Artesans of Albia

by Cas Peace

  “Well, what are we waiting for?” said Cal, swinging toward the door.

  Bull grabbed his arm. “Whoa, lad. Don’t go off like a broken bow. The Major might be sleeping, she might not even be in the Manor. Robin will go ask her if she can help. The rest of us”—he fixed Cal with a firm eye—“will wait here.”

  Robin left and Cal reluctantly stayed where he was. They all waited anxiously, Cal’s eyes never leaving the door. Taran’s heart began thumping painfully as, after an interminable wait, he heard Robin returning.

  The Captain was running and he skidded to a stop at the door, amazement on his face. “You’ve got to come see this.”

  “Have you found her?” snapped Cal. “Is she alright?”

  “Just come. And keep quiet.”

  They followed Robin to the Major’s office and filed through the room.

  “Quiet,” he warned, before pushing open the inner door.

  They all stared in astonishment at the two women lying on the floor.

  “Rienne!” said Cal, starting forward.

  Robin hissed at him but Bull was grinning. It seemed he had spotted something.

  “It’s alright, Robin,” he said, picking up the empty bottle of firewater and inspecting it wryly. “They’re not going to hear you.”

  “Sullyan won’t be drunk,” interjected Robin. “She doesn’t drink alcohol.”

  “I think you’ll find she is.” Bull was smiling broadly.

  Robin clearly didn’t believe him and went closer, raising his brows when he smelled her breath. “But she never drinks.”

  The women slumbered on, oblivious.

  Bull chuckled. “Well, she did tonight.”

  Taran felt a whisper touch his psyche and realized it was Bull, accessing his metaforce. He wondered why.

  Suddenly, the big man snorted. “Robin. Read the room.”

  “Bull,” said Robin indignantly, “that’s a gross invasion of privacy. I’m surprised at you.”

  “Just shut up and do it. You’ll get a surprise.”

  Despite his reluctance, Robin did as Bull suggested. His control was so fine, Taran could only just feel him sampling the top layer of the room’s metaphysical atmosphere. After a few seconds, he flushed red with embarrassment.

  “Oh, Robin,” laughed Bull, “I never knew you were such a prude.”

  Robin smiled wryly. “I’m not, I just never realized she wasn’t.” He eyed Cal. “It must be Rienne’s influence.”

  Cal looked up. “What must?”

  “Share it with them,” said Bull. “The Major won’t mind.”

  By now, Taran’s curiosity was climbing the wall. He was pleased when Robin said, “I suppose you’re right. Taran, Cal, remember what we were working on today? Just relax your thoughts and I’ll show you what I picked up from the substrate.”

  They did so and Taran felt the Captain’s metaforce merging with his own. Soon, he heard snatches of saucy folk tunes and caught some of the women’s frankly admiring comments. Cal’s dark face flushed even darker and Taran could see why Robin was so embarrassed. Personally, he found the whole thing extremely funny, but then most of the rude compliments hadn’t referred to him.

  Clearly, Cal’s feelings were similar to Robin’s for Taran saw him regarding his slumbering partner suspiciously. He nudged him. “‘The Ups and Downs,’ eh? I wonder where she learned that one.”

  Cal frowned. “It wasn’t from me.”

  Robin moved forward and kneeled to look closer at Rienne.

  “I can’t see any signs of injury on her and if she had been hurt, the Major would have taken care of it. She wouldn’t have kept Rienne here if there had been anything seriously wrong. Seems that brute of a sergeant was telling the truth.”

  Cal appeared relieved but Taran could still feel his anger.

  “We’d better make them more comfortable,” continued Robin. “Cal, can you carry Rienne back to Bull’s and put her to bed?”

  Cal nodded and carefully lifted Rienne into his arms. Neither woman stirred. Shaking his head, he carried her out. Taran went to follow, but stopped just by the door. He watched as Bull and Robin stood looking fondly at Sullyan.

  He heard Bull murmur, “So she’s finally found a friend. I’m glad for her. It’s about time, and she could have done a lot worse than Rienne.”

  “Maybe, Bull, but how long can it last? They’re not going to be here forever.”

