Hidden Ability (Book 1) (17 page)

Near midday, the lancers halt again by a stream that runs past a stand of brush and trees. They have crossed many trails used by game, livestock and the locals that inhabit the rural lands they traverse but have rarely been within sight of a hamlet or cottage. The men eat trail rations of dried meat, dried fruit and hard bread before they water the horses from the stream and allow the animals to graze. As the afternoon comes on the men switch mounts. Jalan is ready to ride Axe. Stone requires a firmer hand and likes to take advantage of any lapses in his rider’s attention to see if he might find a convenient tree to rub against or low branch that would scrap Jalan off his back.

Jalan concentrates on his riding, the reports from the scouts and the needs of his men in order to keep his mind off wondering how far ahead the wagons truly are. With three days of travel they could have reached Pass Outpost. Should he have taken the road and ridden hard to arrive their first? What if that isn’t where the wagons are going and he didn’t follow them? The opportunity to solve the puzzle of who the lancers are hunting would be lost. But, if Pass is under attack, could Jalan have warned them? He feels his jaw clenching tight again. If this is what command is like, Jalan is not certain he is ready to command.

Lady Darla and her sister, Lady Guri, sit in the parlor of Yen Manor laughing and reminiscing with their mother, Lady Shara.

“I am so glad that Tomac offered to give Juin a tour of the grounds. He would never say it, but I know he is feeling out of place in a house run by women,” says Lady Guri.

“It is too bad Jalan is not here. I know he would love to see you. Together he and Tomac would keep Lord Juin occupied,” says Lady Darla.

“It’s only one more day and then we will be heading back home.”

“So soon,” says Lady Shara. “Can you not stay another day and help me with plans for the wedding?”

“Surely Darla has been some help,” says Guri.

“As she can. But, you have no idea how busy your sister is. I’m afraid the current troubles have left her little time for her dear mother’s wedding,” says Shara.

“Mother,” chides Darla, “you make it sound as if I’ve done nothing.”

Lady Shara looks carefully at Darla and says, “On no, dear one, you have done a great deal. It is only that Guri, as our guest, has an abundance of time to assist me. Something that would also lighten the burden I’m placing on you.”

“Oh yes, that and you two could happily spend hours in the company of Mistress Treana,” observes Darla.

“You wound me,” responds Lady Shara in an overly dramatic tone.

Guri and Darla laugh and Shara joins them.

“Very well, I will speak with Juin and see if he can bear another day or two. He does enjoy it here. He simply feels at a loss as to how he can make himself useful.”

“Don’t worry. If Major Erida sees him, he is likely to have your husband leading a company of men on patrol before Juin can form two words of protest,” says Darla.

Lady Guri hesitates and then says, “You don’t think there is a real chance of that do you?”

“Of course not dear sister, your husband is perfectly safe. It was a jest. The Major would never dream of forcing such an imposition on Lord Juin,” says Darla.
At least I don’t think he would.

As her sister settles back into place and looks less like a bird about to take flight, Darla’s thoughts turn to her newest concern. Despite the pleasant distraction and real enjoyment of Guri’s visit, the trip is not about mother and Lord Brace. As Guri had warned in her letter, Guri and her husband have brought a formal proposal for Darla to marry Juin’s cousin, Lord Merk Shrift.

Perhaps her mother picks up on the turn of thought or it is simple coincidence when Lady Shara says, “Guri, dear, your help with my preparations would be marvelous. And, good practice should your sister accept Lord Merk’s offer.”

“Oh yes, there is indeed a lot to consider,” says Lady Guri brightening considerably. “It will be such a wonderful wedding.”

“You have me matroned already, but I do not find it so easily done,” says Darla. “There are so many concerns before me each day. It is difficult to imagine having time for a wedding, much less a husband and new family.”

“It was certainly unsettling for me at first,” says Guri. “Leaving father and mother, you and my other siblings and moving into a new home and new life. I had looked forward to marriage, but it was very difficult those first few months. Juin was so patient with me. Now I would find it even harder to leave Shrift Manor. My family is there. My husband. My children. As much as I love the old, I never guessed how deep my ties to the new would be. I want you to have that, to not be afraid of losing the past and to discover the same joy I have in your own future.”

