“Three days … maybe four. Sends in a pinnace every afternoon, around third glass. They wait for a glass, maybe two, till the last ferry from Geusyn comes in.”
Almost another glass before the captain sends in the pinnace … and that’s if he’s prompt. “Where do they tie up the pinnace?”
“End of third pier.” Haasyn pointed.
“Thank you.” Quaeryt stepped out of the building, then looked at the squad. “The Montagne is anchored out to the south. They’ve been sending a pinnace in late afternoon. While we’re waiting, we might as well walk around and see what we can see.”
Unfortunately, there was little to see, except more of what they had already seen, and Quaeryt and his group ended up well before third glass standing near the end of third pier.
“Never seen so much of nothing,” said Horan.
“You haven’t seen that many small towns, then,” replied Khalis. “This is a small town that’s a port.”
“It wouldn’t even exist except that Kharst didn’t want to let his traders pay tariffs to Aliaro or Bhayar,” added Quaeryt.
“Why didn’t the traders just pay them anyway, sir?” asked Khalis.
“I wondered that myself … until what happened in Laaryn. It’s pretty clear that any factor or High Holder who went against the rex just ended up dead. Since he gave them pretty free rein in other matters”-including various depravities-“they tended not to go against his will. I’m sure many smuggled things and went around his ‘requests,’ but since any word of defying him had rather harsh consequences, that kept the defiance down. I’m only guessing at that, but it fits what I’ve seen.”
Quaeryt stopped talking as he saw a pinnace under sail angling past the southwest breakwater, running largely before the wind. Absently, he wondered if another reason for the afternoon run from the Montagne was because the winds tended to be more favorable. “It looks like that might be the pinnace from the Montagne.”
Little more than a quint later, the pinnace eased up to the pier, and two Telaryn seamen immediately secured the small craft to the pier, while an ensign who looked to be a few years younger than Quaeryt stepped out.
“Ensign Paolyn, sir. You’re Commander Quaeryt, sir?”
“I am.”
“Captain Nykaal’s been hoping you’d show up before long, sir.”
“We got here as quickly as we could. Most of the forces are still in Geusyn.”
The ensign nodded. “The captain said that was likely.”
Quaeryt looked at the pinnace, some seven yards long, with a single mast, although he also saw three sets of long oars as well. “Can you take the entire squad?”
“Yes, sir. In this weather. If the swells were higher, I’d want two trips, but the water’s calm, and looks to remain that way.”
Quaeryt could see that Horan and several of the rankers were looking dubiously at the small craft.
For all that, in short order, everyone boarded, and Paolyn had the pinnace headed back southward in less than half a quint. The trip out to the Montagne took longer, Quaeryt suspected, because Paolyn headed eastward to pick up the river current, and they had to tack back and forth before they neared the warship, one of the bigger vessels Quaeryt had seen, for all his past merchant experience. Close to sixty yards stem to stern, if a bit less at the keel.
Paolyn eased the pinnace up to a boarding platform that had been lowered. “If you would, Commander.”
“Thank you.” Quaeryt stepped onto the platform, then asked, “Permission to come aboard?” as he headed up the ladder to the quarterdeck.
“Welcome to the Montagne,” said the short officer in the uniform of a ship’s captain, although he also wore the gold crescents, signifying that, technically, they were of equal rank.
“Thank you, Captain. Quaeryt Rytersyn, commander and envoy to Khel.”
“Nykaal Kaalsyn, commanding. I doubted you could be anyone else.”
Quaeryt wondered why, but didn’t ask, and the two waited as the other two undercaptains came aboard, followed by the rankers. Two of the rankers looked slightly green, and Quaeryt wondered how they might do on the much longer and likely much rougher voyage to Kherseilles.
“Ensign Paolyn will see to your officers and men, Commander. If you would join me in my stateroom?”
“I’d be pleased to.”
