“Well, we just have to work around difficult people, Jou. He’ll do his job, we’ll do ours.”
“That’s what I always do. I’ve been thinking about that idea Karik mentioned.”
“What idea?”
She turned to him and frowned. “Didn’t he tell you? He and Master Kei want to set up some short courses at the two academies—so soldiers can get qualifications in botany and natural history. Sort of like the proper healer course without the medical stuff. Three months long, he thinks. I think Master Kei’s already written to the fellow in Urshek about it. I thought he would have told you, since you’re so keen on us getting trained up.”
“Ah, yes, it slipped my mind,” he lied. “Would make a change from bandaging blisters.”
She shrugged. “Can’t hurt to get any training that’s on offer—then I can get to go on jaunts like this.”
“Seiz won’t be too happy to hear that.”
“Then Seiz can do the training and come along with me. I told him he should have learned Andonese, but would he listen? Men,” she said with disgust, making Romi grin. “Gods, I’m going down below, I’m freezing my nipples off.”
“Thank you for sharing that with me, corporal,” Romi said, deadpan. She saluted him with an ironic flip and headed off for the warmth of the passenger deck.
It was getting too cold for him too, and since there were still hours to go before they got anywhere near port, he thought he would see that the men all had things stowed and that the animals were ready for disembarkation. That was his excuse—actually, the animal hold was one of the warmest, if smelliest, parts of the ship, and he was chilled to the bone. Stupid really—he knew the danger from the freezing temperatures, and while he was trying to acclimatise, he had overdone it. He shivered as he went below deck, the relief from the wind and snow immediate.
He could hear the quiet complaints of the beasts even before he entered the hold, and the familiar warm stink of urine, manure and farts wafted up in the chill air. He didn’t mind though, it was a smell that reminded him of the barracks and happy times. “Reisa? These bastards all ready to off-load? We’ll be in dock in about four hours, I’m told.”
For a moment there was no response, and as it was darker in the hold, he had to wait until his eyes adjusted. Then he saw a figure standing up in the corner. “Reisa’s not here, captain,” a cool, drawling voice said.
“Well, where is he and why in hells has he abandoned his post?”
Now he could see Karik’s face, showing a slight flush of colour. “He hasn’t—he left me in charge while he went to get some tea and food.”
“I’m surprised you’d lower yourself to look after beasts. It’s not your job—you can leave that to us soldiers. That’s our job, to fetch and carry and clean up after you, isn’t it?”
Karik wouldn’t meet his eyes. “If you say so,” he said in a low voice. “Perhaps you’d prefer to take over, since you don’t think I’m up to the task.”
“It’s not me thinking you’re not up to it, my lad, it’s you thinking you’re too damn good for the likes of us.”
Karik’s head snapped up. “Oh? I thought it was because you had set yourself up in judgement on my family, and disapproved of them.”
“What?” Romi stared at him in irritated confusion. “Now what are you wittering about?”
“You, captain. Making disgusting remarks about my daughter and her mother. As if you have the slightest right to comment.”
Romi made an exasperated noise. “All I said was that I hoped you’d got the situation sorted out, and Soza informed me things weren’t as I supposed they were. I never made any comment about your damn daughter.”
“Don’t you dare refer to her in that manner or in that tone of voice, captain Romi.” The man had drawn himself up to his full height and his eyes flashed with pure rage. “Don’t you even breathe a word about her that’s less than respectful.”
“Or what? You’ll report me to your lordly uncle? I’m sure he’d believe you over some stupid ignorant soldier.”
“My uncle adores my daughter, captain, and if I had told him what you’d said about her, he’d have thrown you off this expedition. For the sake of harmony, I did not. But repeat it, and you can be sure I will report you. You have no business discussing my personal life with anyone.”
“But it’s all right for you to go home and slander your team mates. I see—one rule for you, one rule for us. I get it.”
Karik’s eyes narrowed. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Apart from you, I have the highest respect for my teammates. None of them have ever sat in judgement on my family or me. You’re the only one who’s done that, so you’re the only one I hold in low regard. But even you, I don’t discuss with other people. Anyone who says any different is lying.”