  Taran’s heart fell at Robin’s words, even though he knew they were true.

  “And what about tomorrow?” the Captain continued. “The scouts are due back by morning and she’s going to have one hell of a sick headache when she wakes. Can you imagine what Blaine will say if she reports to him like that? He’s hardly in the best of moods at the moment.”

  “And whose fault is that? Alright, lad, don’t bristle at me. Maybe you had better stay here tonight and get ready to be nursemaid in the morning. It’s not going to be a pretty sight. I’ll leave you to it.”

  “Thanks,” muttered Robin.

  Taran turned away before Bull could see he’d been listening. The big man ushered him into the corridor, leaving Robin to deal with the slumbering Sullyan. He pulled the door closed behind him and led Taran back to his rooms.

  + + + + +

  Blaring trumpets outside roused Taran from a vaguely disturbing dream. The sensation of having just accessed his metaforce was uppermost in his mind but the picture in his memory was of Sullyan’s golden eyes. As he tried to remember the dream, the sound of movement coming from the living room distracted him. Dissolving like mist, the image slipped from his grasp.

  He dressed hurriedly and left his sleeping chamber, coming face to face with Bull. The big man was obviously about to knock on his door and the appearance of Cal’s sleepy face from the opposite door showed he had knocked there first.

  “Come on,” he said, “the scouts have returned. We ought to get to the commons, that’s where we’ll hear what they’ve learned.”

  When they arrived, the commons was packed and Taran was surprised there were so many men at the Manor. It was the most they had seen gathered in one place. He took a chair at the table Bull managed to commandeer and Cal, followed by a pale-faced Rienne, did the same. Taran glanced at the healer with sympathy. Despite having taken a strong infusion of willow, she looked truly awful.

  The young serving lad Tad suddenly appeared with a tray of food. As he placed it on their table, he didn’t try to hide his hopes of seeing Robin. The Captain wasn’t there however, and crestfallen, Tad left.

  The commons door opened and the hubbub of voices stilled expectantly. Every eye turned toward it but it was only Robin, and the conversations resumed.

  He strode to their table and sat down, shaking his head briefly at Bull’s inquiring look. Taran saw the big man frown.

  “How’s the Major?” asked Rienne, glancing up at Robin from red-rimmed, bleary eyes. “If she feels as bad as I do, she’ll still be in bed.”

  Robin gave her a quick smile. “She probably ought to be, but she’s not. I don’t know where she is.” Taran heard the concern in his voice and raised his brows. “She wasn’t there when I woke this morning. I even asked Emos—that’s her valet—if he’d seen her, but all he said was that she must be with the General. I’m a bit worried about her. I was going to check with Hanan at the infirmary when the reveille sounded.”

  Rienne was about to reply when the commons door opened again. The atmosphere was suddenly charged with expectation and the room filled with the sound of scraped-back chairs. Every man came to attention and saluted.

  General Blaine strode into the room, followed by Colonel Vassa. Both senior officers acknowledged the massed salute. Taran noticed that Robin was slow to lower his arm and was standing rigid, his jaw hanging open.

  When he took a quick glance at the door, Taran immediately understood why.

  Entering behind the General, neatly dressed in spotless combat leathers, eyes bright, hair braided and sword at her right
hip, was Major Sullyan.

  Taran could see Robin staring at her, clearly stunned. She didn’t glance their way and her expression remained serene. He saw the Captain shake his head and even Bull looked surprised. The alcohol she had drunk the night before, thought Taran, obviously hadn’t affected her.

  The “at ease” order was given while Taran continued to gaze at Sullyan. She stood at the General’s left shoulder, legs slightly apart, hands clasped behind her back, her stance one of relaxed readiness. He thought he caught a glimpse of amusement in her eyes.

  His musings were interrupted by the General clearing his throat.

  “Gentlemen, one hour before dawn this morning, the scouts of Major Sullyan’s company returned from the south. The news they brought is not good. It seems that a large force of Andaryans has invaded our realm, targeting southern Loxton as well as the provinces of Arnor and Rethrick. They are showing no mercy and laying waste to all in their path.”

