Darknesses (29 page)

A
lucius
looked in the mirror,
checking his appearance and his remaining uniform.
His dark gray hair was the same shade as always, but only a short thatch. His
face was thinner and pinker than he recalled, and his beard, he had noted in
shaving, tougher. There were faint white lines across his left cheek, but he
had no idea how he had gotten them, unless they had occurred unnoticed in the
battle or after he and Wildebeast had fallen.

The
uniform was a little looser, but not much.

After
a last check, he turned and walked from the chamber he had been allowed to
keep, even after he had recovered—mostly—from his injuries.

Outside,
in the front courtyard, were two squads. One was the third squad of
Twenty-first Company, and the other was a squad of Deforyan Lancers in full
dress red uniforms. The Deforyan Lancers were formed up at the front, while the
third squad troopers, led by Egyl as acting senior squad leader, were drawn up
behind Wildebeast.

Wildebeast
tossed his head slightly as Alucius neared, then settled down as Alucius
projected warmth.

“He’s
glad to see you, sir,” Egyl said. “We all are.”

“I’m
very glad to see all of you.” Left unspoken was the thought that Alucius would
have liked to have seen more than the fourteen troopers remaining in third
squad. Alucius mounted and settled himself in the saddle.

The
Deforyan undercaptain offered a low command, and the Deforyans began to ride
toward the open gates.

“Forward!”
Egyl ordered, at a nod from Alucius.

After
they rode out through the open gates and turned northward, Alucius looked up
the main street, but it appeared little different from any other time, with
peddlers and beggars and groups of shoppers on each side, but none in the
middle, except a boy who sprinted across and vanished behind a group of older
women. Without even trying, from the overall feel, Alucius could sense that the
youngster had stolen something.

“Do
you know why the Landarch wants to see you, sir?” asked Egyl.

“I
told you what I know,” Alucius said. “He wants to express his appreciation
personally. According to Submarshal Ahorak, that is quite an honor.”

“More
than we got from the Council.”

It
was, Alucius reflected, but then, they hadn’t saved an entire land. In fact,
he’d watched his homeland be taken over by Lanachrona because a group of greedy
traders cared more for gold than an independent destiny, and neither he nor
Colonel Clyon had been able to do a thing.

The
ride was short, less than half a vingt northward from Lancer Prime Post to the
iron gates of the Landarch’s palace, guarded by a half squad of lancers in red.
The guard lancers bowed their heads, if briefly, as Alucius rode past.

“Never
saw that before,” observed Egyl.

“Neither
have I,” Alucius replied, “but the only other time we were here was for a
banquet.” He fell silent, thinking about the three officers who had been with
him who had fallen. While he hadn’t known the majer well, nor cared that much
for Clifyr, he definitely missed Heald, and wished he’d had a chance to know
him better.

“Sir…”
whispered Egyl.

Alucius
looked up. The entire wall inside the front courtyard of the Landarch’s palace
was shimmering blue—the blue of nomad breastplates.

“More
than a few bits of armor there,” Egyl said quietly.

Alucius
counted and calculated, trying to do the multiplication and estimation quickly.
From what he could determine, there were close to three thousand breastplates
on display—more breastplates than the entire Deforyan and western forces
combined. “More than the number of lancers and troopers we had, I’d guess.”

“Knew
that from the beginning.” Egyl broke off his words as they neared the entryway.

As
they reined up under the covered entryway, Alucius saw Submarshal Ahorak
waiting on the steps above the mounting blocks. With him was a white-haired man
in the uniform of a full marshal.

Alucius
dismounted and handed Wildebeast’s reins to Egyl. “I don’t know how long.”

“That’s
fine, sir. We’ll be here.”

Alucius
climbed three wide steps and bowed. “Marshal, Submarshal.”

“Overcaptain
Alucius,” Ahorak said, “this is Marshal Seherak.”

Alucius
inclined his head. “I’m honored, Marshal.”

“We
are all honored by your actions and accomplishments, Overcaptain.”

“Your
lancers fought gallantly,” Alucius replied, thinking that the Deforyan Lancers
had fought bravely, if not terribly intelligently.

“There
was much gallantry.”

Alucius
could tell that the marshal was curious, and just slightly irritated, although
he gave little outward indication of anything other than courtesy. Ahorak
seemed worried.

“You
saw the breastplates of the nomads on display in the front courtyard?” asked
Submarshal Ahorak, still conveying nervousness.

“I
did,” Alucius admitted.