“Maybe you don’t discuss us by name, Karik, but don’t deny you’ve been going back to your family and whining about the military mindset.”
Karik gave out a short laugh. “Captain, my uncle complains about the military mindset. You know, the one who used to be a general. And from the display before me, everything he says is true. Now if you’re staying, please excuse me. I’ve got things to do. If you’re minded to complain to Reisa about leaving his post, then remember who I am and whose son I am. I can watch a few beasts for half an hour.”
He started to walk out, but Romi grabbed his arm as he went past. “Look you little—”
“Let go of me.”
“I just—”
For a moment it was if it was Karik’s uncle, not Karik himself, whose cold stare bored into him. “Let. Go. Of. Me.”
Stung, Romi obeyed. “What in hells is wrong with you? Are you going to be like this all journey?”
But Karik was gone and Romi got no answer. He sat down on one of the low stools and cursed soundly for a good five minutes. Little shit. Pissing arrogant little shit. What was all that about? He’d never said anything about his daughter....
The realisation hit him. Soza. Pissing Soza. Romi hit his head against the wall, but not too hard so he didn’t startle the beast next to him. What other charming garbage had he been saying to Karik? And now he thought about it, he only had Soza’s word for Karik’s opinion about the military. He would have to have another word with Karik, but this time keep his temper. He’d really not displayed the finer qualities of an officer in that exchange.
He sat lost in thought until Reisa startled him. Mindful of Karik’s last barb, Romi refrained from ticking Reisa off for leaving his post, since in strict point of fact, Karik was as much responsible for the care of the animals as anyone else on the team, and had never shirked any duty along those lines. It was only Soza who had made it clear he would be doing none of the menial duties, and since arguing with him would involve talking to him, Romi hadn’t pressed the point. It wasn’t like he would do them properly anyway.
He checked with Reisa that the animals were all in good shape, and then went to see that everyone had their packs squared away. By the time he was done, and back on deck, it was sunny again, and the clouds lifted for a few minutes from Mount Arzha, filling him with the same sense of wonder as when he had first seen this truly astounding volcano. It was so tall that its permanently snow-capped peak was rarely visible, and even as Romi watched, clouds descended to obscure it once more. It reminded him of why he had wanted to return to Andon. It was a land of majesty, of mystery and excitement. A man could make a mark there, and spend a lifetime exploring without learning all its secrets. It was at moments like this that he almost envied Karik his peripatetic life, answerable to no one but the academy, and choosing his own path for discovery. Chances to explore like that were truly rare in the military, which was why he had immediately seized this chance.
And he was messing it up, he thought, growling at his own stupidity. It shouldn’t make a difference if Karik was a civilian or not. All he had to do was assert his authority and start behaving as if the respect he wanted was actually deserved. And to stop
listening to pissing Soza.
~~~~~~~~
“Now that looks like a lieutenant Romi scowl if ever I saw one,” Soza said as Karik slammed back into their cabin and threw himself into a chair. “What’s he done now?”
“Oh, just been his usual self. A great hulking arse,” Karik said bitterly. “Sorry, I shouldn’t take it out on you.”
Soza came over and laid his hand on Karik’s shoulder. “Nonsense. What are friends for if you can’t talk about what’s bothering you? I’m a little surprised he’s pulling your tail just before we start the expedition for real. He doesn’t seem to have the slightest sense of how to manage people.”
“Not civilians anyway,” Karik muttered. He looked up at Soza and made himself smile. “Don’t mind me. Have you been up to see Mount Arzha? The sailors were saying you sometimes get a great view from here if the clouds lift.”
“I’m sorry, I just had an idea for a new paper and was scribbling a few notes down.” He lifted the notebook. “I thought I might as well make the most of the chance for some quiet work. I dare say we’ll not have much chance on the trail.”
“No, probably not, and precious little peace in the evenings.” Karik scowled as he remembered they would have to share one big tent with the soldiers—and that great arse. “In the settlements we might have a chance, and we’ll probably spend at least a week in Visiqe.”
