Part 48 (1/2)

”Why not?” Tenedos mused aloud. ”It would certainly give the men something different to talk about The idlers could complain about the privileges of rank, and the rest of us could envy you.

”You have my approval, General. Send off a letter immediately. Wait. I have a better idea.”

The captain in charge of the heliograph unit scowled at the message I'd handed him.

”Impossible, General. I'm not supposed to send messages to any civilian. The seer-general's own orders.”

I handed him the next piece of paper.

”Oh,” and his manner changed. ”Sorry, sir. I should have known you'd have the seer-general's permission. The weather's clear, for a change, so we can send it this very minute.”

Seconds later, the light began flas.h.i.+ng from atop the tower, carrying its simple message north: Come at once. Bring your wedding gown.

Love in WarI bowed deeply over the hand of the Countess Agramonte, who curtsied and whispered, ”It is permitted for the bridegroom-to-be to kiss the bride.”

I needed no further encouragement, and pulled her into my arms. Behind me, soldiers cheered and on the riverboat I heard laughter, but paid no heed to either.

But my tongue barely moved between her lips before she pulled her head back.

”As I recall saying once before, sir, youdo take advantages,” she whispered.

”You have no idea the liberties I plan to take,” I said. ”Here? On the dock?”

”Standing up with my boots on and a bra.s.s band playing. G.o.ds, but I've missed you.”

”And I you, my Damastes,” Maran said.”I cannot believe that we've been so fortunate, and that a great general such as yourself is willing to have a poor soiled woman from the country as your bride.” She laughed and gently removed herself fium my arms. She was even more beautiful than I'd pictured her, even here, standing on a splintered wooden dock, wet from the first downpours of the Time of Rains.

She wore a high-bodiced dark purple velvet dress that followed the lines V, of her body to midcalf . She wore laced boots and a teal green, s.h.i.+mmering jacket that matched her wide hat.

”Now, if you'll give me a hand with my baggage.”

She needed more than a hand; she needed a working party, which I'd brought in the form of an escort-four men from each of the regiments I now commanded, plus a full column from the unit I'd always consider ”mine,” the Ureyan Lancers, all in full-dress uniform. Thank my personal G.o.dling Tanis I'd remembered to bring a couple of freight wagons as well, although they were high-piled by the time the detail had finished and her two retainers sat on the sprung seats in front of Maran's trunks.

”Are you planning to stay until next spring?” I wondered.

”This, darling, is the way n.o.bility travels. Actually, most of the better sort in Nicias areterribly scandalized I didn't bring more than two maids, but was brave enough to travel into the hitherlands without a complete staff.” She laughed. ”Now do you see what you are letting yourself in for? Now we must do all things properly.”

”I a.s.sume part of that 'properly' is that we shall be very proud to be the parents of a thirteen-month child?”

”No one will ever dream to wonder such a thing of an Agram nte,” she said. I wanted to take her into my arms and feel our baby next to me, but I could not I was about to inquire, but noticed there were soldiers approaching, so chose my words delicately. ”Is... everything all right?”

”You mean the heir?” Maran said, evidently not caring a bean for what anyone thought. ”He's a perfect child, so far. Hasn't spoiled my figure, and I seldom get sick as the midwife I consulted warned me to expect.”

Newly promoted Captain Bikaner, whom Domina Pete had made the Lancers' adjutant, saluted. ”Sir.

We await your pleasure.”

I returned the salute, and took Maria's arm.

”The carriage awaits.”

Her eyes widened as we left the dock, and she saw what I'd brought.

*”It's gorgeous,” she said. ”But what is... was it?” As we walked closer, I told Maran what little I had been able to find of its history. Sometime in the far past, some high n.o.bleman or -woman had visited the tiny city of Entoto, and there'd been a special carriage built, which had been carefully maintained over the decades, which one of my staff legates, on a private scrounging mission, had discovered. Entoto's head of council had cheerfully loaned it to me, and I'd had men polis.h.i.+ng, painting, and cleaning since the day I'd heard Maran was on the way. It was enormous, almost as big as the Numantian coronation coach I'd seen in a museum in Nicias. But where that was red and gold, this was black and silver. The coach body sat on two four-wheeled trucks, the wheels taller than I am, and there was room for outriders and guards atop. I'd managed to find eight white chargers to pull it, and they were curried as finely as if they were about to enter a show ring.

Horseman Karjan, whom I'd decided to promote back to lance, held the door open, and we climbed up the steps and he closed the door.

The inside was as large as the exterior suggested, with soft leather seats at the front and back, and servants' pull-down seats against the doors on either side. The windows were gla.s.sed, with curtains.

There was almost enough room for me to stand, and there were four lanterns to give light, and, hidden in the floor, chests to hold wine and foodstuffs.

I pulled the speaking tube down from its clip in the ceiling, and whistled into it I heard the snap of a whip, and the coach creaked into motion. In front of it rode fifty cavalrymen and behind us more. There were flanking outriders as well, fitting escort for one of Numantia's n.o.blest countesses.

We moved through Cicognara on the road that led to Entoto and the army's headquarters.

Maran was looking about, wide-eyed. I took off my helmet, and laid it to one side.

”Now,” I said, reaching out and pulling her to me. Her lips opened, and our mouths moved together. I slid my hand up under her dress, caressing the sweet curve of her b.u.t.tocks through her silk undergarments. But it only lasted for a moment, and once more she pulled away.

”I suppose,” she said, breathing hard, ”you would like to f.u.c.k me, right here in this coach?”

”The thought had occurred.”

”I have a surprise for you, my love,” she said. She ran her hand down my chest, until it touched my erect c.o.c.k, clearly outlined under the light fawn trousers I wore. She ran her fingernails up and down it ”We are going to pretend we have never made love before, and are not going to make love until our wedding night.”

”Who decided that? Or is that another n.o.ble custom?”

”I decided it,” she said, her fingers still caressing me.”I want you all at once, then, when we're both quite mad with pa.s.sion.”

”I already am,” I protested.

”Then let me make it worse.” She bent her head and kissed the head of my c.o.c.k through the material, then bit it gently, once, twice and my body suddenly jerked.

She pulled back in surprise, seeing the stain spread. ”Oh dear,” she said. ”You weren't jesting.” Then she grinned. ”At least there's no question you've been faithful.

”But maybe you'll wear dark-colored pants for the ceremony.”

”But what about right now,” I said, starting to laugh. Tin too old to be showing off wet dreams.”

”What do you care,” Maran said. ”You're a general aren't you? And about to be Count Agram nte. Tell everyone come stains are the required uniform.”

I snorted.

Count Agramonte. That evening, as I was trying to sleep, alone, in my tent, I considered. A general.

And a n.o.bleman, although Maran had explained that it was by courtesy, and was not hereditary, except so long as I stayed married to her, which I told her I had every intention of doing until I returned to the Wheel.

*I'd sent letters, of course, to my parents, and wished they could meet Maran, and be here for the occasion. But that was an impossibility-I doubted if my letters would even reach our jungle estate before the ceremony.