Guri’s words and enthusiasm are a flame beginning to light the fire of Darla’s own hopes.
If only it were so simple.
“Guri, I am so happy for you and just a bit jealous as well,” says Darla with a smile. “But, I am the head of House Yen just as Lord Merk is the head of his house. I am not willing to leave that behind or simply pass it over to a husband.”

“Merk has made it clear he wishes to combine both houses. How could there be less to do then or less need of your talents? Surely, there will be a place for you in the administration of the joined houses if you wish it.”

Darla does not know what to say. She feels selfish and foolish. How can she tell Guri that she does not want a husband to take over the leadership of House Yen? She wants to lead House Yen as she already does, not take a lesser role even if that role were part of a greater house. Her father’s legacy and her own ability would be buried, hidden beneath the Shrift name and legacy.
But, would that really be so bad? Am I too proud to take help?

Darla speaks, uncertain of what she will say or even what she wants. “I am not just Darla. I am House Yen. If I wed, then I wed the fate of my house to another as well. If I take a diminished role then House Yen is also diminished. And if I reject Lord Shrift’s proposal and his offer of funds and armsmen, House Yen might not only be diminished but very possibly destroyed. Taking the offer does not save House Yen either. The lands will still exist and the people will be saved, but our father’s legacy will become only a part of another house. I don’t know if I can do that to our people, or to the memory of our father.”

“But Merk doesn’t want House Yen. He has said as much by suggesting you turn over the estate to Tomac,” says Guri.

“The estate is only a small part of our holdings. What Merk asks for is the greater share of Yen arable land in exchange for saving a small portion for Tomac.”

Guri wears an apologetic frown as she says, “But Juin read the entire proposal to me. I don’t recall anything like that in it.”

“Contracts, agreements, merchants’ deals are all rarely what they appear to be on the surface. You are correct. The document does not state the resulting division as clearly as I did. I would not have seen it even a week ago.”

Lady Shara, perhaps sensing a rising tension between her daughters or because of her own curiosity, asks, “Seen what, dear?”

“The long term impact of the terms of the marriage proposal,” says Darla. “I started a new project to find ways to increase the house income. Over the last several days I have analyzed crop yield patterns, growth of habitations and changes in travel and trade patterns.”

Now Guri looks truly perplexed. “What does that have to do with Lord Shrifts offer?”

“I have to admit that I am equally in the dark,” says Shara.

“My research and projections are not complete, but given the patterns I am seeing the land Lord Shrift proposes to leave under Tomac’s control is in every case land that has a lesser future potential to produce an income. For example, Tomac stands to maintain control of some prime farmland. However, most of it will lie fallow for two years whereas land ready for renewed planting will be given over to Merk’s control. He will gain two seasons of production while Tomac gains nothing.”

“I do remember that provision,” says Guri. “It seems fair that for taking the poorer land Lord Shrift might have the benefit of planting sooner.”

“That alone does appear fair. It might truly be fair except when combined with the other provisions. Lord Shrift also comes out ahead when examining the villages and hamlets he gains. Tomac is left with some of the largest populations, but Lord Shrift gains developing areas that already show signs of being favored by crafters, factors and traders. After two years of crops that are an addition to what Merk Shrift already has and two years of increasing trade and taxes, the good Lord gains much advantage over the state in which Tomac has been left. Tomac becomes Lord Yen through a loss of land and income which he will never have the opportunity to overcome. If someone else deals with Tomac as sharply as Lord Shrift appears to be dealing with me, then there will be no House Yen in a very few years more.”

“Crows,” says Lady Shara in a whisper just loud enough for the other two women to hear it.

“Yes, mother. That is precisely what I fear it is,” says Darla.

“What do you mean?” says Guri. “What do birds have to do with any of this?”

Darla turns to her sister. “It’s something mother said to me when I became lady. Father had just passed. I was scared and full of doubt. Mother tried to reassure me. But, she also warned me that if I was not strong enough the crows would tear House Yen apart.”

