Scepters (63 page)

“No,
sir.”

“Is
it likely that you would not know?”

“No,
sir.” Nadalt’s voice contained even greater dejection.

Alucius
turned to see an angular and graying overcaptain step through the front
doorway.

“Colonel…
Colonel Alucius?”

Alucius
recognized the older man, who was somewhere between forty and fifty, as he
recalled. “Yes, Sanasus. I’m back. If you’d just wait a moment until the others
arrive.”

“Yes,
sir.”

Alucius
turned his attention back to Nadalt. “So… how likely is it that Colonel Weslyn
actually informed Tempre of his actions in reducing the number of Guard
companies? “

“Ah…
not very likely, sir.”

“And
did he notify the Lord-Protector that the payroll needed to be reduced?”

“Ah…
not that I know of, sir.”

Alucius
turned as the last two officers walked into the open space inside the doorway.
He recognized Undercaptain Komur—a wiry and short man with a weathered and
tanned face. The blond and stocky officer behind him had to be Captain Yusalt,
younger than the other two but still probably several years older than Alucius.

Alucius
studied the three with his Talent, trying to gather impressions, even as he
began to speak. “I appreciate your rapid arrival here. I wouldn’t be surprised
if word is all over the post, but if it is not, I thought you should know
before I talk to all the lancers. The Lord-Protector was concerned that matters
here in the headquarters of the Northern Guard were not as they should be. You
may recall that Marshal Frynkel was here in early harvest conducting an
inspection tour.” Alucius paused, letting the words sink in.

Sanasus
nodded slightly, as did Komur. Yusalt looked confused and radiated that
confusion.

“You
may know that I was requested to take Fifth Company and two others to Hyalt to
put down a revolt. We did so, then were ordered to the defense of Southgate.
Our three companies managed to destroy both crystal spear-throwers. The
Matrites were pushed back. We were summoned to Tempre, and there, we were
awarded the Lord-Protector’s unit commendation and dispatched here. I was
ordered to relieve Colonel Weslyn. When I delivered the Lord-Protector’s
acceptance of Colonel Weslyn’s resignation, the colonel and the majer both drew
pistols and attempted to shoot me.”

Yusalt’s
confusion turned to shock, while Sanasus nodded once more. A thin and crooked
smile came to Komur’s face.

“Fortunately,
Overcaptain Feran was less trusting than I, and had sent in several armed
troopers. I survived. The colonel and the majer did not. The Lord-Protector had
been concerned about certain irregularities in the Northern Guard. I think that
the fact that the colonel’s initial reaction was to shoot a fellow officer
suggests those concerns were well-founded. I would also note that Overcaptain
Shalgyr immediately rode out of the outpost.”

“
‘Course he would, sir,” said Komur. “Never let any of us see the ledgers.
Wouldn’t even let me buy grease myself.”

“Before
we proceed further, I’d like each of you to look into the colonel’s study and
also look at the dispatches and orders that I brought with me. You might also
note that I was entrusted with the pay chests for the next two seasons. Those
are in the guarded wagon out in the courtyard.”

Overcaptain
Sanasus nodded. “I will look, as you suggested, sir, but I have no doubts that
matters are as you stated. They may be even worse.”

Alucius
could sense that Sanasus believed what he said.

“But…
Colonel Weslyn… he was the commander,” Yusalt protested. “Why…”

“To
pay for that big house,” suggested Komur. “And all those wines from Vyan, and
to pay off his trader friends.”

Alucius
stepped back as the three officers walked toward the colonel’s study.

The
fact that two of the three had known something was wrong was encouraging. The
fact that they had not been able to do anything—or not dared to—was more than
discouraging.

The
last thing Alucius wanted to do was to determine the extent of the damage and
how badly supplied, provisioned, and led the Northern Guard might be—and those
had to be among his very first tasks. After making sure that all the Guard knew
of the change in command and leadership.

He
looked bleakly toward the open door into the colonel’s study.

North of Iron Stem, Iron Valleys

Wendra
settled into the rocking chair, set at an angle to the iron stove of the main room.
Outside, the wind moaned softly, and despite the closed shutters, the floor was
chill from what of the biting cold had seeped into the stead dwelling.