“There
are nearly that many in the rear courtyard. The Landarch insisted that they be
displayed so that none would fail to understand the greatness of the victory.”
Ahorak smiled again. “Come. The Landarch is waiting.”

With
one of the Deforyans on each side, Alucius found himself walking through the
stone arches and into the palace. Three Deforyan Lancers led the three along
the same great hall that Alucius had been in for the banquet, but they
continued past the banquet hall to a stone archway set between dual columns and
guarded by a pair of lancers in red, but with gold piping on their tunic
sleeves.

The
three escorting lancers turned aside, and the doors opened as the three
officers neared.

From
somewhere came a deep and sonorous voice. “The Marshal Seherak, the Submarshal
Ahorak, and the honored Overcaptain Alucius, representative of the
Lord-Protector of Lanachrona and the Iron Valleys.”

The
Landarch was seated in the comparatively small audience hall on a dais of gold
eternastone. The high chair was of a golden wood, and carried the presence of
great age. As the three reached the steps before the dais, the marshals halted.
So did Alucius.

The
Landarch stood and took two steps forward. “Overcaptain…if you would join me…”

Alucius
bowed, then took the three steps slowly and deliberately. At the top, he
inclined his head again.

The
Landarch smiled. He wore the same dark green tunic and trousers trimmed in gold
that he had at the banquet.

Alucius
could sense that the Landarch’s smile was friendly, almost apologetic, but he
waited for the ruler to speak.

“Deforya
is most grateful to you, Overcaptain Alucius, most grateful indeed. Had not so
many lancers seen what you and your troopers did, it would be hard to have
believed such. But all have noted that with two companies you broke an entire
wing of the nomads, then brought down the Talent-beasts and destroyed half the
nomads’ numbers.” The Landarch continued to smile, but there was a
tentativeness behind the open expression.

“You
are most kind, honored Landarch.” Alucius inclined his head slightly once more.
“We came to do our duty, and we did the best we knew how. Many brave men died
in that duty, and many were from Deforya.”

“They
did their duty, and they did so bravely. You and your men went far beyond duty,
and you did so to save a land that is not your own.” The Landarch gestured
slightly with one hand.

A
man in red robes stepped forward carrying a red velvet pillow. On it was a
golden eight-pointed star, edged in a brilliant green enamel.

“This
is the Star of Gallantry. There have been but twenty awarded in the generations
since the Cataclysm. This is the twenty-first. I can think of no one more fit
to wear it.” The Landarch paused. “If, as I have heard, you believe that your
troopers deserve it as well, then I ask you to wear it for both yourself and
for them.”

The
functionary presented the pillow to the Landarch, who lifted off the star and
fastened it on Alucius’s tunic, over his left breast. Then the Landarch
gestured again.

A
second functionary stepped forward with a carved chest, which he opened and
displayed.

Inside
were golds, hundreds.

“There
are two golds for every man who came to Deforya,” the Landarch said. “It is not
enough. I do not have the golds that all deserve, and this is but a token, but
it is a token given to you and your men, and only to you and your men. I will
convey my appreciation to your Lord-Protector in my own way.”

“You
are most thoughtful, Honored Landarch, and I will be sure to convey your
graciousness and your appreciation to the troopers and to the families of those
who fell.”

“I
do believe you will, Overcaptain. Our thanks are most real, for all that they
are not as munificent as I would wish.” The tentative smile turned ever so
slightly more professional and less tentative. “I understand that you will be
leaving at the end of the week.”

Alucius
hadn’t heard that, but it gave him another six days to get stronger and make
sure that the depleted force had enough in the way of supplies and equipment.
“I understand that is the plan, provided we have the necessary supplies and
equipment.”

“Marshal
Seherak and Submarshal Ahorak will make sure that all of your needs will be
supplied.” The Landarch’s gaze fixed on the two below the dais. “All of them.”

Both
marshals inclined their heads in obeisance.

“We
wish you well on your return to Lanachrona,” the Landarch added. “We will not
forget what you have done.” He nodded a last time and stepped back.

Alucius
bowed, then stepped down from the dais, at an angle, because he wished neither
to turn his back on the Landarch nor to back way. The functionary with the
chest of golds followed.

The
two marshals escorted Alucius back out of the receiving hall, then through the
great hall and back toward the entryway, trailed by the man with the chest.

As
they neared the archway leading out of the palace, Submarshal Ahorak spoke.
“This afternoon, Majer Wasanyk will see you about any other needs you may need
for your return trip.”

