Part 26 (1/2)
For another three or four deks, they rode in comparative silence, Anna s.h.i.+fting her weight in the saddle occasionally, and hoping that the Sand Pa.s.s fort did lie beyond the hillcrest they approached, and not one even farther along the road.
”How far does the Sand Pa.s.s stretch through the Ostfels?” Behind the sorceress, Kinor's voice rose over the murmurs of the lancers and the muted thumping of hoofs.
”If one can believe the maps, we will need to ride almost fifty deks from the fort before we clear the eastern hills of the Ostfels,” responded Himar, ”and then more than a hundred to reach Synek.”
”A long journey with but tenscore lancers.” added Jimbob.
Does he think lancers grow on trees? Anna tightened her lips, but forced herself not to reply.
Jecks glanced at Anna, rolling his eyes.
They both laughed.
”... and the Regent took all of Dumar with but fifteenscore lancers,” Himar finished. ”That was against more than a hundredscore.”
Jimbob did not reply, not audibly.
A few moments later, they reached the gentle hillcrest, and, as Anna bad hoped, the shallow valley ahead was the one that held the Sand Pa.s.s fort, the redstone- and-brick structure almost blending with the red rock that framed the entrance to the pa.s.s itself.
”Not much farther,” Himar said, adding, ”The Regent's banner to the fore!”The walls of the Sand Pa.s.s fort had indeed been repaired, although the irregular lines of mortar showed the damage infficted by the Evult's dark magic on the stones and brickwork created by Brill's sorcery, and Anna doubted that the structure could withstand much more than attacks by brigands.
The gates had been returned to place and were swung back to welcome the Regent A score of armsmen in leathers and the purple of Defalk were formed up just inside the gateway into the fort A gray-bearded figure stood before them.
Although she remembered Hanfor and others talking about the veteran armsman who had come from Mencha once and who was in charge of the fort, Anna had never met him, and she struggled to remember his name.
”Jerat,” whispered Himar from behind the Regent ”Thank you,” Anna murmured.
”Welcome, Regent and sorceress!”
”Thank you, Jerat. I am glad to see you and to offer my grat.i.tude for all the efforts you and your men have made to repair the fort. The last time I saw it, it was in ruins.” That's certainly true.
Jerat bowed, then looked up. ”Regent... we have done the best we can, and we continue to labor.”
”You have done much,” Anna affirmed. More than enough for a fort that's outlived its usefulness... You hope.
”Repairing the fort has helped us add some armsmen as well, Lady Anna. Did you know that we have over twoscore here, and a score could go with you... should you need additional forces.”
”You have done well, Jerat, and we appreciate that” Anna managed not to wince at her own words. You're sounding like royalty... or a politician. She nodded and turned to Himar. ”Once everyone's quartered and settled, perhaps you could review these armsmen with Jerat and see whether it would be better to have them accompany us... or whether they might best be held in reserve to follow us later. I imagine you'll have to look into the question of supplies and mounts...
and other matters.”
”Jerat and I will discuss this,” Himar said. ”And perhaps the Lord High Counselor?” He glanced toward Jecks.
Jecks smiled politely. ”I am at your disposal, overcaptain.”
”The stables are on the southeast wall... the ones left. We didn't try to rebuild the others, collapsed like they were.” Jerat turned and began to waik toward the remaining stables.
Anna looked over the armsmen as she rode past. They looked like any others she had seen. ”He found more than a score of men to train here in the middle of nowhere.. ' she murmured to Jecks.
”So it would seem... though some might be Ebran deserters or from our forces.”
”Still...” Anna mused, ”in little more than a season....”
”If others did as well, you would have a greater force,” agreed Jecks.”Maybe we need to do recruiting in the outlying lands,” suggested Anna. Yet another task and job... even if you survive the battles, you'll be buried by the bureaucracy you'll have to create to run this place.
She tried not to groan as she reined up outside the stable, keeping a smile firmly in place.
40.
ESARIA, NESEREA.
The dark-haired Rabyn slips from the audience chair without looking at the Mansuuran overcaptain and makes his way into the smaller chamber behind the receiving hall, where he steps to a serving table. There he lifts a pitcher and pours a goblet of wine, looking up as Nubara walks slowly into the chamber.
”Audiences are done for the day,” the youth says. ”For that, I am pleased. A charade, but a necessary one, you know?”
”I understand,”...offers Nubara. ”Charades are useful to rulers.
Most useful, if one would gain the support of the people.”
”Ah, yes, the people, the dear people.” Rabyn takes a second goblet from the back of the table, set slightly apart from two others, and fills it, then extends the goblet. ”You look thirsty, Nubara, even if I did all the speaking.”
”that is your role as Prophet” Nubara takes the goblet.
Rabyn smiles across the small chamber and lifts his gla.s.s, drinking. After a moment, he replies. ”The Prophet of Music has many roles.”
”All rulers do.” Nubara takes a sip from the wine goblet, then frowns, looking at the dark liquid.
”One of those roles is to make sure they continue to rule,” Rabyn says easily, setting his goblet on the back of the table.
Nubara's hands begin to shake, and he barely manages to set the goblet on the serving table.
”You see... Nubara... you should pay attention to me.” Rabyn's smile is hard, almost dispa.s.sionate.
The officer pales, trying to speak before his knees buckle, and he slowly collapses into a heap on the polished white tiles of the floor. Rabyn watches, seemingly waiting, until the lancer overcaptain convulses. Then the youth kneels and rolls Nubara onto his back. Rabyn takes a small vial from his wallet and lets several drops ooze into the Mansuuran officer's mouth.
The convulsions slow, and Rabyn stands, stepping back and watching, his dark eyes cold and intent.
After several convulsive movements, Nubar slowly sits up. Then he stands, if shakily. ”What...you serpant... what have you done?”
”Careful, Nubara.” Rabyn steps back, holding up the vial. ”This will only last a week ...and none but I know the way to formulate more.”