Cyador’s Heirs

XXXVIII

By late on oneday afternoon, Lerial has alternated riding with the two squad leaders over the two days it has taken to get to Teilyn, trying to draw each of them out, both to learn what he can and to learn about each of them. He has largely managed to avoid revealing many details about himself, although he is well aware that in the process of conversing with the two squad leaders he has doubtless revealed more about himself than he realizes.

As they near Teilyn, Lerial studies the town, with its mud-brick houses and tile roofs, their white mud-plastered walls pinker than he recalls. Still … the streets are straight and the road, once they enter the town, becomes the brick-paved main street, and the side streets are also straight, if unpaved. Abruptly, it strikes him. The entire town was built-or rebuilt-under a plan, most likely the majer’s.

How could he not have seen that before?

Because you weren’t thinking about it.

Interestingly enough, when they pass through Teilyn and near the Lancer post, Lerial does not notice anything new. But then, he’d been in the post scores of times. The duty gate Lancers barely nod as he and Juist lead the two squads and the wagons through and rein up outside the small headquarters building.

Captain Graessyr stands there, waiting.

“Two squads reporting for duty with Majer Altyrn, ser,” Lerial announces.

“Squads accepted for duty, Undercaptain.” Then Graessyr smiles. “Didn’t think you’d be back here, did you?”

“No. It makes sense, though.”

“After you and the squad leaders settle the men, we should talk.”

“Yes, ser,” replies Lerial.

“Oh … and you can use a spare mount to ride over to the majer’s villa afterward. He’s expecting you for dinner.”

“Thank you, ser.”

“Be the least we could do.”

Lerial turns to Juist. “You have the squad.” While the words are a formality, they are also expected, Lerial knows. “And the paychest.” Those are not.

“Yes, ser. I have the squad. We’ll put the paychest in the strongroom first off.”

Lerial nods an acknowledgment.

Once Lerial dismounts, he watches as the chest is carried into headquarters. Only then does he lead the gelding into the stable, where he unsaddles and grooms him before heading to the headquarters building. He leaves his kit with his saddle, uncertain where he will be sleeping.

Graessyr is waiting for him in the captain’s study and gestures for Lerial to sit down in the straight-backed chair in front of the narrow table-desk.

“What do you know about the hill towns?” The captain’s voice is direct and serious.

“I know what the maps show. The majer had me study them until I could draw them from memory. I know what he told me, and that they’re almost independent. Other than that…” Lerial shrugs.

“The maps aren’t as reliable as they could be. Oh … all the larger towns and hamlets are there. We’ve been sending out scouts for years. What do you know about the people?”

“I don’t, ser.”

“No one knows that much, but there are two or three things you need to keep in mind. First, make sure you and the Lancers keep your hands off their women. You won’t have any problem, but some Lancers might. The forest women are beautiful, but they’re all Kaordists, and they don’t play around, especially with strangers. They supposedly consort for life, and they have a tendency to slice people in half who don’t respect their women. Respect means keeping your hands off. The majer will fill you in on more, but it will take the two of you and the squad leaders to make sure the rankers don’t mess with the women. You think the Afritans are touchy about that … it’s nothing compared to the hill people. That’s another reason why their elders are approaching the Duke. His high and mightiness, Duke Casseon, thinks anyone north of Jabuti or Clyanaka is a peasant to be used in whatever way suits him or his men. He’s a strict ordist…”

Ordist? It took Lerial a moment to place the term-a believer in the supremacy of order over chaos, who forbids the use of chaos.

“… and the hill people are anything but.”

With that statement, his father’s plans make much more sense. It’s also a possible reason why Duke Atroyan’s sire allowed the Magi’i to build Cigoerne.

“Did your father ever say anything about that?”

“He said that Duke Casseon didn’t believe as we do and outlawed the use of chaos as evil.”

“By anyone except his own mages. That’s another problem that the hill people have with him.” Graessyr straightens. “That’s all I have, and I don’t want to keep you from a far better meal than you’d get here.”

“It won’t be a problem…?”

“No. I do appreciate your asking, but officers can eat where they want when they’re off-duty. So can rankers, but they need permission from their squad leaders.”

“Ah … quarters, ser?”

“There are two small chambers for junior officers. Take your pick … if that’s your choice.”