Quaeryt followed the captain aft across the main deck and up the ladder to the top deck of the sterncastle. The quarters comprised a cabin roughly four yards by three with a wide bunk against the aft bulkhead and a circular table, firmly affixed to the deck, farther forward.
A steward stood waiting.
“Lager or wine, Commander,” asked Nykaal.
“Lager, please.”
“Make that two, Vessyn.”
The steward nodded and moved to a built-in cabinet.
Nykaal gestured to the table.
They both seated themselves, and the steward set a crystal beaker holding an amber lager in front of each of them and then left the stateroom.
“I understand that we’ll also be carrying Lady Vaelora, and that she’s accorded the status of an envoy as well.”
That bastard Bhayar! He decided that even before you recovered and never said a word. “Not quite. She is an envoy in duties and capabilities. Bhayar decided that was necessary because of the composition of the new High Council of Khel.”
Nykaal frowned.
“They’re all Pharsi. Pharsi women often govern, and since they lost so many men, the Council is likely predominantly women.”
“Oh! And with Lord Bhayar’s ancestry, the selection of the two of you … I see.”
Quaeryt wasn’t certain Nykaal saw completely, but he wasn’t about to alienate the captain by explaining because that would likely be taken as condescending. “Lord Bhayar would prefer to obtain agreement without fighting another war.”
“I can understand that.” Nykaal smiled. “Since you are both envoys and married, you will have my quarters for the voyage. No … don’t protest. I still have my sea cabin near the helm and for a week or so, that’s more than adequate. Besides, I’d certainly not be the captain who did not give up his quarters to the sister of Lord Bhayar and to the commander who destroyed the Bovarian armies twice.”
Does everyone know that? More than likely, Quaeryt reflected, if Nykaal had learned that in port in Solis. “I can’t say that my wife won’t appreciate that.”
“There is one difficulty. Lord Bhayar … ah … his dispatch mentioned two regiments.”
“That might be a problem, I take it?”
“If you were thinking of transporting them all at once. The Montagne and the Solis can each carry about four hundred of your troopers for the week or so it will take to reach Kherseilles. The merchanters … there are only four of them, and, well, they’ll average two hundred, maybe a bit more.”
“So I can take one regiment and my command company in one voyage and then wait three weeks and perhaps longer, given that it’s almost winter, if I want the second regiment?”
“That’s about it,” agreed Nykaal. “Lord Bhayar requested ten merchanters if possible, and a minimum of four. We were lucky to impress four, and none of them are happy about it, even for the golds Lord Bhayar promised.”
“With winter coming on, we’ll have to chance it with one regiment and the command company. It’s going to take several days just to get the men to Ephra, I fear, even one regiment.”
Nykaal nodded. “We can’t help much there, but we’ve got two pinnaces, and we can get them from the south pier to the ship fairly quickly.”
“Did the dispatch you received say anything about arrangements for mounts in Kherseilles?” Quaeryt asked.
“No. It just said that those arrangements would be taken care of by others.”
Which others? Quaeryt didn’t ask, since it was clear Nykaal didn’t know.
In less than a quint, Quaeryt and the captain had worked out a tentative schedule for boarding and for the voyage to Khers
eilles.
At that moment, Nykaal cleared his throat. “If I might ask … how do you plan to return to Geusyn?”
“I’d thought to take the ferry…”
“Nonsense. We’ve got a good south wind, and Paolyn can take the pinnace on the tide just before it turns, and then come back. Be a good exercise for him as well.”
“If you’re certain…”
“No one should have to spend any more time in Ephra than absolutely necessary.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“I landed when we got here on Vendrei. Once was enough. That was true for the crew as well.” Nykaal laughed. “You can eat with me, and your officers with the mess, your rankers with the crew, and then we’ll send you off.”
“I appreciate that.” Quaeryt truly did. The less time we spend in Ephra, the better. Nykaal seemed a good sort, and the ship’s fare was bound to be better than anything in Ephra.
Quaeryt took another swallow of the lager.
