time for your lessons.”
Elisse grabbed Morgan’s hand as Sullyan set him down and they raced off in the direction of the College, laughing and dodging the stallions’ legs. The horses turned their heads in mild curiosity as the shrieking children passed.
Cal fixed his pack to his saddle. “Poor Bull. I sometimes wonder whether he regrets volunteering to train those two hellions.”
Tad snorted. “Bull’s more than a match for either of them. You want to sneak up on them one day and watch him. He knows how to impress them into submission. If he can cope with a barracks full of cocky cadets, he can cope with two three-year-olds.”
The young man leaped into the saddle of his liver chestnut. Tad was the proud owner of one of Drum’s first colts, but the dark bay was too young yet to ride on a mission such as this. He was still being trained under the watchful eyes of both Sullyan and Stablemaster Solet.
He glanced at his colt’s sire as Sullyan vaulted lightly into the saddle. At twelve years old, Drum was in his prime and a magnificent specimen of male horseflesh. He was huge, strongly-muscled, sleek and fit; his coal-black coat sparkled in the frosty daylight and his silken mane flowed over his arched and graceful neck. Sullyan saw Tad’s admiring look and grinned as she gave the order to move out.
They rode down the track leading toward the ridge, their mounts’ hooves crunching through a crust of snow. It was bitterly cold and they had all brought their thick sheepskin-lined combat jackets as well as their heavy oiled leather riding cloaks. The journey to the garrison wouldn’t take them long, but they still had the ride to the fishing village and then a sea voyage to endure.
Neither Tad nor Cal had ever been in a boat and Sullyan wasn’t sure they were looking forward to the experience. They had asked Jay’el what to expect and the young seaman had regaled them with horror stories about winter voyages on freezing, stormy seas. Fortunately, they eventually recognized the gleam of mischief in Jay’el’s eyes and an impromptu wrestling bout ensued. Tad had redeemed his honor by winning.
They reached the ridgeline, their favored place for making the crossing into Andaryon, and Sullyan quested for contact with Lord-General Anjer. His permission for her short appearance on Andaryan soil was a formality, but she had too much respect for her adopted father to flaunt rules she herself had recommended. As she broke the contact she turned to the younger of her two companions.
“Journeyman, will you construct the tunnel for us?”
Tad was daydreaming and took a moment to collect his wits. “What? Oh … yes, of course, Colonel.”
Sullyan smiled as she watched Tad center his concentration and attune himself to his psyche. He should have been prepared; she had already warned both men she would not be doing all the metaphysical work on this trip. Tad hadn’t been on so many missions like this that he was inured to the novelty. He would do well enough. Once she had sprung a few surprises on him, he would learn to stay alert.
She watched critically as he formed the trans-Veil construct. As a Journeyman, Tad possessed insufficient strength and skill to determine the opening of the Andaryan end of the tunnel, but for this crossing it didn’t matter. It was the second crossing that counted, and she would add her own strength to Tad’s for that one. She examined the structure once Tad anchored it.
“What do you think, Captain?”
She saw Tad’s satisfaction when Cal was just as startled to be asked his opinion. Cal covered his surprise better than the younger man and studied the tunnel with a practiced eye.
“Looks strong enough to me, Colonel.”
She smiled and bade him prove his confidence by riding through first. He nudged his stallion and passed along the shimmering structure, knowing Tad was proficient in this now and there was no danger of the tunnel collapsing. Sullyan’s question was intended to
Elisse grabbed Morgan’s hand as Sullyan set him down and they raced off in the direction of the College, laughing and dodging the stallions’ legs. The horses turned their heads in mild curiosity as the shrieking children passed.
Cal fixed his pack to his saddle. “Poor Bull. I sometimes wonder whether he regrets volunteering to train those two hellions.”
Tad snorted. “Bull’s more than a match for either of them. You want to sneak up on them one day and watch him. He knows how to impress them into submission. If he can cope with a barracks full of cocky cadets, he can cope with two three-year-olds.”
The young man leaped into the saddle of his liver chestnut. Tad was the proud owner of one of Drum’s first colts, but the dark bay was too young yet to ride on a mission such as this. He was still being trained under the watchful eyes of both Sullyan and Stablemaster Solet.
He glanced at his colt’s sire as Sullyan vaulted lightly into the saddle. At twelve years old, Drum was in his prime and a magnificent specimen of male horseflesh. He was huge, strongly-muscled, sleek and fit; his coal-black coat sparkled in the frosty daylight and his silken mane flowed over his arched and graceful neck. Sullyan saw Tad’s admiring look and grinned as she gave the order to move out.
They rode down the track leading toward the ridge, their mounts’ hooves crunching through a crust of snow. It was bitterly cold and they had all brought their thick sheepskin-lined combat jackets as well as their heavy oiled leather riding cloaks. The journey to the garrison wouldn’t take them long, but they still had the ride to the fishing village and then a sea voyage to endure.
Neither Tad nor Cal had ever been in a boat and Sullyan wasn’t sure they were looking forward to the experience. They had asked Jay’el what to expect and the young seaman had regaled them with horror stories about winter voyages on freezing, stormy seas. Fortunately, they eventually recognized the gleam of mischief in Jay’el’s eyes and an impromptu wrestling bout ensued. Tad had redeemed his honor by winning.
They reached the ridgeline, their favored place for making the crossing into Andaryon, and Sullyan quested for contact with Lord-General Anjer. His permission for her short appearance on Andaryan soil was a formality, but she had too much respect for her adopted father to flaunt rules she herself had recommended. As she broke the contact she turned to the younger of her two companions.
“Journeyman, will you construct the tunnel for us?”
Tad was daydreaming and took a moment to collect his wits. “What? Oh … yes, of course, Colonel.”
Sullyan smiled as she watched Tad center his concentration and attune himself to his psyche. He should have been prepared; she had already warned both men she would not be doing all the metaphysical work on this trip. Tad hadn’t been on so many missions like this that he was inured to the novelty. He would do well enough. Once she had sprung a few surprises on him, he would learn to stay alert.
She watched critically as he formed the trans-Veil construct. As a Journeyman, Tad possessed insufficient strength and skill to determine the opening of the Andaryan end of the tunnel, but for this crossing it didn’t matter. It was the second crossing that counted, and she would add her own strength to Tad’s for that one. She examined the structure once Tad anchored it.
“What do you think, Captain?”
She saw Tad’s satisfaction when Cal was just as startled to be asked his opinion. Cal covered his surprise better than the younger man and studied the tunnel with a practiced eye.
“Looks strong enough to me, Colonel.”
She smiled and bade him prove his confidence by riding through first. He nudged his stallion and passed along the shimmering structure, knowing Tad was proficient in this now and there was no danger of the tunnel collapsing. Sullyan’s question was intended to
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