'I would think not,' he said.
'No sane commander in such a situation could issue orders to enter the delta in force,' I said, 'certainly not without obtaining guides, accumulating transportation, organizing supplies and support, treating with the natives of the area, and so on.'
'In such a place an army might disappear' he said.
'Never will Ar march northward in force,' I said, 'not with Cos entrenched outside Torcadino.'
'Why has Ar not yet moved?' he asked.
'I do not know,' I said.
'I can hold Cos here for the winter,' said the officer. 'That is probably all.' 'What would you like of me?' I asked.
'Gnieus Lelius,' said he, 'high councilor, first minister to Ar, is regent in the absence of Marlenus. I have here letters to be delivered to him. They outline the dispositions of the main forces of Cos and the situation in Torcadino. Too, I have letters here for Seremides, high general of Ar. They bear the seal of the silver tarn. I do not think you will have difficulty obtaining an audience with him' I had once known a Seremides in Ar. To be sure, such names are common.
'I understand,' I said.
'With these letters, of course,' he said, 'I shall include letters of safety.' 'How shall we pass through the forces of Cos?' I asked. 'Such letters may have their weight with those of Ar but would scarcely seem designed to impress Cosians.'
'You and your party will seem to be ejected from the city with other civilians,' he said, 'some thousand or so who will held until tomorrow. I do not think you will attract much attention. Indeed, Cos encourages the dispersion of these refugees, as it has little inclination to care for them.'
'I see,' I said.
'You were intending to Ar anyway, were you not?' he asked.
'Yes,' I admitted.
'You will, of course, be well paid for your trouble,' he said. He threw a weighty purse upon the table.
I looked at it.
'It is mostly silver,' he said, 'and some copper. Gold would provoke suspicion.' 'I would suppose I am not the first you have entrusted with such a mission,' I said.
'No,' he said. 'You are the fifth. I have sent others with such letters, warnings, and such, as long ago as Tarnburg, and as recently as the banks of the Issus.'
'Your messages then must have been already received,' I said.
'Apparently not,' he said. 'I have, at any rate, as yet, received no responses.' 'This could be dangerous,' I speculated.
'I think that is quite possible,' he said. 'I would exercise great caution, if I were you.'
'What if I do not wish to do this?' I asked.
'You need not do it, of course,' he said. 'Beyond that, for your trouble, and with no hard feelings, I shall give you letters of safety which will conduct you and your party safely through my men.'
'That is very generous,' I said.
'I place you under no pressure whatsoever,' he said.
'I shall do it,' I said.
'I knew you would,' he said.
'And that is why you place me under no pressure?' I asked.
'Of course,' he said.
'I share your general view on these matters,' I said.
'I gathered that,' he said.
'Do you wish me to take an oath, to pledge my sword?' I asked.
'No,' he said, 'that will not be necessary.'
'I see,' I said.
'If you succeed in this matter, of course, I will be grateful,' he said. 'Of course,' I said.
'Whereas I have a reputation of being merciless to enemies, at least when it suits my purpose,' he said, 'I, too, have a reputation of being generous to my friends.'
'I have heard such,' I said.
'Some expression of my gratitude would be in order,' he said. 'Perhaps a bag of gold, perhaps a hundred prize Cosian women?'
'No,' I said. 'I shall do this labor of my own will, and for my own purposes.' 'Warrior,' said he.
'Warrior,' I, in turn saluted him.
I eyed the papers on the desk.
'Sleep this night in the Semnium,' he said.
'Why?' I asked.
'It will be safer,' he said.
'My weapons, and goods,' I asked, 'and those of my party?'
'Give the receipts, yours and those of your friends, to the officer outside,' he said. 'They will be delivered in the morning.'
'Why will it be safer to sleep in the Semnium?' I asked.
'Who knows whom one can trust?' he asked.
He sat behind the desk. He began to sign various documents. The signature was forward-slanting, ascendant and bold.
'Shall I wait for the letters?' I asked.
'No, Captain,' he said.
'Captain?' I asked.
'Surely you have served, in some capacity or another, in one place or another, with that rank or one at least equivalent to it,' he said.
'How did you know?' I asked.
'You carry yourself like a captain,' he said.
There was no reason for me to receive the letters, of course, until I was ready to leave. I now sensed, however, more than before, the security in which he wished to hold them, and how important they might be. To be sure, developments might occur during the night, events to which pertinent references might be judiciously included.
'It has been my experience,' he said, looking up, 'that a judgment too hastily entered upon is sometimes, in the light of cooler reflection, regretted.' 'Sir?' I asked.
'Consider carefully, tonight,' he said, 'in repose, and at length, whether or not you wish, truly to carry these letters.' 'I have agreed to do so,' I said. I felt sweat about the back of my neck, and on my back, and in my palms. There was apparently more danger in being the bearer of these messages than I had hitherto realized.
'I shall wait upon your considered decision in the morning,' he said.
'And if I then do not choose to carry them?' I asked.
'You may keep the coins,' he said. 'Too, you and your party will still receive letters of safety.'
'You are incredibly generous,' I said.
'Not really,' he said. 'What is the cost, really, of some scraps of parchment and a few drops of ink?'
'The coins,' I said.
'A contribution from the treasury of Torcadino,' he said.
'If I do not accept the commission,' I said, 'I shall return them to you.' 'As you wish,' he smiled.
I thrust the coins in my wallet.
They were more than enough, I had gathered, to get myself, and the others, too, if they wished to accompany me, to Ar.
He finished signing the papers before him, and stood up.
He regarded me. 'Captain?' he asked.
I found myself reluctant to leave the presence of this man. I stood in awe of him.
'Captain?' he asked.
