“Then how would you trust them?”
“Only when they profit by our success,” replies Lerial dryly. After a moment, he goes on. “Perhaps we should plan out what will happen tomorrow morning so that there is no confusion as there was today.”
Drusyn nods.
As he moves toward the counter on which the maps are spread, Lerial can only hope he has mitigated the impact of his earlier words.
XXXI
After spending more than a glass working out details of what Lerial and the Mirror Lancers—and Drusyn’s Afritan Guards—would do on sixday, Lerial and the Lancers withdraw to South Post, where Drusyn has arranged for quarters and rations. For the rest of the day, through dinner, and even when he is falling asleep in a room in the officers’ quarters, the same thought keeps running through Lerial’s mind. You have to find a way to deal with that last chaos-wizard. Otherwise, Drusyn and his idiot majers will sit here until they lose. That thought is still there, stronger than ever, when he wakes and dresses on sixday, but he pushes it aside and gets on with readying himself and the three companies.
By slightly before seventh glass, they leave South Post. When they reach the factorage that serves as Subcommander Drusyn’s command center, Lerial dismounts and makes his way inside.
“Good morning, Overcaptain,” says Drusyn cheerfully.
“The same to you. Has anything changed at South Point?”
“Not so far. The Heldyans haven’t landed any more men.” The subcommander frowns. “I did receive a dispatch from the arms-commander. They’re still bringing in men and mounts at the tileworks.”
“That’s good and bad. Good because they may not attack as soon as we feared, and bad…” Lerial shakes his head.
“Because they’ll have a massive force there when they do.”
After a moment, Lerial asks, “You have three battalions here?”
Drusyn nods. “Aerlyt’s Fourth Battalion is on the south side, and Fhaet’s Third is to the north and east of the point. Majer Knaak has Fifth in reserve, back slightly and between them.” He gestures to the maps on the counters. “I can show you.”
Lerial follows the subcommander to the counter.
“Third is here, Fourth here, and Fifth there.” Drusyn looks up.
“Have you given the majers written orders?” Lerial asks cautiously.
“No. Do you think that’s necessary?”
“I’d appreciate that. When there’s conflict and confusion, there are some officers who have a tendency to forget orders that they question.”
“I presume you’re referring to Majer Fhaet.”
“I apparently haven’t made the best impression on him,” Lerial says dryly, suspecting that his words are a massive understatement. “I’d prefer there not be any more confusion.”
“I can understand that. I’ll write up a brief order to all three majers and dispatch them by courier immediately.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“I appreciate your taking on chaos-mages.” Drusyn actually smiles, if for a moment.
Once Lerial leaves the subcommander, he decides to proceed deliberately, even as he worries about what the Heldyans on South Point may be doing. First, he moves the three companies to a back street out of sight of the attackers, but within easy striking distance, then takes three rankers with him to visit each of the battalion commanders, beginning with the reserve battalion.
His eyes study the high thin gray clouds, which will probably burn off by midmorning, but which will mean that the Mirror Lancers will not be riding into the sun. The air is still, damp, and heavy. The streets are deserted, although Lerial can sense people watching through the cracks in shuttered windows, and the echoes from the gelding’s hoofs on the stone pavement sound hollow. He sees a single smudge-gray cat sitting on a sand barrel. The cat looks back at Lerial evenly, and so regally that he smiles.
Once Lerial turns onto Spinners’ Lane, he has no trouble locating the Fifth Battalion command post, since the horses outside a café ahead are the only sign of any activity.
Lerial has barely reined up when Majer Knaak hurries off a narrow porch where he is meeting with his captains to see Lerial. “Good morning, Overcaptain. Amazing what you did yesterday.” He shakes his head. “Too bad we couldn’t take advantage of it.”
Lerial dismounts, ties the gelding to the end of the hitching rail, then turns to the majer. “There was a bit of confusion. That’s why I’m here. We’re going to try to remove the last of the chaos-mages to make matters easier. But it would be best if…” Lerial goes on to explain what he and Drusyn have planned.
When Lerial finishes, Knaak, a short man with black and gray hair, nods approvingly. “That sounds good to me. You know we’re in reserve, though.”
“I know, but I thought you should hear it from me.”