Darknesses (41 page)

“I
also understand you were a Matrite squad leader in Zalt. I assume that required
you to kill Southern Guards.”

Alucius
didn’t hesitate. “Quite a number, sir.”

The
faintest smile appeared. “Yet you risked your life to save Southern Guards and
Lanachrona?”

“When
I wore a Matrite collar, my actions were not totally free. Without a collar, I
could choose, Lord-Protector.” Alucius had to wonder exactly where the audience
was headed.

“How
did you feel about the union of the Iron Valleys and Lanachrona?”

“I
cannot say I was pleased. I felt the Council had acted so unwisely in the past
that there were few choices left. From what I have seen, I would rather have
the Iron Valleys ruled from Tempre than from Hieron or Dereka or Lyterna.”

“That
is not the most enthusiastic of replies, Overcaptain,” replied the
Lord-Protector, a tone of amusement in his voice.

“I
am usually better at honesty than deception, Lord-Protector.”

“Usually…an
interesting word, there.” The Lord-Protector laughed before continuing. “You
are a herder, and you would like to return to being one, I assume?”

“I
had hoped to, Lord Protector. I had never planned to remain in the militia, and
then the Northern Guard, as long as I have. When I was captured…the term was
two years, but when I returned, it was four.”

“And
that term ends at the turn of winter, as I recall.”

“It
does,” Alucius agreed. Unless something else happened.

The
Lord-Protector leaned back, as if musing, but Alucius sensed only calculation,
not speculation. “Some of the best officers have come from the herders, few as
you are. Herding is a very special way of life.” He leaned forward. “Everyone
has told me that. How would you say that it is special?”

Alucius
did not reply immediately, sensing the need for care in responding. Finally, he
said, “That is hard to describe, Lord-Protector. A herder needs to understand
the nightsheep, the quarasote, and the land. He needs to be comfortable by
himself. There are so few herders that I could not say whether we make better
officers.”

“It
would be a shame if the Iron Valleys lost the herders, and yet it could happen
so easily.”

“It
could,” Alucius admitted. “The Council came close to destroying us. They only
saw the price of finished nightsilk and not the costs of producing it.”

“They
tried to set the tariffs too high?”

“And
they conscripted too many herders. My grandsire is well over twelve quints, and
my father is dead. I am the only child, yet they judged that I should be
conscripted.”

“They
did not allow a buyout of some sort?”

Alucius
laughed, if gently. “It was set at half the golds received from the sale of
nightsilk each year. A herder is fortunate if he retains a tenth part after
expenses. Some are fortunate to break even, especially in the dry years.”

“Stupidity…”
murmured the Lord-Protector. “Truly unwise.”

Alucius
felt the honesty of that judgment.

The
Lord-Protector straightened in the onyx throne. “I have read all of the reports
of all of the senior officers who have questioned you since you arrived in
Tempre. No one disputes that you accomplished what you and others reported.
There is too much evidence about the number of nomads and about the
destructiveness of the pteridons. Yet…no one has been able to explain to my
satisfaction how you accomplished this remarkable feat. I would hear it from
you.”

“I
will tell you as best I can. Once we arrived in Dereka…” Alucius went on to
relate everything he had told everyone else, without adding or subtracting
anything that he had stated before, and concluding with his awakening in the
officers’ quarters in Dereka. “…and that was how it came about.”

“Truly
remarkable,” mused the Lord-Protector. “You make it seem as though any
thoughtful officer should have been able to do what you did.” He laughed once
more. “
We
know that for an officer to do what needs
to be done in the heat of battle—and when he is not in command—that is most
rare. I have perused many reports over the past few years, and many have had
good ideas and been unable to carry them out. Yet you, Overcaptain, have always
carried out your tactics. Why are you different?” The Lord-Protector focused
his entire being on Alucius.

Alucius
met his glance and did not look away. “Because, Lord-Protector, I am a herder,
and because my grandsire trained me as well as he possibly could. Because I was
a trooper and a scout, then a captive, then a Matrite squad leader, and because
my men have always trusted me and followed me.”