“I’ll
look forward to meeting with him, and we appreciate the concern and support.”

All
three men smiled, expressions of differing degrees of falsity, Alucius knew.

Outside,
Egyl and third squad were still waiting, as were the Deforyans.

“Egyl…we’ll
need someone trustworthy to carry that chest back.”

“Yes,
sir.” Egyl turned in the saddle. “Waris, forward!”

The
scout took the chest, setting it before him. Then Alucius mounted Wildebeast
and offered a last nod to the two marshals on the stone steps above the
mounting blocks.

Egyl
did not speak until they had left the palace courtyard and were riding
southward on the main street, back toward the lancer post. “The star, sir?”

“Oh…that.
It’s the Star of Gallantry. The Landarch didn’t want to give out several
hundred. So he gave it to me and told me to wear it for everyone.”

“I’d
wager he didn’t put it quite that way, sir.”

“Close
enough,” Alucius said. “And that’s what we’ll tell everyone.”

“And
the chest, sir?”

“Two
golds for every trooper—or two for the families of those who didn’t make it.”

“It’s
something,” Egyl allowed.

“The
Landarch apologized that it couldn’t be more, but he is supplying us with food
and more ammunition for the return. He made it quite clear to the marshals that
we are to have whatever supplies we think necessary.”

“Kind
of him.” Egyl’s voice was dry.

“I
don’t think we want to overstay our welcome. We’ve made him very nervous.”

“I
can see that. Even without what you did, sir, our five companies killed more of
the nomads than their twenty-five did.”

“The
Lord-Protector has something like a hundred companies. I’d guess that the
Landarch has the strength of maybe fifteen companies at the moment. I’d be
worried, too.”

Egyl
chuckled. “Did you tell the Landarch about the other road?”

Alucius
grinned. “I forgot to mention that. So did Majer Draspyr.”

“Sir…”
Egyl laughed.

“They
weren’t too interested in Black Ridge. If they’re curious enough, they’ll find
out. We left traces. If not…” Alucius shrugged. “We need to get ready. There’s
a majer coming to see what we need in the way of supplies this afternoon. Talk
to all the squad leaders and acting squad leaders. Make sure we have a list of
everything that we really need—especially how much ammunition, and spare
packhorses and horses for the supply wagons.”

“Yes,
sir. I’d started on that already.”

“Good.”
Once again, Alucius recalled how fortunate he’d been to have experienced squad
leaders like Longyl and Egyl. His face sobered as he thought of Longyl…and
Heald.

I
n
the wide bed
that was so empty without Wendra beside him, Alucius turned
over in the darkness. Quickly, he sat up, reaching for his sabre. Even with his
night vision, the figure standing inside the doorway was dim, and scarcely
larger than a ten-year-old child.

Overcaptain…you will not need any weapons. You may bring them if
you wish.

Alucius
frowned. The woman had not actually spoken, and her lifethread was solid green,
its solidity unlike that of any person he had met. Yet his Talent told Alucius
that she meant no harm. He was still wary.

Please dress and follow me. There is something you should know
before you leave Dereka.

Alucius
considered, then slipped out of bed and pulled on his trousers, tunic, and
boots. He did belt on his sabre. As he dressed, the cloaked woman remained just
inside the door, unmoving.

He
stepped toward her, catching a sense of amusement as his fingers brushed the
hilt of his sabre.

You will not need that, but bring it as you wish.
She
turned and touched the ancient light-torch bracket, one that had been modified
to hold an oil lamp. Noiselessly, a section of the stone wall opened, but only
about half a yard.

Without
looking back, the woman stepped through the aperture. A yard back inside the
opening was another bracket, this one holding a light-torch. The woman pointed
to the light-torch. Alucius took down the light-torch and thumbed it on,
although he did not need its narrow bright beam to see the steep stone steps on
the far side of the small windowless chamber. The steps led straight down. A
faint glow suffused all the walls and the floors, and Alucius realized that
where he stood had been constructed entirely of gold eternastone.

The
small woman glided down the steps, again without looking back. After glancing
back over his shoulder to see that the entrance remained open, Alucius
followed. He could sense that no one had been in the stairwell for years, if
not for far longer, yet there was no dust, and the air was neither stale nor
musty. Did the eternastone preserve the air as well? The steps continued
downward, for the equivalent of three stories, if not more.

