Soarers Choice (61 page)

“How
much of those deficits represent onetime expenditures?” asked Khelaryt.

“Very
little, I would judge, but you should ask the other High Alectors, sir.”

Khelaryt
looked to Dainyl. “Justice?”

“I
cannot answer that for all items, sir, but part of the deficit resulted from
the need for additional Table guards. Once the Master Scepter is actually
transferred, the majority of those expenditures should not be necessary on a
continuing basis. Likewise, there was more construction of new facilities for
Cadmians and Myrmidons than normal. Also, operational costs were higher than
budgeted because of unrest related to the transfer of the Master Scepter ...”

“I
beg your pardon, Dainyl,” said Alseryl, “but could you explain that?”

“The
costs were an extension of events on which I briefed the High Alectors when I
was Marshal of Myrmidons,” Dainyl replied. “First, RA Rhelyn destroyed the
local Cadmian garrison in Hyalt apparently because one of the local Cadmians
noted the buildup of his rebel forces. At the time, that destruction was blamed
on local insurgencies, and a Cadmian battalion was dispatched with two local
trainee companies to subdue the supposed insurgents and to build a more secure
local compound. Then, in support of Rhelyn, RA Fahylt created his own mounted
rifles in Tempre, and the Cadmians were required to take action to subdue and
destroy them. In the course of those efforts, disloyal alectors under Fahylt
attacked the Cadmians and inflicted casualties on men and mounts. Both had to
be replaced.” Dainyl smiled. “None of these events would have occurred had it
not been for actions among alectors related to the pending transfer of the
Master Scepter. The same is true for the additional Myrmidon costs related to
defeating the attacks on the Tables at Blackstear and Soupat. I trust that
satisfies your inquiry.”

“More
than sufficiently,” interjected the Duarch. “Please continue with your analysis
of which costs were onetime, and which may be ongoing.”

Chembryt
smiled at Dainyl.

“The
costs of the transfer of Seventh Company to Tempre were mitigated by the
construction of facilities by the former RA, although some additional
construction will be required to modify the facilities for pteridons.
Activities by the ancients, almost completely in areas adjoining the Aerial
Plateau, have increased casualties and operating costs for the Cadmian Mounted
Rifles, and I cannot say whether those types of costs will continue....” When
he finished Dainyl inclined his head.

“Thank
you,” replied the Duarch. “Alseryl.”

“Yes,
sir. Virtually all of the deficit incurred by Transport related to two basic
causes. First was the scheduled overhaul and refit of the Duarches’ Honesty. We
had budgeted for that, but overall operating costs were increased when the road
through the South Pass was blocked. We have had to arrange for transport of
goods by other routes, and by sending more by sea, and then trans-shipping
them. We also have been tasked with recruiting, training, and replacing more
sandox drivers as a result of higher Myrmidon casualties, and we have had to
make two special ocean transports in support of Cadmian deployments.”

“Special?”
queried Chembryt. “Are not such deployment transport costs part of your
budget?”

“Historically,
we have budgeted for one or two. There have been four in the past year.”
Alseryl coughed slightly.

“Have
there been any additional transport costs incurred as a result of increased
engineering and artisan output?” asked Dainyl.

Alseryl
paused, and Dainyl could tell that the inquiry had caught him unprepared.

“Have
there?” prompted Khelaryt.

“Yes,
sir. Perhaps twenty percent or more of the deficit occurred from that source.”

“Could
you provide some details?” asked the Duarch. “What sort of output and to
where?”

“I
could not, sir. I do not keep track of all the items in a ship’s hold or in the
cargo section of a sandox carriage. I can say that there was a greater weight
and volume of iron pigs coming down the Vedra to Faitel, and more finished
products shipped from Faitel.”

“What
about the floods on the Vedra?” asked Dainyl. “Will those have an impact on
future expenditures?”

That
question puzzled Alseryl as well, but because — Dainyl suspected — it
sympathetically implied that Alseryl would face costs beyond his control.