  There were angry mutterings from the assembled men.

  His voice gruff, the General continued. “Colonel Vassa will coordinate our opposition and he will take the bulk of our strength to the south. He will draw reinforcements from the local garrisons, as I will not strip Loxton of its defenses. In the meantime, Major Sullyan has been assigned the post of Acting King’s Envoy and she will mount an ambassadorial mission to Count Marik, our ally in the Fifth Realm. He may know the reason behind this invasion, and perhaps diplomacy can solve the problem before too many more lives are lost. Rest assured, we will cover all options.”

  Turning to Vassa, he said, “You have your orders. Instruct your commanders and report back to me in an hour. You too, Major.”

  Both saluted promptly, as did the assembled men. The General returned the homage and left the room. Colonel Vassa then began detailing his men. From what Bull had told him, Taran knew that Vassa commanded several companies of swordsmen and bowmen, as opposed to the mainly mounted men of Sullyan’s own command.

  The Major stood lightly at ease beside him until he was done.

  “That’s all, men,” he finished. “Go about your duties and I will join you at midday. Over to you, Major.”

  He turned and left, his men filing out behind him.

  Moving gracefully, Sullyan approached Bull’s table and leaned her back against the wall, hooking her hands through her sword belt. She regarded them with a level gaze and Taran couldn’t see a single sign of last night’s excesses. He noticed that Robin and Bull were studying her, too. From their expressions, they had found nothing amiss, either.

  “Well, gentlemen,” she said softly, “we have a real problem on our hands. The Pact has been well and truly broken. It seems something has given the Andaryans the idea that the time is ripe for invasion. We must do everything in our power to convince them otherwise.”

  Taran felt himself flush with shame. “Is it because of what I did?”

  She turned her glorious eyes on him and he felt the weight of her gaze. He feared her censure but she replied mildly, “That, my friend, remains to be seen.”

  Her gaze remained on him and he knew she was aware of the other question hovering on his lips. Clearly, she wasn’t prepared to help him with it.

  He forced himself to speak. “Is it possible … would it help … I mean, would I be permitted to go with you? Maybe I could do something to repair the damage … to make amends?”

  He heard Robin draw breath and expected a flat denial. Instead, Sullyan astounded him.

  “General Blaine has already granted permission for you to accompany us.”

  She turned to Robin, who looked shocked. “Captain, take Taran Elijah to the Quartermaster and have him issued combat leathers and arms. He will become one of us for the duration of this mission. Bulldog, go to the horse lines and have our mounts saddled. Tell Solet I will ride Mandias. Taran, I assume your horse has never been through the Veils before?”

  Caught off balance by the suddenness of events, Taran stumbled over his words. “No, I … how would you get a horse through a portway?”

  She didn’t reply. “Bulldog, select a mount for Taran.”

  She turned to Cal. “How strong is your link with Taran, Cal?”

  Taran started to reply but she waved him silent, her eyes holding Cal’s. The Apprentice shrugged and said, “Fairly strong, I think, after our practice session yesterday.”

  “Then I would like you to stay here as contact, in case of an emergency.”

  Cal nodded, frowning over the word “emergency.”

  Sullyan turned her attention to Rienne and her businesslike manner softened.

  “Healer Arlen, while you are here, would you be willing to be attached to our infirmary? I have a feeling we will need every experienced hand in the weeks to come. General Blaine has approved it and if you agree, I am authorized to offer you the post of Acting Captain for the duration of this crisis.”

  Taran could see that Rienne was totally taken aback. Cal too, was astonished. The Major however, hadn’t finished.

  “Of course, you will also draw a captain’s pay. I understand you are already acquainted with Chief Healer Hanan?” At Rienne’s slightly bemused nod, she continued. “Then if you would report to her, she will show you to the Paymaster’s office. He has been informed of your status.”

  She hesitated before adding, “Rienne, I would take it as a personal favor if you would consider yourself attached to my company. I like to ensure the best possible medical care for my command.”