25
Quaeryt returned to Geusyn so late on Mardi evening that he had to rise early on Meredi morning to meet with Skarpa. Even so, Skarpa was waiting when Quaeryt joined him in the inn’s public room.
“You must have come in late last night,” observed the submarshal as Quaeryt slid into the chair across from him.
“More like early this morning.” Quaeryt gestured to the server. “Tea, please.”
“What did you find out?”
“The ships are here. They’re anchored southwest of Ephra. Captain Nykaal has four merchanters in addition to the Montagne and Solis. That means they can only transport first company and one regiment-unless they make two trips, and that will take another month…” Quaeryt went on to explain.
When he had finished, Skarpa fingered his chin. “You wouldn’t have to take the ships at all. You could ride along the coast to Kherseilles.”
“At this time of year?” Quaeryt shook his head. “In good weather that would take three weeks, if not longer. Now … who knows?” He paused to take a swallow of the mug of tea the server had set on the small square table. “Besides, if the Khellans aren’t in a fighting mood, I won’t need a second regiment. If they are, I can’t conquer the entire land with two. Besides, I’ll be fortunate if Bhayar’s ‘arrangements’ result in enough mounts for one regiment, let alone two.”
“You’ll take Khaern and Eleventh Regiment, then?”
“Unless you have an objection. I also thought I’d leave Voltyr and Threkhyl with you. They might prove helpful.”
“They might indeed.” Skarpa paused. “You know that nothing at all might happen here?”
“Aliaro may do nothing, but if he does, you’ll need imagers. I also have the feeling you may need to act against some of the local High Holders. Imagers can prove useful in making a point without losing troopers.”
“Do you think they’ll try anything with this many troopers here? I have my doubts.”
“I’d suggest you visit each of them and see what you think.”
“You do that better than I do.”
“I won’t be here … and what do your orders say?”
Skarpa snorted. “You know as well as I do. Don’t remind me. Doesn’t mean I have to like being polite while leaning on those condescending snots.”
“Don’t worry about leaning hard. They won’t think you mean it unless you do, not after dealing with Kharst.”
“What a frigged-up land.” Skarpa shook his head.
Quaeryt wasn’t about to disagree. “We’ll just have to set it right.” If we can.
“What are your plans?” asked Skarpa.
“We’ll start transferring troopers to Ephra as soon as we can today. It’s likely to take several days, if not longer, even using the pinnaces from both the Montagne and the Solis.”
“You honestly think you can get mounts in Kherseilles?”
“One way or another. I just hope it’s not the hard way.”
“Good fortune on that.”
When he and Skarpa had finished, Quaeryt arranged for some breakfast to be sent up to Vaelora, gulped down some egg toast and ham rashers, then waited for Alazyn and Khaern to join him in the smallest of the plaques rooms.
Both entered together, and Quaeryt gestured to the chairs on the other side of the circular table. Once they were seated, he began. “Subcommanders … you may have heard that the Montagne and the Solis are anchored south of Ephra. I met with the lead captain yesterday.”
The red-haired Khaern nodded.
“Yes, sir,” replied Alazyn.
“We’ve run into some difficulties. There are only six ships, rather than the twelve that we had planned for…” Quaeryt quickly explained, then went on. “That means I can only take one regiment in addition to first company. The other regiment will remain with Southern Army.”
“You’re leaving Nineteenth Regiment with Commander Skarpa, sir?” asked Alazyn.
“I’d thought so. Unless either of you has a reason why it would be better otherwise?”
“No, sir,” replied the stocky Alazyn. “That makes more sense. You’ve worked more with Eleventh Regiment. But this will only be for as long as you’re in Khel?”
“That’s my intent. Lord Bhayar can always change assignments, but I doubt that he’d see any reason for that.”
“When will we be embarking?” asked Khaern.
“As soon as we can … after I talk with the imager undercaptains.”
Once Quaeryt had dismissed the subcommanders, he then sent for Voltyr and the imager undercaptains, but met with Voltyr first.