“Replacing
the piers at Dekhron and Borlan, and repairing those at Tempre, will add
between two and five thousand golds to our construction outlays.”

“I
think we have a picture of what we face. I don’t see any point in attempting to
make changes in your operations until after the Master Scepter has been
transferred. After that, some economies may well be necessary, and I ask each
of you to consider what might be practical for your area of responsibility.”
Khelaryt paused only long enough to signify that the budget matters were
closed, then asked, “Do any of you have any other matters?”

Chembryt
shook his head.

Alseryl
remained silent.

After
a moment, Dainyl spoke. “I have one slight difficulty. I’ve been informed by
the commanding Myrmidon majer in Lysia that certain critical military goods
have not reached Eighth Company there. It appears as if that aspect of ground
transport faces some difficulty. I’d like to request that a consignment of such
equipment and supplies be included on the next vessel to take the southern
route. To ensure its safety, we would be willing to send a small Myrmidon
detachment with it.”

Khelaryt
remained impassive.

“You
must know, Dainyl,” replied Alseryl, “that such cargoes are determined months
in advance. With the small number of powered ocean transports, our flexibility
is very limited.”

“That
I understand, but we are not talking a significant fraction of even one ship’s
cargo capacity.”

“You
may be High Alector of Justice, Dainyl, and I understand your concerns about
proper supply of your Myrmidons, but supply should be carried out through the
proper distribution system by the Alector of the East. If you have a problem,
shouldn’t you be taking it up with him first?” asked Alseryl, his voice mild.

Dainyl
could sense a certain buried glee.

“The
Alector of the East has been requested to supply such, but he has replied that
he lacks those particular items and supplies. Since he lacks them, and
apparently will for the foreseeable future, I’m making the request of you.”

“That
seems reasonable, Alseryl,” suggested Khelaryt.

The
High Alector of Transport nodded. “Given the critical nature of the supplies
and equipment, I suggest that you do supply Myrmidons as guards.”

“I
will have Marshal Alcyna work with your assistants to make the arrangements.”

“If
there is nothing more ...” Khelaryt’s words were not a suggestion.

The
Duarch departed immediately, followed by Alseryl, who clearly displayed a
mixture of pique and buried elation.

Chembryt
and Dainyl walked down the corridor toward the Palace entrance with greater
deliberation.

“You
know that shipment of goods will be dispatched and require guards at the time
when you most need Myrmidons?” Chembryt laughed.

“That
thought had occurred to me, but the Duarch would prefer to hold Lysia, and that
would be difficult for the Myrmidons without supplies and equipment.”

“How
is Lystrana finding Dereka?”

“Somewhat
stressful at times, but she’s pleased not to have to worry about disappointing
you by not being able to use the Tables.” Dainyl smiled.

Chembryt
wasn’t about to say more, at least not in the Palace where every word could be,
and usually was, overheard, and Dainyl didn’t want to say more, because he
still knew too little about the interplay between High Alectors.

Mykel
rode forward, just enough that he had a vantage point from behind the trunk of
the leafless oak tree. He glanced to the east where Selena had just risen, to
join Asterta low in the sky, then back to the north, watching the valley. In
the darkness of Tridi before dawn, he doubted that any of the other Cadmians
saw what he did, what with the night sight that accompanied his still-increasing
Talent.

If
you have so much Talent, how did you manage to get wounded so badly? Because
he’d relied on it exclusively just before he’d been shot, because the dead
Reillie had had Talent as well, and because Mykel himself had been struck with
bullets, Talent, and the crossbow quarrel.

Explanations
were all well and good, but he still felt almost helpless in a battle
situation. If he had been able to use his rifle effectively, he knew he could
have reduced the casualties suffered by his men — as well as cut down the
number of enemies. But with every battle where you lead the fight there’s a
greater chance of getting killed.

Mykel
concentrated on what was about to happen to the north, where Hamylt was making
his first attack in an attempt to get the Reillies to attack and chase elements
of Third and Fourth Battalions into range of the main Cadmian body.

