Princeps

60

Unlike Lundi, Mardi had been uneventful, and Quaeryt enjoyed spending time with Vaelora, if only talking or walking … not to mention other pleasures, but the day passed too quickly, as did the evening.

Despite the comparatively cramped room Quaeryt and Vaelora shared in the small post adjacent to the piers at Tresrives, officers’ quarters that a year earlier Quaeryt would have found more than adequate, Quaeryt woke early and with dread on Meredi morning. In the gloom that was barely lighter than full darkness, he glanced over at the still-sleeping Vaelora and a smile appeared on his lips, one that vanished immediately as he thought about how soon they would be parted.

You never thought you’d feel this way … or even have the chance to.

So few scholars ever could afford a wife, and as for imagers, almost no families even wanted a child who might grow up to be one. Quaeryt had understood that as a very young orphan among the scholars. That was why he’d kept his imaging talent to himself for long, long years … until Vaelora had arrived, although he had to admit that she and Bhayar had suspected it earlier than that. But Bhayar might not have without your letters to her.

Vaelora opened her eyes and yawned, then rolled closer to him and kissed him gently.

As she leaned back slightly a while later, he asked, “What was that for?”

“You know very well, silly man.”

“Tell me anyway.”

“For loving me, and not the sister of the Lord of Telaryn.”

“I only really knew you, as you. You are the one who saw to that.” There had still been times when he’d seen a certain imperiousness, but although Quaeryt did not know, not for certain, he had the feeling that most women had moments of imperiousness. Certainly, most men did … often with women in particular. That, he’d seen from the outside, as it were.

“I did my best.”

“You did it very well.”

Vaelora looked to the riding clothes on the rack, then offered a sad smile. “We’d best dress.”

All too soon, after a quick and cold breakfast in the officers’ mess, and packing both their mounts, he was mounted on the mare, waiting beside Skarpa in the courtyard as Eleryt, Vaelora, and Third Battalion’s second company rode out of the courtyard and swung eastward on the river road toward Solis.

How long before I see her again? He tried not to think about other, even less pleasant, possibilities as he finally turned the mare and followed the commander toward the front of the regiment about to ride out to the west and who knew what awaited them there.

For the next glass or so, Quaeryt and Skarpa rode westward, first from the barracks and over the bridge over the Telexan River, and then along the stone-paved river road. As the day grew hotter and damper, Quaeryt folded his jacket and laid it over the front of his saddle, then at the first rest and watering stop, tucked it into the left saddlebag.

Two glasses later, when they stopped again, Quaeryt dismounted and actually opened the tight saddlebag to reach for the hard biscuits he’d slipped inside before leaving Tresrives … and paused at the envelope tucked in beside the small sack of provisions.

How had she…? He shook his head and extracted the envelope, slipping it inside his tunic for a moment while he took out two biscuits and closed the saddlebag. Then the biscuits went into a pocket, and he opened the letter, smoothed it out carefully, and began to read.

Dearest-

I know I have not been the most pleasant person at times over the last weeks. At such times, I have not been the best of wives, either. That has not been right, or fair to you. I can only hope you understand. For all of my life, until we were married, I have been confined and restricted, even more so in what I might say than what I might do. For all the difficulties, and the lack of proper quarters at times for the last months, I still appreciate, more now than ever, the freedom you bestowed upon me … and your grace in hearing me out.

Much as I love you, and would wish to be able to tell you that only your survival matters to me, I must tell you that you will not survive without Bhayar’s support. Nor will my brother survive and prosper without yours. You have the burden of saving yourself and him. Nothing else matters, for I will not see either of you again unless I am able to see you both.

Another vision? Something she didn’t want to tell you? Quaeryt frowned. Why hadn’t she wanted to tell him?

He looked back down at the elegant script.

Do what you must, as much as necessary, but no more than that. Do so with the knowledge that I love you for the man you are, and not for the talents you have and will need to use in often terrible ways. For, as we both know, that is the nature of war.

Beneath those words were three others-“All my love”-and her signature.

He read the last lines a second time, and a third, before finally refolding the sheet and replacing it in the envelope.