[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
this way.
That sort of thing happens, Captain, Kusyl replies with a long face.
Happened before, try to avoid it, but you spread out too much, and they get
away. Won t be the last time less we get more lancers.
We won t get enough. Lorn laughs, a harsh bark. We re not getting any until
winter turn. He takes a deep breath. If you d set up the sentries, Kusyl. I
need a moment. Then& then we ll have to send another messenger to the
Engineers.
Yes, ser.
Lorn needs more than a moment, but a moment is all he will get, since he will
have to take over the first squad, and watch them as well.
The slow roll of thunder from the south, from over the Accursed Forest, passes
across the Second Company, and the south wind rises, with the hint of dampness
that foretells the rain and the mud Lorn is expecting.
Then too, before long, he expects Majer Maran will be arriving. Of that, Lorn
has no doubts.
LXXXVII
Lorn glances out the inner study window into the courtyard, where the early
fall sunshine bathes the white granite in a clear light. Then his eyes drop to
the stacks of papers on his table desk.
In the outer study, a dazed-looking Kusyl is reading through all the personnel
files in the foot chest. Lorn worries about Kusyl s administrative abilities,
but Kusyl can read and write, if slightly laboriously, since lancers are not
promoted to squad leaders, even junior ones, unless they can. More important
to Lorn is that Kusyl, rough-edged as he is, is loyal to Lorn and to the
Mirror Lancers, not to blind ambition.
Should Lorn have acted against Olisenn? How could he not? Maran would not have
transferred the man, and even a request for transfer would have created the
incentive for Olisenn, or Maran, to act against Lorn, and Lorn does not wish
to have to deal with both Olisenn and Maran at once. Lorn has no doubts, even
if he has no proof, that Olisenn was an accomplice in the removal of Captain
Dymytri. And Lorn has seldom regretted acting; he has regretted more the times
when he has not acted, as in the case of Myryan s consorting, which he fears
will harm her more than he knows. Still& that he has been forced so to act
troubles him.
He glances over the scrolls.
Although he has finished the patrol report summary to Majer Maran and the
request for a replacement squad leader and the authority to promote Kusyl
permanently to senior squad leader, Lorn has more than a few tasks of his own
remaining.
One of them is to request, again, replacement lancers for his understrength
company. Another is to write to his family, carefully, since Maran will
certainly intercept such a scroll and read it. He must also consider how to
change the tactics of approach to the fallen trees, in such a way that seems,
if not natural, at least understandable to his men.
Lorn picks up the pen. A scroll to Commander Meylyd for more lancers will be
the easiest. He does not expect much, but knows that if he does not request
such, he will be considered lacking in concern for accomplishing his duties
Page 195
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
and protecting both the people of Cyad and his lancers.
After he completes it, his eyes scan the page.
& the first squad of the Second Company stands at twelve lancers, with no squad
leader, only an acting leader from those twelve. The second squad consists of
thirteen lancers and the new senior squad leader. Second Company is less than
two thirds its normal complement& but has been tasked with handling double the
number of ward-wall breaches seen in past three-season periods running from
winter through summer. Therefore& requesting replacement lancers to bring the
Company to full complement, and your action, insofar as dispatching or
promoting a permanent junior squad leader&
Lorn sets aside the scroll to dry and starts on the second one, the one to his
family that will doubtless be read by Maran or Meylyd.
& the past seasons have exacted a toll on my company, for the Accursed Forest
has continued to press against the ward-walls with continued presence. More
than that, it would not be proper to say, save that we have persevered against
all manner of obstacles foreseen and unforeseen& most difficult charge is to
ensure that the wild creatures do not escape to plague the people of Cyad and
yet not to expose the lancers to untoward harm or attack from such creatures&
few understand the true need for the tasks which I now undertake, nor would I
before I had come to Jakaafra&
& trust that all is well with you in Cyad, and that Myryan s gardens have
indeed borne the fruits she has hoped for and that Jerial continues to find
satisfaction in her duties as healer&
Lorn smiles as he adds the next line.
& I have not had the time to discover new vintages here in Jakaafra, and so
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]