Jon Sprunk: Shadow's master

The adept winked at Iola as she left the tent. “The province is back to some semblance of normal. A shipment of grain arrived from Othir in time to stave off complete disaster. And I found a distant relative of the late duke to take the reins for the time being. I'm not sure he's a long-term solution, but he will serve for now. I wrote to the lord regent with the details.”

Josey let out a deep breath. “Thank you.”

“Thank me in the spring. If more food doesn't reach the province before then, those people won't wait around to starve.”

She knew what he meant. Rebellion. Before, it had been just a word, something out of the history books, but now it was her worst fear. Well, one of them. She had other, more personal concerns, too.

Josey ran her hands through her hair, which hadn't been properly styled since they left Othir. “I know. Hubert says the grain barges are on the way, but this being winter-”

“-the Midland Sea is notorious for bad weather,” he finished for her.

“Doesn't it ever get easier being empress?”

“I'm not sure.” He started to sit in a cloth-backed chair, but then got back up and paced across the carpets. “History tends to skim over the details of rulership in favor of honors and accolades. As far as I can tell, your efforts have been entirely adequate.”

Josey laughed. “Well, that's a rousing endorsement, Master Hirsch. Thank you. Are the troops ready to march?”

“When I came in it looked like the bulk had already departed, lass. You'd know that if you weren't lazing ab-”

Josey rushed to the entryway and threw back the flap. She blinked as sunlight dazzled her eyes. As her vision cleared, she saw a column of footmen marching away. Smoke rose from dozens of empty campfires in the muddy field behind them. Every morning it was her custom to ride at the head of the soldiers. Why would they start without her? She looked for someone she could shout at and spotted the back of a familiar head.

“Captain!”

Drathan turned and gave her a firm salute. He had somehow managed to keep up his immaculate appearance all through their journey. Not a speck of grit marred his uniform, and his boots gleamed with a fresh shine. “Majesty, good morning. Your bodyguard is ready for review.”

On the other side of her tent, a company of soldiers stood at attention in the traditional blue and gold of the Imperial Guard. Josey pointed to the departing troops. “Why is the army leaving already?”

“Pardon me, Majesty. The lord general ordered an early start.”

“And he didn't think to tell me? Nor you?”

The captain winced as if she'd slapped him. “Yes, Majesty. But I only command Your Majesty's bodyguard. I didn't think it was my place to-”

Josey sighed. “No, you're right, Captain. You're not the one I'm angry at. Where is-?”

“Your Highness.”

She turned to the sound of approaching boots. Lord General Argentus was roughly twice her age, with wavy, gray hair and a strong chin. His steel breastplate was polished to a shine. She hadn't known Argentus before they departed on this mission. Hubert had chosen him from among the army's command staff, citing his sterling reputation and complete lack of political aspirations, but Josey still wasn't sure how he felt about her ascension to the throne, and that made her uneasy.

“Good morning, Lord General,” she said. “I was on my way to see you. Why is my army marching before I am ready to depart?”

The lord general bowed. “I apologize, Highness. I received a report from our scouts last night after you had retired. There may be trouble ahead. I sent the column onward to ensure that the road remains clear.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“We're unsure as yet, Highness. But I expect we'll hear soon. Would you prefer to remain here until we ascertain the problem?”

“No. Let's be on our way. I don't want our army divided.”

“Very good, Highness.” With a nod, Argentus left them and headed toward the remaining troops.

Hirsch walked out into the morning light holding a half-eaten yellow apple. “Our general seems like a reliable fellow, though a little dour for my liking.”

Josey looked at him out of the sides of her eyes. “Yes. I'm hoping his better qualities are contagious.”

The adept snorted, and a piece of apple flew from his mouth. “Perish the thought.”

A groom brought Lightning and helped Josey to mount. Hirsch fetched his own steed, and they rode off into the cold, misty morning. Riding at a slow walk, Josey mused that the road to Durenstile was a swamp masquerading as a highway. The army's pace was maddeningly sluggish. Sometimes she longed to gallop ahead. Somewhere over the far horizon, Caim waited. But is he waiting for you? She could admit to herself, when she was alone in her tent, that she was disappointed Caim hadn't sent word. She didn't expect love letters pleading his eternal devotion-not exactly-but an occasional post to let her know he was all right would have gone far to ease her mind.

Josey tried to stretch in the saddle. Sometimes she imagined she might have been more comfortable in a carriage with thick, padded seats and a blanket to ward off the chill, but riding out in the open air, surrounded by her soldiers, made her feel like she was more a part of this endeavor, and not just a passenger.

Hirsch came up beside her, guiding his diminutive mare. She'd been surprised to hear he didn't have a name for his white mare and took it upon herself to rectify that.

“Snowflake looks to be in fine spirits today,” she said, and grinned sideways at him.

The adept raised an eyebrow under the wrinkled brim of his hat. “She's tired and cold, like her master. And we're both reconsidering our decision to join this ill-conceived venture.”

“As I recall,” Josey said, “you didn't volunteer. You're here by imperial decree to help secure our northern border.”

Hirsch settled deeper into his mud-spattered cloak. “In that case, we're honored to accompany Your Majesty across this depressing morass you call a country.”

“Don't sound so bitter. It's your country, too, Master Hirsch.”

“Only by adoption.”

“I didn't know that. Where are you from? Wait, let me guess. Abyssia? You almost look like something that just crawled out of a tomb in that old coat.”

“Hestria,” he answered, and coughed into his sleeve.

“Hestria? That's so…” She didn't finish. Hestria was a wild land of roving horsemen, or that's what she'd been taught by her tutors. “Do they have many magicians there?”

“None that I've ever met. Then again, I didn't know I was a magician when I lived there, either.”

Josey wasn't sure what to take from that. “Is that where you came by your sobriquet? Hirsch Red-Hand?”

He looked ahead. “No, I got that name much later, and I'm not sure it's a topic for discussion on such a fine day as this.”

She heard the distance in his voice, like an old hurt, and would have given him some space, but her thoughts had latched onto another idea. “Hirsch, is your magic able to find things far away? Like a person?”

He studied her for a long moment, and then shrugged. “There are ways. Some are more difficult than others. It helps to have something bound to the body you're seeking. Blood and hair are the best, especially if the blood is fresh.”

Josey didn't have either of them, but she thought of the child growing inside her. “And would you be able to see the person you're seeking? See where they are? Who they're with?”

“You're talking about scrying.”

Josey pulled tight on the frayed ends of her reins, making Lightning look back at her with reproach. “Is it possible?”

“I've seen it done,” Hirsch said. “But my talents lay along other paths.”