Soarers Choice (68 page)

“It
wasn’t arrogance. It was an absolute certainty, combined with an overwhelming
sadness. And there was something else, too,” he mused. “I didn’t catch it at
the time, but you know how they’ve told me before how I — or we — had to change
or perish? Well... now their attitude was more like ... we’ve told you, and you
haven’t listened, and we’re sorry for you, and please go on and do whatever
meaningless task you have in mind.”

“Do
you really think they have that kind of power and ability?” asked Lystrana.

“I
didn’t. Now ... I have to wonder.” He took a last sip of the beaker of ale. “I
still can’t believe that Samist and his supporters are using lightcannon.”

“It’s
the invulnerability of arrogance. We’re powerful. We’re so powerful that
nothing can truly hurt us. That’s the way they think.”

“But
more than a few of them have died.”

“Of
the higher alectors, none except Zelyert,” she pointed out. “And that’s in over
a hundred years. They’ve gotten into the habit of believing that it can’t
happen to them — or here.”

“If
I could have reached Brekylt...”

“If
you had, and if you’d killed him, the others would have dismissed it as
Brekylt’s weakness.” Lystrana glanced to the door. “It’s time for me to go to
the hearing.”

“Hearing?”

“I’m
presiding over a hearing. One of the landholders built a dam on his land that
collapsed and flooded a small town east of Aelta. Five indigens were killed. He
claims it’s not his fault, even though the stream was listed as one that was
not to be channeled or dammed.”

“That
should be interesting.”

“I
know. It’s almost absurd, when you’ve been trying to preserve the entire world,
but life does go on. At least, I have to hope that it does.” Her smile was
faint and rueful.

“I
am going to get dressed,” Dainyl said, adding quickly, “but I won’t go
anywhere.”

Lystrana
looked at him.

“I
do need to think over some things, and I don’t think well in bed.” He grinned
at her.

She
finally smiled back. “I’ll see you later, dearest.”

Dainyl
watched her go, sensing both her aura and that of Kytrana. He wished he were
stronger, but there was no help for that, and he was definitely going to have
to find ways to accomplish what he wanted — other than by direct force.

He
looked at the empty beaker, then set it and the tray on the table beside the
bed. He did need to think — on more than a few things.

On
Sexdi morning, after breakfast, Lystrana shook her head as Dainyl checked the
lightcutters and their holsters, then donned his green jacket.

“You’re
still far from recovered,” Lystrana said.

“I
know, but I’m well enough to travel, and Khelaryt needs protection. I’ll see
Fhentyl first and have Fifth Company fly to Elcien today. Then I’ll take the
Table to Tempre and give the same orders to Seventh Company. After that, I’ll
translate to Elcien.”

“You’re
not directly in command,” she pointed out.

“No,
but they won’t want to disobey me, and I’ll merely order them to report to the
marshal in Elcien. I’ll be there before they are — “

Lystrana
sighed. “Do all High Alectors start believing they’re invulnerable?”

“This
one certainly doesn’t, but if I don’t show up before long, that will encourage
Samist and Brekylt.”

“Not
if they see you in the shape you’re in.”

“I’ll
have to make sure that doesn’t happen, won’t I?” Dainyl grinned.

“That
might be wise, dearest — along with all the other caution you can manage.” She
stepped toward him, then kissed him gently on the cheek. “The coach is waiting
outside.”

Less
than half a glass later, he was stepping out of the coach at the gates to the
Myrmidon compound south of Dereka. Occasional flakes of snow swirled out of a
light gray sky, but not enough to provide the thinnest layer of white on the
ground. “I won’t be long.”

“We’ll
be here, Highest,” replied the driver.

Dainyl
turned and walked through the gates and across the stone-paved courtyard to the
headquarters building. Captain Fhentyl was waiting for him in the entry foyer,
“Highest.” The captain bowed slightly. Although Fhentyl’s greeting was more
than polite, Dainyl could sense a wariness behind the greeting.

“Captain.
I have orders for you. They’re very simple. Fifth Company is to deploy to
headquarters in Elcien and to await further orders from the marshal.”

Fhentyl
nodded, and Dainyl could sense his relief.