Two
yards beyond the bottom of the stone steps was another square stone archway—two
stone pillars, topped by an oblong stone lintel. Alucius continued to follow
the woman—who was, he realized, somehow akin to either a soarer or the wood
spirit who had given him the key to unlocking the torque of the Matrial. Yet
she had no wings, and there were no trees nearby, not in Dereka.

Beyond
the archway was a long chamber whose high-vaulted ceiling rose a good five
yards above Alucius’s head. The chamber was more than fifteen yards in length,
and about six in width. There were no windows, and the walls were covered with
artwork of some sort.

Look closely…

Alucius
pointed the beam of the light-torch at the mural that ran all the way around
the wall, then realized it was not a single mural, but a series of scenes, each
two yards long, and a yard in height. The colors were as vibrant and as fresh
as the day they were laid down. They had to be because Alucius couldn’t have
imagined them as any brighter than they were. Each scene was incredibly
lifelike.

He
forced himself to begin with the first one, to the left of the archway, which
depicted a ship without sails, its curved cutwater throwing back water and foam
to suggest a great speed. At a jackstaff flew a pennant Alucius had never seen,
one with two crossed scepters, both metallic blue, if subtly different in
design, set in a sharp eight-pointed, brilliant green star. From the size of
the figures at the forward rail, the vessel was close to two hundred yards in
length. The star was the same shape as those used by the Landarch, and a match
in shape to the Star of Gallantry.

The
second panel was of a creature with leathery blue wings, folded back along its
body. Beside the pteridon stood a warrior in glittering blue armor holding a
blue metallic lance. His face was luminescent white, his eyes violet, and his
hair and eyebrows shimmering black.

In
the third panel, a sandy-haired and tanned figure stood lashed to a T-shaped
metal frame in the middle of a circular stone dais. The man’s mouth was open,
as if in protest. Above and to the left of the dais was a tall podium or
lectern, made of some sort of reflective blue metal. Behind the lectern stood a
woman in shimmering blue robes. Her hair was shining black, her face and neck
luminescent white, her lips red, and her eyes violet. From somewhere above,
blue light played across the figure in the frame, and blue flames had begun to
erupt from the man’s gray tunic.

Alucius
slowly moved the beam of the light-torch from panel to panel, for although he
could make out the outlines of each scene without its light, he would have
missed the finer details. There were scenes of mighty sandoxes with
purple-tinged white skin pulling huge wagons along the high roads at great
speed, of cities filled with buildings of gold eternastone and shimmering green
towers, of a port filled with dolphin ships, of tanned men and women gathering
fruit from rows of trees, overseen by an alabaster-skinned supervisor, of a
huge barge headed south on the River Vedra—that location Alucius recognized
because the river levees were identical to those he had seen in Hieron,
although he saw no sign of a city such as Hieron.

He
walked slowly, taking in each of the scenes. He went back and counted. There
were twenty-one scenes. Another thought struck him, and he played the
light-torch back across the panels. All the faces of those depicted in positions
of authority were of that luminous white, and all the white-faced figures shown
in detail had black hair and violet eyes.

He
turned, as if to ask the spirit-woman…but the chamber was empty. He played the
light across all the walls and up into the vaulted ceiling, but she was gone.

Alucius
turned and walked back up the stone steps, wondering if he had been trapped, if
the opening were still there. It was, and he could not but help breathing a
gentle sigh as he stepped into the main chamber of his quarters. The opening
did not close.

Finally,
he twisted the tight-torch bracket upright, and slowly the stone wall closed.
Alucius stepped forward and ran his fingers over the ancient stone. The joins
were so fine that he could not determine exactly where they were. Even with his
Talent, he could not sense anything behind the stone, as if the eternastone
blocked his Talent.

Had
it been another dream? It had felt far too real. He looked down, realizing that
he still held an ancient light-torch, of a kind he had never seen, whose beam
created a sharp circle of white light on the stone floor. He thumbed it off and
slipped it inside his tunic.

Once
more, he looked at the oil lamp bracket, just above his head. After several
moments, he reached up once more and turned the bracket. Again, the opening
appeared in the stone. He stepped back through the opening, but the long
stairwell was still there, leading downward. He turned and walked back into the
chamber, where he returned the bracket to its upright position. The opening
vanished.

Why
had the spirit—or had she been a disguised soarer—why had she appeared now,
after
the battles? Why had she shown him the hidden
ancient mural? His stomach clenched slightly.

Turning,
he glanced out the window and could see the graying of the sky. Rather than try
to sleep for less than a glass before dawn, he undressed and went to the
washroom adjoining his chamber to wash up and prepare for the day ahead. And to
think.