The
Lord-Protector nodded slowly. “And because there are no other officers who have
been through what you have been.” He straightened and smiled. “You are indeed
unique, Overcaptain Alucius. More unique than either of us can possibly
say
.” The emphasis on the last word was barely there, but
it was certainly there in the feelings of the Lord-Protector.

“I
have been fortunate, Lord-Protector, and for that I am thankful.”

“I
notice that you are not wearing the Star of Gallantry.”

“No,
sir. I didn’t feel it was right to wear it. Every trooper there at the battles
in Deforya deserved it.”

“I
see.” The Lord-Protector fingered his chin for a moment. “I had requested your
presence for several reasons, Overcaptain. First, I had to meet you. It is
seldom that one gets to meet a true hero. And second, I wished to reward you
myself, because your accomplishments saved Lanachrona from what eventually
could have been a most difficult situation, and I wished that you understand
that personally.” The Lord-Protector lifted a medal—a star, blue enamel over
gold, with the gold showing at the edges. “This is the Star of Honor. The last
one was bestowed over a generation ago. It may be a generation more before
another is bestowed.” He smiled. “This is your honor, and if I must, I order
you to wear it on all formal and ceremonial occasions.”

“Yes,
Lord-Protector—”

“‘Sir’
will suffice.” The Lord-Protector pinned it on Alucius, smiling, and
whispering, “Nightsilk vest?”

Alucius
nodded.

The
Lord-Protector laughed. “I see why you have survived. For such a comparatively
young officer, you leave little to chance. My Recorder of Deeds worried that
you would not serve Lanachrona well, but you have served far beyond what anyone
could expect of any officer. Would that he understood.”

Alucius
caught
something,
but could not read the message.

“I
have tried to do my best in all situations, sir.”

“And
I trust that you will continue to do so, both here and when you return to the
Iron Valleys.” Once more there was the slightest emphasis on a word—“here”—but
so slight that anyone not as close as Alucius could have caught it. “As part of
our appreciation for your efforts, I will be sending back orders to the
Northern Guard, ordering your release and return to being a herder, within two
weeks of your arrival back in Dekhron.”

Alucius
managed not to drop his jaw. That—that he had not expected.

“You
will have to remain here for a few days, while the marshals and the clerks
write up those orders, but it will not be that long.”

“Thank
you, sir. I deeply appreciate that.
Very
deeply.”

“You
have the ability to put things to rights, Overcaptain, even when not directly
ordered to do so. I hope and trust that you will continue to do so, both here
and in the Iron Valleys. It would be a shame to lose herders and their ability
to see the right and accomplish it when it is so needed.” The Lord-Protector
stood.

Alucius
stood as quickly as he could. “I will do my best, sir.”

“That
is all any could ask.” The Lord-Protector smiled, then asked, almost as if it
were an afterthought, “Would you like a tour of the palace, Overcaptain?”

Alucius
understood all too well that it was anything but an afterthought.

“I
would, indeed, Lord-Protector, if it would not be a problem. It is most
unlikely that I will be returning here, and I would like to be able to relate
to others what I have seen.”

The
Lord-Protector gestured, and a majer appeared to the left of the onyx throne.
“Overcaptain, this is Majer Suntyl.”

Alucius
inclined his head.

“Majer,
it would please me if you were to provide the overcaptain with a complete tour
of the palace, excepting only my private chambers and the actual chamber of the
Table.”

Chamber
of the Table? Another phrase…where had he heard it?

“As
you command, Lord-Protector.”

“My
thanks a last time, Overcaptain,” said the Lord-Protector.

Alucius
bowed, then retreated down the steps, backward, to avoid turning his back on
the Lord-Protector. Majer Suntyl followed.

Once
the two men were outside in the corridor off the audience chamber, Alucius
turned. “You’re weren’t required for other appointments?”

“Most
times, I would be.” The majer shifted his weight, as if uncomfortable.

Alucius
tried to project both friendship and openness. “But this morning, he’s going
somewhere?”

“He
canceled all his other appointments this morning, and so…” Suntyl shrugged.

