Arms-Commander (51 page)

“From our approach, I surmised something of the sort,” added Spalkyn. “What about the other southern lords?”

Zeldyan looked to Saryn.

“Lord Orsynn attempted an ambush last eightday. He did not survive, nor did two of his sons and most of their armsmen. Lord Mortryd begged for aid against an attack by Lord Rherhn, but when we arrived to help, they both turned and attacked us. Both are dead. We have not seen either Lord Keistyn or Lord Henstrenn, but presume that, from their tracks, they took the eastern road to return to their own holdings.”

“Or to Duevek,” suggested Maeldyn, “which is easier to defend and closer to Lornth.” He paused. “The last days have been long. If you would not mind, Lady of The Groves, I would like to settle my men. Perhaps we could talk in greater detail later.”

“Later would be best,” replied Zeldyan, “even in the morning.”

“The barracks kitchen has prepared food,” Saryn offered, “and our ostler has adapted the stables to handle your horses.”

Maeldyn nodded. “We thank you.”

As they led their men past the villa, Zeldyan watched for a moment, then looked at Saryn. “I am not at my best. Thank you.”

“I would not be at my best if I'd had to endure what you've had to go through, Lady.”

“May you never have to, Angel. No one should.” Zeldyan hesitated. “I will be in the study.”

“I'll have your supper brought to you, Lady. It will be simple.”

“Simple is enough, now. If I can even eat that…” Zeldyan turned away and walked resolutely back into the front foyer of the villa.

As the lower edge of the sun, tinged slightly orange, touched the edge of the roofs of Carpa, the first squad of Lornian armsmen escorted Lord Deolyn's still form, carried shoulder high by six armsmen, from the foyer of the villa out through the portico and along the paved lane toward the east tower. Shortly thereafter, the second squad appeared with Lord Gethen, then third squad with Nesslek's body.

With measured steps, they made their way past the tower and up the path to the top of the hill. All the remaining armsmen and guards were drawn up in formation around the pyre on the hilltop. In a line forward of those bearing arms were Maeldyn, Spalkyn, Saryn, and Zeldyan.

When all three forms were in place, with Nesslek in the center, and the Lornian armsmen back in formation, Lord Maeldyn stepped forward, then turned to face the Lady Regent and the others.

“From chaos, order brings life, and in the end, from that life, chaos leads us all to death,” began the stern-faced lord. “Some deaths are timely and come with order. Some are most untimely and disorderly. So it has been with the three men before us. All of them lived honorable lives that were too short; but for one of them, that life was far, far, too short.” Maeldyn paused for a moment before resuming.

“Each of these men had characteristics worthy of emulation. Lord Deolyn was fiercely loyal to honor and to doing what was right, regardless of the cost to himself. Lord Gethen was a good leader, and more than that, a wise man who looked to do good for all of Lornth, and not just for his own holding or personal gain, and who had already lost many of those whom he loved and who loved him because those who embody chaos could not abide such good. Young Lord Nesslek came from a most noble heritage and stood with others far older against those forces of chaos.

“We will miss them, and we will miss what they brought to Lornth and life.” Maeldyn stepped back.

Spalkyn stepped forward and, like Maeldyn, turned to face those who waited. “From chaos we came and unto chaos we go. From dull clay is spirit sparked into the flame that is life, and that flame burns our course over the years that we have. In the end is chaos, leaving no sign of where we once stood. All that remains is the memory of what we have been, what we have done, and how well we have loved. May these flames burn those memories into all of us, and may our acts carry on those memories, and so to the end of time.”

One of the Lornian squad leaders strode forth and handed a burning pitch torch to Spalkyn, who stood…waiting.

Slowly, Zeldyan stepped forward. She took the torch from the heavyset lord and walked deliberately to the foot of the pyre, where she laid the torch across an oil-soaked plank, then straightened.

After a long moment, she turned and walked gravely back to stand beside Saryn and the two lords.

Saryn stood beside Zeldyan, watching as the flames rose, consuming the wood and the bodies upon them…consuming as well the hopes of a woman for her son, the hopes of a regent for a reign of peace and prosperity.

Is this all that Ryba foresaw? The endless battles between chauvinistic lord-holders? A land where respect and restraint occur only at the point of a blade? Where the only way a woman can obtain anything close to respect is by being able to kill greater and greater numbers of men? Isn't something better possible? If it is, is there any other way to accomplish it besides more violence and killing?

Standing before the heat of the raging flames, Saryn couldn't help but ask the last question again.

