but”-Saryn shrugged-“the townspeople of Suedara took out their vengeance on them while we were running down the stragglers.” That wasn’t quite true. It had happened as much because Saryn had been barely functioning, and the guards had been more concerned about weapons and stray mounts, as well as possible armed stragglers. “What ever simple fare your kitchens could prepare would be appreciated,” she added.

“After such a battle, we will manage.”

“Thank you.”

The evening meal was late and simple-cheese over noodles with fried cakes. That was fine with Saryn, who ate with the guards. She did sleep in the villa, if with the chamber bolted shut and a chair wedged under the door, hoping that a softer bed might let her sleep more soundly and recover from her use of the order and chaos flows.

Even so, she woke early the next morning, and while the lightknives had not totally disappeared, they appeared infrequently, and the throbbing in her skull had subsided to a dull ache. She washed and dressed quickly, and one of the serving girls brought her breakfast.

She was in the courtyard, ready to mount up, when Jharyk appeared again.

He appeared very subdued, and Saryn had to wonder if he’d talked to the Lornian squad leader or Saensyr. “Commander…I must apologize for any abruptness I may have conveyed last night. I was astounded that you returned so quickly and with such a staggering victory.”

“As we both know, Lord Jharyk, it is a temporary victory. That is why it needed to be absolute. We of Westwind are most familiar with the need to destroy enemies so that it will take time for them to regroup. We always hope that will suggest a certain wisdom in not provoking another attack. At times, as with the regency, it has. At other times, as with Gallos, it has not. I would like to think that the Jeranyi would be wise. I doubt they will be. Some lords are far too interested in amassing power at any cost. In the end, they lose everything. So it has been with the Jeranyi, and so it will probably be again.” Saryn inclined her head politely. “We do appreciate your food and fodder, and your continued support of the regency. We have left five mounts as some recompense. They are slightly strained, but they are basically sound, and in a few eightdays will be worth far more.”

Jharyk looked at her but did not speak.

“I would that I could offer more, Lord Jharyk, but because several lords, unlike you, have been remiss in remitting their tariffs, the treasury of the regency is not what it could be.” Or what it will be, if I have anything to do about it.

“I understand, Commander. It may be that will not be an issue in the future.”

Saryn could almost hear the words “one way or another,” although the lord-holder only smiled politely. “It may not be. We need to be on our way.”

“Of course.”

Saryn mounted quickly, checking the saddle sheath before her knee. On the ride back, she’d made certain that she again had three blades, two in her harness and one in the sheath.

Then she rode across the courtyard to where the Lornian squad was forming up.

Caeris rode to meet her. “Commander.”

“Squad leader, I’m sending you and Saensyr back to Lornth with your squad and with the three wounded guards-and with all but five spare mounts.”

“Ser?”

“The regent’s orders were for you to defend Lord Jharyk’s lands against the Jeranyi. You and your men did that admirably. We wouldn’t have been able to do what we did without you.” Saryn paused. “I’m very concerned that the remaining Jeranyi may cause trouble with Lord Orsynn, and we’re going to follow them for a bit, just to make sure there’s not more trouble. I’d be exceeding our agreement with the regency if you were to accompany us. We will take the regency banner, just so that there’s no confusion.”

“Yes, ser.”

Even with her pain-diminished senses, Saryn sensed both worry and relief. “Also, you’ll be able to tell the Lady Regent that we destroyed the Jeranyi force threatening Lord Jharyk’s lands and people. She needs to hear that as soon as possible. I’ll be sending a dispatch with one of my guards to confirm your report.”

“Yes, ser.” That thought clearly cheered Caeris.

“Oh…by the way, did Lord Jharyk ask you about what happened in Suedara?”

Caeris frowned. “Yes, ser. This morning he talked to both Saensyr and me. We didn’t say much. Was that…?”

“No…that was fine. He just seemed to know more than I’d told him last night. I took him offguard, and I’m sure he had more questions this morning.”

“He had some. He was surprised at how few we lost for how many Jeranyi we killed. Then he thanked us and said he needed to talk to you, ser.”

“He did. I think he understands more and is even more inclined to support the regency.” Saryn smiled. “We’ll leave together. Once we’re beyond the town, you’ll head to Lornth.”

“Yes, ser.”

Saryn rode back to first squad.

“First and second squads ready to ride, ser,” offered Shalya.

“Have someone pick up the regency banner from the Lornians,” said Saryn. “Then we’ll head out.”

“Yes, ser.” Shalya turned in the saddle. “Fryada, we’ll be taking the regency banner. Get it from the Lornian squad. They’re expecting you.”

With a nod, the guard turned her mount out from the column and headed back toward Caeris and the Lornians.

Shalya turned back to Saryn. “I‘d wager that Caeris was pleased to know he could head back to Lornth.”

“Relieved, I think.”

“They did all right for a bunch that hasn’t fought much.”

“They did, but I’d wager that Caeris will have a hard time explaining losing three men of every ten to the undercaptain.”

“That’s because they haven’t fought anyone in ten years.” At times it was hard to believe that it had been only twelve years since they had left the Winterlance in orbit.

Saryn just nodded, her eyes going to Fryada, returning with the furled regency banner.

Once the guard was back in position, Shalya turned and checked over the squad, then ordered, “First squad…prepare to ride!”

Saryn rode beside the squad leader as they headed down from the holding into the town. In the early morning, the streets of Nuelda were almost deserted, and those few who were out slipped away as they saw the riders.

Saryn couldn’t help but think about the casualties second squad had taken. Not all of them had been because of the shortness of the recruits’ training. Some of it, Saryn feared, had occurred because of where she had positioned Yulia’s squad. They’d had to face into the rising sun, not directly, but even at an angle that well might have been a problem. Saryn hadn’t considered it because in the Westhorns, where all the roads and trails were beneath cliffs and mountains, early-morning sunlight was never a problem. Shadows were.

She shook her head. There was still so much she had to learn about Lornth and the lowlands…and she still had thoughts about the ancient Cyadoran dwelling and what it represented, although she couldn’t have explained totally what it represented, beyond the clear tradition of feminine submission.