Glen Cook - An Ill Fate Marshalling

„Thank you, Michael. You're a good friend. Doctor, I'm finished now."

Wachtel gestured toward the door. „He'd rather it hap­ pened privately."

Michael nodded, began retreating.

Prataxis went before Michael got out, a last, soft, „Gods save the King," drifting over his dry lips.

Michael walked alone for a long time, thinking. Prataxis had been his last friend here. He was alone in a hostile land now, surrounded by the growing might of people who hated him. He wouldn't survive long if he stayed and tried to fight the good fight.

He wasn't afraid. Death held no terrors for him. But he was lonely, and loneliness was a foe he did not know how to defeat.

Eventually he went down to Prataxis's quarters and prepared the man's manuscripts for shipment.

It was there, deep in the night, with lightning stalking the heavens and a hard rain driving into the streets, that Inger's messenger found him. „The Queen would like you to join her in the audience chamber, Captain. Planning session, she said."

Michael rose from Derel's pallet. Despite the wealth that had been at the scholar's command, he had lived a spartan life. „I'll be right there."

Year 1016 AFE

Bragi came out of it suddenly, like flying through a door kicked open. One moment he was unconscious, the next wide awake. He surveyed his surroundings. He was in a large, well-furnished room. It was daytime. The air was hot and muggy. He tried to rise. Pain stabbed through his chest. His muscles refused to do more than pretend to try. He fell back.

A man stepped through the door immediately. He wore the dress uniform of a noncommissioned officer and the badges of one of the legions of Shinsan's Western Army. He stared for a moment, left without speaking.

So, Bragi thought. Captured. Must have something spe­ cial planned for me.

They would, wouldn't they? Mist had warned him often enough. They didn't accept defeat gracefully.

The battle came back. All the stink and sweat and fear. All the memories of how badly it had gone, how badly it had hurt Kavelin. He sank into a morass of shame. He should have known better. But he had bet against the long odds, counting on his luck. And luck had deserted him. And that was only right. Only a fool bet his luck. A wise man accepted it when it turned his way, but he didn't count on it.

Where am I? he wondered. It's too warm to be anywhere in Shinsan.

The door opened. The noncom reappeared, followed by two maskless Tervola. A short, broad one wore the badge of an army commander. Bragi frowned. Hsung was tall and lean, like most of his breed.

The taller Tervola pulled the coverlet off Ragnarson's nude frame, prodded his left side. Bragi winced. „Still tender?"

„A little."

„Should be. You had six broken ribs and a punctured lung. Not to mention cuts, scrapes, bruises, and a concus­ sion. A challenge to my art. He can talk, Lord Ssu-ma. Call me when he tires. I'll give him a sedative. He still needs bed rest, and he looks like the kind who climbs out too early if you let him."

The shorter Tervola nodded, gestured in dismissal. He pulled a backless stool over to Bragi's bed. „Thought we would lose you for a while," he said.

Bragi frowned. The voice was familiar.

„Ah. Lord Ssu-ma Shih-ka'i. We met at Lioantung. The day we disposed of the Deliverer."

„Now I remember. You didn't speak... ."

„I'm a quick study with languages. Interpreters can be troublesome."

„That's true."

„You have questions. Where are you? Argon. I have shifted Western Army's headquarters here. We are harassing Matayanga's flank. What else?"

„Why?"

„Excuse me?"

„Why am I here? Why am I alive? I've been number one on your hate list for ages."

„Perhaps for some. Not for me. You're here because you saved my life. I owe a life for a life. So you will become a guest of the empire. With the approval of the Princess."

Ragnarson struggled to get into a sitting position. His muscles betrayed him again. Shih-ka'i helped him sit, propped him with pillows. „Better?"

„Much better. What happened? I had Hsung nailed to the wall, I thought. He was making an ass of himself. I should have had Throyes in my pocket before he knew I was there."

„You didn't know? Prisoners said as much, but we didn't believe them. Lord Hsung was removed. With extreme prejudice, as some say. I was sent to replace him, apparently after you were out of contact with Maisak. I broke off the attack on Hammad al Nakir, as the Princess instructed, then detected you moving in the north. The trap I laid almost destroyed me instead of you. I hadn't given sufficient weight to your horsemen, not having served in the west during the war. Had we closed with you earlier in the day, our places would be reversed now. In fact, if your final charge hadn't succumbed to panic, the situation might be reversed."

„They ran. I vaguely remember. The finest soldiers I'd ever led, but they panicked when it counted most."

„Perhaps if their commander hadn't been killed at the beginning of the charge?"

„Gjerdrum? Yes. Now I remember somebody saying he was dead. Maybe so. If he'd stayed alive to show the way... . But what does it matter? It's over. It's lost. Kavelin is lost. I played the fool, and handed all my enemies what they wanted."

„We all err."

„When I do, I do it right. One thing. I'll never understand why you didn't use the Power. You had us surrounded and pinned down. All you had to do was hit us with a few nasty spells. We couldn't have done a damned thing. But you used your infantry, and almost got whipped. You must have lost a lot of men, and you need every one in Matayanga."

„Indeed." Shih-ka'i rose, began to pace. „I didn't use the Power because I was ordered not to. The Princess had been told not to."

„Who gives Mist orders?"

„She wasn't ordered. It was suggested. By your wizard friend."

„Varthlokkur?"

„He promised to remain uninvolved as long as we didn't call on the Power. I didn't understand it then, and I don't pretend to now. The man has been at your side for a decade. Why did he abandon you?"

„Personal conflict, I guess. But I don't understand either. So. Here I am. Prisoner for life, eh?"

Shih-ka'i nodded. „Your imprisonment won't be hard. You won't be treated as a trophy, or such. You'll live in comfort. You simply won't be allowed to return home."

„How about if I give my parole?" He was thinking of Sherilee now, and growing melancholy. Never to see her again? That was sad.

Shih-ka'i smiled. „I think not. It has long been the estimation of the Council that you are the empire's most dangerous enemy. Having met your army, with it at a severe disadvantage, and been thoroughly bloodied, I'm inclined to agree. I owe you a life. Don't ask for more."

Ragnarson smiled too. They understood each other, somewhat. „I was thinking of a woman. I'll miss her a lot."

„She's now Queen. And seems to be doing an unexpected­ ly competent job of maintaining order."

Bragi shied away from thoughts of Kavelin, except to remark, „I didn't mean Inger. She and I went our own ways before I came east. I was thinking of ... a girl I knew. A girl I'll miss. There was something special there."

Shih-ka'i paced. After nearly a minute, he said, „Perhaps something can be arranged. We'll speak of it after I've considered. For now, rest. You have a lot of recovering to do." He removed the pillows from behind Ragnarson's back.

As Shih-ka'i was about to depart, Bragi said, „Lord Ssu-ma? You're all right."

Shih-ka'i's eyebrow rose questioningly.

„Just saying I'm pleased that there are decent men among the Tervola."

Shih-ka'i smiled. „Thank you. Though I don't think my colleagues would enjoy hearing that."