Less than a glass after sunrise, Zeldyan, Saryn, Maeldyn, and Spalkyn sat around the table in what had been Gethen's study. From outside on the verandah came the sound of the fountain, muting the sounds of armsmen and guards engaged in various duties around the villa.

“Properly speaking,” began Zeldyan, “I have no authority.”

“You are the only certain blood survivor of the previous lord-holder,” observed Spalkyn. “That makes you equal to any other lord-holder.”

“There is also the question of the regency,” added Maeldyn, “since the overlord for whom you were regent was attacked and killed by lord-holders rebelling against the will and wishes of a majority of lord-holders. In doing that, Henstrenn gathered together three other lords and brought six companies against Lord Gethen and Lord Nesslek…and Lord Deolyn. The question that remains is exactly what we should do.” He looked to Saryn. “That is where you, Arms-commander, come in. If I count correctly, you have close to a company and a half of Westwind guards.”

“Two squads are Westwind guards. The other four squads are those who have joined us here and have received some training, none more than a season and a few eightdays.”

Maeldyn turned to Zeldyan. “You have a company remaining.”

Zeldyan nodded.

“And Spalkyn and I have a few less than two companies.” Maeldyn smiled, coldly. “Is it also not true that the Westwind and Lornian companies effectively destroyed half of the forces Henstrenn originally mustered against The Groves, and that Lord Keistyn's forces were considerably reduced in the attack on The Groves?”

Zeldyan did not speak.

Finally, Saryn said, “That is so.”

“I also understand that you, Commander, have routed and destroyed many of those forces who might have joined Henstrenn in his efforts to usurp the overlordship of Lornth.”

“I believe that to be so. Certainly, Lord Orsynn, Lord Mortryd, and Lord Rherhn will not be able to back Henstrenn.”

“Nor Lords Jaffrayt and Kelthyn,” Maeldyn pointed out. “That leaves Henstrenn with less than three companies…at the moment.”

“That assumes he doesn't receive forces from elsewhere. Shartyr has avoided being involved, and so has Jharyk,” Spalkyn pointed out.

“Jharyk has little in the way of armsmen,” Saryn said, “but Shartyr has two companies. So far, neither has seen much point in actually committing troops. Jharyk is, or was, loyal to Lord Gethen. Shartyr is loyal only to himself.”

“Shartyr will not weaken himself to support Hennstren.” Maeldyn looked to Saryn once more. “Are you willing to use your guards against Henstrenn?”

“I don't see that we have any choice. If he becomes overlord, Westwind and Lornth will be at war in another few years, and Suthya will pick up the pieces of whichever land loses. In the end, both Westwind and Lornth will lose.”

“You phrase that in an interesting manner, Commander,” observed Spalkyn.

“Interesting or not,” Maeldyn interjected with a quick glance at Spalkyn, “even with the commander's forces, we have another problem. The reports I have heard indicate that Henstrenn has several white wizards with his forces.”

“They're most likely Suthyan,” suggested Saryn. “Lady Zeldyan has pointed out that none were left in Lornth, and the few that remained in Gallos were destroyed when the Gallosian forces were defeated by Westwind.”

“How did you manage that?” asked Spalkyn.

“The Marshal dropped a cliff on them,” replied Saryn.

“A handy trick if you can manage it.”

“It's much easier in the mountains,” Saryn replied dryly.

“I don't think we can lure Henstrenn from Duevek into the mountains,” Maeldyn said. “Is it worth the risk to attack Henstrenn?”

“We attack him now,” replied Spalkyn, “or we will never succeed. We will not have the commander's forces with us in the future, and some of the other southern lord-holders may regroup behind Henstrenn. So might Shartyr, upon reflection and if gifted heavily enough.”

Maeldyn looked to Zeldyan. “Do you agree?”

“I would see him destroyed.” Zeldyan's voice was like ice. “I will accompany you, so that every possible armsman can be used against him. We should leave as soon as possible.”

“At dawn tomorrow, then?” asked Maeldyn, turning to Saryn. “Commander?”

“Dawn, tomorrow,” she agreed, even as she wondered why Maeldyn was being so deferential.
It's not just that he wants the Westwind guards…there's more there, but it's not the cold and calculating sort of scheming that I sensed with Henstrenn and Kelthyn.

“Then it is settled.” Maeldyn stood and nodded to Spalkyn. “We need to draft a message to Chaspal and Wethryn.” He turned to Zeldyan. “If you two would excuse us?”

Zeldyan nodded. “Thank you.”

Saryn stood, and said, “We should talk about supplies later. We do have some wagons and teamsters.” She felt words were necessary, but also that offering thanks was somehow not appropriate. She also wanted to convey respect and helpfulness.

