are worth a good income to him. He has sent back to his family and friends to raise forces and send them north.”
“So we are not just going to hurt the Alendi and leave.”
“No. I'm guessing that Orthand means to pacify the whole region as far as the mountains. Might take a year.”
Or more. There are other tribes that might get involved, they doubtless also have alliances and blood ties. I worried it over for a moment then told him what I had sent Sheo north to do.
He glared at me. Then laughed out loud, suddenly good-natured. “I should have guessed you would not sit back and take orders. Any news on how he is doing?”
I shamefacedly admitted that I had not instructed him to send messages.
“He will anyway. Wouldn't you?”
I nodded. “What about the crossbowmen?”
“Keep them. You and I will both be under Orthand as overall commander in any case. He has the biggest unit and the most seniority. Unless the assembly of patrons sends a consul or something drastic.”
“Peshna Itherian has his four legions busy in the east.”
“Yes, greedy bastard.”
The senior consul gets four legions paid for by the state. Then he goes and fights a war somewhere and makes a fortune. Everyone did it. Over the last seven hundred years we have conquered and either lost, sold or given up territories a thousand miles away and more as families rise and fall, as some sons are more industrious than others. A client state gives the best reward for the least administrative effort. Often we will trade freely with kingdoms we have once held, yet sometimes they will turn on us and have to be dealt with again. I couldn't remember what the situation was in the east.
“Will I get away with it?”
“You will now, I'm betting. Orthand can't take them off you, assuming Sheo has done his job and I'm sure he will. A magistrate could but Orthand isn't holding office at the moment, just dealing with his own problem.”
“Let's hope that's the way it stays.”
Tul snorted in derision. “Of course it will. When was the last time the state was at war?”
“A hundred and seventy two years ago.”
“Exactly.” He made no move to leave so I let him be for a while, eventually he changed the subject. “I'm not going to offer you joint command but if you join with my troops I'll let you have second and autonomous command of your own cohort so long as you obey my orders.”
I didn't say anything.
“I'll include you in my letter of authority to raise troops, loan your man my white rod. But keep it to yourself for now.”
“Agreed, cousin.” I didn't not see fit to tell him that Sheo already had a white rod of his own.
16
I worried about Sheo, now. It had only been a few days but I hadn't heard anything and it bothered me. Tul was right, Sheo would send me a message. I stepped over to my desk, which now had a few papers on it. A hundred men, and the healers and battle mages. And my original six. The demands of command were increasing. There was also a satchel containing scrip, promises that the war chest of Tulian Dural Verrans would pay cash to whoever presented it to him. The responsibilities of command.
Looking down at the letter that Sapphire had delivered to my tent an hour ago, my initial anger flooded back.
I had taken the letter warily. “My father sent a letter for me to you?”
Sapphire had shrugged and said nothing, his cold blue eyes unwavering.
“Get out.”
When he'd gone I opened the letter and read it. It didn't take long.
I understand that you have not disgraced yourself. I am relieved.
That was it. Bastard.
17
I had written the letter to the head of Tahal's family, offering my assistance in the rescue of their son should it become possible. I resolved to put it with the official dispatches in the morning. I was still curious about what, if anything, the Samant family were doing to come to the aid of their son, Tahal. They appeared to be doing nothing, and that was not right. True, they were a small family and no longer wealthy. I could not remember the last time a Samant had been consul, for example, but it was impossible that they be doing nothing. Could they be so poor that they could not raise any troops at all? I tried to remember the family members but could not. Was Tahal the only man left of the line? Was Irian Samant recently dead and I hadn't heard? Were his female relatives reliant on friends and blood ties? Orelia had asked me to intervene because her family would not, on the premise that Tahal was merely her betrothed and not her husband, but what were his own family doing? Well, the letter was written and they might confide in me.
Meran cleared his throat and then stepped inside the tent. “Larner Harrat wants you to join him for the evening meal. He has that shaman with him.”
I gave a nod. “You met him? Strange isn't he?”
“His eyes. Yes. Reminds me of how my people describe the druids.”
“Druids?” I was a moment remembering the word.
“Your people killed them all centuries ago, but our stories persist.”
Priests. I remembered the word now, druid was just another word for shaman or priest. Though I now knew what Dubaku would say to that.
“What stories?”
“Stories of what they could do, what powers the spirits gave them. How they looked as though they saw another world than the one we do.”
Maybe that was it. Maybe his expressionless eyes looked into another world.
“Hmmm. Sapphire?”
“He has weird eyes too.”
He did actually. Cold and indifferent. But that isn't what I'd meant. “What has he been up to?”
“Putting himself about. Talking to people. Nothing I could hear and I can hardly ask.”
“Talking to whom?”
“Everyone. Healers, battle mages, your men, although I can tell from watching that they don't talk back. Tonight he's getting cozy with your mercenaries.”
“Thanks,” I said distractedly.
He looked just surprised enough that I noticed. “You're welcome, master.”
“I don't reward you enough, Meran. When this campaign is over I will.”
He actually bowed, perhaps a little ironically, then asked if there was anything else. When I indicated not, he left without another word. I knew he would be close by, on hand if I should need anything and for the most part anticipating my needs before I voiced them. He was a good slave. Familiar to the point of rudeness, but I'd never minded that as long as he took care of the things I didn't want to waste time on.
I realized I was standing there doing nothing and left to join the battle mages for dinner. I was tired. It had been a long day in the saddle and my body ached like hell, but not as much as the day before. My trousers were a little looser and soon I'd have to get a new belt, and maybe a new wardrobe. Maybe I should give Meran some cash and send him ahead to attend to that. But then, he had the money and maybe he already had. It wouldn't surprise me, and I decided to wait and find out.
