Karyn had not long ridden out of the clearing when Aenar started into full wakefulness. He cast around the clearing. “Where is she? I will rip that serpent’s hide from her bones. Where is she?”
Kylos knelt quickly at his Consort’s side. “Peace, ‘b’zaddi, she has gone back to the camp.”
The Provost staggered to his feet, re-sheathing his fallen sword as he rose. “She was about to give him kif-weed “to taste” and it was a cursed sight more than a nibble,” the Provost’s voice was a low, menacing hiss, like a King Snake threatening to strike. “He would have been out like a snuffed candle in moments—and then who knows what she would have done. I swear I will have that treacherous snake’s head for this.”
I stepped out of the shadows. “No, Aenar, you will not.” I told him. “You will let this matter pass and I will deal with it.”
Aenar walked towards me, “With all respect, Ez’n . . .”
“This is not a request, Aenar, it is an order from your Commander,” I told him sternly. “And if you will not obey that, then it is an order from The Crown.
“Ez’n, I . . .”
“I will deal with it, Aenar. You have my word. This will not happen again.”
Once settled back at the camp I had Iannos set the reception area as my office. He carried out the task with his usual admirable efficiency, enquiring as he set the last of the seals whether or not he should prepare refreshments. I shook my head. This meeting was not going to be remotely social.
“Summon Faedron please, Iannos.”
The page bowed and trotted off and will I waited I penned a summons for Karyn. By the time I had affixed my seal Faedron was standing before me. I folded the summons carefully and sealed it. “Take this to Karyn.” I instructed him, “She is to come without any delay. Am I clear?”
Faedron saluted and turned on his heel, stopping briefly to turn back to me. “Shall I need to take another with me, Ez’n?”
I noted his use of my title as opposed to “t’pahq” with a wry smile. “Not if she knows what is good for her. I will leave it to your discretion.”
When the corporal was gone I picked another sheet of parchment from the tray before me and began writing again.
When Faedron returned it was with Karyn and Thaze and Maegor. “You were not summoned here Thaze,” I observed without looking up for the document I was sealing.
The young man shuffled uncomfortably. “I came to support my war sister.”
I looked up. “That is most unfortunate,” I replied, “for it brings your loyalty to me into question.”
Thaze looked genuinely shocked. “I am ever loyal to you, t’pahq. Have I not proved this time after time?”
“Indeed—except now. You should wait outside, Thaze, if you please.” I signalled Maegor and he escorted the young warrior out.
Karyn stood impassively before me. I waited for several minutes for her to say something but she simply stood before me staring straight ahead. Eventually I broke the silence
“Do you know why I have summoned you here, Karyn?”
“Because Aenar has brought charges that I tried to kidnap Daryth?” she replied coolly.
“You seem unconcerned by the accusation—not that any such accusation has been made.”
Karyn looked at me then, surprised and not a little disconcerted.
“No you are here because I want to know why you took Daryth out of the camp and suggested to him that he “taste” kif-weed.”
“I was replenishing my stocks of herbs. The boy is a Healer and I thought he would benefit from learning something of healing plants.”
“Without the permission of his parents?”
“They are NOT his parents,” she snapped, “They are tain . . . .” the Shield Maiden checked herself abruptly.
I gave the woman a disparaging look. In all the time I had worked with her I would never have guessed that she harboured such thoughts about the men she fought alongside. It was a credit to her, of course, that she did not allow such feelings to compromise the fighting team, but I fell shocked and dismayed all the same.
“I never had you fixed as a bigot, Karyn.” I told her. “I am—disappointed.”
“As if I care,” Karyn shot back at me. “Daryth has no family, and a Morlan boy with such a talent belongs in the Healers’ Guild in Moria.”
I shook my head. Even now she was admitting her intent to kidnap the boy and dressing it as some nobler cause. I leaned back in my chair and placed my hands on the table before me. Regardless of what she may think, Daryth now had a family and that family was Aenar and Kylos—by Law and by order of the King of Morla and its new Prince Royal. “And regardless of how you may feel about either Daryth’s skill or his chosen domestic circumstances, you have no right to interfere with that.”
