Scion of Cyador

XLI

With the indirect light passing through the antique panes of the ancient windows, the polished white-oak table desk reflects the faces of Rynst and Luss as they sit across from each other in a long and windowed room on the fifth and highest floor of the Mirror Lancer Court, the room that is the inner study of the Majer-Commander.

Rynst looks at Luss, then speaks. “You are telling me that this overcaptain took the District Guards and two companies of barely equipped and half-trained Mirror Lancers and rode out for an eightday-leaving the port unprotected-and ambushed and somehow killed most-all of some barbarian raiders no one has ever seen or heard of? And he claims that they were planning to sack the town of Nhais, and then the vintners’ warehouses at Escadr and the cuprite mines at Dyeum? And that they were doing this with fresh-forged Hamorian blades? Is that what you are telling me, Captain-Commander?”

“Yes, ser. Overcaptain Lorn insists that the barbarians were planning such. There was no proof, of course, on which he could base his actions.”

Rynst frowns, and his eyes harden.

Luss’s eyes drop. “He does say that he has fifteenscore of their blades in the armory at Biehl.”

“Fifteenscore?” Rynst nods. “He has them, then, for he would not dare assert such, were it not so. Does he present any proof of such?”

“He sent a confirmation sealed by both of the Emperor’s Enumerators in Biehl,” Luss admits. “Fourteenscore-and-eleven, exactly, and all but five with recent forge markings.”

“You did not mention that, Luss. Most amazing, most amazing, and you almost had me believing that he had fabricated it all. What else did he say?” Rynst pauses, before adding, “Not that I will not read his report myself, after all this.”

“He wrote that there were more than eighteenscore barbarians, and that he and his forces killed them all, at the cost of three-and-a-halfscore in lancers and guards, ser.” Luss smiles blandly. “That there were no survivors seems…unusual.” Luss adds. “He did attach statements from all the surviving squad leaders, verifying the numbers and that there were no survivors.”

“Does he say why there were no survivors?”

“There is a brief statement that survivors were not in the interest of Cyad, since there were no outposts nearby to deal with any follow-up raids that might occur.”

“So he and his men killed eighteenscore barbarians, and he killed any captives. These barbarians were within the boundaries of Cyador?”

“That is what the overcaptain says.”

“And what says the Second Magus?” Rynst’s eyebrows lift. “I am certain you consulted him, since he is related to the overcaptain, albeit rather indirectly.”

“He says that the battle took place well west of the Grass Hills, on a river east of Nhais. Overcaptain Lorn rode the beaches, then followed them down the valley, and struck them from behind, we believe. His glass indicates none of the barbarians survived.”

“So…the honorable Kharl is so worried about the overcaptain that he took time to follow him in his chaos-glass.” Rynst folds his hands together, then leans back in his chair. “Overcaptain Lorn left no survivors, and in the middle of nowhere, with no maps, no Magi’i, he managed to find them and kill six for every man he lost? Would that we had more like him.”

“He did it without authorization of any sort, ser, and then he sent copies of his battle report to Assyadt, Inividra, Pemedra, Isahl, and Syadtar. His cover letter to those commanders suggested that they be wary as well, since he had discovered large numbers of Hamorian-forged weapons, and that as the commander of the port detachment he had heard reports from numerous captains that weapons were being shipped to Jera.”

Rynst winces. “He is clever. One could not discipline an officer who kills barbarians and discovers from whence come their weapons, not without many officers questioning us.”

“No, ser. That is why I thought you should know.”

“So that the full responsibility will be mine, no doubt.”

“It is always, ser.”

“Perhaps we should transfer Overcaptain Lorn to a duty station where he can use his skills doing what he does best.” Rynst glances at Luss. “What think you, Captain-Commander?”

“The overcaptain is rather good at killing barbarians, ser.”

“And Biehl has become a worthy station, has it not?”

“Yes, ser.”

“Perhaps Majer Brevyl should enjoy it…Sub-Majer Lorn will report immediately, without furlough or leave, to Assyadt and will be assigned command of the companies at Inividra. Oh…make it clear that our new sub-majer is to personally command at least some of the patrols. It is what he does best. You may go and ensure this occurs as swiftly as possible.”

“Yes, ser.” Luss smiles and stands.

Watching Luss depart, Rynst smiles as well.