The Mage-Fire War (Saga of Recluce)

by Modesitt. Jr. , L. E.

  “So could I.”

  Without another word, they turned their mounts back west.

  LII

  Early on twoday night, well after dinner and after Taelya had been put to bed, the four councilors sat around the kitchen table in the older couple’s house as Jessyla and Beltur described their day and their observations about the two majers and their captains.

  After they finished, Tulya said, “The more I hear about Rojak, the less I like it … and I didn’t like him from the moment he arrived.”

  “He’s a younger majer who’s likely related to someone important in Lydiar and thinks he knows more than he does,” said Lhadoraak.

  “I don’t like him,” said Jessyla, “but, in a way, I feel sorry for him.”

  “How can you feel sorry for an arrogant bastard like him?” replied Tulya.

  “No matter what happens, it won’t go well for him, and he doesn’t even see it. That’s one reason.”

  This time Lhadoraak looked puzzled.

  “If we win, and he survives, he’ll go back to Lydiar even more full of himself, and overconfident. That won’t turn out well. If we lose and he survives, Duke Halacut will blame Rojak. And if he doesn’t survive…”

  “I still don’t think he deserves even pity,” declared Tulya.

  “Why do you think it won’t turn out well if we win and if Rojak survives?” asked Lhadoraak.

  “Because it will be obvious that he had nothing to do with it, and he won’t accept that,” replied Jessyla.

  Beltur was about to say that he doubted that, thinking about Waensyn and how he’d taken credit for things he had nothing to do with … except, in the end Waensyn had overplayed his plaques, because he’d believed he was more than he’d actually been. “It might be a while before matters catch up with Rojak, but, one way or another, they will.”

  “Good,” declared Tulya.

  “Why do you dislike him that much?” asked Jessyla.

  “Besides being overbearing and full of himself? I could stand that. But the way he leered when he looked at Taelya. That was too much.”

  Beltur hadn’t seen that, but since Tulya clearly believed it, and she hadn’t been someone to overreact, he could definitely understand her feelings. “Did Taelya say anything?”

  “She said she didn’t like him, that he pushed feelings at her.”

  Beltur couldn’t help wincing, but was glad that Taelya wasn’t old enough to fully understand what those feelings really meant. That also meant that Jessyla needed to talk to Taelya about untoward “pushy feelings” and a few others things. Beltur wasn’t totally surprised, though, because Taelya had sensed that Naerkaal, the black mage on the Council of Axalt, had been sad when no one but Beltur had sensed Naerkaal’s feelings.

  “She’s reading what people feel,” said Jessyla. “She’s awfully young for that.”

  “She’s been awfully young for everything,” said Lhadoraak, looking toward Beltur, as if the younger mage had had something to do with that.

  “It could be that all children are naturally blocked from sensing order, and that only those who will be mages or healers lose that blocking as they grow. In healing her, I might have released some of those blocks early.”

  “We didn’t have any choice,” said Tulya. “She would have died. She was already almost dying.” She gave a long hard look at Lhadoraak.

  Lhadoraak took a deep breath. “It’s just that … I worry.”

  “You don’t think everyone in this room doesn’t worry about her?” asked Tulya.

  Beltur was glad that Tulya had been the one to make that point, although he certainly worried about Taelya, and about how much to teach her and in what fashion.

  “What do you two think about how Raelf felt?” asked Lhadoraak, as if he didn’t want to say more about Taelya. “Especially about Rojak.”

  “He’s worried about Rojak,” replied Jessyla. “But the way Raelf’s dealt with the Lydian captains … it’s almost as if Rojak was sent as a figurehead and told not to get in the way … and he doesn’t like it.”

  “He wasn’t very politic,” added Tulya.

  “Maybe he had been until they got here and knew where we stood,” suggested Jessyla.

  “Or maybe Rojak behaved himself until he met us,” said Lhadoraak, “and he wanted to prove he had some power.”

  “We’ll just have to see,” returned Beltur. “But Raelf made the point that Rojak had never been in a real battle, and that all of us had. It won’t hurt to watch him, at least as much as we can.”

