Dragons and Destiny (6 page)

It was not
often that the two brothers got the chance to talk face to face.
Niaill and Taraya were more often than not on patrol when Danal and
Asya were at Vada and as Niaill thought as he grinned at Danal,
this was the icing on the cake. He had waited so long to be
promoted Ryzcka and the First Ryzck! It was the dream of his life
come true.

Danal and Asya
had served with the First, then had come their unexpected transfer
to the Fifty-first and a subsequent transfer out of the Vada proper
and into the Avuzdel.

From then the
two brothers had seen little of each other. The Avuzdel kept Danal
and Asya busy and they said little about their duties.

“You’re kidding
little brother,” exclaimed Danal. “Command of the
First
Ryzck. What, I wonder have you done to deserve such an honour?
Rescued a score of children from dire floods or is it that you’ve
been having a secret dalliance with our esteemed Susa?”

“Neither and
you know it,” Niaill grinned. “As if Verro would let anyone near
his beloved and there haven’t been any floods lately.”

“Well, it can’t
be your looks,” agreed Danal. “Even on a good day you’re no more
than moderately handsome.” He laughed. He was the good-looking one
in the family and knew it. Tall, dark and with an almost perfect
facial profile he was as different from Niaill as anyone could be.
Niaill had declared on more than one occasion that the Gods must
have run out of good looks when he was born.

Danal became
serious. “I suppose I have to admit that I and Asya feel that
you’re the best for the job. Congratulations. The First. Wait until
the others hear about this.”

“They’ll
already have been told if I know my Taraya.” Every one of Niaill
and Danal’s siblings were serving with the Vada. “I thought she was
going to collapse with shock when Susa Julia told us. I told Taraya
not to bespeak Asya. Wanted to tell you myself, watch your
reaction.”

“And did it
come up to expectations?”

“Didn’t it
just!”

It had been
common knowledge that the Ryzcka of the First was to retire. Ryzcka
Mikel was an old man, well into his eighth decade and his Lind
Marya older still. Mikel also suffered from arthritis and only
determination had kept him going so long. He had commanded the
First for as long as Danal and Niaill could remember and was loved
and respected by all those who served or who had served, under his
command.

“A hard act to
follow,” said Danal.

“I thought
Julia would transfer another Ryzcka,” said Niaill, “knew I was up
for promotion but thought it might be one of the others.”

“They never do
like to move Ryzckas around,” replied Danal.

“Regrets? Might
have been you!”

“About joining
the Avuzdel you mean?” asked Danal. “None at all. Would never have
made Ryzcka and you know it. Too much of a
shocking example
to the younger generation. No, the Avuzdel suits me and Asya fine.
Military discipline and me have always had a love-hate
relationship. When do you take command?”

“In a tenday
though I’m promoted with immediate effect. There are quite a few
pairs retiring with Mikel and Marya.”

Danal nodded.
The First Ryzck had a fair number of older partnerships who would
take this opportunity to take retirement on their own account. Many
had only stayed on because Mikel and Marya had remained in command.
Danal could understand that they might resent taking orders from a
much younger (and untried) man and Lind.

“Any idea of
your patrol sector?”

“Rumour has it
the north-east.”

Danal laughed.
“Don’t think the First has been that far north in decades, ever
since Mikel’s knees started troubling him.”

Niaill laughed
too, his old Ryzck, the Fourteenth, had spent the worst three
months of winter in the mountains the previous year. “I believe
that
that
rumour is the main reason why so many have opted
to go.”

“Replacements?”

“Eight
newly-graduated and four pairs transferring. I’ve refused all
Vadryza transfers, I’m going to promote from within.”

“That makes
sense. Gives them the chance and makes the changeover easier. You
taking Nadala and Teriyei with you?”

Niaill answered
in the negative. He didn’t want to be accused of favouritism and
most knew about their relationship. He knew that the decision was
the right one but both he and Taraya would miss them unbearably
during the months ahead. He hoped that they would be able to
transfer once the Ryzck had settled down and indeed, one never
knew, a spot might open up.

“I’ll keep an
eye on them for you, two if I’ve got them to spare,” offered
Danal.