Karyn said nothing, she just started to stare past me again. “Polo tells me that you told Daryth that Kylos said it was alright for him to go with you. Why do you suppose he would tell me that? And why would you lie to the boy?”
“Polo probably said that because he thinks he is in trouble for not taking Daryth back to the compound.”
Polo knew full well he was not in trouble and I wasted no words acquainting Karyn with the fact. The boy-squire had been schooled well enough by Dthor to know that if he thought he had done anything untoward to tell his Captain immediately so that things could be corrected. Neither did I skimp on telling her that Daryth had told me the same thing. She shrugged at me but said nothing.
So tell me,” I said at length, “Why would you let a child “taste” kif-weed when both you and I both know that even the smallest amount can render a child unconscious very quickly. What was the plan? To pass him on to someone in your Guild or to desert and take him to Moria yourself?”
Karyn gave me a disparaging look. “What would you do, t’pahq?” Karyn demanded, “The discovery of a Toucher after so long. It brings such hope to a nation and you are depriving my country of a great treasure.”
“No Karyn, “I said grimly, “I am not depriving your nation of anything, for you are not Morlan at present, you in the service of Zetaria’s Vice Roi, the Commander of the White Guard.
“T’pahq, I would never . . .”
I put up my hand. “You already have, and you may no longer address me as t’pahq. I am no longer your commander, beloved or otherwise. I held up the document I had just sealed.
“You are dismissed from the White Guard with immediate effect. You will return your crested shield and your colours and present yourself to King Markos when you leave here. You may not return to this enclosure or enter the Zetan quarter for any reason whatsoever. You will immediately be put to the sword if you do. Am I clear?”
I did not wait for the woman to reply and called to Faedron. “Ask Thaze to come in please.”
I brought the young warrior up to date with absolutely no ceremony or tact. “And so, Thaze,” I concluded, “I need to know what you intend to do now. I cannot have a man with me who has divided loyalties either through love or through principal.”
Thaze shuffled uncomfortably, clearly conflicted by his attachment to Karyn and his sense of duty to the White Guard. He let out a heavy breath and stared up at the canvas roof as if moved gently under the caress of the spring breeze. He looked at me as if pleading for me to tell him what he should do; and the solution was clear.
I handed him two letters. “One is for King Markos asking him to accept you into his ranks and the other for Ambassador General Aldrigan requesting he finds you a position as Lieutenant in a suitable front-line troop. Whether Karyn continues with you as your Shield Maiden or not will be at King Markos’ discretion.”
Thaze gaped at me. “You are recommending that I transfer my allegiance to Morla and am promoted into the bargain?”
“Why not? I was intending to award you a field promotion in any event; your combat performance has been exemplary. You should not be penalised because the actions of another and neither should you miss an opportunity bec
ause you freely admit a divided loyalty. Such actions speak highly towards your honour as a soldier and a man.”
I turned my attention to Karyn. “Are you still in my presence?”
“Faedron, have the Shield Maiden accompanied to her current bivouac and ensure that my instructions are carried out. She is not to take any weaponry, armour or other military accoutrements associated with the White Guard with her. And have Aenar and Kylos attend me.”
“Yes Ez’n-Kyr.” Faedron saluted and signalled Karyn out.
I dismissed Thaze watching as the young warrior left, his head bent slightly. Perhaps he regretted his hesitation or perhaps it was that he felt shamed by Karyn’s actions. Only he would know, and I could only begin to guess. I called Iannos and ordered refreshments.
I did not get chance to muse on this for long because Aenar and Kylos arrived in pretty short order probably, I guessed, because they had been waiting outside when they knew that Karyn had been summoned. They would have seen her leave under guard.
“Take your ease, gentlemen.” I told them indicating the seating area to the left of the desk.