  “Along with everything else?” asked Lhadoraak.

  “As we can,” repeated Beltur.

  “Do you think Raelf really meant that statement about us not sacrificing ourselves?” Lhadoraak’s words carried some doubt.

  “He definitely meant that,” declared Jessyla. “He as much as said that the chances of winning without all of us were slight.”

  “That’s as much a burden as a relief,” said Lhadoraak dourly. “He did say he didn’t think the Hydlenese would show up for another few days. Is that right?”

  “He did, but he said we couldn’t count on it,” replied Beltur. “That’s why he wants us to meet early every morning.”

  For several long moments, no one said anything.

  “You realize, don’t you,” Lhadoraak finally said, “that we made the Prefect even more of a problem?”

  Tulya offered a puzzled frown.

  Jessyla started to speak, then stopped and nodded to Beltur.

  “Because we gave his troopers and mages extensive battle experience, and no one else besides Spidlar has that right now?”

  “Experience counts,” replied Lhadoraak. “The Spidlarian naval marines were one of the reasons why we won that last battle.” He smiled ruefully. “I should say the combination of Beltur and the marines … but the point remains.”

  “Gustaan’s company seemed to have at least some experience,” Jessyla pointed out.

  “Except half of them were killed, and the rest were forced out,” replied Beltur. “That ties in with what Raelf said about the Hydlenese using up troopers.” He paused, then added, “It also means that we’ll likely have to kill quite a few of them.” He didn’t voice the other thought he had … the question of what they could do so that they weren’t fighting the Hydlenese continually. That wouldn’t be a problem unless and until they dealt with the oncoming force.

  “Why can’t they just leave us alone?” asked Tulya.

  “Because Lydiar and Haven are both seen as weak, and Duke Massyngal wants to take over Lydiar. We’re just a troublesome inconvenience in the way.” With those words, Beltur still wondered how much Korlyssa, Korsaen, and Maeyora really had known. He had the feeling that they’d felt Massyngal might be a problem in the future, but not if he were headed off by a strong set of councilors in Haven. He still wished he’d known enough to ask more pointed questions about Hydlen and Massyngal. But that was water long gone downstream.

  Tulya tried to cover a yawn. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s getting late,” said Jessyla, “and more talking won’t change anything.” She stood, glancing to Beltur, who also rose from the table. “We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “In the morning,” agreed the older mage.

  Within moments, Beltur and Jessyla had left the house.

  “Lhadoraak’s worried,” said Jessyla quietly as they walked through the too-warm night and across the narrow street toward their own house. “I’ve never seen him like this.”

  “As the gambler in Axalt—”

  “Klaznyt?”

  Beltur nodded. “As he might have said, the stakes are higher now. For all of us personally. It’s different when you put yourself in a position where there aren’t any ways out, only through.”

  “You’re saying, in a way, that we’ve had fewer ways out, and Lhadoraak’s never before been quite where we’ve been.”

  “Do you think I’m wrong?”

  She shook her head.

>   “You also need to talk to Taelya about those ‘pushy feelings,’ with Tulya there … the three of you women.”

  “I know. That can wait a little, but not long. She senses too much for her age.”

  Far too much. And that bothered Beltur, too.

  LIII

  Twoday night wasn’t that much cooler than the day, and when Beltur rose slightly before fifth glass, he had no doubts that threeday would likely be the hottest day of the year, at least so far, and that would likely make it the warmest and dampest day he’d ever experienced … and that didn’t count whatever might occur with the Hydlenese.

  “It’s going to be hot today,” he told Jessyla.

  “Tulya’s enjoying the warmth.”

  “I’m glad someone is.”

  “You’ll get used to it.”

  Beltur wondered about that, but only briefly because he and Jessyla had to hurry to wash up, dress, and eat. As they quickly finished eating, Jessyla asked, “Should we saddle the horses or just walk?”