Spalkyn nodded in return. “Thank you. They will be most useful.”

When the two lords had left, Zeldyan looked to Saryn. “When this is over, either you or Henstrenn will be the most powerful force in Lornth, Commander. Will you make Lornth an appendage of Westwind?”

“That I would never do,” Saryn replied, almost without thinking. “I wouldn't…” She broke off, realizing that she'd been about to say that she wouldn't apply Ryba's views to Lornth.

“You wouldn't do what, if I may ask?” Zeldyan rose, half smiling, if wanly.

“The beliefs left over from Cyador are not suitable for Lornth, as events are proving, but those of Westwind would be equally unsuitable, for different reasons. Besides, why should I be the one deciding Lornth's future?”

“Because, like it or not, Commander, you well may be the only one who can,” said Zeldyan gently. “Think upon it carefully.”

“First, we need to deal with Henstrenn and Keistyn,” replied Saryn, “but I will take your words to heart.”

“That would please me. I would like to see some good come from all the blood that has been shed.”

Saryn bowed her head. “I will do what I can, Lady.”

“I know. If you would not mind…I would like to reflect on matters.”

“Of course. Until later, then,” replied Saryn, slipping toward the verandah door.

Maeldyn was waiting on the far side of the verandah as Saryn left the study. “A word or two, Commander, if you would.”

“Of course.” Saryn smiled pleasantly, although she remained wary, for all that she believed and sensed that the thin-faced lord was trustworthy.

“What do you want out of all this?” asked Maeldyn. “You, yourself, not Westwind?”

What should I tell him? And how much?
“I have asked myself that question, Lord Maeldyn. I don't have an easy or a simple answer. I do know that I don't want women from Lornth fleeing to Westwind because they feel life is intolerable. I'd like to see women in Lornth able to be lord-holders and even overlord…lady-holders or overlady…” She winced. “I can't say I like the way the last sounds. Lady Zeldyan should be able to hold The Groves without having to find a consort and defer to him. Lord Spalkyn ought to have the right to have one of his daughters succeed him.”

“Do you think women would do any better as lady-holders, if you will?”

“Probably not at first, not unless whoever was overlord would back them, but all this fighting between the lord-holders makes no sense, not when Suthya or the Jeranyi would love nothing better than for it to continue to weaken Lornth until they can walk in and take over.”

“It may be premature, Commander, but if we defeat Henstrenn, how do you think we should select another overlord—or lady?”

“Gather all the remaining lord-holders who did not revolt and see if they can agree on someone.”

“And if they cannot?” pressed Maeldyn.

“I think we would have to see how they cannot agree.” Saryn managed to inject a tone of wryness into her voice.

“In the end, it will take great strength to hold Lornth together.”

Saryn didn't want to deal with that…not yet, even though Zeldyan had already brought up the issue even more directly. “The first problem is to defeat Henstrenn and remove the Suthyan meddling and influence.”

“That is true, Commander.” Maeldyn smiled. “You are most capable. And you have Lornth's interests more at heart than many lord-holders. I would like to discuss this matter with you after we deal with Lord Henstrenn. You are correct, I believe, that all the surviving lord-holders should be gathered, but we should discuss a strategy with Spalkyn and Lady Zeldyan before we do.”

“At that point, we should. I agree.”

“If you will excuse me, Commander…”

“I won't keep you.”

With a pleasant smile, and one that matched a guarded warmth behind the expression, Maeldyn nodded and walked swiftly in the direction of the barracks.

Saryn walked more slowly toward the stables, to check on mounts and to talk to Dealdron about the wagons and what supplies they could and should carry. She couldn't help but think that Maeldyn and Zeldyan were both acting as though their victory were a foregone conclusion. Yet, with chaos-mages supporting Henstrenn, that was anything but a certainty.

Without shields against chaos-fire-bolts, prevailing against Henstrenn and his allies was unlikely and, even if possible, any victory would likely result in huge casualties that would render success only marginally better than defeat because without a strong force to deal with the other lord-holders, indecision and political chaos would result. At the same time, her recent efforts with the chaos-order-knives had made it clear that she did not have either the strength or the ability to hold or maintain large shields for long at all.

Could she do the same thing with her shields as she had with the chaos-order-knives? Make them small and more targeted while sliding the fire-bolts away?
Do I have any choice?

She smiled wryly.
Why does trying to do the right thing always involve so much more than you ever think it will?
She didn't have an answer for that question, either.

She did know that she needed to practice sliding flow shields that could be used against chaos-fire-bolts. She had a day or two to work on that, and she'd probably need every moment.