Iannos served the ruby spike and oatcakes with his customary well-practised ease, taking great care to let Artos see how things were supposed to be done. The page watched the young man’s every move with the intensity of a questing hawk. When we were served I waved the youths away.
“Karyn is expelled from the White Guard and has been returned under guard to the Morlan enclosure. She will be put to the sword if she makes any attempt to re-enter this enclosure on any pretext. I have made Markos aware of this, together with the fact that the outcome, should she be foolish enough to trespass on my enclave, is not negotiable.”
What Markos chose to do about her was up to him now. The couple took the news of Thaze’s departure stoically. They did not seem surprised, though Aenar seemed disappointed to lose a good swordsman and lancer. He gave me a short smile. “I suspect more from love that anything else—but that is speculation,” he observed.
I found I had to agree. “I hope you will find this a satisfactory solution. Short of trying to trump up a charge of treason and putting her to the axe I can do no more.”
The couple leaned forward and took my hands. Aenar smiled at me. “It is more than either of us expected you would do.”
I smiled back. What else could I do? If Daryth was to remain safe the healer could not remain within our ranks—especially given her feelings about the pair; an opinion I thought it prudent not to share with my either friends or the couple as a wronged party.
I frowned deeply picking up my cup and draining the tea before refilling it. The affair with Daryth was now closed, but the whole incident had now left me with an entirely new problem. The White Guard had no skilled healer. We had men and women fighters who were skilled with the firstline management of battle injuries and the like—all soldiers could treat wounds and many could stitch them, but it was the herbal and medicinal skills that were needed. There was no doubt that despite her recent conduct, Karyn’s skills would be sorely missed. I leaned back against the soft cushions of the makeshift couch and sipped my tea thoughtfully. I would have to draft a notice and send a couple of heralds out to make my needs known.
After two days at the Safe Water Haven our barrels were full, the men had benefitted from the rest and good hunting. The safe fruits of the savannah, fresh meat from the hunts and the fish from the mere did much to build the spirits of the men and they seemed more than ready to strike out once again to take on our enemy.
I estimated that we would come into sight of Medravia within the settan. It had been a long march and I suspected that, though the going was now considerably easier, our progress would be stymied at every opportunity.
Given the treachery we had witnessed at the edge of the Bane Briar I was certain that there would be ambushes, strike-and-run and a variety of other attacks designed to diminish our numbers a little at a time. True it was that we had little idea of the actual number of the Legion in Mederlana, but with the arrival of fifteen-thousand men and women of the Kendirith nation, half of whom were dog-handlers with two dogs a piece, we were a formidable force and one that would not easily be reduced.
With the kayetim scouting ahead and around us and the fifty or so Dog Lords acting as a vanguard with a cohort of hoplites and kaltharim, the odds of successful surprise attacks were considerably reduced. But I still had preparations of my own to make and to that end I summoned Kylos, and two of the titans, Kel and Lythor.
Kylos and I were already seated and discussing my plan when Kel and Lythor arrived full of apologies for keeping me waiting.
“We were—uh—bathing when your message came, t’pahq. It took us a little time to gather ourselves.”
Kylos gave me a knowing look. “I hope your “bathing” companions were not too vexed by the interruption,” the Prince Royal grinned at the men.
“She wasn’t.” “He wasn’t.” The couple spoke together and then coloured slightly.
“Kylos raised an eyebrow at Lythor. The archer shrugged. “I had to at least try it to see what all the fuss has been about. It was quite pleasant in fact.”
Our t’pahq has a task for us, gentlemen,” Kylos said. “Do you have any tannis with you?”
Kel nodded, “I do and so does Tyrel.”
“I think Tariq brought some with him and I know a couple of other kaltharim in the Morlan ranks who have quite a bit with them.”
I rose. “Then it is settled, Kylos,” I said. “You know what it is I need. Take a wagon and whatever other equipment and manpower you may require and see that it is done. I will arrange suitable storage. Now I must visit our Weaponsmith. Gentlemen, you are dismissed.”
