Magi'i of Cyador

LXXV

AS THE SECOND Company forms up in the courtyard of Eastend, its compound a mirror image of Westend, Lorn walks toward the long building that holds the Mirror Lancer detachment, wondering if anyone will even be there. The corridors and studies are empty, and Lorn heads back to the officers’ dining area. With each step, his boots click faintly on the polished stone floor of the corridor.

There, at the sole occupied table in the dining area, he finds Majer Weylt and two engineer captains. All three rise as he approaches the table.

“Captain,” offers Weylt, “can you join us?”

“I fear not,” Lorn says. “My company is forming up now.” He bows to the majer. “I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated your having the firelances ready, Majer. Your efforts were most welcome.”

“Thank you for your courtesy.” Weylt’s eyes twinkleabove his thin lips. “I see you found another … appropriate … sabre.”

“There were some spares in the armory here.” Lorn’s lips quirk momentarily. “I’m not the first, I gather.”

“You broke yours?” asks the squat captain to Weylt’s right.

“Ah … not exactly. I put it in a stun lizard’s eye, and it dissolved, I think. At least, I couldn’t find it after the lizard died.”

“You … killed a stun lizard with a sabre?”

“ … and most of the charges in my company’s firelances,” Lorn adds smoothly. “We still lost more than a few lancers.”

“The lizard was over twenty cubits in length. I saw the carcass before we burned it,” Weylt adds. “Most impressive.” He nods his head. “We won’t keep you, Captain, but it has been a pleasure meeting you and working with you.”

“And you, also.” Lorn returns the nod with a bow and smiles. “You will pardon me if I hope we do not work together too often?”

Weylt laughs. “Indeed! Indeed. Have an uneventful return patrol.”

“We hope to. Thank you again.”

With a smile and a last bow, Lorn turns and walks back to the courtyard where he reclaims the gelding from the stableboy. He checks his gear, leads the gelding into the courtyard, and then mounts quickly.

While the courtyard remains in shadow, the sun has risen, and the deadland beyond the gates is flooded with light as Lorn lets the gelding carry him toward the waiting lancers. He frowns as he considers he should have looked for Weylt earlier. There are so many little aspects to his job that are not in the manual and on which he has not been briefed. Then, he supposes, that is true of many positions within Cyador and the Mirror Lancers.

“Wondered where you were, ser,” offers Kusyl as Lorn rides up to the head of the column where both squad leaders wait.

“I was offering our thanks to the head of the Mirror Engineerdetachment for the replacement firelances and sabres. He was out on his own patrol yesterday, but he was the one who ensured they were waiting for us.”

Kusyl nods. “He seems solid enough, if a bit brisk.”

“He has to cover twice as much ward-wall as we do,” Lorn points out. “Is everyone ready?”

“Yes, ser,” reply both squad leaders.

“Let us go. First squad will start on the wall.”

“First squad, advance!”

“Second squad …”

As Second Company rides through the gates and toward the ward-wall, Lorn wonders what awaits them on the patrol. Was the other Engineer majer-Gebynet-correct in predicting a rash of excursions by the Forest? Or will the ward-wall offer another quiet and uneventful patrol?

Thinking about the non-functioning midpoint chaos tower, Lorn doubts that many patrols will be uneventful, but ensures that a pleasant smile remains on his face as he rides beside Kusyl.