L. Modesitt - Arms-Commander

Caeris rode to meet her. “Commander.”

“Squad leader, I’m sending you and Saensyr back to Lornth with your squad and with the three wounded guards-and with all but five spare mounts.”

“Ser?”

“The regent’s orders were for you to defend Lord Jharyk’s lands against the Jeranyi. You and your men did that admirably. We wouldn’t have been able to do what we did without you.” Saryn paused. “I’m very concerned that the remaining Jeranyi may cause trouble with Lord Orsynn, and we’re going to follow them for a bit, just to make sure there’s not more trouble. I’d be exceeding our agreement with the regency if you were to accompany us. We will take the regency banner, just so that there’s no confusion.”

“Yes, ser.”

Even with her pain-diminished senses, Saryn sensed both worry and relief. “Also, you’ll be able to tell the Lady Regent that we destroyed the Jeranyi force threatening Lord Jharyk’s lands and people. She needs to hear that as soon as possible. I’ll be sending a dispatch with one of my guards to confirm your report.”

“Yes, ser.” That thought clearly cheered Caeris.

“Oh…by the way, did Lord Jharyk ask you about what happened in Suedara?”

Caeris frowned. “Yes, ser. This morning he talked to both Saensyr and me. We didn’t say much. Was that…?”

“No…that was fine. He just seemed to know more than I’d told him last night. I took him offguard, and I’m sure he had more questions this morning.”

“He had some. He was surprised at how few we lost for how many Jeranyi we killed. Then he thanked us and said he needed to talk to you, ser.”

“He did. I think he understands more and is even more inclined to support the regency.” Saryn smiled. “We’ll leave together. Once we’re beyond the town, you’ll head to Lornth.”

“Yes, ser.”

Saryn rode back to first squad.

“First and second squads ready to ride, ser,” offered Shalya.

“Have someone pick up the regency banner from the Lornians,” said Saryn. “Then we’ll head out.”

“Yes, ser.” Shalya turned in the saddle. “Fryada, we’ll be taking the regency banner. Get it from the Lornian squad. They’re expecting you.”

With a nod, the guard turned her mount out from the column and headed back toward Caeris and the Lornians.

Shalya turned back to Saryn. “I‘d wager that Caeris was pleased to know he could head back to Lornth.”

“Relieved, I think.”

“They did all right for a bunch that hasn’t fought much.”

“They did, but I’d wager that Caeris will have a hard time explaining losing three men of every ten to the undercaptain.”

“That’s because they haven’t fought anyone in ten years.” At times it was hard to believe that it had been only twelve years since they had left the Winterlance in orbit.

Saryn just nodded, her eyes going to Fryada, returning with the furled regency banner.

Once the guard was back in position, Shalya turned and checked over the squad, then ordered, “First squad…prepare to ride!”

Saryn rode beside the squad leader as they headed down from the holding into the town. In the early morning, the streets of Nuelda were almost deserted, and those few who were out slipped away as they saw the riders.

Saryn couldn’t help but think about the casualties second squad had taken. Not all of them had been because of the shortness of the recruits’ training. Some of it, Saryn feared, had occurred because of where she had positioned Yulia’s squad. They’d had to face into the rising sun, not directly, but even at an angle that well might have been a problem. Saryn hadn’t considered it because in the Westhorns, where all the roads and trails were beneath cliffs and mountains, early-morning sunlight was never a problem. Shadows were.

She shook her head. There was still so much she had to learn about Lornth and the lowlands…and she still had thoughts about the ancient Cyadoran dwelling and what it represented, although she couldn’t have explained totally what it represented, beyond the clear tradition of feminine submission.

By midmorning on fourday, Saryn and her two squads had found the road that ran as directly as possible from Lornth to Carda, the largest town in Cardara, Lord Orsynn’s holding, and were riding to the south under high, hazy clouds. Thankfully, they had seen no more rain, and the last marker stone indicated that Cardara lay ten kays ahead. Saryn was again doubting the wisdom of her decision to follow the fleeing Jeranyi, but there had been more than enough hoofprints in the road dust and on the shoulder of the road that it appeared the raiders were headed toward Carda, following the road over what seemed endless rolling rises, not even hills, most of them planted in wheat corn or other crops, although a few were lightly forested.

Saryn doubted that the Jeranyi were riding to raid the town, and that suggested even worse possibilities. At least, the lightknives that had plagued her after the fight with the Jeranyi had faded away during the first day’s ride from Nuelda. That had been a relief.

Ahead of the column rode a pair of outriders. As the first neared the top of the next rise, not quite half a kay away, she turned immediately and waved her partner back. Saryn immediately extended her senses to their limit, barely discerning riders in a long column headed toward them.

“Show the regency banner!” Saryn ordered. “Bring it to the fore.” As one of the junior guards rode forward with the banner, Saryn glanced back at the outriders, both moving at a good canter toward her.

As the two neared the Westwind force, Saryn tried to estimate the distances. First she glanced to the last rise behind her squads, but it was almost two kays away, while the rise before them was perhaps eight hundred yards away. She sensed the position of the riders ahead, then she nodded. Her squads would reach the crest of the road while the oncoming riders were still almost a kay away and on lower ground.

The first outrider to reach Saryn pulled her mount in beside the commander. “Ser…there must be three companies riding this way. I don’t think they saw us, and their scouts aren’t but a quarter kay or so ahead of their vanguard.”

“Could you tell who they are?”

“Two companies are in blue and white. The third…they look like Jeranyi.”

“Blue and white,” murmured Saryn. Most likely Orsynn’s colors. “What’s the ground like on the other side of the rise?”

“Same as here, ser. Fields of potatoes, it looks like, wheat-corn in places, close to being harvested. All of it low crops. There’s nothing that would stop them from spreading out and flanking us…well, except in the vale way down to the west, and there are some trees there.”

Except that they don’t know that we’re here. Not yet. Do we really want to confront them? But if we don’t at least offer them the chance to be friendly…then what will they claim? Saryn had the definite feeling that she needed to appear with the regency banner and see how the Lornians reacted.

After a moment, she nodded. “Head back to the rise, but stay out of sight. Ride slowly enough that you don’t raise dust.”

“Yes, ser.”

Once the outriders headed back up the road, Shalya looked to Saryn. “That doesn’t sound good.”

“No. It looks like the southern lord-holders are in rebellion, whether they call it that or not, and they’ve probably hired some of the Jeranyi mercenaries. They were probably paid to attack Lord Jharyk because he’s supported the regency.”

“Then they’ll attack him again, won’t they?”

“Not yet. He doesn’t have enough armsmen to make a difference. If the southern lord-holders win, they’ll deal with him later.” And if they don’t, the regency will doubtless feel obligated to reward him, self-centered as he is.