“Little
woman… you need to sleep.”

A
small fist waved, as if in protest.

“You
do.” Wendra began to rock slowly, looking down at her daughter in the quiet of
the late evening. Then she began to sing the old song, the child’s rhyme that
she had always preferred sung to spoken, the one that linked her husband and
her daughter.

“Londi’s
child is fair of face.

Duadi’s
child knows his place.

Tridi’s
child is wise in years,

but
Quatti’s must conquer fears.

Quinti’s
daughter will prove strong,

while
Sexdi’s knows right from wrong.

Septi’s
child is free and giving,

but
Octdi’s will work hard in living.

Novdi’s
child must watch for woe,

while
Decdi’s child has far to go.

“But
the soarer’s child praise the most,

for
she will rout the Sanders’ host,

and
raise the lost banners high

under
the green and silver sky.”

By
the last words, Alendra’s fist had relaxed, and her eyes were closed, her
breathing even.

Wendra
smiled, murmuring softly, “Another soarer’s child…”

Her
eyes lifted to the east, toward the Plateau she could not see through walls and
shuttered windows. Then, slowly, she rose from the rocking chair, careful not
to wake the sleeping Alendra as she carried her daughter toward her cradle.

As
he tried to gather himself together, to think about what else he should be
doing, Alucius stood for a moment outside the colonel’s study. Then he stiffened
and looked toward Dhaget. “Can you get Overcaptain Feran for me?”

“Yes,
sir.” Dhaget headed for the door to the courtyard.

“No
one’s left the post except Overcaptain Shalgyr, have they?” Alucius asked the
nearest lancer.

Fewal
looked toward Roncar. “That’d be hard to say, sir. We don’t have a roster…”

Alucius
nodded. It had been a foolish question, and he should have thought before
asking it. He’d have to try to avoid that sort of thing. Commanders didn’t ask
stupid questions, not if they wanted to stay commanders.

Feran
hurried through the doorway. “You wanted me, sir?”

Alucius
looked at Sanasus. “Do you know where Colonel Weslyn’s house is?”

Sanasus
blinked. “His house?”

“The
big one Undercaptain Komur mentioned. The one where he just might have all the
golds he took from the Guard.”

“Yes,
sir. I mean, it’s less than a vingt from here.”

Alucius
looked at Feran.

“Two
squads, you think?” asked Feran.

“That
should do it. We need to hurry… and find a mount for overcaptain Sanasus.
Shalgyr may have headed there. He may not have, but I don’t want those golds
vanishing, if they’re there at all.” He paused. “You’d better stay here and
keep a hold on things.”

Feran
nodded, then hurried back outside.

“Golds?
You think… ?” Sanasus closed his mouth.

“I
don’t know, but if we wait very long, we’ll never know.” Alucius was just
hoping that he wasn’t already too late. “If you’d stand by here, Komur… and you
come on with us, Overcaptain…”

“Yes,
sir.” A certain tone of resignation tinged Sanasus’s voice.

Alucius
hurried back outside and mounted the chestnut.

“Third
and fourth squads will accompany you, Colonel,” Feran announced. “Holgart will
act as senior squad leader.”

“Sir,
we’re ready,” announced Holgart. “There’s a spare mount here for the
overcaptain.”

Sanasus
mounted quickly enough that only Alucius was likely enough to have sensed his
reluctance.

“Which
way?” asked Alucius.

“Out
the gates. Turn right, then west at the next cross street.”

The
ride was indeed short, less than three-quarters of a vingt, Alucius judged, before
they reined up before a large two-story dwelling, a good twenty yards wide and
close to twice that in depth. There was a stable to the right rear, and a wide
front porch enclosed with a carved and painted pillared railing. A set of stone
steps rose from the graveled walk to the porch. A wide single door with a
stained-glass window was centered in the middle of the main floor. The house
itself was of graystone, with black shutters trimmed in white. The roof was
gray slate, and all the windows were wide, the shutters open. Thin trails of
gray smoke circled from both chimneys.

All
in all, a grand house, especially for a Northern Guard officer, Alucius judged.

“Best
let me knock, sir,” Holgart suggested. “You’ve taken enough shots.”

