Imager’s Battalion ip-6 Read online

  “I have done so. They do not speak ill of Lord Bhayar. They say that you were a governor, and that you stood up for the Pharsi. We will follow you, and trust your judgment of Lord Bhayar.”

  Quaeryt could sense the unspoken words-and hope that judgment is accurate. “I could ask no more.” He inclined his head just slightly.

  Major Calkoran inclined his head more deeply. “Subcommander … sir.”

  The captain inclined his head as well.

  “I look forward to our working together to make Lydar a better place for all.”

  “As do we.” Both officers bowed again “By your leave, sir.”

  Quaeryt nodded.

  While Quaeryt would have liked to have learned more from the Khellan officers, he understood that the present wasn’t the time to do so. He did plan to spend part of each day riding with each of them.

  His meetings with Major Zhael and his captain, Wharyn, and with Major Arion and Captain Stensed were as short, as formal, and as satisfactory as the one with Calkoran had been, that is, acceptable and the beginning of a working relationship.

  Quaeryt took a deep breath before Undercaptain Threkhyl appeared, then squared his shoulders and waited.

  “Good morning, sir,” offered Threkhyl, pleasantly enough.

  “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

  “Don’t know as I’ve felt any better. Have felt worse.”

  “Do you have any questions or thoughts about the campaign ahead?”

  The ginger-haired imager frowned for a moment, then asked, “Is it going to be like the last battle, sir?”

  “I would judge it will be more like the first skirmishes on the south of the Vyl. That’s until we get close to Variana. Then I’d think we’d see more fighting in larger groups. Have you been practicing your imaging?”

  “Yes, sir.” After another pause the undercaptain added, “I never knew I could do some things.”

  “Such as?”

  “I built a stone tower, all neat like, like the one in Piedryn, in the square. Except mine was only three yards high.” He laughed. “It’s still there, on this side of the bridge, by the approach.”

  That answered one question.

  “I offered to help the masons on the bridge, but the engineering major … I don’t think he trusted me. I did image some cut stones for the side walls, and they used those. Had a bit of a headache when I finished on Meredi, but I didn’t have as much trouble yesterday.”

  “Good.” While Quaeryt was pleased, he hoped the other imagers had worked at improving their skills as well. He still didn’t want to have to rely on just a few, especially if one of the few happened to be Threkhyl.

  “Sir … there is one thing…”

  “Yes?”

  “I don’t like having to listen to that Undercaptain Ghaelyn. He used to be a squad leader.”

  Quaeryt repressed a sigh. “He won’t be giving you many commands. If he does, listen to him. He’ll only be doing it to save your skin. He knows far more than you do about staying alive in a fight. That’s especially true if you’re where you can’t image.”

  “I’ll listen, sir.”

  Quaeryt again could guess the unspoken words-but I don’t have to like it.

  “Good. You might also start asking why various orders and formations are used.”

  Threkhyl frowned.

  “It could just happen that you might end up in charge of a squad if the squad leader is hurt. The more you know, the better.”

  Threkhyl looked as if he hadn’t even considered that.

  “That sort of thing was what got me into being a command officer,” explained Quaeryt. “During the Tilboran Revolt.”

  “I don’t know that I’d planned to lead troops, sir.”

  “There are many things we don’t plan for. With some fortune, you won’t have to, but it’s better to be prepared for … everything that you can.” Quaeryt had almost said, “prepared for the worst.” He smiled. “If you’d send in Shaelyt…”

  “Oh … yes, sir.”

  As Threkhyl left, Quaeryt considered. The ginger-bearded imager was acting more like an undercaptain, but Quaeryt still wondered how far he could trust the man.

  Shaelyt arrived, stiffened, and said, “Good morning, sir.”

  “Good morning. How are you feeling?”

  “Very well, sir. I’ve been accompanying Major Zhelan and watching him conduct training and maneuvers. Well … Voltyr came with me.” Shaelyt flushed slightly. “Actually, it was his idea.”