Quaeryt gestured for the undercaptain to take a seat across the circular table. “You know why I requested that we meet, don’t you?”
“I suspect so, sir. You intend to detach me to serve with the submarshal, do you not?”
“You and Undercaptain Threkhyl. The submarshal may need two strong imagers, and you’re the only one able to keep Threkhyl in line.”
“You think so, sir?”
“Your shields are stronger than his, and he knows that.”
“He also knows you’d destroy him if he misbehaves.” Voltyr’s voice was dry.
“I’ll talk to him next, and then everyone together.” Quaeryt paused. “There is one other thing, and it’s what I told Desyrk. If you happen to run across any young imagers, make them apprentices or trainees, and make sure they’re paid. Before everything is all over, not that it’s ever all over, we’ll need as many imagers as we can gather.”
“Yes, sir.” After a moment Voltyr asked, “How long do you think you’ll be in Khel?”
“I’d like to say a few weeks, but it could be all winter, the way things are going.”
“Is there anything I need to look out for?”
“Nothing that we haven’t talked over already. I would like to emphasize that you’re to be very polite to any High Holder, and you’re not to trust any of them.”
“You don’t think much of them, do you, sir?”
“Any of them who survived need to be watched closely. I’ve gotten the feeling that the most trustworthy ones seldom survived Rex Kharst.”
They talked for another quint before Voltyr left.
The plaques-room door had barely closed before it opened once more and Threkhyl stepped inside.
“Take a seat, Undercaptain.”
“Yes, sir.” Threkhyl nodded and seated himself.
“I’m certain you know what I’m about to say. You and Undercaptain Voltyr are being assigned to the submarshal while Eleventh Regiment and first company are dealing with the Khellan High Council. The reason why I chose you and Voltyr is because you two are the best imagers, and the submarshal will need both your skills. Voltyr is in charge, because he knows how to deal with the submarshal and others.”
Surprisingly, to Quaeryt, Threkhyl only said, “Makes sense, sir.”
“I’d also like to remind you that you are valuable to me, and to the submarshal. For that reason, when you are called to image something, please thi
nk how you can get the greatest effect with the least strain. This will be important because you and Voltyr will only have each other.”
“Yes, sir.”
Once Quaeryt had finished with Threkhyl, he summoned the other five undercaptains into the plaques room. This time he stood and left them standing as he surveyed them.
After several moments of silence, he said, “Some of you know what I’m about to say, but not all of you, and there are matters that will affect you all that we need to go over. First is the matter of who is going to Khel … and why. Because Lord Bhayar could not obtain enough ships, only a single regiment will be accompanying us…” He went on to explain his decision and the arrangements he had made. “Do any of you have questions?”
“How far will we have to travel once we reach Kherseilles, sir?”
“We may have to travel all the way to Khelgror, where their High Council meets.”
“Have you had any word from Subcommander Calkoran?”
“Not since we left Variana…”
“What about mounts, sir?”
After almost a quint, Quaeryt dismissed the undercaptains. Then he made his way to the stairs. He needed to see how Vaelora was coming along, as well as to pack his own gear.
26
All in all, the transfer of the troopers and their equipment, including riding gear, took more than three days. Quaeryt had arranged for first company to begin the transfer, sending Vaelora with the second set of ferry trips so that there would be troopers already waiting for her, while he moved back and forth, along with Zhelan, to try to keep the transportation moving smoothly. While the factor owning the ferries hadn’t been especially enthusiastic about using all four at once, Quaeryt managed to persuade him, if with a touch of authoritative image-projection.
The breeze off the shore was light as the Montagne weighed anchor and spread sail at eighth glass on Samedi night, just two glasses before the first day of winter. Quaeryt and Vaelora wore their riding jackets and stood on the upper deck of the sterncastle of the Montagne, looking northward at Ephra, and then to the northeast at the somewhat brighter lights of Kephria.
“It’s getting chill,” she said.
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