Scepters

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  Alucius smiled in return. “They do, sir. They have an immense range of choice to make mistakes.”

  Talryn broke into a deep laugh. When he finally stopped, he shook his head. “When you were on your way to Hyalt, I read Marshal Frynkel’s report about what occurred in Krost. Later, your report on Hyalt was most revealing, and so were Marshal Alyniat’s and your reports on the events that took place in Southgate.

  “I would that I could enjoy and utilize your services here in Tempre, but, for many reasons, that would not be wise. Lanachrona is too old and the Southern Guard too traditional for a colonel of your directness. Nor would the Iron Valleys or the Northern Guard be well served. They need you, and I need you there.” The Lord-Protector extended an envelope, then a pair of insignia. “You are hereby promoted permanently to majer-colonel in the Southern Guard, and colonel in the Northern Guard. The Lord-Protector’s acceptance of Colonel Weslyn’s request to be stipended is enclosed, along with your orders and appointment as commandant of the Northern Guard. Your orders allow you to make any and all changes you deem necessary within the structure of the Northern Guard, but they do not provide you with any additional powers of conscription, nor do they change my standing order against conscription of herders…”

  “Sir…” Alucius stopped. The Lord-Protector was right.

  “Do you have any thoughts or requests?”

  “Yes, sir.” Alucius did have thoughts, one in particular.

  The Lord-Protector’s eyebrows rose. “Yes…”

  “I believe that the Northern Guard headquarters should be moved from Dekhron. While Lanachrona and the Iron Valleys were contending with each other, that placement was sensible. I fear that for the years to come, the greater threat will be in the west.”

  “You think Iron Stem, perhaps?” A smile curled into the corners of the Lord-Protector’s mouth.

  “Yes, sir. If that would seem too self-serving, then I would suggest Wesrigg. There is already an outpost there. But Iron Stem would be better, because it is the junction of the two high roads, north and west.”

  The Lord-Protector nodded. “I can see that. Would you move the entire Guard from Dekhron?”

  “Yes, sir. For many reasons.”

  “That will cost golds, Colonel.”

  “Yes, sir. It will. At first. Later, it will be less costly. Far less costly. And I have another request.”

  “Another?” The mock astonishment was colored with amusement.

  “I would like an order closing the dustcat establishment in Iron Stem.”

  This time, puzzlement appeared on Talryn’s face.

  “I would close every such establishment anywhere. It is a filthy and degrading addiction.” Alucius shrugged. “That would not work. It would only crop up elsewhere. But requiring Gortal to move his establishment from Iron Stem will disrupt some of that trouble…and I would not wish that establishment near the Northern Guard.”

  “How would you handle that?”

  “If I have the authority, it will occur.” Alucius’s voice was cold.

  “You may have the authority for both—with a single proviso. You may not announce either until after the turn of spring. We will discuss, if by dispatch, how to make these changes, and you and Marshal Frynkel will work out the details.”

  Alucius nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “Have you any other official requests?”

  Alucius caught the slight emphasis on “official.”

  “No, sir.”

  “Then, you have my leave to return to Dekhron as you see fit, but no later than a week from now. You will take both Southern Guard companies, with some replacement lancers, and I would appreciate your efforts at ensuring they get training. Once you are certain that you have full control of the Northern Guard, you can detach those companies and send them back to Tempre.” Talryn offered the quickest of grins. “You can also promise them a month of furlough once they return. Now…” The Lord-Protector reached back and lifted a bell, ringing it gently. “I have my own request.”

  “Sir?”

  “My consort and wife, the Lady Alerya, has requested that you join us for an early supper. I believe you were informed of the supper, but not by whom the request was made.” Talryn rose and announced to the seemingly empty audience hall, “The audiences are concluded for the day.”

  Alucius followed the Lord-Protector into the chamber off the audience hall, up the private circular stairs to the upper level, and out into a hallway. Across the archway from the stairs was a set of double doors, before which were stationed two guards.