“Thanks
brother, just as long as it’s an eye, and nothing more.”

* * * * *

(For the full
list, please refer to the relevant sections on the back pages)

Niaill and
his Lind Taraya
: Ryzcka(s) of the First Ryzck of the Vada.

Danal and
his Lind Asya
: Niaill’s elder brother (Member(s) of the
Avuzdel).

Julia and
her Lind Alyei
: Susa(s) of the Vada.

Tala
:
(middle child of Talan and Zanda) She is a Journeywoman in the
Technicians Guild and lives in Stewarton.

Hilla, Rilla
and Zilla
: (triplets, youngest children of Talan and Zanda)
Hilla has been accepted by the Garda and has begun her Officer
Training. Rilla and Zilla, like their older brother Zak, help their
parents with the running of the inn.

Robain of
Hallam
: Leftenant (later Captain) of the Garda and a member of
the officer training staff at the Academie situated at the Garda
Headquarters at Settlement.

Elliot
:
Prince-Heir of the Kingdom of Murdoch.

Isobel
Cocteau
: Niece of the Duke of Cocteau (later the betrothed of
Elliot).

* * * * *

AL607 - First
Month of Summer (Dunrhed)

Rilla and
Zilla

“Rilla, where
are you?” Zilla’s voice sounded more than a little agitated.

Rilla heard
Zilla calling and sighed a deep sigh. It was time to stop doing
what she liked best in all the world and return to the inn. The
afternoon was closing in and the guests would be arriving soon. She
and Zilla had jobs to do.

Rilla sighed
again, this time into her pony’s mane. He whuffled and lowered his
head so that his left eye was at the same level as Rilla’s own.
Go on
, he seemed to be telling her,
we’ve had a great
time today. I’ve had a fine gallop in the hills; you’ve groomed me,
fed and watered me, made me comfortable. I’ve fresh straw in my
stall, hay in the manger and sweet-feed in my bucket.
He nosed
her,
go on, tomorrow is another day.

Rilla didn’t
want to leave Lightfoot. She was at her happiest here in his stall
at the end of the row of looseboxes in the long low stable. None of
the other boxes and stalls were occupied, they would fill up as the
guests arrived, their occupants tended to by the stable boys and
girls. They didn’t have to do jobs in the inn, didn’t have to get
washed (her father hated the smell of horse) and clothe themselves
in a smart dress so that they could help with the hundred and one
things required to provide comfort for the guests.

The maids did
the heavy work, but there were plenty of chores that would fall to
the respective lots of Rilla and Zilla. Rilla hated it.

Talan ran a
fine inn, everybody said so. It was clean, comfortable and bug
free, not like the lesser (and cheaper) establishment down the road
and Talan charged accordingly. One of the ways by which he had
gained such a good reputation was the personal service he
provided.

Only three of
his and Zanda’s children remained at home, Zak who was his father’s
right hand and the two youngest triplets. Zala was in Stewarton,
happily married with children of her own. Tala had been a
Journeywoman Technician for four years and had recently taken up a
position under the Senior Master of the Technicians Guild. She also
resided in Stewarton. Despite her parents’ protests Hilla had ‘gone
for a soldier’ on her sixteenth birthday and had begun her two
years officer training at the Garda Headquarters at Settlement.

Zilla, thought
Rilla as she gave Lightfoot one last pat and began her reluctant
walk back to the inn, didn’t seem to mind helping to make their
guests stay a pleasant one. She liked helping but then, Zilla
enjoyed what her father called ‘the womanly tasks’.

Zilla could sew
a fine seam. Rilla’s were as crooked as a gnarled tree. Zilla
hummed and danced her way through the daily bed making, dusting and
sweeping. Rilla did her share with reluctance but with the
determination and efficiency designed to get finished as soon as
she possibly could; so that she could escape outside and feel the
wind in her face, riding Lightfoot.

Rilla knew that
the bedrooms assigned as her share were clean, tidy and ready for
their temporary occupants. She also knew that Zilla’s, just as
pristine, would contain that little bit extra, fresh flowers (in
the summer) in a bowl on the window-chest, pillows plumped up
invitingly and a spring of spicy evergreen on top. Zilla was in
charge of the best bedrooms, the ones reserved for the most
important guests, the ones who wanted to pay that little bit extra
for the personal touch.

