Arms-Commander

VIII

Oneday morning, after grabbing some bread and cheese from the kitchen, Saryn was out of the tower well before sunrise. She didn’t feel as tired as she might have, even though she’d been up late the night before checking with the scouts and patrols to make certain that the Suthyans were gone-and that they stayed on the road home to Armat.

Her first concern was with the horses. Dealing with the Suthyans had meant more riding and less rest for the mounts, and it was still early in the year, when the horses were not as well conditioned as they would be later. That was one reason why she wanted to check with Duessya.

The head ostler was inspecting the front hoofs of a mare when Saryn reached the stables. Saryn stepped away and started to walk through the stables. While she didn’t have the sensitivity of either Istril or Siret, if she concentrated, more like opening her senses wider, she could feel pain, but it was more like a needle jab than the overwhelming agony that she’d seen flatten Nylan and Istril.

She walked the entire length of the stables and back, but didn’t sense that any horse was in great pain or agony.

Duessya waited, looking like she’d gotten less sleep than Saryn. “Yes, Commander?”

“How are the horses?”

“A handful will need to be rested, but most are in good shape. The Suthyans and their mounts aren’t used to the heights or the cold. We didn’t have to work ours nearly that hard.”

“There are lots of things they’re not used to.” Saryn’s words came out more tartly than she had intended.

“They do not like women with cold iron.”

“And minds of their own,” added Saryn. “How many more foals are we expecting?”

“Just two. We have ten in all, and they’re all healthy…”

By the time Saryn had finished with Duessya and was walking back down the road, the junior guards were lined up on the field for exercises and arms practice.

Ryba had crossed the causeway and walked across the corner of the field to join Saryn.

“Good morning, ser,” offered the arms-commander.

“Good morning, Saryn. Have you heard anything more about the Suthyans?”

“They were all headed northwest, but I have scouts following them. We can’t be sure for several days where they’re going…except that it’s away from Westwind.”

“The envoy did not seem overly impressed with the skill of the guards,” said Ryba.

“I don’t think he knows much about arms,” replied Saryn. “The undercaptain understood, but I doubt that any of the senior officers will listen to him.”

“In a society where position is granted by birth and gender, junior officers who come up through the ranks are ignored almost as much as women.” Ryba’s laugh was both low and harsh. “In all of Candar, Westwind is the only land where women and ability are recognized.”

But you feel almost the same way about men as the Suthyans, Lornians, and Gallosians do about women. Is that really any better? Saryn knew better than to voice that thought.

“What do you think about the timing of the envoy’s visit?” pressed Ryba.

“It was early in the year.”

“Exactly. That suggests that someone has planned something.”

“There’s no sign of the Suthyans bringing up more armsmen.”

“They won’t. They prefer to have others fight for them, whenever possible.”

“That does suggest that they’re working with the Gallosians.” Saryn paused but for a moment. “I thought that it might be a good idea if I took a squad farther east to look into matters.”

“If you hadn’t suggested it, I would have,” replied Ryba. “Arthanos has no love of Westwind, and he might even have been the one to put the Suthyans up to their treachery.”

“In hopes of weakening Westwind before he musters forces for an attack on us?”

“That’s a foregone conclusion. When were you planning on leaving?”

“I’d thought we’d leave on threeday.”

“You might be better making it tomorrow.”

That alone told Saryn that Ryba was more than casually concerned. “Yes, ser.”

“After we warm up, I need to spar. So do you.”

That was also true, Saryn knew.