  Talryn opened one door, but gestured for Alucius to step into the private foyer before following. On the other side of the foyer and through an archway, in the sitting room on the love seat set between two end tables, was a young woman. She held a small child, barely more than an infant, in her lap. She rose as Alucius and the Lord-Protector entered the room.

  “Colonel Alucius, this is my wife and consort, the Lady Alerya—and my son Talus.”

  Alucius bowed to the slender young woman who carried the child, perhaps six months of age, already with the dark brown hair and eyes of his sire. “Lady.” He straightened.

  Alerya looked straight at Alucius, then she inclined her head…and smiled. “I thought as much. It was not a dream, was it?”

  Alucius debated. “No, lady, but it is best treated as one. Healing by herders is not well thought of.”

  Talryn looked at Alucius. “You…”

  “I could have denied it, and who would have known?”

  “But…so many could benefit…”

  Alucius shook his head. “So few…it takes much time and energy. It cannot be done often, and it is often not successful. You have treated fairly with the Iron Valleys—and the herders. Far more fairly than have the traders of Dekhron. Call it the reward you most deserved, and I am pleased to have been able to have done so.”

  The Lord-Protector was silent, clearly both relieved and angered simultaneously.

  “He has given more than he has received, Talryn. Far more. Do not ask more. Ever.” Alerya’s voice was soft, but Alucius could sense the steel behind it.

  Talryn laughed, softly and ruefully. “My commander of the north and my consort. Truly, I am well served.” He inclined his head to Alucius. “My lady is correct. I can never fully repay you, but I will heed you. I do ask that you do not leave me bereft of your advice.”

  “Mine is no better than that of many,” Alucius replied, “but I will do as you request.”

  Talryn laughed again. “It is better that I do not request, but allow you to use your judgment.”

  “Before we dine, I have but one question of a prying nature,” Alerya offered, “but I must ask.”

  Alucius couldn’t help but respect the Lord-Protector’s consort. “I will answer as I can.”

  “Talus…did you…?”

  “No. I healed you. That was all. I had hoped.”

  “Thank you.” Alerya’s smile was broad.

  Alucius could sense a great relief from Talryn, and for that he was grateful for Alerya’s question.

  “Should I ask how you managed that?”

  “You can ask, sir, but I can only say that it was tied in with the Recorder.”

  “We should eat, Talryn, before Talus gets terribly fussy.”

  Alucius looked at the boy, and the slightest wave of sadness swept over him. He had not yet even seen Alendra.

  “We should indeed.” With a smile, the Lord-Protector turned toward a set of open doors that revealed a small dining room.

  As he entered, Alucius could not help but see that it was set for only three, and he was placed on one side, while Talryn and Alerya sat at either end. Alerya still held Talus, who was making a determined effort to grasp and gnaw on the blue linen cloth that covered the table.

  “This is a personal supper,” Talryn said. “No Lord-Protectors or colonels.”

  “And no tactics.” Alerya took a sip of wine as soon as the steward poured it. “I
trust you will not mind, but I will eat and drink as I can, else I may get little nourishment.”

  “Go ahead, my dear.”

  “Please,” added Alucius. “You spend much time with him, I see.”

  “Most of every day. I have seen too many children raised by servants and tutors, and then parents wonder why their child shares none of their values and understandings.” She took another sip of the red wine. “I am most fortunate that my lord understands and that this is something we can do.”

  “You can do,” Talryn said.

  “You spend much more time with him than did your sire with you.”

  “You set a good example, my lady,” Talryn laughed.

  “Talryn has talked about herders and the north. Would you tell me what it is like, truly like, to be a herder?”

  Alucius smiled. “I can tell you what I feel, and some things. To tell it all would take far longer than we have.”

  “Tell what you can, if you would.”

  “There is a feel about being a herder, and about the land and the nightsheep. One of my first memories was when I saw a ramlet who had been abandoned, and I persuaded him to take a bottle. I was very young, perhaps four or five…” Alucius continued with the story of Lamb, still slightly amazed that he was having a private supper with the two.

  II.