  “His idea or not, you were wise to follow it.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Shaelyt looked down for a moment, then back at Quaeryt. “Sir … begging your pardon, but I have been practicing imaging ever since I recovered-”

  “I suspect you’re much, much better, are you not?” interjected Quaeryt smoothly.

  “Yes, sir. I can create holes even in iron plate at over a hundred yards. That’s if I don’t have to do it over water, and I can image a handful of arrows out of the sky.”

  “That’s excellent!” Quaeryt didn’t have to counterfeit the enthusiasm in his voice.

  “But … begging your pardon, sir, even working together, Voltyr and I couldn’t create a bridge. The best we could do was a piece of stone wall maybe four yards long and two yards high. Neither one of us could see much for a day. Our heads split for two.”

  “That might well be because you weren’t facing eight regiments of Bovarians. That sort of threat can concentrate your effort more than one might realize. You also weren’t doing it with others.”

  “Sir…” Shaelyt looked down. “It’s said that some of the lost ones … well … they looked like you.”

  “I’ve been called a lost one by more than one Pharsi,” Quaeryt admitted. “It’s pretty clear that I’m from Pharsi blood, but as for being a lost one…” He shook his head, then asked quickly, “What else? Did you understand what the Khellan officers were saying?”

  “Mostly. They speak a little differently from the way we do at home. They’ll do what you say, sir. Some of them think you’re a lost one. Some of the younger ones think … well … that you’re not.”

  “They think I’m a fraud, and that Bhayar’s having me pretend to be something I’m not?”

  “Something like that.”

  Quaeryt nodded. If you show you’re not, you’ll likely reveal for certain that you’re an imager, and if you don’t … Once again, no matter what he did, there were negative consequences. Then he laughed, softly, but ironically. “I don’t pretend well or convincingly, Undercaptain.” Misdirect fairly well, yes, but out and out pretending isn’t exactly your strength.

  This time Shaelyt nodded. “If you’ll pardon me, sir. They worry that you are less than you seem. I can see that you are more than you wish anyone to know.”

  “Time will show whether you’re right, Shaelyt. Until then, I’d appreciate it if you’d keep that thought to yourself.”

  “Yes, sir.” Shaelyt’s response was warm and cheerful. “I’d thought to, sir.”

  “Do you have any other thoughts or questions?”

  “No, sir. Not now.”

  “Then you may go. Send in Voltyr, please.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Almost as soon as Shaelyt had stepped out through the storeroom door, Voltyr entered quickly, closed the door behind himself, and looked directly at Quaeryt. “You’re an imager … sir. Isn’t that what being a lost one means?”

  Quaeryt shook his head. “Being a lost one means being favored of Erion and also being slightly physically flawed. Blond Pharsi with dark eyes are considered as possible lost ones. I look like a lost one, and I limp like one. Being an imager would be a possible mark of favor, but it’s not the only mark.” Not that anyone ever let you know what any of the marks of favor are.

  “You didn’t answer my question, sir.”

  “You didn’t ask one, Undercaptain. Do you really want an answer? If I don’t answer, you won’t have to lie.”

  “Wh
y should I…?” Abruptly Voltyr broke off his words. “I think I understand.”

  “The less anyone knows about what you undercaptains-and I-can do, the greater the advantage we possess. I was telling you the absolute truth about my goals when I said I wanted to make Telaryn-and all Lydar, if it comes to that-safe for both scholars and imagers. A secret shared between two people can usually be kept. One between three usually can’t. Shaelyt suspects. He may even know. We have not discussed that. I’d ask you not to discuss whatever you believe me able to do. You can certainly speculate about what the rest of you can do. You can even suggest, if pressed, that there might be something about an obdurate multiplying the effect of imaging.” Quaeryt smiled ruefully. “Is that acceptable?”

  “Even being married to Lord Bhayar’s sister, sir, you tread a dangerous path.”

  “No more dangerous than yours. Mine is just different.”

  Voltyr nodded. “Given all you risk, you have my word, sir.”

  “Thank you. Do you have any other questions or observations?”