“I hope so. I confess I’m very curious to see that city. So many legends and stories, I don’t know whether to be excited or fearful.”
Karik grinned. “I don’t think there’s much to be afraid of. I know it’s supposed to be the richest city in Periter, but it’s in the middle of nowhere. It’s probably just legendary to those who spend all their lives in a settlement of thirty people. It’s like when I first came to Darshek—I thought it was the most bewildering, amazing place I’d ever seen, and now it’s just one of my homes.”
“We can get used to anything, I suppose,” Soza said with a smile. ‘“I wonder how long it will take to get used to the cold?”
“I was wondering that myself. Probably we’ll not really get used to it, but the weather will be warming up steadily from now on.”
“Karik, it can still snow for the next three months, you know that.”
“Well, yes, but it will still be warmer, even if it’s below freezing.” He laughed at Soza’s comical shudder. “Come on, if the Andonese can do it, we can do it. Men of Darshian and all that.”
“Indeed. But while we have a little privacy, let me show you what I was thinking of putting into print.”
Karik let his temper cool as he got caught up in Soza’s new ideas, but part of him still seethed over the way that horrible man had spoken about him and Jes. That lieutenant had better be sure he would be reported for his discourtesy—that was no way for an officer to behave. To think he’d suffered all that because he’d offered to help Reisa. At least the other soldiers welcomed him and let him be part of the team. It was only Romi who kept making this idiotic distinction between civilians and soldiers—and where had he got this notion that Karik had been insulting his team? He’d done little but praise them, even the great arse himself. Most likely it was his own sense of inadequacy fuelling this hostility, just as it had done for so many of the fools who’d decided that picking on a small Prijian boy would somehow make them look like big men. Well, Karik would show the arse that his opinion made no difference to him at all, and he was damned if he would change his behaviour in the smallest matter.
“Karik? Am I boring you?”
“Gods, no, Soza, not in the least. I was just...wondering if the affinities aren’t stronger with the Kemis group. If you look at the seeds, I mean.”
“Hmmm. Possibly. Yes, I see what you mean, but if you consider the leaves....”
He forced himself to concentrate, and succeeded so well that he was truly startled when a knock came on the door and Sibu told them they were coming into the port. Karik and Soza had to hastily clear up their notes and papers and get their packs together. Karik double-checked that Soza was wearing his new winter gear correctly, and had all the layers on that he should—the bulky clothes felt incredibly awkward to both of them, but he had already felt the iciness of the bitter wind and knew they were necessary. Soza had avoided the deck, and so had yet to really appreciate what the weather in Andon would be like. One of the things that lieutenant Romi had been relentless in drilling them in was in how to handle the cold, signs of hypothermia and frostbite, and had backed the lessons up with anecdotes from the Darshek-dwelling Andonese. But there was just no substitute for experiencing it oneself, and the time was now at hand.
The soldiers were all on deck as Soza and Karik came up, and the great ship was already in its moorings, the sailors busy throwing ropes and lowering anchors. “Blessed gods!” Soza said, his breath puffing out in huge plumes. At first Karik thought he was shocked by the cold, but then he saw his friend was just amazed by the sight of the snow, which covered all the low roofs, the streets, and to the north, the huge mountain range they could just dimly see through the lowering clouds. “How extraordinarily beautiful.”
“It is,” Karik agreed with feeling.
Jou, hearing their words, turned and smiled. “Not much like the dry regions, is it?”
“No, it’s not.” It was more wonderful than he had ever imagined it. “It hardly looks real.”
“The cold’s real enough,” she said, hunching into her coat. She wasn’t the only one—it seemed the only one of the soldiers not affected by the cold was the lieutenant, staring haughtily ahead, proud and tall, apparently uninterested in anything or anyone around him. Arse.