  Beltur thought for a moment. “Just walk. I’d rather not have them waiting out in the heat when there’s no sign of the Hydlenese. We’ll need them rested later. If I need to scout, I can always saddle Slowpoke later.”

  “I’ll clean up here, then, and I’ll tell the others that we’re walking,” said Jessyla. “You water the horses and check their feed.”

  Beltur nodded, then rose and hurried down to the barn, where he quickly dealt with the horses, or as quickly as he could. When he secured the barn, he saw Jessyla talking to Lhadoraak outside the older mage’s house, and he made his way there.

  “Tulya and Taelya will be out in a moment,” said Lhadoraak. “She’s not happy about Rojak. I told her that Taelya could stay with Gustaan and the patrollers, but she said that she wasn’t about to have Taelya separated from us right now.”

  “Definitely not now,” declared Tulya as she and Taelya left the house. She glanced around, then said, “At least we’re not freezing all the time here.”

  “It is a bit warm,” offered Beltur.

  “I can deal with warmth,” replied Tulya, “not cold that seeps deep inside your bones.”

  Beltur caught the glance from Jessyla and nodded, then said, “We’ll walk. We don’t need to tire the horses yet. We’ll likely be asking a lot of them before long.”

  “We’ll be asking a lot of everyone before it’s over,” murmured Lhadoraak.

  Beltur could agree with that.

  Although threeday was market day, it was too early for anyone to be setting up in the square when the five crossed it on the way to the East Inn, and when they reached the public room, only Raelf and Rojak awaited them.

  “The captains are dealing with their companies,” said Raelf, gesturing for the five to join them at the larger round table.

  Rojak just nodded.

  “I take it that nothing’s changed,” said Beltur as he and the others seated themselves.

  “So far there’s no sign of troopers or even scouts,” declared Raelf.

  “I still question whether they’re even coming,” said Rojak.

  “I’d like to think they weren’t,” countered Raelf mildly. “That’s unlikely. Duke Massyngal has never ignored any challenge to his power. Both your duke and my duchess don’t believe he’ll start ignoring a challenge now—even if the councilors here were only defending their town against his attacking troopers.”

  “Also, some traders came through here before you arrived headed for Lydiar,” said Beltur. “They said that Duke Massyngal was readying an army.”

  “Traders? Do you trust them?”

  “Only to act in their own self-interest, but when their self-interest shows itself in their fleeing, it’s at least suggestive.”

  Raelf offered an amused laugh. “I tend to agree with the mage on that, Rojak.”

  “What do you have in mind for dealing with the Hydlenese scouts when they appear?” asked Lhadoraak.

  “If the circumstances permit, we’ll harass them and eliminate them immediately where we can. That’s if our men can do it without taking casualties. Right now, that is. That will make it harder for them to learn anything about us. It also will reduce their numbers.”

  “Of course, that will make them even angrier,” said Rojak.

  Raelf raised his eyebrows. “I doubt that anything we do will make their officers any angrier than they’ll already be. Their troopers will be like all troopers. Most of them, anyway. They’ll just want to do their job and stay alive.” His eyes went from Lhadoraak to Beltur. “You’ve had experience with scouting. What would you do?”

  “Just what you’ve suggested. I’d like to be notified immediately once you discover any sign of the Hydlenese forces. I might be able to discover more.”

  “We can do that.” Raelf paused. “You’re not thinking of acting alone, are you?”

  “I might scout, but I’m more interested in finding as soon as possible if they have mages. Also, how many and what kind.”

  “Why?” asked Rojak.

  “Because that will tell me what those mages can do against our forces and how we should be used to be the most effective. The numbers and types of mages they bring also will allow you to know what tactics are likely to be more effective.”

  “How so?” Raelf’s question was curious, not pointed.

  “Black mages are more likely to be able to sense concealments at a distance. Whites aren’t very good at that until they’re close, but up close their chaos bolts are more effective, unless one of us is there to shield against chaos-fire.”

  “What else can you do?” asked Rojak.