  Rienne nodded again and Sullyan turned back to Robin. “Captain, when you see the Quartermaster, arrange billeting for Rienne and Cal. Make sure they get quarters large enough to accommodate Taran when we return. I think Bull has already been more than generous with his space. Now, if you will all excuse me, I must report back to the General. Meet me at the horse lines in two hours.”

  Bull and Robin snapped a salute and Cal followed them out. As Taran turned to go with them, he saw Sullyan place a hand on Rienne’s arm. The healer hesitated and Taran would have waited, but Robin called him and reluctantly, he left.

  + + + + +

  Bemused by what had just happened and still more than a little hung-over, Rienne gazed inquiringly at the Major. She wasn’t sure whether she had imagined it last night, but now, despite her pounding head, it was undeniable. There was definitely a connection between them. She smiled; it was a good feeling.

  Sullyan smiled too. “Thank you so much for last night, Rienne, and for the little gift you left on my nightstand. Without it, I doubt I would have woken had the bugler stood by my ear. Willow, was it?” Rienne nodded. “Well, you have done wonders for my reputation. Did you see the look on Robin’s face when I came in? I am in your debt and I do not forget my friends.”

  She dropped her eyes, appearing, thought Rienne, uncertain.

  “Rienne, I have heard what happened to you yesterday before you came to my room. I want to assure you that the matter has been dealt with. Morin is in the cells and Corporal Rusch has joined him for good measure. I have let it be known that you are under my personal protection, so there will be no more trouble of that nature. You should have no worries about your safety while you remain among us.”

  Rienne didn’t know what to say, her thumping head had prevented her from thinking about her ordeal the day before. Yet the fear would have returned, she knew, and she appreciated the trouble the Major had taken.

  “Thank you,” she said, “that makes me feel much better.”

  Sullyan smiled warmly and departed, leaving Rienne struggling with what she had heard. She was more than a little surprised.

  Rienne hurried to catch up with the others, excitement making her forget the ache in her head. She couldn’t deny it, she’d been missing her patients in Hyecombe and they would certainly be missing her, but this opportunity seemed to offer much in the way of compensation.

  Since enjoying Hanan’s tour of the Manor’s sophisticated facilities, Rienne had been feeling quite envious. Now she would get to u
se them herself, maybe even learn new skills and techniques. And she would be paid, to boot. She smiled. All of this had come about because she had blindly stumbled into Sullyan’s office looking for sanctuary. Instead, she had found a friend. That was well worth a pounding head and queasy stomach.

  When she finally caught up with them, Robin and Bull were discussing their amazement over the Major’s swift recovery from alcohol poisoning. Rienne hid a smile and swore a silent oath never to tell a soul her secret.

  They also discussed Taran’s astonishing inclusion in their mission. Taran, she could see, looked concerned and she wondered if he was worried they might resent his presence. However, they merely seemed surprised and she saw him visibly relax when Robin admitted this would be his first diplomatic assignment.

  “You’ve been on a few, though, Bull,” said the Captain. “What can we expect?”

  Bull shrugged. “Almost anything. Marik’s alright in a gloomy kind of way but he’s a reluctant ally and I don’t altogether trust him. Just keep your eyes open and be careful not to give offense.”

  “Why?” asked Taran.

  “Because the Andaryan social structure is different than ours, and it’s easy to make a wrong step. The other thing you have to remember is their attitude toward women. In their eyes, females are only there to propagate the species. They hold no lands or wealth, or power of any kind. Including ours.”

  Rienne frowned. “No power at all? There aren’t any women in the nobility?”

  Bull shook his head. “Andaryans place great store in physical and metaphysical prowess. Generally nobles rise no higher than count unless their power is strong. The metaphysical kind is prized above all, and since the Artesan gift only passes through the male line in the Fifth Realm, it effectively precludes all women.”

  “So why is the Major accepted as the King’s ambassador?” asked Taran.

  Bull grinned wickedly. “Count Marik has had, er, personal experience of her skill at arms. She’s proved herself equal to him or any of his swordsmen. She’s widely respected in the province of Cardon and I would bet there are plenty of other commanders who are aware of her reputation.”