Lerial has the sense that what Graessyr offers is another test, of sorts. “It would be best if I were here.” That is true for a number of reasons, and he also recalls that his father did not sleep at Kinaar.

Graessyr nods. “I can see that.”

After he leaves the captain, Lerial returns to the stable and carries his gear to the visiting junior officers’ quarters, then returns and saddles the spare mount-a mare. For perhaps the first time ever, he rides alone in making his way from the post to Kinaar.

When he nears the north entrance to the villa, Altyrn steps out to greet him. “Welcome back.”

“I didn’t expect to be here quite so soon.”

“Expectations can be misleading.” Altyrn looks up at Lerial. “No one would ever know.”

“What? That I’m who I am?”

“Or that you’re as young as you are. That’s good. You didn’t mention your age to any of the Lancers, did you?”

“No.” Lerial grins ruefully. “I never thought of it, one way or another.”

“I shouldn’t be keeping you here. Maeroja will be happy to see you … and the girls, of course.”

Lerial dismounts and walks the mare across the brick pavement to the stables. While he stalls her, he does not unsaddle her, since he will not be that long.

“You’re staying at the post, I see,” offers Altyrn as they walk back to the villa.

“It seemed to me that was best … for several reasons.”

The majer nods. “I can see that.”

“I’m sorry … I hope my being here isn’t what dragged you into training the hill Lancers.”

Altyrn laughs, a gentle ironic sound. “I suggested making overtures to them years ago. Obviously, your father never forgot.”

“Oh … I didn’t know.”

“There’s no reason you would.” The majer pauses. “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention it at dinner when the girls are present, though.”

“They’re still upset about what happened in the south valley?”

“Tyrna and Aylana have trouble with the concept that duty never truly ends.”

“And Maeroja and Rojana understand it, but don’t like it?” asks Lerial.

“Something like that,” replies Altyrn dryly. He leads the way through the north entrance into the courtyard and then around to the salon.

Only Maeroja is there, and she rises from her chair and offers a warm smile. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to be here.” If not under the circumstances.

“I imagine you’re thirsty.” Altyrn gestures toward the narrow table against the salon wall.

“I am at that.” Lerial realizes that he didn’t even stop for a drink at the Lancer post. “Very thirsty.”

“Go ahead. I have to finish up going over the girls’ lessons, Rojana’s especially.” With a cheerful smile, Altyrn turns and leaves the salon.

Lerial pours himself a mug full of the dark lager, then takes one of the straight-backed chairs facing Maeroja. After a swallow of the lager, he looks directly at her. “I’m sorry about this.”

“Things are as they are,” she replies.

“But if my father had not sent me here…”

“The hill people would still have petitioned your father. He would have requested the same of my consort … and you would likely not be with him.” She holds up a hand to forestall any objection Lerial might have. “Your father is sending you because you have done well here. Otherwise he would have sent your brother. You are the better choice. I cannot say that I am happy. I worry that every time he leaves Kinaar he will not return. Yet he has built the Lancers from two companies into a force that sustains a country. I cannot ask him to abandon all that he has built.”

The implication is clear enough for Lerial-just as you cannot ask your father to abandon what he has created.

After a moment of silence, Maeroja says. “I see you understand. But then, you would likely not be here if you did not.”

“How … is Rojana?”

“She will recover. All who harbor more than childish desires do.”

Lerial nods thoughtfully. He wouldn’t have put it that way, but her words make sense.

“Tell me … what did you do once you returned to Cigoerne?”

“What the majer taught me how to do … keep working to get better…” Lerial describes what has happened in the season since he has left Kinaar. He has barely finished when Aylana bursts into the salon.

“You did come back!”

“Just for dinner,” Lerial replies.

“You can’t stay longer?” asks Tyrna, close behind her younger sister.

“No, he can’t,” says the majer, who accompanies Rojana into the salon. “We have to leave in the morning. What the Duke has asked of us is very important. It might mean the difference between our keeping Kinaar … or losing everything.”

“That sounds important,” says Aylana solemnly.

Both her sisters look at her.

“It is indeed,” says Altyrn cheerfully. “And Lerial and I will tell you all about it when we return.”

From that, and Maeroja’s slightly forced smile, Lerial understands that the conversation during refreshments and dinner will be light … and as cheerful as possible. He can’t blame either the majer or Maeroja.