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Dainyl waited, a pleasant smile upon his face.
There s no doubt that they plan some sort of treach-ery, as you well know.
But to remove them or for them to suffer a mishap without some form of proof
would have large numbers of faithful alectors in the east rising against the
Duarchy or whoever was perceived as its agent. Right now, you are the one
suspected of being that agent.
That wasn t exactly a surprise to Dainyl, but her words still sent a chill
through him. What do you suggest I do, then, Captain?
Finish your inspection tour, and wait until an opportu-nity arises. It will,
because Brekylt will have to act in or-der to gain whatever power or control
he desires. It won t happen immediately, however. If you do nothing upon your
return to Elcien, except to issue a report extolling the state of readiness in
the east, that will confound them.
What about visiting Dereka ... and those insignifi-cant other difficulties
facing me? Dainyl offered the question dryly.
Sevasya laughed. Submarshal, sir, I am quite certain you will manage, as you
have all along. Visiting Dereka should pose no problems, now that Colonel
Dhenyr serves in Elcien as your replacement.
Do you think he had anything to do with removing firelances, say, in order to
weaken Fifth Company?
I doubt he had anything to do with that. With other matters, yes, but
handling firelances under those condi-tions would require Talent and
initiative, and he was se-lected for lack of such. Sevasya s voice was both
warm and ironic. Especially after his predecessor showed that lack of obvious
Talent did not necessarily preclude initia-tive and effectiveness.
Dereka is the closest Myrmidon company to Lyterna, mused Dainyl.
It is, and I m very fond of both Captain Elysara and Captain Fhentyl. You
might find the visit to Dereka en-joyable, even informative, sir.
That answered another question, even as it raised a third. Why?
I m certain I couldn t say, sir, but it is the oldest city on Acorus.
In short, Dainyl should go, and the Duarch s daughter, whether she was
technically under his command or not, wasn t about to say why ... or much more
about anything.
He stood. I would very much appreciate it if you would give me a tour of
Eighth Company.
I d be delighted, Submarshal, and everyone will be pleased to meet you.
Those words were genuine, and heartfelt, and that dis-turbed Dainyl as well,
although he could not have said ex-actly why.
With a smile, he opened the study door and stepped into the corridor, waiting
for the captain.
23
Slightly past midmoming on Quinti,
Mykel reined up next to Bhoral as the third squad of the First Hyalt Company
wheeled into a firing line, a very ragged firing line. Some of the troopers
seemed uncom-fortable, if not unsteady, in the saddle. Most had never been on
a mount a week earlier, and that meant extra time in teaching them about
horses. Mykel couldn t begrudge that. He d needed that instruction years back.
For a time, he watched as the squad continued to prac-tice standard mounted
maneuvers. Then he turned to the battalion senior squad leader. They re
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improving. It s
slow, but even as soon as it is, I can see some improve-ment. You re getting
results, especially with what you have to work with.
Bhoral gave a faint smile. They re beginning to real-ize that they can do
something, and that they ll get regu-lar rations and pay. A good lot of em
never have.
That was true of all too many of the locally raised Cad-mian forces, Mykel had
come to realize, and why he and Third Battalion were in Southgate. How are
matters working out with getting supplies?
After the first day or so, all of a sudden, we stopped having problems.
Couldn t say why, but I m not com-plaining.
Good. Still... be as pleasant as possible.
I ve laid that on heavy with the squad leaders. They know. Bhoral gave a
creased smile. Hope you don t mind that I told em what you said to the
officers.
No. It holds true for all of us. All Mykel had said to his officers was that
no one was to treat anyone in the compound with disrespect. If they had a
problem, they were to bring it to him. He d only had to go to the over-captain
once, and that was to explain the need for extra fodder and water because of
the longer use of the mounts. Fodder was a problem because the area around
Southgate wasn t all that fertile, not compared with other areas sup-porting
Cadmian mounted companies.
I m going to see how the combat squad-on-squad drills are going. Mykel
nodded to Bhoral and then eased the roan around the north edge of the main
drill field to the east side. There, Fourteenth Company s squads were taking
on the squads of Second Hyalt Company, using rattan sabres.
Again, Mykel reined up, this time beside Captain Cu-leyt. Once more, he
watched for a time, before saying anything.
What do you think?
Sir... half of them still think a sabre s an axe.
Many of us did at one time, Mykel said with a laugh. They re looking
better. It ll help your men, too.
The recruits aren t any threat.
No, Mykel replied, but when your men have to ex-plain what they re doing,
and then keep doing it, it rein-forces their skills. He grinned. But... to
make sure they don t get sloppy, tell them that they ll be running a drill
with the rattan sabres against Sixteenth Company the day after tomorrow.
Sir? Sixteenth Company?
You re the one who just said that the Hyaltans were no threat.
Yes, sir. Culeyt shook his head.
Mykel continued his rounds of observation for another two glasses, before
riding back to the compound, where he unsaddled the roan and brushed him out
before he walked back to the headquarters building.
He settled behind the battered wooden table desk in the study provided for his
use he didn t really think of it as his and began to write. He d decided to
make more changes in the training schedule, based on what he d observed,
deciding to beef up the individual weapons training. Some of the unit
maneuvering training could be incorporated into the ride to Hyalt, but doing
that with weapons would have been far more difficult and time-consuming.
Less than half a glass later, he looked up to a knock on the half-open door.
Yes?
Overcaptain Sturyk would ask a moment of your time, Majer. The squad leader
was far more precise and respectful than he had been when Mykel had first
intro-duced himself. If you would not mind?
That would be fine.
Mykel had barely set down the pen before Sturyk ap-peared, and he stood.
Overcaptain.
Majer. You ve been so involved with your training that I thought I had best
catch you when I could, sir. If this is convenient?
This is fine. Mykel gestured toward the chairs in front of the table.
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Oh, no, sir. This will only take a moment. Sturyk paused. Before that...
It s said that you acquired ... a certain appellation ... as a result of your
efforts in Dra-mur, Majer, sir. I would not wish to pry ...
Was that why there had suddenly been such a change in attitude and so much
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