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settled.
Jesopyr s manner and the feelings behind it were so open, so friendly, and so
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at odds with what Alucius had experienced with Majer Ebuin that Alucius just
nodded, momentarily finding himself without words.
Captain Quelyn will escort you, and Desar will make sure your troopers and
squad leaders lack for nothing. We ve plenty of space here&
In moments, Alucius was walking Wildebeast toward the stables, listening to
Quelyn.
& received word you d be here, must have been several weeks ago& Now, we re
just using number one stable these days& visiting officers here through the
first archway&
The stable held spaces for close to four hundred mounts, from what Alucius
could count, and fewer than a quarter of the stalls were in use. The other
stable appeared unused. From the stable, Alucius carried his gear back across
the courtyard to a two-story gray stone structure that was a good hundred
yards in length. The officers quarters had rooms or doorways for close to
fifty, but the wing through which
Captain Quelyn led Alucius appeared empty.
Quelyn opened the door. Really are a colonel s quarters, but anyone who led
five companies rates as a colonel. If there s anything you need, let me or one
of the senior squad leaders know.
Alucius glanced across the spacious room a good ten yards by four with an
antique desk, a double-width bed of equally ancient vintage, a double armoire,
a carved weapons and boot rack, wide shuttered windows, and an attached
washroom. This looks more than adequate.
The captain-colonel planned a formal supper in about two glasses, Quelyn
went on.
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I just have my uniform, Alucius pointed out.
Oh, formal means uniform here, except he ll be serving wine instead of ale,
and he can tap into the good supplies. Quelyn grinned. We all enjoy having
visiting dignitaries.
Alucius scarcely felt like a dignitary, whatever that was, only like a tired
Northern Guard officer.
He wanted to make sure you had time to check on your troopers and supplies so
that we d know anything your men would need before you leave tomorrow. Quelyn
smiled. The officers mess is on the lower level here in the front. In two
glasses, then?
I ll be there, Alucius promised.
Quelyn shut the door, leaving Alucius to puzzle over the clear friendliness
and lack of deception behind the captain s and the captain-colonel s words.
Finally, he racked his weapons and hung up his clothes and gear before
checking the washroom. It even had a tub, and a spigot that filled it with
lukewarm water. Alucius did enjoy the bath.
He had more than enough time to wash out dirty uniforms and garments, and to
walk to the barracks and confer with Faisyn, but there was little to discuss,
because the Lanachronans had been so helpful.
It s like we were heroes, sir.
You all were, even if most people don t know it. Let them enjoy it for now,
but remind them gently that we are guests. And if they don t behave like
guests& I ll have more than a few things to say.
Yes, sir. Faisyn grinned.
So did Alucius.
He took a little more time to walk around the post, but everything he saw
confirmed his first impressions.
The post had been constructed to house between ten and fifteen full companies
and there was only a company or a company and a half in residence. But the
facilities were not abandoned or obviously disused, and could have been
utilized almost immediately.
Quelyn was standing outside the building that held both officers quarters and
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the mess when Alucius returned.
The colonel thought you d be checking on your men. He said he could tell you
were the type. Quelyn coughed. Ah& he said something about& you re having been
there.
Alucius smiled. It s no secret, not in the Iron Valleys anyway, that I
started out a trooper. I ve been a squad leader and senior squad leader. Only
thing I never was was an undercaptain.
You must have entered service very young.
I did. Very young. Alucius didn t see much point in explaining further.
Excuse me. We d better get inside. The captain-colonel wouldn t be happy if I
kept you out here.
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Alucius followed the young captain in through the double oak doors and down a
short hallway floored in blue-and-white marble tiles shaped like diamonds. The
mess itself held more tables than Alucius could quickly count, but only one
was set, with white linen and cutlery. Five officers, including the
captain-colonel, were waiting, standing around the table talking quietly. The
talk stopped as Alucius and
Quelyn entered.
Right on the moment. I said he would be, Captain-Colonel Jesopyr announced.
Overcaptain, I d like to present to you those officers you have not already
met. Captain Bersyr, Captain Zenoryn, and
Overcaptain Klynosyr. You recall Majer Fedosyr.
I m pleased to meet you all.
The captain-colonel steered Alucius to one end of the table. All of you take
your seats.
Alucius sat, as did the others.
Then Jesopyr turned to the table behind him, where he picked up one of the
amber-colored bottles. He screwed a device with a twisted metal prong into the
cork of the bottle, then pulled out the cork. This is one of the best reds.
That is, he added apologetically, one of the best reds that a Southern Guard
officer can reasonably afford, and I have been saving this for just such an
occasion.
Since the last occasion a month ago? asked the fresh-faced
overcaptain Klynosyr with the square-cut beard.
No, this is a two-month& no, a two-season occasion. How often have we had a
chance to dine with an overcaptain who has fought pteridons and nomads and
been decorated by the Landarch of Deforya?
Jesopyr bent forward and half filled the crystal goblet before Alucius, then
filled the other six goblets, emptying the bottle in the process.
Jesopyr raised his goblet. To our guest. May he travel to Tempre in health
and return in both health and wisdom.
Thank you. Alucius lifted his own goblet. And to your hospitality.
The deep amber wine was far better than anything Alucius had ever tasted, not
that he had drunk that much wine, he reflected. It was also stronger than ale.
Two troopers in white jackets appeared, quickly setting plates before each
officer. On each plate were thin strips of something covered with a glaze.
Alucius tried the first course, discovering it was some sort of tangy fish,
covered with a lemon-almond glaze that went down easily.
Have you had lemon-smoked oarfish before? asked the majer.
I d had oarfish, but not prepared this way, Alucius admitted. What I ve had
wasn t nearly this good.
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