Scion of Cyador

XCVI

Commander Shykt and Commander Muyro sit across the Majer-Commander’s conference table from each other, Muyro on the north side, Shykt on the south. Each has a document before him. Lorn is seated in the armless chair to Rynst’s left.

The door to the study opens, and a commander unfamiliar to Lorn steps inside. He has rugged features, a pockmarked face, and iron-gray hair. He also carries some form of document under his left arm. “Greetings, Majer-Commander.”

“Commander Dhynt,” Rynst announces. “Majer Lorn is my new adjutant and assistant.” He remains seated as he continues. “Commander Dhynt is in charge of the fireships…such as they are.”

Dhynt nods brusquely in Lorn’s direction and sits down in the chair beside the brown-haired Shykt, inclining his head to the swarthy Muyro and then to Shykt. He places the thick set of papers on the polished table before him.

Rynst studies the iron-haired and square-faced commander. “This is the fifth meeting we have had over the last year about the problems with the chaos-towers. Each of you is supposed to have a report for me.”

A round of nods follows the words of the Majer-Commander.

“I will study the documents, but I expect a summary from each of you.” Rynst glances at the most recent arrival. “You may begin, Dhynt.”

The gray-haired commander clears his throat. “The chaos-towers which provide the power systems for the fireships came from the Rational Stars, somewhere beyond chaos itself, and cannot be built on our world. In the more than tenscore years since the creation of Cyador, no chaos-tower has ever been successfully restored, even when it appeared identical to those still functioning. Further, the power projection systems employed by the Magi’i and Mirror Engineers cannot be used except with the concentrated chaos-power supplied by a tower. The Magi’i have attempted to use a number of the most powerful Magi’i in concentrating naturally-occurring chaos, but that chaos was either somehow different or not powerful enough to make the projection equipment work. Since the projection equipment is required to fabricate new chaos-cells, such as those used in the firewagons, and those used in the firecannon, while firecannon could be mounted on sailing warships, the Magi’i estimate that such cells will last only for one- to twoscore years after the failure of the last chaos-tower.”

Lorn writes as quickly as he can, hoping that he can convert his notes into a credible report without forgetting anything important.

Dhynt clears his throat and glances at Rynst.

Rynst nods for him to continue.

“That means we can neither repair nor replace the fireships and the firecannon. The most feasible option would appear to be the immediate construction of a fleet of fast sailing vessels of comparatively narrow beam, with deep keels, and extensive sails, capable of carrying conventional cannon powered by cammabark or some form of black powder.”

“I understand we now have but a quarterscore fireships left with full function. How long before we have none?” asks Rynst.

“As I have told you before, ser, ten years at the longest, more probably five, I would say. The Magi’i and the Mirror Engineers tell me one of the ships might last a score of years. I think not. Each firecannon must be disassembled and cleaned and the arming cells and the cables replaced almost every voyage. The strength of the firebolts varies from discharge to discharge even so, and that variation is increasing with each voyage.”

Rynst nods evenly and turns to the swarthy commander. “Commander Muyro?”

“Yes, ser. I am not so eloquent as Dhynt, ser. You asked the Mirror Engineers what new devices we could develop to replace the firelances. As Commander Shykt has already noted, the most feasible replacements for the firelances are cupridium lances, such as those already used by the District Guards. We are also looking into the fabrication of cupridium mirror shields. They have a more advantageous strength to weight proportion, so that a lancer will have greater protection but carry a lighter burden than with either a wooden or iron-sheathed shield. Also, the smooth surface will deflect an iron blade…”

As he continues to take his notes, Lorn represses a frown. Mere deflection might not always be good, since it could easily send one of the Jeranyi edged bars into a mount, or a lancer’s legs.

“You might wish to make several of those shields and see how they work,” suggests Rynst. “In actual combat.”

“We will have a score ready in an eightday, and they could be issued to a squad in one of the companies along the Grass Hills.”

Rynst glances at Lorn. “Majer, you have had the most recent combat experience. Where would you suggest that the shields be tested?”

“I would suggest at Isahl or one of the outposts in the northeast out of Syadtar, ser. There are likely to be more raids there this summer.”

Rynst nods. “Do you have any observations on the lances and the shields?”

“When I was at Biehl, I did command some District Guards against the barbarians. The cupridium lances worked fairly well, but some of the lancers had trouble knowing when to drop the lances and switch to their sabres. There might need to be some training on that. The shields could be useful, but I don’t know whether the entire surface should be polished. If they are designed to deflect a blade down, lancers could lose their legs or their mounts. Perhaps several designs should be tested.”