  “Only that you should never trust Threkhyl, however useful he may be.”

  “I’ve worried about him.”

  “I would keep worrying.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Nothing else that cannot be discussed before all the officers.”

  “Then … if you would send in Desyrk.”

  “That I will.” Voltyr smiled, almost sympathetically, and turned.

  As Quaeryt waited for Desyrk to come in, he just hoped that he didn’t have to deal with too many more questions and that he could get on with more imager training, including getting them more practice with sabres, as well as having Meinyt or one of the other officers give them some instruction in mounted unit maneuvers … and if and when that took place, he’d be there as well.

  5

  The remainder of Vendrei went as Quaeryt had planned it, even to the point of getting Meinyt to spend more than a glass detailing the basics of mounted unit commands and maneuvers to the undercaptains … and to Quaeryt, who listened more intently than did some of the imagers.

  Much of Vendrei afternoon Quaeryt spent in observing the Khellan companies in maneuvers. So far as their horsemanship and discipline went, he had to admit he was impressed. More to the point, so was Zhelan. Yet it made sense. Those who were not burning for revenge would have long since slipped away.

  And no matter what the Khellan majors say … that is going to be a problem, one you need to be prepared for when the time comes.

  Late in the day, Quaeryt gathered the imager undercaptains once more, this time for a demonstration of their abilities. All showed considerable improvement, even Baelthm, who could now actually image half-size daggers at a hundred yards. Quaeryt couldn’t help but wonder what they, and others, could do if educated and trained from a young age. None of that matters, not unless you make certain Bhayar is successful and you’re part of that success.

  Their progress also raised another set of issues. When will any of them be strong enough to learn about shields, and whom can you trust enough to instruct about them? As with too many things, he didn’t have answers, but he knew he needed to work that out in a way that kept the shield ability from being noticed by any commanders, and especially by Myskyl or Deucalon. The last thing the imagers needed was to be used to shield troopers. That much effort, Quaeryt knew, would render any of them, including himself, unable to do anything else, and eventually end up getting them killed because the commanders would use them up to protect their troops, and Quaeryt was going to need every imager he could find, both for their sake … and his.

  The meeting with Meinyt and Skarpa was short, since Skarpa only wanted to hear their views on their companies and troopers.

  Meinyt was not quite dismissive of the Piedryn troopers. “They know which end of the sabre’s sharp, and they can ride and understand orders. They do their best to obey.”

  “That’s a considerable improvement from last week,” Skarpa said dryly “Keep working them.”

  “I’ve scheduled drills tomorrow and Solayi morning as well. They don’t like it, but they’re getting the idea that it’s preferable to dying.”

  “You do get your point across,” replied Skarpa with a laugh.

  Dinner at the senior officers’ mess was quiet, and Quaeryt ate with Meinyt and Skarpa and said little.

  Samedi dawned misty and foggy, but the summer sun burned off the fog by ninth glass, long before Fifth Battalion’s practice in maneuvers was over. By the time Quaeryt returned to the bridge fortifications, where he and his first company were quartered, his uniform was soaked inside and out.

  Damp uniform or not, he and Meinyt had to meet with Skarpa at third glass, and still blotting his forehead, he made his way toward the small study that Skarpa had found to use.

  “Has he said anything to you?” he asked Meinyt as they walked down the stone corridor that was only slightly cooler than outside.

  “Not a thing, except that we should have easy going at first.”

  Skarpa was waiting for them, standing beside a small table desk. He did not seat himself, but said, “This won’t take long. I was hoping for more information from the scouts, but nothing’s changed. The latest reports say that there aren’t any large bodies of troopers nearby on the south side. The locals farther upriver say that they’ve seen Bovarians in uniform in the last few days, but not in the twenty milles or so west of the new bridge. We should be able to make good time because we don’t have to ferry the supply wagons over either river.”

  “We’ll be almost a day ahead of the northern army by Mardi afternoon,” Meinyt said.

