Legacies by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Page A

so.”
    â€œHow long is a knife?”
    Alucius nodded slowly, understanding the point. “But I didn’t know how to handle the rifle that way.”
    â€œYou’re going to learn, just like you’re going to learn every possible way to kill and to avoid being killed.” Royalt smiled, not exactly warmly, but not coldly.
    Alucius realized that the expression was one of concealed resignation,
    â€œWe’ll work on the rifle for a while this morning, and then we need to get some breakfast and get the flock out as far as we can today.”
    Alucius wasn’t nearly as eager to ride herd on the flock as he once had been—not with his grandfather. On the previous Tridi, his grandsire had made him trot alongside the gray and mount from a run—time after time. Alucius wasn’t even sure what good that would do in the militia or in a fight. He could see the knife work and the unarmed fighting. But trying to mount a horse on the run? Or was it just to toughen him up and improve his legs?
    He didn’t know, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

19
    â€œAlucius?” Royalt’s whisper wakened the younger man immediately.
    â€œI’ll be right there, sir.”
    â€œThere’s not as much hurry this morning. You need to wash up and wear your better outfit. You’re going into Iron Stem with your mother today.”
    Alucius frowned as he climbed out of his bed and eased toward the ladder. For more than a season, his grandfather had not allowed him a single day of respite from the glass of grueling training that had begun every day. “Is there something wrong?” He leaned over the opening through which the ladder rose, looking down in the dimness of early harvest at his grandsire.
    Royalt grinned. “You could use a day off, and so could I. Your mother would also like your company—and your strong back.”
    â€œYes, sir.” Alucius couldn’t quite conceal the relief in his voice.
    Below, he could hear his grandfather’s snort, but the expression concealed amusement, rather than anger.
    After laying out his better trousers and shirt and the vest he’d gotten a month earlier, Alucius started down the ladder. He had to wonder, and not just about the need for his strong back, but he wasn’t about to complain. Perhaps he could even have a moment while they were in town to see Wendra.
    He was still wondering when he sat down for breakfast and looked across the table at his mother. “What are we going to do in Iron Stem?”
    â€œNow that the harvest produce is coming in, the prices in town are going down, and it’s a good time to lay in goods and stock for the winter.” Lucenda handed the basket of biscuits to him.
    Alucius took one and passed the basket to his grandmother.
    â€œThank you, Alucius,” Veryl said.
    â€œMost people don’t realize what’s coming yet,” Royalt added. “To them, those who know, it’s a story. Been so long since we’ve had a real fight that most folk don’t understand.”
    â€œDon’t some people?” asked Alucius.
    â€œThere are some. Kustyl sees it, and so do his offspring, I’d wager, since he’d beat it into them. Gortal does. He’s been charging the Lanachronans more for dreamdust…”
    â€œâ€¦price of cartridges has been going up. Good thing we’ve got plenty…”
    â€œâ€¦not the price of flour…not yet…”
    As Alucius swallowed the last fragment of egg toast, his mother looked at him. “Will you get the wagon ready? Make sure that we have the oilcloth tarps in the back. It doesn’t look like rain, but…if something blows up, we’d not want goods spoiled.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Alucius eased his chair back.
    As he left the house, he did smile as he caught a few words.
    â€œâ€¦good boy…”
    â€œâ€¦getting to be a man…”
    In walking to the