The
sound of rifles echoed through the gray before dawn, continuing for a quarter
glass before ceasing almost instantly. Hamylt had either run out of ammunition
or the Reillies were mounting a counterattack.

As
the darkness lightened into gray, the only sounds from the north were muffled
yells and commands from the insurgents’ camp.

“Sir?”
Loryalt eased his mount toward Mykel and the roan. “Any word?”

“No.
Hamylt’s attacked once, but there wasn’t much of a Reillie reply.”

“Do
you think they slipped away?”

That
was certainly possible, but Mykel had the feeling that wasn’t the case.

Then,
from farther north, came another volley of shots ... and then another. This
time, scattered shots replied.

“There
are some Reillies there. They’re shooting back.”

“Sir?”

“At
Hamylt. He’s made two attacks. That’s what it sounds like, anyway.”

Loryalt
frowned. “You’ve got better hearing than I do, sir.”

“Practice,”
replied Mykel. He thought that Hamylt had attacked successfully and withdrawn,
but he saw no riders on the road to the north heading in either direction.

“You
still want us to stand by?”

“The
Reillies usually make some response. Let’s see what it is.”

“Yes,
sir.” Loryalt eased his mount through the trees to the southwest.

Mykel
returned his full attention to the road and the valley.

The
sky lightened into pale gray, and then, with the
e.g.
of the sun peering over the hills to the east, to silver-green. And still no
riders appeared. Out of the silence, three or four, perhaps as many as a score
of shots echoed from the area of the bridge, and then the Fourth Battalion
squads galloped back toward Third Battalion, riding hard, faster than Mykel had
expected.

Mykel
could sense the Reillies and Squawts before he could see them, but within
another fraction of a glass, even the shortest-sighted of the Cadmian troops
lined up in the trees on the knoll overlooking the road could make out the
horde moving toward them. The Reillies had not taken just the road, but were
riding through the orchards, across the frozen fields touched with white, so
that they formed a front nearly half a vingt across, only roughly centered on
the road.

The
middle of that front was extended slightly, into a point of mounted riders
that, had it been extended, would have centered itself on Mykel. More than
coincidence, that suggested to Mykel that the Reillie he had killed earlier was
not the only insurgent with Talent.

Mykel
fumbled out his rifle, left-handed, and laid it across his knees. Then he
waited until the riders were only a little more than a hundred yards away
before he issued his orders. “Third Battalion! Fire at will!”

“Fire
at will!”

“Fire
at will!”

The
commands echoed from the company officers to the squad leaders, and shots rang
out, flashing from the trees into the uneven front of the Reillies and Squawts.
Despite the accuracy of the Cadmians, and even with bodies falling and mounts
going down, the insurgents rode up the gentle slope toward the Cadmians.

A
greater number surged toward the center. Mykel felt that all of them were
riding directly toward him, but he left the rifle across his knees.

From
somewhere came a tendril of Talent — greenish brown Talent from the center of
the attackers.

“Aim
for the center! Aim for the center!” Those commands came from his right, where
Rhystan and Sixteenth Company were set up.

Within
moments, Loryalt issued the same orders. Mykel eased his mount back slightly,
trying to use the oak for greater cover. His eyes dropped to his rifle. Not
yet.

Three
riders crashed through the low leafless bushes on the lower section of the
slope, less than fifteen yards below Mykel. They bore long blades, swords that
looked too long to use effectively in the brush and trees, but Mykel knew that
while he could not have handled such a blade, they certainly could.

“He’s
up there! Right behind the oak! The priest-killer!”

“Death
to the priest-killer! Avenge Kladyl!” The cracking of brush behind Mykel was
followed by a command, “Fifth squad! Charge!”

“Third
squad! Forward!”

Cadmians
in maroon cold-weather jackets rode past Mykel on both sides, rifles sheathed
and sabres out, sweeping down toward the oncoming Reillies.

“To
the priest-killer!” came the call.

The
Cadmians cut deep into the mass of the Reillies, driving them back, then
swinging aside to allow another set of rifle volleys to decimate the front
lines of the attackers.