“What crows? I still do not understand.” Guri looks less confused but more anxious with her hands clasped tightly together as if pleading for insight and a look of concerned concentration on her face.

“The crows are the enemies of House Yen, the people who exploit our weakness for their own gain,” says Shara.

“Merk is a crow?” asks Guri. Her voice is tentative in a way that makes Darla think her sister is asking for confirmation rather than for an answer.

“Yes, Guri,” says Darla. “Given the terms of his proposal and the timing, he is whether he intends it or not.” Darla tries to sound calm and reasonable. She thinks her sister is on the edge of a realization which she might share if Darla listens patiently and gives Guri time to think. She desperately hopes their mother remains quiet, but she dares not even glance away from Guri for fear of breaking the tenuous connection she feels forming.

“He’s not a crow,” says Guri. Her words are firm as if stating a fact. “He is a vulture. That is what I heard Juin call him once and now I know why.” Guri looks straight at Darla and reaches out taking both Darla’s hands in her own. “Please forgive me. I have been trying to make you a bad match. I am so sorry. So very sorry.” As she speaks the last words, silent tears begin to fall down her cheeks.

Δ

On the afternoon of the second day, Jalan’s scouts return. The wagons have proven easy to follow because they left clear signs of passage at several points where the terrain made the going difficult for them. The trail has led to an encampment. The hunters have reigned up within a large grove of trees and dismounted to hear a full report from the scouts.

Palst is using a stick to scratch out a rough outline of the enemy camp on a small patch of open ground. Jalan and the three Fist Leaders, Harna, Reest and Serks are crouched down examining Palst’s sketch. According to both Palst and a second scout, their opponents have felled trees and used them along with earthen mounds to build low walls. There is only one opening through the walls. It is large enough to allow one of their big wagons to pass. The camp proper is populated by tents. One slightly larger tent is pitched near the center. There are five large wagons. Three inside the walls and two more next to a rope corral set up outside the walls near the entrance.

“How many men?” says Jalan.

“Could be 50. Maybe more. I counted tents and the rope corral has at least 30 horses in it.”

“And they’re close?”

“A short ride, captain. They’re on a hill. Far side of the next ridge over.” Palst points in a northerly direction to indicate the way.

“It’s lucky we didn’t ride right into them,” says Jalan.

“Not luck, sir. Good scouting,” says Serks.

Jalan nods in agreement and says, “Thank you, Palst. You and Oatin have done well.” Then he says in general to the Fist Leaders, “Any questions?”

“What colors are the snakes wearing?” says Harna.

Palst glances at the men gathering around and says, “Two sets, ours and Nakra’s.”

“What?” says Harna, sounding angry.

Others within the rough circle of listeners that has formed around Jalan, the Fist Leaders and the scouts begin to mutter and exclaim.

Jalan stands and holds up a closed fist. Most of his men fall silent. The remaining few are quickly elbowed or prodded until they pay attention to Jalan’s signal. Once everyone is quiet, Jalan orders Harna to set his men watching their perimeter. “Come back after you set the watch,” says Jalan.

“Yes, captain,” says Harna as he signals his men to follow him.

“Lancers! See to your mounts!” calls out Jalan in loud clear voice. Then less loudly, “Scouts and Fist Leaders with me.” He leads the other four lancers a short distance further into the trees to give them a little separation from the main body of men and horses. When Jalan stops he turns to the men following him and says, “We’ve chased these wagons and now we’ve found them in a camp that appears to be both Yen lancers and Nakra soldiers. Is that an accurate overview?”

“There were other men as well, but they wore no colors,” says Oatin.

“Then how many were Yen, how many Nakra and how many of them unknown?”

“Perhaps 10 to 20 of each, captain,” says Palst.

“Did either of you recognize any of them? Anyone in that camp that you might have seen somewhere before?” says Jalan to the two scouts.

“I don’t think so, sir,” says Palst.

“We were too far from them to see faces clearly, sir,” says Oatin.

Neither scout had anything new to add to their report. Jalan dismissed them to see to their horses. As the scouts leave, Harna arrives and Jalan briefly restates what Harna missed since he left to set the watch.