L. Modesitt - Arms-Commander

On the right end in the far corner was what looked like a ceramic stove. That side of the chamber was otherwise vacant, except for a solid ring of the shimmering metal set into the wall. “What’s that for?” Saryn pointed to the metal ring.

“Link-ring. What Ma said, anyway. Cyadoran women who misbehaved or tried to run away had their chains linked there.”

Had their chains linked there? They wore chains all the time? Saryn forced herself not to retort. Finally, she nodded and turned. Two sets of two narrow windows graced the front of the dwelling, and three windows were set into the walls at each end of the room. All the windows had sagging internal shutters that were closed and did not look as though they had been moved in years. The entire floor was of dark gray tiles, many of which were cracked, but still firmly in place. After a moment, she looked to the archway leading toward the rear of the dwelling.

“Most of the back rooms are empty. Don’t do as much wood as my da did. Herding brings more coins.”

“Didn’t anyone want to repair this?” Saryn asked. “It’s not in bad shape.”

“Grandma, Ma…they said it was no place for women, that it still held demons. Neither one’d ever set foot inside.”

With that evil ring, I can see why. “How long has it been here?”

The herder shrugged. “Hard to say. Was here before my great-grandda bought the place. He didn’t even know it was here, what with all the brush grown up around it.”

Saryn nodded. “This will do. Thank you.”

The herder glanced around the chamber, seemingly holding in a shudder, then said, “I need to get back to milking, ser.”

“That’s fine. We’ll manage.”

After he left, Saryn spent a moment studying the dwelling. For all the herder’s talk of demons, she could sense no concentrations of either order or chaos. If the link-ring were removed…it wouldn’t be that bad, but she could understand why any sane woman would be repulsed by that metallic ring. Still…even in its present state of disrepair, the ancient house was far more solid than most of what she’d seen in Lornth. With a modicum of work, it could be made into a comfortable dwelling with cross ventilation and a good stove for heat in the winter. And no one had ever wanted to use it for more than storage? And what was that shining silvery gold metal that age had not dimmed?

She shook her head. At least her squads would have space out of the drizzle and rain for the night. But she did have to hold in a shudder when her eyes took in the shining ring.

On mid afternoon of twoday, Saryn’s force rode into Nuelda, a small town on the west side of a nameless-at least to Saryn and Saensyr-narrow river confined between broad earthen berms that suggested the water was not always so narrow and shallow. Saryn had the Lornian squad lead the way, flying the regent’s banner, and she rode at the front with squad leader Caeris. The dwellings were all of dull red brick, but the roofs were of a reddish gray clay tile rather than the turf they had seen earlier.

As in all Lornian towns, there was a central square with a raised platform in the middle, but the platform was low and of simple brick, with no statue or other adornment, and the inn to the south of it looked old, small, and mean. The passage of armed riders, particularly of armed Westwind guards, seemed to freeze those on the streets. Most just gaped, but several women dragged children inside shops.

Before all that long, the riders were following a packed-clay-and-gravel road to Jharyk’s holding, located on a rise along the river, on the southwest side of the town. Unlike other holdings Saryn had seen, there were no walls around the long and low villa, with extensive outbuildings set along the crest of the rise some hundred cubits above the river. The villa, even to the square columns framing the entry, was of red brick.

Not knowing what else to do, Saryn directed the Lornian squad to form up opposite the main entry steps rising from a paved area with mounting blocks, with the Westwind squads flanking the Lornians.

They had barely completed forming up when a small man wearing a dark gray tunic and trousers, with a silvery shimmersilk vest over the tunic, stepped from the villa and walked halfway down the steps. He stopped and looked to Caeris, ignoring Saryn. “Captain…it’s about time you arrived here.”

Caeris glanced to Saryn, then said quietly, “Begging your pardon, Lord, but I’m just a squad leader. Commander Saryn here is in charge.”

“A woman? That’s-” Jharyk’s eyes narrowed as he took in Saryn, then widened as he saw the battle harness with the twin blades.

“Lord Jharyk, I’m Arms-Commander of Westwind. I believe you have heard of Westwind. Since we did sign an agreement with Lornth some years ago, we are at peace, and in the interests of helping a cooperative neighbor, the Marshal sent me and close to a company of guards to offer some assistance to the regency.” Saryn paused before adding, “Since it would take almost an eightday to obtain a complete Lornian company and ride here, and since you had expressed urgency, we agreed to take on the mission on behalf of the regency.”

“How can you…and women help?”

“Earlier this summer we destroyed an army of nine thousand Gallosians with four companies. A number of years ago we did the same to a Lornian force, and over the past few years we’ve wiped out several hundred brigands and others. We have more experience at killing unwanted intruders than anyone else around. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Jharyk was silent, and Saryn could sense that he was getting angry. She turned to Caeris. “You might tell Lord Jharyk about the Suthyans, since he seems unwilling to accept my words.”

Caeris swallowed, then spoke. “One squad of her women destroyed almost fourscore armed Suthyans who were attacking Lord Maeldyn’s crofters. She lost one guard. They did it all with weapons and not magery.”

“Why are you here?” Jharyk finally asked, as if nothing had been said before, but his eyes finally acknowledged Saryn.

“It’s very simple, Lord Jharyk. You have been a supporter of the regency. Had you not been, in all likelihood you would still be waiting for assistance. Westwind prefers friendly neighbors. The regency has been friendly. Those who oppose the regency would likely not be so friendly. We help the friends of our friends.”

“Why would it take so long for a Lornian company?” Jharyk demanded, almost petulantly.

“I imagine that’s because they’re in Carpa at The Groves, and it would take time for a courier to ride there and even more time for them to prepare, then ride here.”

“There is that. Well, now that you’re here, I imagine you can make yourselves useful by doing what you can to deal with those Jeranyi pests.”

“We will need some information from you, or your people, Lord Jharyk, as to where the Jeranyi have been attacking. We’ll also need supplies, food, and lodging while we’re here…”

“I’m but the poorest of lord-holders…”

Saryn smiled. “So you have said, but feeding and lodging the better part of a company for an eightday or however long it takes us to deal with the Jeranyi is far less costly than maintaining a full company yourself, and you can console yourself with that thought.”

Saryn could sense that Jharyk was so shocked by her reply that anger didn’t even occur to him. “You…you would talk so?”

“We’ve ridden all the way from Lornth because you asked for assistance, Lord Jharyk. We’re here at your request of the Lady Regent. It’s certainly not unreasonable to expect food, lodging, and fodder, now, is it?” Saryn smiled politely.