“Those are good thoughts. Have you considered them, Commander?” asks the Majer-Commander.

“The deflection had been raised, ser.”

“And? Did anyone determine whether it was a possibility?”

“No, ser.”

“Before our next meeting, you are to have someone conduct trials to see if the design you are using will deflect a blade into the lancer and the mount. If this is a possibility, you are to develop alternative designs.”

“Yes, ser.” Muyro nods, his face impassive.

“Commander Shykt?”

“We were tasked with determining whether the defenses of the ports, compounds, and outposts would need to be changed if firelances and firecannon were no longer available to the Mirror Lancers. In simple terms, the answer is no. All the facilities were initially designed so that they could be defended without the use of chaos-powered weapons. We did discover one weakness, but that is not with the defenses. Because horse-drawn supply wagons are both slower and more vulnerable to attack, and with all provisions coming by such teams, it might be prudent to increase food and supply storage areas in some of the more exposed outposts, and to schedule somewhat more frequent reprovisioning.” Shykt nods that he is finished.

“Do any of you have any questions?” Rynst looks from face to face. “If not, the meeting is over. I will take your reports and read them. Then they will go to Majer Lorn, who will keep them for my use in developing strategic plans.” The Majer-Commander stands.

Lorn stands with the other officers, stepping back ever so slightly, and waiting until the others leave, each handing the documents he brought to Rynst as each leaves the study.

When the study is empty, Rynst turns to Lorn. “That is one function of having a junior commander at these meetings. Few of us have recently fought. Thank you.”

“You are welcome, ser. I tried to ask it as a question.”

“I noticed that.” Rynst smiles. “Muyro will still be irked, and the Mirror Engineers will doubtless have little good to say of either of us for the next few eightdays. And the lancers whose legs you have considered will never know someone was looking out for them. That is one of the difficulties of being in Mirror Lancer Court. All are angered at your questions, and when you point out defects, but seldom is any credit offered.” He shakes his head. “You have several days for the report of this meeting.” After a pause, he asks, “How is your draft of the plan for dealing with the Jeranyi coming?”

“Slower than I had thought, ser. I have developed a list of options, and I am working out the costs and the advantages of each.”

Rynst laughs. “Just remember that costs mean nothing if we lose too many lancers or the Jeranyi take our lands.”

“Yes, ser. I understand.”

“You do, but some of my commanders do not.” Rynst looks down at the stack of documents he holds. “You can take these in the morning.” With a smile, he adds, “I must go to the Palace of Eternal Light for the afternoon audience with His Mightiness. Have you ever been in the Palace?”

“No, ser.”

“In a season or so, once people start to think of you as merely my tool, I’ll take you.” The Majer-Commander nods. “Until tomorrow.”

“Yes, ser.” Lorn bows, then gathers his notes, and slips from the study.

Outside, he sees Commander Shykt, standing beyond the table desk, and Senior Squad Leader Tygyl. Shykt beckons, and Lorn walks toward the curly-haired and thin-faced commander.

“Ser?”

“Interesting point you made about the shape and design of the shields, Majer. You’ve had a great deal of combat experience, have you not?”

“Yes, ser.”

“How would you compare your experience in actual skirmishes or battles to that of most majers?”

Lorn frowns, then replies carefully. “I have probably had less combat experience than some majers because I was promoted more rapidly than many, but I have had more combat experience than perhaps half, and more recent combat experience than almost any.”

“A fair and accurate answer.” Shykt nods. “I would suggest that you write a short note to Commander Muyro, apologizing-very indirectly-for the suggestion about the shields, but noting that the Majer-Commander knew of your recent combat experience and that you had no choice.”

“Thank you, ser.”

“Muyro’s an idiot, Majer, but he’s also a cousin of both Rustyl and the Second Magus. He is one of those officers who forgets nothing, but learns little.”

“I think I understand, ser.”

“You don’t, not yet. My son’s an undercaptain at Pemedra. I’d like to see him live to become a majer someday.” Shykt nods. “Good day, Majer.”

“Good day, ser.”

Lorn walks slowly back down to his study. Shykt scarcely looks old enough to have a son old enough to be a Mirror Lancer officer, but every word the commander had said had been the truth, without equivocation and without evasion, and that bothered Lorn as much as if there had been some deception in Shykt’s words.

Then…truth can also be deception.

Lorn shakes his head.