enforcing their will. Though the succession was established nobody had anticipated having to live with it.
Grade Drocker threatened to make a comeback. The absence of stress proved a wondrous tonic. Else got no chance to see him during those two days, however.
Sergeant Bechter wakened Else in the heart of the night. 'It's done, sir. Master Drocker passed over. It was peaceful. He was smiling. He spoke no last words. He did leave letters and bequests.'
'And he was alone. But for you. A whole life, come to that'
'Not exactly. Principatй Delari spent time with him. And he accomplished a great deal, for good and ill, in his life. More than most.'
Else nodded. 'Don't get philosophical on me, Bechter. I need you. We'll be facing a lot of practical problems, now. I don't want to have to think, too.'
'You need to think about what to do with all these soldiers. Our Patriarch is the sort who would abandon them in place now that they've won his war. Also, we're starting to see desertions. There hasn't been much plunder. People have started going off on their own.'
'Put this out. Any deserter who attacks or steals from the locals will be treated as a bandit. As long as the regiment sticks together it can stroll back up to Brothe and make sure that Sublime pays his debts.'
'As you wish.'
'Is the news out about Drocker?'
'Only Principatй Delari and we two know. Right now.'
'Don't tell anyone until morning, then. Are there Brotherhood ceremonies that will be necessary?'
'Yes. But it takes more than one man to perform them.'
'Can you use the men in the infirmary?'
'Possibly. I'm seldom called upon to innovate.'
'You're the number one Brother, now, Sergeant If you're like every other soldier that ever lived, you've always known how you'd run things if you were in charge.'
Bechter chuckled. 'You don't got nobody standing in line to bitch about you being a nitwit in them circumstances, Colonel.'
'You're the last man standing.'
'Uhm.'
'I didn't have much use for Drocker, early on. He was too bitter. But I developed a healthy respect for him. Make your arrangements. If you need the two from the infirmary, we'll tie them into chairs while you make up voices for them.'
Bechter failed to conceal his offense at Else's disrespect.
'Sorry. But you'd better use them quick if you need them. They aren't expected to last.'
Other than Else Tage and Redfearn Bechter, and the critically injured Brothers from Runch, only Bronte Doneto and Principatй Muniero Delari attended the Brotherhood passing over ceremony for Grade Drocker. Who had been the Third of the Thirteen Seniors of the Brotherhood of War. Osa Stile was there, too, smirking in the shadows, untouched by time. Osa had found himself a place under the cassock of the most powerful sorcerer in the Collegium, Principatй Delari.
Else murmured, 'Why is Delari here?' to Principatй Doneto. Doneto seemed inclined to treat him as a peer, now. At least till Sublime chose not to honor Drocker's recommendation concerning his successor.
'He's Drocker's natural father.'
Else sat on that for a while.
'It isn't common knowledge. Delari was a boy when it happened but already a bishop because of his family. Delari never acknowledged the boy formerly but everybody knew. Delari saw to his education and eased his entry into the Brotherhood. Where he got ahead on his own.'
Else said nothing. He let the information simmer. This could be important later. Possibly very important, given that Osa Stile kept smirking at him when no one was looking.
Doneto continued, 'The question now, I think, is, will Delari take you up the way his son did? You could do yourself a world of good by getting close to that old man.'
Which explained me mocking glint in Osa's eye.
The ritual seemed endless. Afterward, Else could recall little about it. His part was as witness. He had done nothing but watch. In time, though, the thing was over and Sergeant Bechter found himself in an unexpected argument with Principatй Delari. Drocker had left unequivocal instructions concerning the disposal of his corpse. He wanted it cremated. He wanted his ashes scattered widespread so no future sorcerer could use his clay to instigate some wickedness.
Principatй Delari was set against cremation. He offered religious arguments but his emotional need was clear in his reedy old voice. He did not want to turn loose of this son that he had had such a limited chance to know — despite the inarguable force of Grade Drocker's fear about how his cadaver might be used.
Else stepped in with a gentle reminder to the old man that, much as they all did not like the idea of cremation, they had no legal or moral right to ignore the wishes of the deceased. They could only rouse the ire of the Brotherhood by doing so. Then he went out to supervise the return of the injured Brothers to the infirmary.
Else told the Chief Surgeon, 'He popped up and started raving. He wanted to run away. He thought devils were after him. Then he collapsed. I got him here as fast as I could.'
The younger brother from Runch was not breathing. The chief did something that changed that. The Brother started ranting about somebody named daSkees. Else had considered ending this risk along the way. But he had not dared. Too many potential witnesses. The camp was crawling with men getting ready to travel. No orders had been issued but rumor was rife.
Grimly disapproving, the chief asked, 'And the ceremony?'
'It went well.'
'Where will you find the celebrants to see these men off?'
'I don't know, Chief. That would be Sergeant Bechter's problem.'
Else returned to his new quarters, tired and ready to put everything into Redfearn Bechter's hands. But he had a visitor who could not be put off.
'Ferris Renfrow. I heard you were dead.Fallen valiantly protecting the crown prince.'
'Wishful thinking, I'm afraid. On your part as well as others.'
'That being the case, is there any reason not to make my wish come true now?'
'You do have the advantage of me. I confess. Nonetheless, I think you'll find it in your interest to assist me.'
'Should I send for a physician?' It was plain that Renfrow had not fared well in the events surrounding the capture of Crown Prince Lothar and had not recovered.
'Call it bravado if you like, but, no. I've actually suffered worse.'
Else shrugged. 'I'll honor your choice. Of course.'
'I suppose I should congratulate you. You've accomplished wonders.'
'I've done my job. Which is what a soldier does.'
'Yes. Well. Let's not play games. I don't have that much time. I'm at your mercy.'
'I'm eager to hear about that.'
'Naturally.'
'Well?'
“The boy. Lothar. He's here, still.'
'In the infirmary. Guarded by men who'd refuse if I tried to let him go. He's worth too much.'
Renfrow confessed, 'Our camp is in chaos. No one wants to bend the knee to a pair of teenage girls.'
'Sounds like knives in the dark time.'
'Some of that may be necessary. But murder alienates people. Persuasion, arm-twisting, creation of mutual objectives work better.'
Else raised an eyebrow.