“Be
careful.”

“That
I will.”

Four
troopers stood with rifles leveled at the door as the squad leader used the
heavy bronze knocker to rap smartly on the plate beneath.

The
heavyset blond man who opened the door stood stock-still for a moment. Finally,
he spoke, “What’s… what is the meaning of this? The colonel will have your
miserable hides for carpets.”

“I’d
not be thinking so, sir,” offered Holgart. “Seeing as Weslyn’s no longer
colonel, by the order of the Lord-Protector. Colonel Alucius is the new
commander of the Northern Guard. We’re here to recover the property stolen by
Weslyn.”

“Stolen?”
The blond man, presumably Weslyn’s son, from his size and coloration, started
to close the door.

Holgart
wedged his big boot in the doorway and leveled his rifle at the man’s
midsection. “I do believe you’d best be opening the door and coming right out
here on the porch.”

The
man looked out at the two squads of troopers, then at Alucius, with the colonel’s
insignia on his collar. He let the door open and stepped out.

“Degurt,
you and the others secure the house! Report when it’s secure.”

Alucius
could tell with his Talent that the house was vacant, but said nothing.

“There’s
no one here but me right now.” The blond man looked at Alucius, who had
dismounted and walked to the steps at the bottom of the porch. “This is
disgraceful. My father still has some influence… You will answer for this.”

“I’m
sure I will,” Alucius admitted. “But I’ll have even more to answer for if I don’t
recover everything that’s been stolen. The Lord-Protector’s not terribly
sympathetic to theft by officers, especially now.”

“Theft?
That’s a serious charge… Colonel. My father is a good officer.”

“That
remains to be seen. If we find nothing, then you will have my deepest
apologies, but we will be looking. You are?”

“Your
apologies? Your apologies? You’ll offer more than that.”

“I’d
like your name, if you wouldn’t mind,” Alucius said.

“Lynat.”

“Lynat,
if I am mistaken, you will have my apologies.”

“If
you’re mistaken, and you are, my father will have your head.”

“That’s
highly unlikely. He tried to kill me in sight of a half score witnesses. He and
Majer Imealt died in the attempt.”

Lynat
paled.

“Sir,
the house is clear.”

“Good.”
Alucius turned to Lynat. “I’ll try to make as little disturbance as possible.
Please accompany us.” He motioned to Sanasus. “You, too, Overcaptain.”

After
using the boot scraper and brush, Alucius stepped into the front foyer, its
floor tiled in ceramic tile, with a geometric design in dark green, black, and
silver. A Deforyan-style chest, with a gilt-edged mirror, stood on the left, a
wall-hung, oak-backed row of bronze garment hooks on the right. The archway to
the left led to a study, and Alucius stepped inside, using his Talent to search
the desk and cabinets, but they held little besides papers. The bookcase under
the side window held four shelves of leather-bound volumes.

Alucius
nodded and crossed the foyer to the front parlor, with its two upholstered love
seats, four armchairs, and two matching sideboards—well designed and exquisitely
crafted. The dining room held a long cherry table and twelve chairs, with both
a large and small sideboard, and a carving table, all of matching design. The
chairs had blue and gold brocade upholstery. Behind the dining room and to the
right, the kitchen boasted an indoor pump and a large iron stove, as well as a
pantry that was a good three yards by two. The rear laundry room was just that.
Alucius noted the doorway to the cellar stairs.

“We’ll
check the cellar last,” he said mildly, watching Lynat. He wasn’t at all
surprised at Lynat’s worry and fear when he mentioned the cellar. “Let’s go
upstairs.”

Alucius
briefly checked the three smaller bedrooms first. One was disordered and
clearly Lynat’s. The only thing Alucius found there were two Guard sabres and a
pair of rifles.

“Not
exactly proper,” he said, setting the weapons on the end of the unmade bed, “but
not something to be that concerned about.” He turned to Sanasus. “Still… would
you make a note of the serial numbers on those?”

“Yes,
sir.”

The
largest bedroom was in the northwest corner. The only thing of interest there
was a small chest set on the chest of drawers. Alucius pretended to take a key,
but actually used his Talent to open the small lock.