“You’re
to fly out today. If you have difficulties or weather problems, you can stop in
Tempre. Seventh Company will be joining you as well. It’s possible that the
Alector of the East is trying to subvert the Duarchy. He murdered Submarshal Noryan
and about half of Third Company, and it appears he is supported by High Alector
Ruvryn.”

“Sir?”
Fhentyl was actually surprised.

So
was the duty officer at the desk less than five yards away, an undercaptain who
had been listening while trying not to show that she was.

“This
happened late on Duadi or early on Tridi. Also, the commander of Fourth Company
attempted a mutiny, but Majer Sevasya stopped that, and she’s now the acting
submarshal. We don’t know how Duarch Samist sees matters, but it’s prudent to
provide additional support to Duarch Khelaryt.”

“I
can see that, Highest.”

“There
is one other matter of which you should be aware. High Alector Ruvryn and
Brekylt have been building and distributing more lightcannon, like those used
in Hyalt.”

“I
had wondered if we would see more of them.” Fhentyl shook his head.

“I
need to be on my way, Captain. Good flying.”

“Thank
you, sir.”

Dainyl
turned.

Fhentyl
walked back to the RA’s coach with him, through the chill and gusting winds.
“Will we see you in Elcien?”

“I’ll
be there, but you’ll be dealing with Marshal Alcyna.” Dainyl opened the coach
door and stepped up and into the coach.

Even
the intermittent snow had ceased by the time he reached the goldenstone
building that held the Table. He did not see the recorder’s coach, but Jonyst
was in the library.

The
older alector turned and smiled. “You’re looking better than Whelyne described
you, if more green and not so well as I’d prefer.”

“You’re
looking whiter-haired than I’d prefer,” countered Dainyl.

“We
do what we can,” replied the recorder dryly. “You should know that the tube
fluctuations have not subsided. They’re slightly stronger, in fact.”

“How
long do you think it will be?”

“A
week, perhaps a few days less.”

A
week before the Archon began the transfer? That didn’t give Dainyl much more
time. “I’m headed to Tempre and then back to Elcien.”

“You
shouldn’t have any trouble with the Tables. Not yet.” Jonyst led the way down
the stairs to the Table chamber.

Dainyl
followed, then moved directly to the Table and onto it, hoping that a simple
Table to Table translation would take less effort. He concentrated ...

...
and dropped into the purpled Talent light of the tube. For the first time, the
purple felt slightly slimy, but he pushed that thought away and concentrated on
the blue locator of Tempre, ignoring the still-present amber-green force of the
ancients that continued to loom over both the tube and the deeper web.

He
was clearly aware of his own progress, and he sensed himself moving toward
Tempre, rather than having the feeling that the locator was moving toward him.
He brushed through the misty silvered-blue barrier and...

...
stood solidly on the Table.

Chyal
looked up from one end of the Table, flanked by two guards. He bowed
immediately. “Highest.”

“Recorder.”
Dainyl stepped off the Table. “Do you think I might borrow the RA’s coach for a
quick trip to the Myrmidon compound and back?”

“No,
sir.” A faint smile crossed the young recorder’s lips. “No one is using it. A
mason’s wagon smashed it, and it is being repaired. There are several hackers
there, however.”

“That
will be fine. I hope no one was injured.”

“One
horse was bruised and slightly cut, but no passengers or drivers.”

“Has
the number of wild translations decreased recently?”

“Yes,
sir. There were only two all of yesterday, and none today ... so far.”

Dainyl
nodded. “I should be back before long. Thank you.”

He
made his way out of the chamber and out into the lower stone corridor. Once he
had climbed the corner staircase to the main level, he walked to the front of
the building. Both the handful of alectors and landers in the corridor nodded
politely, but gave him a wide berth.

Within
a quarter glass a local hacker had dropped him at the compound that had once
housed the Alector’s Guard of Tempre. As Dainyl stepped out of the coach, he
couldn’t help but note the clear silver-green sky — and that it was earlier
than when he had left Dereka. He wondered if he’d ever really get used to
traveling faster than the sun.

He
was through the gates and a good third of the way across the courtyard toward
the section that held the headquarters area when Lyzetta hurried across the
courtyard toward him.