Karik and Soza walked off behind the soldiers who marched smartly down the gangplank. There followed some confusion, and rather too long a time standing around in the bitter cold, until a runner could find their Andonese contact. Karik had got so used to Neka and Seiki forewarning people when he arrived in Darshek, that he’d forgotten what it was like when people couldn’t know he was coming. He was beginning to wish he was back on the boat in the animal hold, but finally an Andonese soldier, the red armbands on his coat the only thing distinguishing him from the dozens of other people milling around the docks, came walking over, and bowed to lieutenant Romi who returned the gesture. Then the two of them embraced like brothers. “Wepizi! I didn’t know you were still in Tsikiugui—I thought you’d gone north!”
“Ah, been north, come south, my friend,” the Andonese said, and then turned to the rest of them. “Welcome, good friends from Darshian,” he said in heavily accented but easily intelligible Darshianese. “I am Lep Wepizi, at your service.” He bowed formally. Karik, like the others, returned the bow.
So this presumably would be their liaison—a friend of Romi’s, which might be a good thing or perhaps not. Romi, for his part, wasn’t wasting time on introductions. “Wepizi, we better get the beasts off the boat.”
“Certainly. Let me have one of your men to direct matters, and I’ll have our stable hands make sure you meet up—we’re going to the main barracks.”
Romi signalled to Reisa, Wepizi likewise to someone behind him who Karik hadn’t realised was a soldier. He wasn’t even sure if it was male or female—the bulky clothes made everyone anonymous, and disguised weight and sex quite effectively. The Andonese soldier went back on board with Reisa. “Your personal gear is all you need for now,” Wepizi said. “The ship will be in dock for several days, and your stores will be brought to the barracks tomorrow. Your requested supplies are waiting for you, and we can depart the day after, if the weather holds.”
“We’re in your hands, Wepizi,” Romi said. “Unless our scientists object?” He turned and raised an eyebrow at Karik and Soza.
Karik didn’t even bother translating the question for his friend. “Whatever Lep Wepizi advises is of course what we should do, captain,” he said with cold politeness. “I have no doubt we are in excellent hands,” he said with a little bow towards the Andonese officer. If Rom
i wanted to look like an arse, then Karik would happily help him to complete the picture.
Wepizi looked confused, as well he might, but at Karik’s words, he smiled. “Most kind, my friend. Ah, but I wasn’t aware any Prij were joining this expedition.”
“They’re not,” Karik said with a tight smile.
Romi clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Our Karik is a man of mystery, Wepizi. Can we get out of the cold, please? My balls are falling off.”
“You’ve got soft, my friend, too soft. You should roll naked in the snow for a bit, toughen you up. Your balls will crawl back inside your body after a bit and you won’t feel them at all.” Romi wasn’t the only man who winced, Jou and Sibu laughing at their reaction, and Wepizi grinned. “Now, come with me. I know exactly what you will need to warm yourself up.”
It was only half a mile to the barracks, but by the time they got there, Karik felt like he’d walked ten, so intense was the cold that froze the air in his lungs and made every breath torture. The icy ground, snow hard packed by the passage of humans and animals, was dangerous and slippery, almost impossible to stay upright on. Very few of them had any experience of walking on snow or ice at all, and soon they were clutching at each other to stop themselves falling. Soza looked utterly miserable as Karik tried to keep him upright. “Is there some trick to this?” he muttered.
“Not that I can see,” Karik said. Where the snow was less compacted, it was easier, but the ice was impossible. He wondered how the beasts would manage. At least outside Tsikiugui they shouldn’t suffer this problem, and as spring approached, hopefully the ice and snow would decrease. No one had told him about this part.
The barracks were nothing like as big or as solid looking as the Darshek ones, which were constructed out of stone. Arman and Jezinke had both told him of the risk of tremors and earthquakes, which was why there were no tall buildings to be seen at all, and many seemed to be the kind that would be easy to replace if they fell down. The Tsikiugui barracks were wooden and rather shabby, and Karik shivered, wondering if they were as cold and barren on the inside as they seemed to be on the outside. A high wooden palisade surrounded these barracks, and they had to be admitted through a huge gate, behind which activity bustled every bit as much as it did in Darshek. The soldiers didn’t seem to care about the cold as they went about their business.
Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3) Page 14