  “Most likely.” Skarpa nodded. “The nearest bridge over the Aluse in Bovaria is at Villerive, but there’s a cable ferry at Rivecote. It joins Rivecote Sud and Nord.”

  “That’s what … sixty milles upriver?” asked Quaeryt.

  “If the maps and the millestones are accurate, and I wouldn’t wager on that.”

  Neither would Quaeryt.

  “I’d like to reach Rivecote Sud well before Deucalon nears Rivecote Nord. It will be even more important that we reach Villerive before Deucalon does. The Bovarians don’t expect an army, even a small one, to advance on the south side of the Aluse. If we hold the ferry and the bridge, then we cut off their retreat … or we can attack their rear. Either way, that will put us in a stronger position.”

  “Then we’ll be more than a day ahead of the northern forces,” said Meinyt evenly.

  “What the marshal had in mind, I am certain,” said Skarpa, “was that we should never be far enough ahead of his forces that we could not support him. I intend to be able to support him where and when it is possible. There are sections of the southern side of the river where there is no road, only a path. Preparing to be able to support him will require our getting an early start.”

  Meinyt nodded, not bothering to hide a smile.

  “Can your imagers smooth out things or remove rocks if necessary?” asked Skarpa.

  “If they’re not too large,” replied Quaeryt.

  “That could prove most helpful. We’re short of engineers.”

  Quaeryt glanced to Meinyt, then back to Skarpa.

  “Myskyl said that the northern army needed them in case the Bovarians tried to destroy more bridges, the way they did over the Myal River when we were riding to Ferravyl. So Deucalon took the engineers from Third Regiment and left us with those from the Piedryn regiment. Meinyt never got any engineers for Fifth Regiment.” Skarpa shrugged. “Myskyl did say that if your imagers could build bridges, they ought to be able to repair them.”

  “It’s not that easy,” Quaeryt said. “I’m also not certain anyone wants to risk freezing the regiments to build a bridge. He seems to have forgotten that we killed almost an entire battalion of our own troopers.”

  “He didn’t forget. He’s never forgotten anything,” Skarpa said in a matter-of-fact fashion. “Though there are times when I’m not certain he’s learned anyt
hing from what happens. It doesn’t matter. We don’t have good engineers. We’ll do the best we can.” He looked to Meinyt. “We’ll be sending our own scouts out. Do you think we’ll need a recon in force?”

  “Not on Lundi. Perhaps not on Mardi. After that, if we see more than a few tracks, I’d recommend half squads. Full squads as we near Rivecote.”

  That brought another nod from Skarpa. “Quaeryt … I’d like to keep the imagers near the front. Do you have any problem riding with me and keeping them close?”

  “No, sir. I’d recommend that for the first few days. After that, it would depend on what’s ahead.”

  Skarpa continued to ask questions and seek observations for another half glass, then abruptly said, “That’s all.” He turned to Quaeryt. “You might as well leave for Nordruil now, or whenever you’re finished with your battalion. I’d like you back tomorrow evening.”

  Quaeryt understood that all too well. Lundi morning would come all too early. “I’ll be here.”

  6

  On Samedi evening, when Quaeryt reached Nordruil, Vaelora was waiting at the front entrance for him, dressed in a flattering, and clinging, green cotton dress that somehow made her light brown eyes look almost luminously amber. Even before he dismounted, he wanted to wrap his arms around her, to lose himself in her. Instead, he permitted himself a long embrace and a tender, but passionate kiss, far more than was proper in public, he knew.

  As he lifted his lips from hers, she said, “You’re only here for tonight and tomorrow, aren’t you?”

  He nodded. “We leave before dawn on Lundi.”

  “Then we should make the most of the time. Dinner will be ready in less than a glass.” She smiled. “You need your uniform washed, and you need to bathe.” After a moment she added, blushing, “Just bathe. Be patient. The evening will be long enough.”

  Quaeryt looked at her again.

  “That is not a scholarly look.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be.” He grinned. “I take it you have already made preparations for my bath?”

  “Of course. I don’t want to waste time … either.”