Scion of Cyador

XXXVIII

Lorn’s Mirror Lancers and the District Guards ride along the north bank of the River Behla, westward toward Ehyla. They had traveled so far south and west in pursuing the raiders that the dusty river-road is a far shorter return than retracing their tracks to the northeast and along the beaches would have been.

Lorn studies the muddy river, a good hundred cubits across, but still not much deeper than four or five cubits in most places, except for the occasional narrows where the depths may reach twenty cubits. The willows are taller, and more abundant, and a scattering of other trees mixes with them along the bank. There are now some woodlots along the north bank, although the land beyond the south bank remains flat grassland interspersed with ever more frequent fields.

As he passes particular landmarks, he adds them to his maps, lightly and carefully with a charcoal stick, although he doubts he will use them again. While losing threescore-and-ten is not unreasonable against eighteenscore, the losses are more than have been seen in Biehl in generations. Despite the Hamorian-forged blades packed on the spare and captured mounts, he has no doubts that the outcry will be equally loud, and provide ample reason for his swift replacement. For if he is believed-that there is a true Jeranyi danger-the Majer-Commander must dispatch a more senior officer-and if Lorn is not, then he will be relieved to face some form of discipline.

Behind him the lancers still murmur, as they have for the last two days, almost as if they cannot believe what has happened, and must keep talking about it.

“…still don’t believe…overcaptain…must have slaughtered more ’n score himself…”

“…did all right yerself…”

“Just let ’em kill her, he did. Pretty little thing…”

Lorn winces, but continues to watch the river.

“Got ’em all, didn’t he?”

“…know…but don’t seem right…”

“…let ’em loose, and they’d kill more…couldn’ta caught ’em all. You know that.”

“…you saw that hamlet…want ’em doing that to yer folk?”

“…still don’t seem right…”

After a battle such as the last, Lorn doubts anything is right. He glances to the northwest. After two days of riding from Nhais, they still have more than a day’s ride to reach Ehyla, if not two. And then his newest set of problems will begin.