“Highest!”

“Captain.
How are you ... and Seventh Company?”

“Well,
thank you, sir, and closer to full strength.”

“That’s
good. Did you hear about Submarshal Noryan?”

Lyzetta’s
cheerful smile faded. “Yes, sir. We got the dispatch late yesterday, about him
and Sevasya. It’s hard to believe.”

Dainyl
could tell that it was no surprise at all to the captain, but he merely nodded
in response. “All of Seventh Company is to fly to Elcien immediately and report
to the marshal.”

“Yes,
sir. We can do that.”

“Brekylt
has access to more lightcannon, and they’ve been used in Norda and Dulka in the
last few days. Right now, we don’t know if there are others or where they are,
but they’ll turn up here in the west before long. Will you have any difficulty
in getting to Elcien today?”

“No,
sir.”

“Oh...
Fifth Company may have to overnight here tonight. They’re flying to Elcien.”

“That
won’t be a problem.” Lyzetta gestured at the stone structures surrounding the
courtyard. “There’s enough space for four companies here. I’ll tell the staff.”
She paused. “Is there anything else we should know?”

“Only
that the next few weeks will likely be very uncertain and that every Myrmidon
needs to be particularly careful.” He smiled. “I’ll be returning to Elcien
now.”

“You’re
leaving so quickly?”

“I’ve
been in Dereka, and there was no reason to send someone else to give you the
orders, but I do need to get back to the Hall of Justice.”

The
coach ride back to the RA’s building and the translation back to Elcien were
uneventful, but by the time Dainyl sat down behind the table in his small study
in the Hall of Justice his legs were slightly shaky.

He
didn’t have time to think about that because Adya appeared, holding an
envelope. “One of Bharyt’s assistants just delivered this, Highest.”

Dainyl
took the envelope and opened it, reading it quickly. “The Duarch has invited me
for a private luncheon today.”

“That
could be very good or not so good, Highest.”

“Possibly
both,” Dainyl suggested. “I’ll have to go to find out. Make sure the coach is
standing by. Oh ... will you send a quick message to the marshal, requesting
her to come here at her earliest convenience?”

Once
his chief assistant had left, Dainyl closed his eyes and leaned back in the
chair. Lystrana had definitely been right.

He
actually managed to get a short semi-nap before Alcyna arrived.

“If
you will pardon the observation, Highest,” she said, after settling herself
into the chair across from him, “you’ve looked a great deal better than you do
now.”

“That’s
why you’re here. I had an ... encounter with two lightcannon in Dulka and more
than a few lightcutters in Alustre. Brekylt has left Alustre, and he’s not in
Dulka.”

“You
think he’s in Ludar?”

“That’s
my best judgment, but I can’t prove it. I’ve ordered Fifth and Seventh
Companies here to Elcien to report to you for further orders.”

“We’d
better set up more patrols, then.”

“Some
of the recorders also think that the Archon will transfer the Master Scepter
within the next two weeks.”

“That
explains Brekylt’s actions, then.”

“I
thought so,” replied Dainyl, stifling a yawn. “I’m having lunch with the
Duarch. Is there anything I should know?”

“Sevasya
set up her own patrols and found a group of alectors in black and silver using
a sandox team and coach to advance on Lysia. She regrets the loss of sandoxen
and the coach.”

“No
regrets about the alectors?” Dainyl couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of his words.

“She
didn’t convey any.” Alcyna gave a small laugh. “I can’t imagine why not.”

“What
more should I know?”

“There
have been no dispatches at all for the last two days out of Ludar, but the
dispatch fliers delivering messages there say that they have observed nothing
out of the ordinary.”

“Has
anyone seen Ruvryn?”

“No.”

“How
are the Cadmians doing?”

“Sixth
Battalion has destroyed a number of the mountain nomads. Third and Fourth
Battalions have had conflicts with the Squawts and Reillies and have inflicted
severe casualties.”

“You
know more than that,” suggested Dainyl.

“Some
of my sources suggest the Reillies have taken some sort of belief-oath against
the Cadmians. It’s unlikely that the Cadmians will prevail without killing
virtually all the Reillies.”