L. Modesitt - Magi'i of Cyador

Luss glances at the two ships, then at Kharl. “Matters do not look so bright for the Quarter, these days.”

“Nor for the Lancers. Your casualties in the north are climbing, as are they in the companies along the ward-wall of the Accursed Forest.” Kharl’s green eyes shimmer with the hint of overlying chaos-gold. “And … Maran is dead.”

“Mirror Lancers do die in the course of duty,” Luss says. “We do believe in duty, you may recall.”

“You were the one who had expressed interest in Majer Maran, as I do recall.”

“It should bother me that a renegade mage who posed as a lancer has died?” asks Luss.

“It might, if you consider the implications,” suggests Kharl.

Luss raises his eyebrows. “Perhaps you should educate me, devious one?”

Kharl merely shrugs. After a time, he says, “The glass shows but the ward-wall … and nothing beyond-as usual.” The Second Magus smiles brightly. “As I recall, he was supposed to deal with a certain captain. It would appear that the captain is clearly more experienced than some had anticipated.”

“In direct combat, he has much experience,” concedes Luss. “You had assured me that he has little capability and experience as a magus.”

“Perhaps he used a sabre,” suggests Kharl. “I merely suggest some caution.”

“And how would you suggest such caution be applied, O devious Second Magus?”

“It would be best the Majer-Commander not discover this effort. Nor the Emperor, for who knows what he might ask of the Hand? Yet … that is up to you. Were I, say, a captain-commander, I might send word to Commander Meylyd that the Majer-Commander feels that unless there is some evidence of what befell the majer, evidence that the Emperor would regard as convincing, that the matter should be dropped with a quiet warning to the captain.”

“You think that wise?”

“Very wise … the captain will fight to survive. If he is attacked by another officer, such as your Overcaptain Hybyl, Hybyl will also die, and then this Lorn will flee … or cover it up. Either way, the Majer-Commander will discover what has occurred. He will need to blame someone, perhaps someone rather high in the Mirror Lancer Court in Cyad … someone he does not like. It is better that this not come to light yet … until later, and then it will appear that he ordered it to be suppressed.”

“Meylyd will try to find something,” suggests Luss.

“I am certain he will attempt such. If he does, the problem is resolved. If he does not, there will be another field commander skeptical of the Majer-Commander, and one willing to tell the Emperor that the Majer-Commander attempted to cover a murder. Since the murder cannot be proven, the rumor will be more effective.”

Luss nods slowly. “Devious as you are, that makes much sense. But what of the captain’s future?”

“He appears to have developed certain skills … in anticipating or avoiding certain uses of chaos. To deal with him at Jakaafra would make the effort, shall we say, rather obvious. Then, if the First Magus is successful in the effort toput the Forest to sleep, any effort against the captain would become even more obvious.” Kharl smiles. “Were I a senior lancer officer, I would promote him to overcaptain and then transfer him to where there is much … conflict.”

Luss shakes his head. “A third such tour? For the son of the Fourth Magus? That would come to Rynst’s eyes before the captain reaches Assyadt, and then the Majer-Commander would look far deeper. I think something like a port detachment, say in Biehl. For a short time, until he is forgotten. He also may encounter … certain difficulties there ….” Luss smiles. “Then, if necessary, a tour in Assyadt, after another promotion, so that he will be most inexperienced and also less … conditioned to combat. Also, if he is transferred now, before a full turn of duty … his time in Cyad will be limited.”

“Best he be in Cyad for but a short period now, rather than a longer time later,” Kharl agrees. “And best he be away from the Accursed Forest while the sleep barrier of the First Magus is created.”

Both men nod.

“If he should survive yet more conflict, then he should come to Cyad as an aide to the Majer-Commander … say, when it is most appropriate,” suggests Kharl.

“After certain other events?”

“Exactly.”

Without another word, the two turn away from the view of the harbor and from the striped awnings whose unfurling heralds spring in Cyad.

SITTING BEHIND HIS study desk, Lorn looks at the pen holder, and then at the open window, and the low clouds that promise rain that has not yet arrived. Second Company has completed another full patrol, encountering only shoots from seeds, and Lorn must write another patrol report, and a summary,and decide whether to again request replacement lancers-and sit and wait to see how Commander Meylyd will react to Maran’s disappearance.

Finally, Lorn picks up the pen and begins to detail the last report. He has barely written three lines when Kusyl steps into the study.

“Yes?”

“Ser! There’s a firewagon here, and Commander Meylyd. He’s coming this way.”

Lorn finds a sardonic smile on his lips. “Perhaps he will tell us about our replacement lancers, then.”

“Ser?”

Lorn shakes his head, standing quickly.

At the sound of voices, Kusyl steps back and holds the door to the inner study as the Commander enters, followed by a smaller officer, an overcaptain. The squad leader closes it gently but firmly as he leaves.

Meylyd does not take a chair, but addresses Lorn directly. “Captain … I am sure you know why I am here. This is Overcaptain Hybyl. He was Majer Maran’s deputy.”

Behind two officers, Kusyl opens the door and slides in a chair and then silently closes the door once more.

“I am afraid I do not.” Lorn offers a polite but confused expression. “I must admit I cannot honestly say I know why you are here, saving for my continual requests for replacement lancers.”

“You cannot say?” Meylyd now offers a quizzical expression. “Majer Maran indicated he was not pleased with you before he left. And you pretend you don’t know that? When he disappeared immediately after meeting with you? At a meeting outside the compound where no one but you two happened to be present?”

“No, ser. I knew that the majer was displeased. He took me for a quiet ride, where none would hear, he said. And he told me that while you were pleased with my results in containing the wild creatures, he was not happy with the strategies I had adopted. He said they were against patrol doctrine.”

Hybyl nods. “He reported such before he departed Geliendra.”

“For the record, Captain, with exactly what tactic was Majer Maran displeased?” asks Meylyd.

“My using myself as a target and carrying two firelances.” Lorn shrugs. “There isn’t anything against it in the manual, and since we’re understrength, I didn’t think one extra firelance would be a problem-at the time, that was still something like fifteen less than full complement, and it left the extra in the hands of an officer.”

Another puzzled look passes between the two officers.

“Now, we have but half the requisite complement, and I had thought you might be here to discuss my requests for replacements.” Lorn gestures to the single chair. “Ah, ser … if you’d like a seat?”

The Commander takes the chair Kusyl had shoved into the room, and Hybyl takes the armless one before the desk.

Lorn seats himself slowly, after the other two, waiting.

“Now, if you would continue, Captain … With an account of your meeting with Majer Maran,” commands Meylyd.