“No, ser. And the Afritans didn’t even try another advance.”
“At least the Heldyans couldn’t land any more mounted forces.” Lerial pauses. “Could they?”
“No, ser. But they did get another company of foot ashore. The Afritan archers picked off a few of them wading in from deeper water.”
Lerial takes another, deeper, swallow of the lager.
Fheldar extends a small loaf of bread. “Didn’t have any biscuits. Thought you might need something to eat.”
“Thank you.” Lerial has no doubts that he does, especially before meeting with whoever is in charge of the Afritan forces—which he intends to do. “I just hope the Heldyans don’t come to know my weaknesses as well as you do.”
“What you do takes a lot of food. I’ve never seen a fat mage or wizard, and you all eat a lot.”
“Would you find out who the majer in charge of the battalion that didn’t follow up is … and where he is?”
“Yes, ser. I can do that.”
It is a good half glass later when Lerial meets with Majer Fhaet at an empty shop that once likely held a coppersmith or tinsmith. Fhaet is a slightly rotund and fresh-faced blond officer.
“Overcaptain Lerial … How gracious of you to let me know of your presence.”
“I was perhaps too interested in stopping the Heldyans from overrunning you. I had hoped that the captain I had informed would relay my intentions.”
“That is scarcely the usual procedure, for a captain to order a majer.”
These aren’t usual times. “You’re absolutely correct, Majer, but might I ask why, once it became obvious that we had cleared out the Heldyans, your men didn’t follow up?”
The majer does not meet Lerial’s eyes. “As I indicated, you never told me what you were doing, ser.”
“I told the captain of the company nearest to us.” As well as Subcommander Drusyn. But Lerial does not mention Drusyn, since that would only make Drusyn look bad, and matters with Drusyn are already touchy. Besides, Lerial has to admit, he should have talked matters over with the majer first. You really should have. Once again, his desire to resolve the situation before it worsened led him into acting, rather than talking, and his inexperience in dealing with fragmented and regimented command structures has complicated matters even further.
“I didn’t know that, ser … and the other captains said there was too much chaos-fire.”
Your other captains are idiots, then. Lerial manages not to blurt out those words. He also ignores the implication that the majer overruled the one captain and pulled his company back, while refusing to let the others advance. Instead, he massages his forehead, and then the back of his neck. “The area on the other side of the stone barricades was cleared. All they had to do was advance to the stones and use them for cover. The chaos-fire isn’t very effective against stone.”
“I listen to my captains, ser.”
Much as Lerial wants to strangle the majer, he nods. “Obviously, you do.” He smiles politely. “I will make sure you know the next time we have to clear out the Heldyans.” He pauses and adds. “For a second time. Good afternoon.” He does not wait for a response, but turns and leaves Fhaet.
“What did the majer say?” asks Strauxyn as Lerial walks toward his gelding.
“His captains felt it was too dangerous to advance, and he listens to his captains.” Lerial mounts, then looks at Fheldar, Strauxyn, and Kusyl. “We can’t do anything more this afternoon.” You can’t anyway, and there’s no sense in risking Mirror Lancers when the Afritan officers won’t risk their own men. “There’s obviously some confusion among the Afritan senior field officers. So I need to go talk to Subcommander Drusyn.”
*
A third of a glass later, after Lerial and the Mirror Lancers have made their way along back streets to the shore road and then back to Drusyn’s temporary headquarters, Lerial walks slowly into the factorage.
“I didn’t expect you back so soon. You’ve taken care of the chaos-mages?” Drusyn smiles warily.
“Two out of three, and we managed to destroy the temporary pier and two flatboats. After we had accomplished that, unfortunately some of that chaos came back and stunned me. Then there was a communications problem. Although we had cleared all the Heldyans from their forward line, and the last chaos-wizard was unable to attack, only one Afritan Guard captain followed up, and the battalion majer called back everyone.” Lerial shrugs. “So I didn’t feel like sacrificing my men without support … and the Heldyans have reoccupied their former lines.”
“Majer Fhaet reported that he did not have clear orders and that there was too much chaos flying.”