  THE SCEPTER OF THE PRESENT

  104

  The noon sun was mostly obscured by a hazy sky, and a bitter wind blew out of the northeast from the Aerlal Plateau as Alucius and his companies neared the southern edge of Salaan and the scattered huts of the small holders who scrabbled out an existence on the dry ridges south of the River Vedra. The trip back had been long, and the only thing that Alucius could say for it was that he had healed—mostly, although he still wore the brace on his right forearm—and that no forces and no Talent-creatures had attacked them.

  One of the wagons carried the pay chests for the entire coming spring season for the Northern Guard, as well as a chest for supplies, possibly because Marshal Frynkel had seen the advantage of escorting so much gold with three companies. Another carried barrels of dried southern fruit—a gift of sorts to Fifth Company and the Northern Guard from the Lord-Protector’s consort.

  Alucius was looking forward to seeing Wendra, although he had no idea when that might be, not when he had to relieve Colonel Weslyn. He had no doubt that delivering that dispatch from the Lord-Protector would be anything but pleasant. In the past, however, the colonel had always been courteous—then had acted covertly in one fashion or another. Given Weslyn’s closeness to the traders of Dekhron, Alucius could be certain that once the colonel left the Guard, Alucius would face all manner of difficulties with a number of the traders, if not with all of them. That excessive influence of the traders was just another reason why he wanted to move Northern Guard headquarters to Iron Stem.

  He had finally received a letter from Wendra just before he’d left Tempre, assuring him that both she and Alendra were doing well, as was the stead. She’d also mentioned obliquely that the additional coins he had arranged for—the bonus paid to her—had gone to purchase a ram and a ewe from her cousin Kyrtus’s flock. Knowing Wendra, she’d probably played on her cousin’s fondness for her to get a good price. Along the way, he’d sent her several letters saying that he was headed back, but that he might have to spend a few days in Dekhron debriefing Colonel Weslyn, since, as she knew, that had been requested, along with other details, by the Lord-Protector. That was as much as he dared put in ink.

  And…in the days before he had ridden out of Tempre, he’d had meetings, with Frynkel, with the supply chief of the Southern Guard, and with his own officers. Both captains and Feran had hardly seemed surprised at the Lord-Protector’s decision to make Alucius commander of the Northern Guard, but the captains had been surprised at the decision for them to accompany Alucius to Dekhron. Neither was that unhappy, because it ensured that they would not be posted to Southgate or the west any sooner than early summer and perhaps even much later.

  Twice on the ride back to Dekhron, he’d had the dream of the walls closing in on him. Was that the feeling that being the head of the Northern Guard was a trap? But why, then, were the walls those of an ifrit palace?

  The one good thing about the length of the ride was that, for the most part, Alucius felt almost back to normal as he neared Dekhron.

  Feran rode beside Alucius. “How do you want to handle telling Weslyn?”

  “I think it ought to be quick, and that we ought to take charge of everything pretty much as quickly as possible.”

  “Close the gates?”

  “No…but have the companies set up to control the post. I suppose a few men ought to come in with me, armed and ready. I can’t believe he’d try something, but…” Alucius shrugged.

  “He’s a sandsnake, and I’ll have a squad ready.”

  Alucius nodded. “Then, after I deliver the Lord-Protector’s dispatch, just gather the officers. After that, we’ll figure out how to tell all the lancers. We’ll have to send dispatches to all the posts and companies. For now, you’re going to be my assistant. Then you’re going to be deputy.”

  “You didn’t ask me, sir.”

  “I didn’t. I’m not giving you the chance to say no.” Alucius grinned. “Besides, it means a bigger stipend.”

  “If I live to collect it.”

  “You will.”

  The wind grew more and more chill, and stronger, as they rode through Salaan. Once they crossed the ancient eternastone bridge and entered Dekhron, the patches of ice and the dirty granular snow that had blown into side yards, alleys, and shaded areas beside houses and buildings confirmed that they were in the north and that it was winter. As Alucius turned the chestnut westward off the high road and onto the avenue leading to Northern Guard headquarters, he glanced northward, where dark clouds obscured the Aerlal Plateau. With the wind out of the northeast, Dekhron would see more snow by late afternoon, certainly by nightfall.

