Arms-Commander

LXXXIX

Eightday dawned gray, with thick low clouds and a brisk wind out of the northeast that Saryn felt was refreshing, especially after sharing with Zeldyan a tiny room in the small house between the barns and eating hard biscuits and harder cheese for breakfast. While Saryn’s tunic was warm enough for her, most of the Lornians shivered and fastened up riding jackets.

Although the scouts watching Henstrenn’s keep reported no one leaving and no sign of armsmen forming up inside the walls, Saryn wanted to know more. Since she couldn’t sense what was happening behind the walls from where the guards and the others were quartered, she decided to saddle the gelding and check for herself.

When she reached the end of the stable, she found that Dealdron had just finished saddling the chestnut. For a moment, she looked at him without speaking.

“I thought you would be riding out,” he explained. “I put the extra blades in the knee sheaths, and there are biscuits in the saddlebags. Your water bottle is clean and filled.”

“You didn’t have to…” Saryn broke off the words. Behind his pleasant smile was a deep concern for her…and admiration…if not more…somewhat veiled behind swirling thoughts and feelings. She managed to smile back professionally.

“I did,” he replied. “So much rests on you.”

“Thank you.” She took the reins from him and walked the gelding out of the barn.

Although she had said nothing to Hryessa, when Saryn mounted up outside, a half squad of guards from fifth squad rode to join her. The lead guard inclined her head. “The captain said we were to accompany you, ser.”

“Thank you. We’ll be riding to check the keep walls.” Saryn urged the gelding forward, thinking as she did, First Dealdron…and now this…

Yet she had to admit to herself that going to check on the walls unescorted would have been dangerous and foolish. As for Dealdron, it was clear that he’d put her on a pedestal and would have liked to have done far more. Yet he had never made even the slightest of improper gestures or comments. Ostler or not, he is kind and intelligent.

She shook her head, then smiled ruefully as she considered the male lord-holders-and their sons-that she’d encountered. Maeldyn was the only one she’d found intelligent and perceptive enough for her, not that she was attracted to the outwardly stern lord. Yet…a plasterer and ostler she found more attractive than lord-holders?

Saryn almost snorted. Given the lord-holders she’d met, Dealdron was more lordly than any of them, and probably more intelligent to boot, not to mention handsome and kind. He’d also kept learning from the time he had come to Westwind.

As she neared the walls of Henstrenn’s keep, she extended her senses, trying to discern any activity beyond the stone barrier. Before long, she reined up a good half kay from the north walls and studied the keep. Even with her senses, she could detect no sign of formations or concentrations of men or horses. She had the feeling that, even if she remained watching all morning, she would neither see nor sense any such activity.

Even so, she did watch as she rode westward to where she could see the lane down to the main road, then back to where she could see the other eastern lane that led down to the main road farther east, then to the town proper. There were no signs of activity or reinforcements.

Finally, after another half glass, she rode back to the barns and the makeshift staging area, where she unsaddled and groomed the gelding before watching as Hryessa directed the newer guards in arms drills.

Mid afternoon came, and when the latest report from the scouts continued to indicate that Henstrenn and his forces remained quiet behind the walls, Maeldyn requested that Zeldyan and Saryn join him and Spalkyn outside the stable that was far too small for all the horses.

“Unless we press him,” began the dour-looking lord-holder, “Henstrenn is not going to leave his walls. I’d like to suggest that we burn down the small pearapple orchard closest to the eastern gates. That orchard isn’t that close to anything else.”

“How many companies should we have standing by in case he does decide to attack?” asked Spalkyn.

“I would suggest ours and those of Lady Zeldyan, with the commander’s forces ready to saddle up and ride out quickly, if need be.”

“What do you suggest if he does not respond?” asked Zeldyan. “Staying here all harvest, fall, and winter?”

“If need be,” replied Maeldyn mildly. “The alternative is far worse.”

“We should at least try to provoke him,” said Spalkyn.

“He will not respond,” Zeldyan replied.

“That may be, but it will be an indication to his people of just how little he thinks of anything but himself.”

They already should know that. They just haven’t ever been able to do anything about it. Saryn refrained from uttering the thought and merely nodded.

“Then let it be done.” Zeldyan’s voice was weary. “I will order my armsmen up and join you.” She turned and walked away.

Spalkyn nodded and headed away.

Maeldyn looked at Saryn. “You said little, Commander.”

“There was little to say.”

“Might I ask your views?”

“Torching the orchard will not persuade Henstrenn to do anything that is not in his interest or survival. It may be necessary to show that we gave warning, in order to placate those lord-holders who are not here.”

“You do not have a high opinion of lord-holders, I fear.”

“I have a much higher opinion of those with whom I ride,” Saryn countered.

“Otherwise, you would not be riding with us, I suspect.”

Saryn smiled and shrugged.

Maeldyn laughed softly.

“Until later.” Saryn turned and headed toward the barn.

Again, Dealdron had the gelding saddled and ready for Saryn, and, once more, a half squad of guards were ready to escort her. This time, the escort was formed of women from first squad, and all bore bows as well.

Saryn rode to the pearapple orchard with Zeldyan. The Westwind guards paralleled the first squad of the Lornian company, taking the shoulder of the dirt lane in single file, then reforming once Zeldyan and Saryn reined up.

Saryn waited beside Zeldyan at the front of the Lornian company, as armsmen from Maeldyn’s squads put torches to the trees.

It took two glasses in the still and hot harvest air before the last tree was nothing but a charred husk. The odor of charcoal, burned wood, and the fainter acrid scent of burned pearapples filled the late afternoon…but the gates of Duevek keep remained closed as Maeldyn, Spalkyn, Zeldyan, and Saryn watched.

Once the fire had died away, Maeldyn and Spalkyn rode to join the two women.

“It appears you were right,” offered Maeldyn.

“I have the feeling that we could burn the entire countryside to ashes, and Henstrenn still wouldn’t leave his walls,” Saryn said.

“Would any of you?” asked Zeldyan.

“We’ll have to see what tomorrow brings,” Spalkyn said. “Henstrenn may reconsider matters after he has thought them over.”

“Tomorrow won’t change anything,” Zeldyan replied tartly. “Henstrenn would sacrifice every man, woman, and child on his lands to save his skin.”

“Especially with two women after him,” added Saryn.

“Women have often been the downfall of men,” said Maeldyn pleasantly, “but you, Commander, have destroyed more than any single woman in the memory of Lornth, or possibly even in the time of Cyador before.”

Saryn smiled politely in response to the mostly good-natured banter. “You might recall, Lord Maeldyn, that in every single instance, I was attacked first. In fact, Lord Henstrenn’s armsmen offered the very first attack on me when I came to see the regents in the spring. And we were under a parley banner.” She paused. “We women may forgive, but we never forget.”

“Ever,” murmured Zeldyan, a sound so low and under her breath that Saryn suspected she was the only one to hear that single word.