L. Modesitt - Mage-Guard of Hamor

"Welcome to winter in high Merowey," had been Drakeyt's comment.

The hills became more rugged, but not that much higher, as they neared Koldyrk, and in more than a few places Rahl could make out bogs and marshy ground that might once have been lakes or actual swamps. The rocky height of some of the hills revealed patches of dark gray and light gray rock where little grew. Rahl could tell that the darker gray rock was softer because it had crumbled away from cliffs and spires in many places while the light gray stone had not. The vales and valleys were narrower and twisted more.

They had just passed one of the infrequent kaystones that bore the weathered inscription Koldyrk — 10 k when one of the rear guards trotted forward and eased his mount alongside Drakeyt.

"Captains! There's a squad of heavies following us, and their scout rode up. They're reinforcements, and they've got a couple of pack animals and some spare mounts-and some dispatches for you."

"Just a squad?" asked Drakeyt dubiously.

"Yes, ser, and the squad leader's Fysett. Went through the Worrak thing with him."

"Might as well let them catch up with us." Drakeyt raised an arm. "Company! Halt! To the rear, turn! Weapons ready!" He looked toward Rahl. "Might as well get them used to it. Let's go meet them."

Rahl rode alongside the captain as they moved onto the shoulder of the road and headed back toward what had been the rear of Third Company. After they reached fourth squad, they could see that the squad of troopers approaching was less than half a kay away.

As they drew nearer, Rahl could also sense that the mounts were tired. He cleared his throat and looked to Drakeyt. "They've been pushing their mounts hard. They'll need some rest in Koldyrk."

"That may be."

The squad halted less than twenty cubits from Rahl, and the squad leader rode forward, reining up before the two officers. "Captains! Squad leader Fysett reporting as the fifth squad to Third Company."

"Welcome, squad leader," replied Drakeyt.

"I have dispatches. There's one for each of you, and we have some extra field rations and a half score spare mounts." Fysett fumbled in the small leather dispatch case and extracted two envelopes. He eased his mount ahead and leaned forward to extend one envelope to Drakeyt. The second one went to Rahl.

"Thank you," said Drakeyt. "We thought we'd try for Koldyrk today. Are your mounts up to another eight or nine kays?"

"At a walk, ser. We've been pushing hard to catch you. The Mage-Guard Overcommander said it was important."

"Good," Drakeyt said. "You're now fifth squad. We're close enough to make it before sundown."

"Yes, ser."

Rahl did not open the envelope until he and Drakeyt had ridden back to the head of the company and were preparing to resume the ride toward Koldyrk.

Mage-Guard Rahl-

The squad of troopers bearing this dispatch is to fulfill a twofold purpose. First, they are to reinforce Third Company. Second, they are to allow Captain Drakeyt and you the flexibility to send more frequent dispatches.

The first companies of the main advance body have left Kysha under the command of Submarshal Dettyr and have arrived in Troinsta. We will be leaving Troinsta early tomorrow-the second fiveday of winter-and look to be able to close the gap with Third Company over the next eightday. Marshal Byrna will likely be departing Kysha and following us before long.

A number of ships from Lydiar and Renklaar have been sighted attempting to make port in Nubyat, Elmari, and Sastak. So far, the fleet has driven off all of them, but our information is close to half a season old.

Rahl paused in reading the dispatch. Wasn't there any means by which any of the mage-guards could figure out what was happening on a more timely basis? What about using a glass? Rahl almost sighed as he thought about it. Screeing… he hadn't even practiced that, not that he'd had a glass to use in any case. Again, every time he thought about something, he seemed to remember something else he should have been doing or trying or practicing.

He went back to reading the remainder of the dispatch.

I will caution you that, because Golyat's forces are limited in size compared to those marshaled by the Emperor, his commanders are likely to attempt all manner of stratagems that will cause casualties to your company with minimal losses to their force. Always keep that in mind.

The signature was but a scrawled "T."

Rahl wanted to snort. He had a lot to learn, but the rebels' stratagems had already become clear. At the cost of a score of men, Golyat had severely damaged one steamer, killed or wounded almost twoscore, delayed the Emperor's forces, and forced more time spent on scouting-and that was before Third Company had even gotten close to Dawhut, let alone to Golyat's main forces in Nubyat and Sastak.

Drakeyt had finished reading his dispatch and was frowning. Then the captain looked up. "Anything of interest?"

"Probably nothing beyond what you've gotten. The extra squad is so we can send more messengers, and the first part of the Emperor's forces left Troinsta last fiveday and will try to close the gap between us. The overcommander warned me that Golyat will try all sorts of stratagems to cost us men and mounts without losing many of his."

"Or those he can easily afford to lose." Drakeyt glanced back at the column behind, then to Rahl. "Ready?"

Rahl nodded.

"Company! Forward!"

Rahl studied the forest ahead on both sides of the road, with eyes and senses, trying to extend his order-sensing range. The farther he could reach, the more warning the company would have.

He almost shook his head. Who would have thought he'd end up as a mage-guard and a captain in Hamor? All because that slut-sow's ass Puvort hadn't liked him.

Koldyrk turned out to be half the size of Troinsta-and perhaps three times the extent of Istvyla. Once again, no one had seen or heard any rebels, but that did not surprise Rahl because the older road was a good ten kays from Koldyrk at the nearest and ran well north of a range of low hills that began on the northern side of the town. At least, that was what the maps showed and what the few locals who even knew of the old road said.

After a day of fruitless scouting around Koldyrk, partly to allow fifth squad some rest for mounts, on twoday, Third Company rode out once more, early on a clear morning so chill that Rahl could see his breath. The air was still, and the sun climbed into a hazy sky.

Well before midmorning, the day had become almost pleasant, and Rahl had to loosen his jacket. Drakeyt did not.

After a time, Rahl asked, "Do you know what the overall plan for the campaign is?"

"That's something they don't tell captains." Drakeyt offered an indulgent smile. "I did ask the majer before we left, and he said that they didn't tell majers that much, either. He did say that the idea was to hold the coast with the navy and cut off supplies and arms, then attack from the northeast so that the rebels had nowhere to go."

"We're riding a long ways. Do you really think that there isn't any way that we could have attacked from the coast?"

Drakeyt frowned. "Let's say that we did attack from the sea. Let's even say that we managed it without losing a whole lot of troopers. Let's say we were successful and took over the three port cities. Then what? Where do the rebels go?"

"They retreat," Rahl said.

"Where?" Drakeyt offered a crooked smile. "Back through the lowlands, destroying the crops and taking food? Eventually, they might even get here." He gestured toward the side of the road and the stand of ancient firs, flanked by another stand of ancient oaks. "You think we could ever root them out of that? The locals don't even know what goes on in there."