  “Forgot how cold it was, even this far south,” observed Feran.

  Alucius smiled. He didn’t mind the cold, not nearly so much as the heat of the south.

  “You herders. Must have fires in your blood.” Feran glanced ahead, toward the open gates of the post. “Better get ready.” He turned in the saddle. “Fifth Company, rifles ready.”

  “Rifles ready!” The command echoed back along the column.

  The two sentries at the gates looked up as they saw the uniforms of Fifth Company. Those eyes widened as they saw the uncased rifles and the two companies of Southern Guards that followed.

  “Colonel Alucius, returning from Tempre,” Alucius announced.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Once inside, the commands continued. “Fifth squad. Cordon off the armory!”

  “Yes, sir. Fifth squad!” Zerdial’s voice rang out. “To the armory.”

  “…Twenty-eighth Company…cordon the barracks!”

  “Twenty-eighth Company! By squads…”

  Feran motioned to Faisyn, then leaned over closer to the squad leader and spoke in a low voice for a time. Alucius wondered, but he was tired and didn’t want to expend the Talent-effort. Besides, he trusted them both, and they’d both saved his life at different times.

  “First four, you’ll accompany me and the colonel,” Faisyn ordered, dismounting and tying his mount. “With rifles.”

  Alucius gave Feran a weary smile.

  “It’s safer that way,” replied the overcaptain.

  Alucius dismounted and walked up the steps into the headquarters building, carrying the orders and dispatches from the Lord-Protector.

  Faisyn and four lancers from first squad followed, carrying rifles.

  The ranker at the table outside the colonel’s study looked up. He swallowed as he saw Alucius. “Majer…we hadn’t heard.”

  Alucius smiled. “It’s Colonel, now.”

  The man paled.

  “Is Colonel Weslyn in his study?”

  “Ah…yes
, sir. But…well…he and Majer Imealt…”

  “That’s fine.” Alucius walked to Weslyn’s door and eased it open.

  Both officers were seated, Weslyn behind his desk, Imealt in front of it, and both turned.

  “I’d asked not—” Weslyn broke off as Alucius stepped into the study, leaving the door open.

  Alucius extended the sealed envelope to the silver-haired colonel. “It’s from the Lord-Protector. He asked that it be the first thing I deliver on my return.”

  “Oh…?” Weslyn did not rise as he took the envelope. Belatedly, his eyes flicked to the insignia on Alucius’s collar. “Greetings, and congratulations, Colonel.”

  “It might be best if you read the Lord-Protector’s dispatch,” Alucius said.

  “When I get a moment…right now…Majer Imealt and I…”

  “Now.” Alucius smiled politely.

  “I am your commander—”

  “No, Colonel. The Lord-Protector has accepted your resignation.”

  Alucius could hear the door opening wider behind him, but he could sense that Faisyn had been the one to ease the door fully open.

  Imealt paled, his eyes darting to the door. “There are armed lancers out there, Colonel.”

  “Just a precaution,” Alucius said. “There are also two companies of Southern Guards out there, as well as Fifth Company.”

  Weslyn looked at the seals on the envelope. “Were it anyone but you, Colonel, I’d have doubts about the seals. You wouldn’t stoop to that.” There was the slightest edge to his words. “Might I ask why?”

  Alucius smiled wanly. “It was his idea.”

  At that, Weslyn laughed, a low laugh, half-rueful, and half-bitter. “It would be, wouldn’t it?” He opened the envelope, carefully avoiding the seals, and extracted the single ornate sheet. He read it, slowly, carefully. Then he looked up. “Congratulations, Colonel. You’re in command. It’s not what it seems, or what you think.”

  Alucius nodded. “I’ve known that for years.”

  “Nothing is. Nightsilk doesn’t protect what it doesn’t cover, Colonel.” Weslyn held a pistol, clearly aimed at Alucius’s head.