  “Each of us is a bit different. What Lhadoraak does best is concealments and then shields. My shields are stronger, and I can also break through a line, enough for troopers to take advantage of it. Jessyla’s not quite as strong, but she can shield and conceal squad-sized units.”

  “You didn’t mention how effectively you can strike down attackers,” said Rojak. “Why didn’t you mention that?”

  “Either Jessyla or I can take out attackers if they get close to us. Given the way our skills work, the more space we have, the more effective we can be. But that’s only for short periods of time.”

  “That seems at odds with what you did to that greencoat battalion,” pressed Rojak.

  Beltur shook his head. “It took me most of a day. It wouldn’t have been possible if the Hydlenese hadn’t scattered so much.”

  “Wasn’t that in part because you’d removed much of their command structure?” interjected Raelf.

  “It definitely was,” said Jessyla. “What Beltur did wouldn’t have been possible against a force twice that size.”

  “What we do works better when we support troopers, not act independently of them,” said Beltur. “That was how Spidlar was able to defeat the much larger forces of Gallos at Elparta.”

  “You’re suggesting that each of you be with a different force element, then,” said Raelf.

  “That’s right,” said Lhadoraak, “with a commander who will listen, especially to Beltur.”

  “Why Beltur?” asked Raelf. “Why not you? You’re older and presumably more experienced.”

  Lhadoraak shook his head. “I’m older. He’s more experienced. He also can sense the battlefield as a whole—where troop concentrations are, where there are weak spots.”

  Beltur was glad Lhadoraak didn’t elaborate on that, especially about how he and the naval marines had been able to break the Gallosian line and target the command companies to create the disruptions that had fragmented the Gallosian army. He doubted that any of the companies were anywhere close to as good as Captain Toeraan’s naval marines had been, and he certainly didn’t want Raelf to have unrealistic expectations.

  “You didn’t mention that,” Raelf said to Beltur.

  “I told you I could sense troopers from a distance,” replied Beltur.

  “Doing that in the middle of a battle is different. Was that one reason why you were able to kil
l so many Hydlenese troopers? That you knew where they were, even when you couldn’t see them?”

  “That helped.”

  Raelf turned to Rojak. “Is there anything else you’d like to know?”

  “Did you have to kill all those Hydlenese troopers?” Rojak asked Beltur.

  “Yes. Otherwise we’d have to face them once more when Duke Massyngal attacked again.”

  “Didn’t you think that was a judgment better left to the Duchess?”

  “No. She granted us the authority to do what we thought necessary. Also, she wasn’t here, and the opportunity was.”

  “So you thought—”

  “Majer,” declared Raelf forcefully, “what the councilor said is true. When Massyngal attacks, neither of us will be able to consult the Duchess or Duke. The councilor had the same problem.” He cleared his throat and asked, “Do you have any questions of us?”

  Beltur looked to Lhadoraak, then Jessyla, and finally Taelya. Seeing only headshakes, he replied, “Only the request that you continue to keep us immediately informed.”

  “Then we should meet tomorrow morning, unless we receive information. Thank you.”

  Rojak did not appear especially pleased, but he did not speak as the five rose and left the public room.

  Once they were outside and walking toward the public square, Lhadoraak spoke. “It doesn’t look like we’ll have that much to do today.”

  “That makes it a good day for more instruction in magery,” said Beltur. “I haven’t spent as much time with Taelya—or Jessyla—as I should have in the last few days.” What he wasn’t saying was that even a slight improvement in Jessyla’s skills, and possibly even Taelya’s, might just be the difference between winning and losing the upcoming battles, since Beltur doubted that there would be just one massive battle.

  More likely skirmishes trying to get advantages leading up to a decisive encounter. But even that was speculation.

  He blotted his forehead as he kept walking across the still-empty square.

  LIV

  The four councilors, accompanied by Taelya, met with Raelf and Rojak again on fourday morning, but there were no signs of any travelers at all on any roads heading to Haven, which, regardless of what Rojak thought, suggested to Beltur that merchants and others knew an army was riding toward the small town.