Rilla couldn’t
put her evening chores off much longer, slow as her steps were. She
arrived at the side door of the inn and opened it.

As she hung up
her jacket she could hear the cook shouting his instructions to the
kitchen workers and heard her mother ordering the maids this way
and that. Zanda sounded more harassed than usual and Rilla
concluded that word must have come that someone important was on
his way.

This guess was
confirmed with the appearance of Zilla. Zilla was, as usual, almost
painfully neat and tidy, her blond hair confined under a snow white
bob cap and her apron, worn over a deep green dress, was
beautifully ironed.

“Hurry up,” she
said. “Father’s looking for you. Councillor Horatio Anders and his
family will be here within the bell and he needs us.”

“Couldn’t Maura
do the needful?” complained a cross Rilla. “You know I’m not good
at serving. I spill things.”

He said both of
us and we’re not doing the serving tonight, we’ve just to
supervise.”

“Supervise?”
exclaimed Rilla, her face one giant question mark. “Supervise
what?”

Talan appeared
at that point and frowned when he spied Rilla, who was still
wearing her tunic and trews. He did however, bestow on Zilla an
approving nod before he turned to Rilla.

“You,” he
ordered, “will go wash and get ready. I expect you back here within
a half bell, dressed as your sister is.”

“Yes Father,”
Rilla replied and fled. One didn’t argue with Innkeeper Talan when
he spoke like that.

Two at a time
she ran up the stairs, aware that Zilla was following, sent a
resentful Rilla concluded, by her father to make sure that she did
as he had ordered.

“There’s hot
water in the tub,” Zilla called after her as she climbed the
stairs, one at a time. “I’ve laid out your dress. Have you got a
clean pinny?”

“Don’t know,”
answered Rilla, divesting herself of her dirty garments as fast as
she could and plunging into the tub. She heard Zilla rootling round
in her half of the clothes press and then her sister’s despairing
wail as she found only one clean pinafore and that all crushed. She
shook the offending garment at Rilla. “I’ll lend you one of mine,
there’s no time to iron it now. At least it’s one with no mends on
it.”

“What’s all the
fuss about anyway?” asked the irritated Rilla. “Councillor Horatio
Anders has stayed here before.”

“This time,”
said Zilla in an impressive voice, “he is accompanied by his wife
and three sons.”

“So?”

“So, Father
wants us both to make a good impression?” She added, “
all
are unmarried.”

Rilla groaned.
“I don’t
want
a husband. I wish Father would stop pushing us
in front of every young man he approves of.”

Zilla giggled.
“It’s because of Zala. She’s made such a good marriage he wants us
to do the same.”

“Tala hasn’t
and Hilla’s with the Garda.”

“That’s why,”
explained Zilla. “He’s proud of Tala but he doesn’t really approve,
deep down.”

“Well, I don’t
want to marry one of the sons of Councillor Horatio Anders however
nice they may be. He’s not a pleasant man. He has a face like a
zarova and his sons are pribably the same. I don’t want to marry at
all.” Rilla took the towel her sister was offering and got out of
the tub.

“Did you wash
your hair?” asked a suspicious Zilla. “Father will be angry if it
smells like horse.”

“I like the
smell of horse. Anyway, no time to dry it.”

“Father …”
warned Zilla.

“Father won’t
know; I’ll spray it with that perfume Zala sent you. He’ll not
notice.”

“I wouldn’t be
so sure,” murmured Zilla. With Rilla in this mood the youngest
triplet knew better than to argue. “Hurry up anyway. I’ll go back
downstairs. Clothes are on your bed and please make sure your hands
and nails are clean. Father is sure to inspect and you know what
happened last time.”

Rilla did.
Talan had been so angry that he had banned her from the stables for
a full tenday. Rilla most definitely didn’t want that to happen
again. She bent back over the tub, scrabbled around for the
nailbrush and gave her nails and fingers a good going over.