L. Modesitt - Mage-Guard of Hamor

"I should have checked the wounded." Rahl paused. He'd been so dazed that he hadn't even thought about it. "Why didn't you wake me?"

Drakeyt shrugged. "They were already cold when Shemal and Khasmyr found them. Not even the whole Triad could do anything about that." Drakeyt shrugged. "Besides, what could you have done? You looked to be in death's foyer yourself. Could you have done that much?"

Rahl didn't have an answer and was spared for the moment by the arrival of a servingwoman, who set two ales in tall battered pewter mugs before them, and two platters of an egg hash, each accompanied by a small loaf of rye bread. Rahl really would have preferred dark bread. He couldn't recall when he'd last had any.

"Could you?" asked Drakeyt again.

"A little something, at least."

"I'm not blaming you, Majer. If it weren't for you, things would be far worse, but I can't say that they're good." The captain paused to take a short swallow of his ale. "We left Kysha with eighty-four troopers. The submarshal sent us fifth squad with nineteen more troopers. Between the ones killed by the traps, the flood, and the rebels, and those wounded, we're down to sixty-eight, and we haven't even fought a pitched battle, or even a skirmish-except maybe the one yesterday." Drakeyt shook his head.

Rahl took several bites of the egg hash, peppery and spicy, even with the cheese and scraps of mutton. Then he had more ale, hoping the food and drink would clear his head some. "We're taking casualties for others, in a way."

"That's what recon in force is all about, except the idea is to prevent casualties, especially this many."

Rahl had nothing to say to that. He'd tried to do his best, and he was getting angry at the veiled implications that, somehow, the casualties were his fault. If he hadn't done what he'd done, there wouldn't be any Third Company left.

"That fire, yesterday," Drakeyt went on. "I wouldn't be surprised if the orchard holders petition the Emperor for damages. Then the submarshal will complain to the High Command that our shortcomings resulted in the problem. They can't make us pay," Drakeyt laughed bitterly, "but I'll be a captain from now until I'm stipended out."

"I'll probably end up as a patrol mage supervisor in a backwater harbor town," Rahl replied.

"Captain Drakeyt!" A voice echoed through the near-empty public room as a trooper wearing a courier's sash appeared.

Drakeyt stood. "Over here."

"Orders from the submarshal, ser." The courier extended an envelope.

"Thank you." Drakeyt took the envelope.

"I'm to remain here with Third Company, ser, until we join forces."

"Stand by for a moment. After I read this, you can check in with senior squad leader Quelsyn. He'll get you settled."

"Yes, ser."

"I didn't expect a reply from the submarshal overnight," Drakeyt said dryly, seating himself and breaking the seal. He read quickly, then handed the single sheet to Rahl. "What do you make of this?"

Rahl took the missive and scanned it.

Captain, Third Company-

You are hereby ordered to secure the town of Helstyra, including the barge piers. No craft are to be allowed to depart downstream. You are to maintain security until the arrival of the advance elements of the Second Army. As necessary and required, you are to scout the immediate area and to inform the advancing elements of any and all potential dangers.

There was no signature, just the seal of the submarshal.

"I didn't know we were part of the Second Army," Rahl said.

"Neither did I," replied Drakeyt. "Maybe they've split the campaign into two armies. Be nice if they told us."

"It doesn't say how long it will be." Drakeyt motioned for the courier.

The trooper crossed the room. "Ser."

"How far away are the advance forces?"

"They were about fifteen kays back when I left last night, ser."

"So they could be here as early as tonight?"

"I couldn't say, ser."

"Thank you. Get something to eat. Tell the server Third Company will take care of it."

"Yes, ser." The trooper inclined his head, then took a seat several tables away.

Drakeyt looked at Rahl and lowered his voice as he spoke. "They're moving fast. We'll need to go over the whole town today."

"I'd like to talk to the town administrator," Rahl said. "I can't believe he didn't know something, and if we're supposed to secure the town…"

"You'd better take part of a squad with you-or a whole squad." Drakeyt stood.

So did Rahl. "Half will do. That way, the others can help scout around the town."

When he left the public room, Rahl searched for the proprietor, finally locating him in a small study off the kitchen. The round-faced man rose. "Ser? Is there a problem?"

"No." Rahl forced a smile. "I was just hoping you could tell me where the town administration building might be."

"It's in the block behind the river piers, ser. If you follow the main street, just turn at the avenue before River Road-that's where the piers are, River Road is."

"Thank you." Rahl nodded.

When he left the proprietor and walked out into the courtyard of the River's Edge, the sky was overcast, and a bitter damp wind blew out of the east. Rahl couldn't sense any hint of rain, not yet, at least, but he had a feeling that it would arrive before the next day dawned.

After locating Fedeor, Rahl gathered half of fourth squad, leaving the remainder with the squad leader for such duties as Drakeyt might require. With eight men behind him, he rode out of the inn courtyard and down the main street.

The administration building was a small square stone structure a block back from the river piers. The door was unlocked, and, hand on his truncheon, order-senses extended, Rahl stepped inside. The small foyer was empty except for a gray-haired woman seated at a table desk in the corner. A stack of paper was at her elbow.

She turned. "How might I-" Then she paled without finishing her sentence.

"I'm looking for the town administrator."

"Administrator Esryk? Ah… he's not here."

"I can see that. Where could I find him?"

"I couldn't say, ser."

"Did you know that there were rebels in town who attacked Imperial forces yesterday?"

"No, ser."

Rahl got the feeling that while she did not know, she wasn't totally surprised. "Where does Administrator Esryk live?"

"He's only an administrator part-time, ser. He also runs one of the barge services. He has two steam tugs."

"And he lives where?"

"A good ten blocks back on the street that's next to the main street."

"Tell me more about his house." Rahl projected a certain amount of authority.

"Ah… it's on the rise. The house has a brick wall with an iron gate. There are gables on the second level, and the front door and shutters are green."

"Thank you."

Rahl forced himself out of the small foyer and back into the chill wind. Swinging up into the saddle didn't hurt quite as much the second time, and he led the half squad back in the general direction from which they had come until they came to a gentle slope-and the dwelling of the errant administrator.

The two-story redstone dwelling was impressive, with wide windows and roofed porches, and a paved lane from the street to a stone stable and carriage house, with what looked to be quarters above. Both the lane and the paved walkway to the front entry had heavy iron gates.

Rahl was ready to pull down the gates, but the carriage gates were unlocked, and he rode up to the mounting block at the side of the mansion, well short of the rear carriage house. Although he said nothing, two of the troopers dismounted and flanked him as he walked to the main door.

A girl in a serving maid's dress opened the door, then threw up her scarf over her hair. "Ser…" Her voice quavered.