L. Modesitt - Arms-Commander

“You’re telling me that the regent is getting shortchanged on her feed? Or are our horses the only ones getting the poor feed?”

“I have checked the feed in all the stables. It is all the same. I cannot say why. I only know that there should be more grain and less chaff and tiny oats. For now, I told the captain that we should feed the horses more, perhaps half again as much. I did not tell her why. I just said that they needed more feed.”

“That won’t hurt them?”

Dealdron shook his head. “There will be more to clean up in the stables and stalls. If we are here into colder weather, the horses will be warmer.”

“The chaff is like the coarse grass?”

“Not as good, but it helps.”

“What else have you been doing? When you aren’t taking care of horses?”

“Sometimes, I watch Daryn and Hryessa’s two. Sometimes, I talk to the armsmen. They fear your guards. They are right to fear them.” Dealdron shook his head. “I have watched them practice their weapons. I am as good as some of them, and you know how poorly I do against the better guards. They almost do not seem to care. Can you help this regent, ser?”

“We have already. Whether it’s enough and whether what else we can do will be enough, only time will tell.” She paused. “It is a very good thing that Hryessa is training more guards.”

“She is hard on them. Some she will not take, perhaps half who come.”

That didn’t surprise Saryn. “Not every woman is suited to be a guard.” And even of those she accepts, more than a few will be killed before this is over. “I need to get my mount.”

“I already saddled him. I had heard you would be riding into Lornth.”

“Do you listen at the eaves?” Saryn couldn’t help smiling.

“I cannot serve the guards and their commander if I do not know what is needed.” Dealdron smiled sheepishly.

“You might ask me.”

“You often do not have time to tell me,” he replied gently.

Saryn couldn’t argue with that, not the way things were going. “That’s fine. But…if you’re not certain, and can, please ask.”

“I will. I would not go against what is good for you.”

“Thank you.” Saryn followed Dealdron to the larger stall at the end, where her horse was indeed saddled and waiting, then led the gelding out into the courtyard. No sooner was she in the saddle than three guards rode toward her and reined up. She knew two of the guards-the gray-eyed Dyala and the redheaded Kayli.

“Commander, this is Cenora,” offered Kayli. “She’s one of the newer guards.”

“Commander…ser.” The younger guard inclined her head. Her hair was cut short, and she wore the same gray trousers and tunics as the other guards, but the gray was slightly lighter. She also carried but a single blade in the shoulder harness.

Saryn could also sense apprehension, even a touch of fear. “Welcome to the guards, Cenora. It’s going to be a very interesting year. For the moment, we’re just riding into Lornth, to the Square Platter. I need to talk to the owner.”

“Yes, ser.” All three responded almost as one.

As Saryn rode out through the gates and around the green outside the palace walls, she couldn’t help thinking that everywhere she looked and went, matters were worse than she had thought, and it didn’t look as though she was seeing any improvement. Had her presence and that of the Westwind guards made matters worse?

She shook her head. The feed was the same as when they had come. Nesslek had already been at The Groves. The officers commanding the palace armsmen hadn’t been changed since before she had arrived the first time. The palace had already been falling apart.

By the time Saryn had ridden past the larger houses between the green and the square, she had noticed several other things. More than half the once-fashionable dwellings had been shuttered, but whether for the summer, or for other reasons, she couldn’t tell. The handfuls of people on the street barely gave her a glance, but it was an avoidance based on apprehension, not on fear, nor on familiarity. One other thing was very obvious when Saryn dismounted in front of the Square Platter. There was no bouncer on the narrow porch.

She stepped up onto the porch and went inside, but she didn’t immediately see anyone. Before she could call out, though, Vanadyl hurried up.

“Commander…” He bowed.

“If she’s here, I would like a few moments with Haelora or you and Haelora.”

“She is. I think she would be more than ready to talk with you. If you wouldn’t mind going to the front table, I’m sure that she will join you there soon.”

“Thank you.”

After Vanadyl left, heading toward the kitchen, Saryn entered the public room and walked to the table in the right front corner. She didn’t bother to seat herself but looked out the window at the three guards. Dyala was explaining something to Cenora, who was nodding.

Two men hurried by, but neither even looked at the three guards. That was a change, Saryn thought.

Haelora walked toward Saryn. “I was thinking I should have heard from you sooner.”

Saryn could sense a certain anger. “I’m very sorry. I’ve been in the north with Lady Zeldyan with half my guards.” Except they’re no longer half. “We just returned last night, and you’d said you’d prefer to talk in the mornings. I heard that one of our recruits took a blade to Rhytter. That’s why I’m here.”

“He mighta deserved it. I don’t know. Fynna was no great shakes, either.”

“No, I don’t think she is,” Saryn concurred.

“What are you going to do with her?”

Saryn could feel that some of Haelora’s anger was fading. “She’ll be executed in public. Her sentence will be carried out on the front palace green at noon tomorrow.”

“Yet she came to you…”

Behind the words was a mixture of emotions, and Saryn tried to address them. “She did, and then she broke the rules and killed two people. As you said, Rhytter might have deserved it, but the other woman didn’t, and we don’t like our guards going off and killing people. Who would trust us for long if we allowed that to happen and didn’t punish the one responsible?”

“Lord Nessil did. No one said anything.” There was a challenge, and resignation, beneath the words.

“I’m not Lord Nessil. Neither is the regent.”

“That’d be good.” Haelora smiled, a wry yet sad expression.

“If we can make it last?”

“That’d be up to you, Commander, I fear. The Lady Regent is fair and has a good heart, but the lord-holders respect only strength and power.”

“What about the people?”

“The people…we don’t expect much. Don’t tariff too high and don’t rip down doors and take our daughters. Pay for most of what you take. That’s what most people expect.”

Saryn concealed an internal wince. “I don’t think that’s all. I doubt you like fighting among the lord-holders because the deaths fall on your sons and cousins.”

“And now, if you fight, some will fall upon daughters.”

“That is true, but they will have a chance to be more than victims.”

Haelora’s expression remained sad. “What will that change?”

Saryn almost said that she was in Lornth to stop the senseless fighting-except that she realized she had already been fighting in what were nearly senseless conflicts. “I can only say that I will do what I can.”

“That is an honest pledge, unlike many.”

Saryn looked squarely at the innkeeper. “What should I know that you know, and I don’t?”

Haelora shook her head. “I cannot say…for I do not know what you do.”

“You know I am a stranger in a strange land.”