commander?”
Alucius
concealed a wince. “That road can wait. Anyway, it could be that things in
Hyalt won’t take that long.”
Her
laugh was a short bark. “Then what? The Lord-Protector will want something
else… or you’ll be tied up in trying to rebuild the Northern Guard.”
“You
think I should have refused?” he asked softly.
“No.
It wouldn’t have been right. I don’t know if exactly what you will be doing is
right, but I’ve seen the Talent-creatures, and you can’t stay here and pretend
they don’t exist or that life will go on as before. And even if they aren’t
involved, Colonel Weslyn is almost as bad in his own way. I just wish you didn’t
have to be the one to put things right.”
“I
know, and I could be being sent to the wrong place…”
“That
could be.” Wendra offered a tight smile. “If that is so, then I’ll have to do
what you would have done.”
“There
are some more things I need to show you.”
She
just nodded, then stepped forward and put her arms around him. “You can do
that… tomorrow.”
Chapter 21
Hieron, Madrien
The
Regent sat on the south side of the circular ebony conference table, as had her
predecessor the Matrial, with the wide glass windows behind her. The deep
violet of her tunic did not quite match her eyes, but the green emerald choker
glimmered as if lit from within the gems, setting off her near-alabaster skin.
She leaned forward, intently listening to the officer who sat on the far side
of the table.
“The
Lord-Protector is overextended, especially in the north,” the blond marshal
said. “We have pushed the Northern Guard back from Arwyn, and we may be able to
retake Harmony by winter’s end.”
“I
had thought that was possible.”
“For
me, Regent, that is difficult to believe. Especially so soon after… the
disaster. Even with the training plans and the other… information you have
obtained.”
The
Regent smiled, an expression both cold and calculating and warm simultaneously.
“Gold can bring forth much information, especially if offered to those with
greater dreams than their abilities.”
“How
many… in all Lanachrona? Might I ask?”
“Not
that many. They are not ones to be noticed. Majers and the like, high enough to
know what we need to know and low enough that few would suspect them.”
“I
still cannot believe—”
“The
lamaial vanished,” replied the Regent. “We suspect that he was the overcaptain
who defeated the barbarians in Deforya, but that is uncertain. What is more
certain is that he is no longer in the Northern Guard. Our informants suggest
that he has returned to being a herder and has no interest in arms, unless the
Iron Valleys are threatened. That is not a mistake we will repeat. Anyone who
has ever attacked them without all other threats removed has regretted it most
bitterly.” The necklace flashed, and she laughed softly, yet with a hard edge
to her voice. “Even under the Duarchy, they were the last to submit and the
first to rebel, and so it will be again. So… we will only push so far as to retake
Harmony, and only as you can do so prudently with more limited forces. Can you
send more lancers to the south?”
“A
few more companies. Some of the auxiliaries as well.”
“And
the second crystal spear-thrower?”
“You
wish me to use it against Southgate? That would pose some risk if the Northern
Guard sends additional lancers to its forces.”
“Where
do you think Colonel Weslyn will find more lancers? The Lord-Protector forbid
him to conscript herders, and the traders will protest if he conscripts heavily
from their communities.”
“So
he will not have many reinforcements.”
“Exactly.”
The Regent added, “That will allow you to place the crystal spear-throwers so
that both are used against Southgate.”
“We
can only fire one at a time.”
“I
know. But if one is on the north side and one on the east…”
Marshal
Aluyn nodded. “You wish none of the
Alucius
concealed a wince. “That road can wait. Anyway, it could be that things in
Hyalt won’t take that long.”
Her
laugh was a short bark. “Then what? The Lord-Protector will want something
else… or you’ll be tied up in trying to rebuild the Northern Guard.”
“You
think I should have refused?” he asked softly.
“No.
It wouldn’t have been right. I don’t know if exactly what you will be doing is
right, but I’ve seen the Talent-creatures, and you can’t stay here and pretend
they don’t exist or that life will go on as before. And even if they aren’t
involved, Colonel Weslyn is almost as bad in his own way. I just wish you didn’t
have to be the one to put things right.”
“I
know, and I could be being sent to the wrong place…”
“That
could be.” Wendra offered a tight smile. “If that is so, then I’ll have to do
what you would have done.”
“There
are some more things I need to show you.”
She
just nodded, then stepped forward and put her arms around him. “You can do
that… tomorrow.”
Chapter 21
Hieron, Madrien
The
Regent sat on the south side of the circular ebony conference table, as had her
predecessor the Matrial, with the wide glass windows behind her. The deep
violet of her tunic did not quite match her eyes, but the green emerald choker
glimmered as if lit from within the gems, setting off her near-alabaster skin.
She leaned forward, intently listening to the officer who sat on the far side
of the table.
“The
Lord-Protector is overextended, especially in the north,” the blond marshal
said. “We have pushed the Northern Guard back from Arwyn, and we may be able to
retake Harmony by winter’s end.”
“I
had thought that was possible.”
“For
me, Regent, that is difficult to believe. Especially so soon after… the
disaster. Even with the training plans and the other… information you have
obtained.”
The
Regent smiled, an expression both cold and calculating and warm simultaneously.
“Gold can bring forth much information, especially if offered to those with
greater dreams than their abilities.”
“How
many… in all Lanachrona? Might I ask?”
“Not
that many. They are not ones to be noticed. Majers and the like, high enough to
know what we need to know and low enough that few would suspect them.”
“I
still cannot believe—”
“The
lamaial vanished,” replied the Regent. “We suspect that he was the overcaptain
who defeated the barbarians in Deforya, but that is uncertain. What is more
certain is that he is no longer in the Northern Guard. Our informants suggest
that he has returned to being a herder and has no interest in arms, unless the
Iron Valleys are threatened. That is not a mistake we will repeat. Anyone who
has ever attacked them without all other threats removed has regretted it most
bitterly.” The necklace flashed, and she laughed softly, yet with a hard edge
to her voice. “Even under the Duarchy, they were the last to submit and the
first to rebel, and so it will be again. So… we will only push so far as to retake
Harmony, and only as you can do so prudently with more limited forces. Can you
send more lancers to the south?”
“A
few more companies. Some of the auxiliaries as well.”
“And
the second crystal spear-thrower?”
“You
wish me to use it against Southgate? That would pose some risk if the Northern
Guard sends additional lancers to its forces.”
“Where
do you think Colonel Weslyn will find more lancers? The Lord-Protector forbid
him to conscript herders, and the traders will protest if he conscripts heavily
from their communities.”
“So
he will not have many reinforcements.”
“Exactly.”
The Regent added, “That will allow you to place the crystal spear-throwers so
that both are used against Southgate.”
“We
can only fire one at a time.”
“I
know. But if one is on the north side and one on the east…”
Marshal
Aluyn nodded. “You wish none of the
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