Alucius
smiled, pressing with his Talent the idea that he needed to know and that the
Lord-Protector wanted Alucius to know.

“His
consort, you know…”

“How
badly is the Lord-Protector’s consort ailing?” Alucius said in a low voice. “I
had heard…”

The
majer paused. “Ah…I do not know…but…words…rumors…there had been no heir, and
then everyone was smiling…and then, on the end days…they were not…I fear…she
did not hold the child…”

“That
is most unfortunate. I know I would be most distraught if that happened to my
wife.” Even as he pressed reassurance at the majer, Alucius tried to think of a
way that he might be able to use the information, but then tucked that thought
away. He needed to concentrate on the tour and the palace, because Feran had
been right. The Lord-Protector wanted something. Even without saying anything
directly, effectively, the Lord-Protector had requested that Alucius put
something to rights in Tempre—and the only thing that seemed not right was the
Recorder of Deeds. Did the Lord-Protector suspect the evilness of the Recorder?
If he did, and Alucius believed he did, the man was incredibly perceptive,
because the Lord-Protector had no Talent. Of that, Alucius was absolutely
certain. So he had brought Alucius to Tempre in a way that the Recorder could
not find terribly suspicious.

Alucius
smiled faintly.

“I
suppose we should start with the Hall of Portraits,” Suntyl began. “You’ve
never been here before, have you?”

“No.
I haven’t. I could be wrong, but I think I’m the first Northern Guard officer
ever to visit Tempre. I think the Lord-Protector wanted me to, shall we say,
carry back a strong impression of Tempre.”

Suntyl
smiled. “That sounds very much like him. Very well—the Hall of Portraits. It’s
the other large hall here on the main level. Most of the chambers here are work
spaces. Each of us who serves as his secretary has a space where we write out
the records. It’s very important that they be accurate…”

Alucius
nodded, listening as they turned back into the main corridor and continued to
the left they reached another short corridor, again with double doors.

“All
of the portraits in here are relatives…the first on the left, that is the
great-grandsire of the present Lord-Protector…”

From
the Hall of Portraits, they retraced their steps, and saw working spaces,
several other receiving halls, a small enclosed garden, and a library holding
all the laws of Lanachrona. Then came the lower level, with the kitchens,
storerooms, wine cellars, even a small cooperage and carpentry shop. From
there, they proceeded down a long and much older corridor toward another set of
steps.

They
moved past an archway, beyond which Alucius could sense…something…that
purpleness, he thought, although it was so faint that he could not be certain.
Alucius had no doubts that he needed to seek out the Recorder of Deeds. Even
his momentary sight of the man had made it clear that the Recorder was a danger
to both Alucius and even possibly the Lord-Protector, who appeared a more
honorable ruler than either the Landarch or the Council, and certainly than the
Matrial.

“Where
does that go?” Alucius asked.

“Ah…”
The majer paused. “Those are the working chambers of the Recorder.”

“And
the chamber of the Table?”

“It
is before his chambers. But…” The majer radiated worry.

Alucius
smiled. “I know. The Lord-Protector said that I was to see everything except
it. I certainly wouldn’t ask you to go against his wishes, nor to intrude upon
the Recorder.” Not at the moment. “Is there anything farther down this
corridor?”

“Only
the root cellars…”

Alucius
laughed. “Would the Lord-Protector mind if we skipped the root cellars?”

Suntyl
smiled. “I think not.”

From
the lower level, Suntyl led Alucius up two flights to the second level, and
through the music room, and the attached concert hall—Alucius had never seen
one, nor the clavichord with its polished bone keys. The chambers stretched on
and on, and Alucius nodded and listened, trying to keep in mind the location of
the chamber of the Table.

Close
to two glasses later, the two officers had returned to the main entry hall just
off the entry to the palace.

“Thank
you very much. The palace is beautiful, and I greatly appreciate your taking
the time.” As he spoke, Alucius used his Talent to touch the lifeweb thread of
the majer, ever so gently.

“Oh…feel
dizzy…” The older man’s legs buckled.