The Chaos Balance

CXVII

Two officers in white uniforms, with green sashes, stood in the small room that contained little more than a flat wooden table, five wooden chairs, and several easels with maps upon them.

“Angels…riding in the direction of the Accursed Forest.” Majer Piataphi-handed the scroll back to the marshal. “Ser…I cannot tell that to His Mightiness. I cannot tell him that three of them, just three, destroyed a local patrol and vanished.”

“You are a lancer officer, under my command, Majer,” Queras stated flatly.

“As such, ser, I must offer my best judgment. This is not a good idea. I am not in charge of the border patrols or the local patrols.”

“You are under my command, Majer.” Queras’s voice turned chill. “All Mirror Lancer officers are. You will follow my commands.”

“You can only execute me for failing to carry out an order-and then you will have to reveal what that order was.” Piataphi smiled bitterly. “The way His Mightiness feels about me…I would be turned into flame before him. After he flamed me, or if he did not flame me, ser, how would he feel about your trying to divert responsibility? Remember what he did to the officers of the Eighth?” Piataphi’s words were level, and he did not blink as he regarded the senior officer.

“Brave you may be, Majer,” said Queras as he finally shook his head, “but wise you are not. You defy me, and you lost an entire command, and allowed the barbarians to drive you from our lands. Our lands. That shows little wisdom.”

“Yes, ser. That is why I must be honest. I have little left but that. I know the white mage stands by Lord Lephi, and he would know if I deceived.”

Queras’s eyes raked over Piataphi.

“Follow the Emperor’s commands,” added the majer. “Do not tell him nor return until we are ready to march.”

“And the angels, O wisest of unwise lancers? How, pray tell, would your unwisdom address them?”

“If we prevail against the barbarians, then there will be time to deal with them and the forest. Even the white mages have left the Accursed Forest to deal with the grassland hordes.” Piataphi smiled again, tightly. “And if we fail…then we have no worries.”

“I am certain we will have no worries. Very certain. You will lead every charge.”

“Yes, ser.” Piataphi nodded fatalistically.