With the archers off on their mission I despatched Artos to the Glass Master’s workshop to ask Arriana to meet me in the small work tent by the infirmary. “She will know what she is to bring, Artos.”
The page bowed and trotted off.
Jamil the Weapons Master looked over my design carefully the lines on his face deepening almost to chasms as he frowned and sucked air through his teeth. I grinned at his apprentice. I was well accustomed to this response. Jamil almost always responded thus to a new project—as if it was an incredibly difficult feat. “Well, Lord Meriq,” he said sighing deeply, “it is an entirely new type of arrow you are asking for. Do you have a sample of the vial you wish to use?”
As it happened I had started the glass makers manufacturing the vials to Orrin’s specifications as soon as the idea had come to me, and having purloined one of Kylos’ arrows already had the prototypes completed. I just needed a preliminary batch to test.
I presented the prototypes to Jamil who frowned so deeply that he began to look like a weather-beaten cliff. Then he gave me a broad smile. “I suppose, Lord Ez’n you will not just be wanting a dozen or so of these things?”
“I would not want you to feel that I was not giving you a challenge, Jamil.”
The Weapons Master returned to his usual dour demeanour. “My Lord Ez’n, my heart sinks every time you approach me for I know you will have some scheme that will turn my otherwise idyllic life into a level of the Dark Realm. How many do you require?”
“For the testing? Five of each. If they are effective I will want five hundred of each for each army. They will only be issued to archers with long-shot horn bows and my own kaltharim.”
Jamil turned to his assistant and scowled. “Well do not stand gaping as if you have seen your first woman naked, boy. Go and get me arrows. I need arrows!” He threw up his hands in exasperation, “Youngsters today, no sense of urgency!” He gave me a brief smile. “Your test batch will be ready within the next two settans, Lord Ez’n.
With the prototype arrows carefully placed in a quiver I headed over to the Healers’ Enclave where I had had Karyn store the Bane Briar extract. She and her group had done an astoundingly good job of collecting the toxin and the sap, and as I looked at the thirty large jars I could not help but feel
a twinge of regret at having lost her.
The group had collected fifteen jars of each reagent and all of the jars were clearly marked. I reached into my satchel and pulled out one of Orrin’s grenade shells. The glass globe fit so snugly in my hand that it was almost undetectable and it looked so delicate as I turned it around in my hand, as if merely breathing on it would break it. The glass, though brittle, was extremely tough and could not be broken by accident. It had to be thrown down against something with force before it would shatter.
Clearing a space on a nearby workbench I set down the first of the prototype arrows and one of the grenade shells and I had just set a couple of the amphorae in place when Arriana arrived lugging a large case. I motioned her over. “You could have had Artos carry that for you,” I told her as she set to toolkit down with a resounding thud.
“It probably weighs more than he does, Ez’n,” she laughed. “And I do not think you would be pleased if I broke your new page.”
“Probably not,” I agreed. “Do you have everything?”
The woman nodded. “I do, my lord. I have to say that creating that hand pump thing gave me pause for thought, but with a lot of false starts and a good deal of grinding, I think you will find it works well. Once I had the first one perfected, it was a simple matter to duplicate it.”
“So long as they can draw up the reagents I need I will be happy, Arriana.”
The woman opened her toolkit and lifted out a long slim wooden box. Inside were the hand pumps I had designed. A large tube at one end with a thin, longer tube at the other and fitting snugly in the upper container, a ground glass plunger that would suck up the toxin and contain it until I injected it into the grenade shell or arrow.
“And here is the melding torch, Ez’n. It is simple to use.”
So saying Arriana began to instruct me on the use of the torch she and other glass makers used to join pieces of glass together. It was a relatively simple device, but one which had to be ignited in a specific way. The volatile oil it contained was distilled from pitch and needed careful handling. Many a careless glass spinner had been injured or killed by a melding torch explosion and Arriana was most concerned that I should not become the victim of such an event.
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