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That morning the thin mage, Ferrian, had been waiting for me to return from the morning briefing (Orchids). He had been formal and dignified, but even he could not quite hide his irritation at being in a position where he had to make a report about the doings of his fellows. If the battle mages and healers had complained to Tul he had not mentioned it. They were under my command. Though initially it had been meant as a sinecure it was still a fact, and they had begun to learn it. As long as they did their job I wasn't interested in how they felt, though for personal reasons I would rather be on good terms with them. If they didn't invite me to eat I would eat elsewhere, tonight I had asked to join Rastrian, phrasing it carefully so that he knew I would accept no refusal but also so that it didn't sound like an order.

“
Yes?”

Ferrian's features had pinched up a bit. “My superiors have required me to report on our activities regarding security.”

“
Sir.”

His eyes nearly popped out of his head as he colored up.

“
The correct form of address when making a report to your commanding officer is, Sir.” I explained it patiently and slowly so that he could understand.

He struggled with it for a bit. The colleges were powerful. Personally, the individuals were dangerous in a way that transcended politics, but in this circumstance I was making a point. Later, I might relax a bit toward the friendly cooperation that was more normal. There was a whole chapter on dealing with mages in almost every volume of warfare, and I was ignoring all of it. The arrogance of my class, I suppose.

“
Yes, sir,” he relented but his voice was not much above a furious whisper.

“
Your report?”

“
My superiors asked me to create this for your use around the area, sir.” He held up a wooden stake split with precision into four and bound together by a ribbon.

I took it and looked it over. One stake split into four. “And this will...?”

He sighed in exasperation, back on top due to my ignorance. “You stick them into the ground in a rough square and when anyone passes he will receive a debilitating shock and there is an alarm.”

“
What kind of alarm.”

“
The sound made when a block of wood is split. Twice.”

“
How loud?”

He shrugged. “I don't know.”

I just stared at him for a long, long moment until he realized what I was thinking and became embarrassed. No one likes their work to be treated with contempt.

“
Perhaps we should test it, sir.”

“
Thought hadn't occurred to me. Do it.” I tossed the stake back to him and he left.

I checked on my people and saw everything going smoothly. As I was doing this I heard two loud cracks, just like the sound of an ax hitting a tree but in quick succession. So. Loud enough then.

I mounted up and moved away. I didn't want to take charge of the stake device. I wanted him to do it if I decided to use them. I mean, people come and go in our area in the morning (me!) and at other times. I didn't want the damn thing going off all the time, so I had to give the matter a bit of thought.

“
Your command, Kerral. I'll meet you on the road!”

“
Yes, sir!” He snapped back and carried on about his business.

There were no gates for the temporary forts. We took craftsman in various fields with us on campaign. Some soldiers had come from the crafts and were used as labor in those areas where they knew what they were doing. Gates would be made for a more permanent fort, but for now we used a wagon at each of the four gaps where there would normally be gates. I headed for the southern gap as the east and north gates were in use.

I was just in time to meet the messenger, a fellow who had obviously passed back and forth between the city and the army more than once as he recognized me and called my name. His horse was lathered in sweat even though he must have changed it as little as eight miles back. He had two letters for me and didn't see why I should wait for them to pass through the command tent. I accepted the letters and then reprimanded him for doing it.

“
All communications through the command tent.”

“
Yes sir!” He saluted smartly and held out his hands for the letters.

“
From now on,” I said darkly.

“
Yes sir.”

I sat my mount in the open gateway and cracked the seal on the first, larger letter and scanned the contents. It was from Orelia.

My dearest Sumto,

How glad I was to see you again. It grieves me that my family chose against you. I always felt we would be a perfect match but I cannot go against the will of my family.

It frightens me that you are going into danger. Tahal Samant is the choice of my family, and seems a good man. For his sake I hope you are successful in your mission. For mine, I hope you return to us safely, to a hero's welcome. I believe none of my family would frown upon my giving you a chaste kiss on your return. I pray you will accept all I would wish to give you in that single kiss.

I fear for you both and pray you both return whole and well.

My fondest regards

Orelia Isaula Habrach

I tucked this one in my saddle bag with the mental equivalent of shrug. The second was from Jocasta. The message tube also contained a minute cloth bag. I shrugged and read the letter.

Sumto,

My sister is sending a letter and I think if I hurry I can catch the messenger without being seen. For some reason she is jealous and might intercept it.

I have been listening to the news from the north and collecting gossip. I do not know what your situation is there but can guess that you are not being told everything by your commanders. Jealousy does not only exist between sisters.

From what I can piece together I am certain that the Orduli and Prashuli tribes are joining with the Alendi in a mass uprising. The smaller tribes in the foothills beyond may also be involved but to what extent I cannot say. There are rumors of a rogue mage among the tribes, this I can only infer from some of the rumors I have heard from letters received by friends from the north. The tribes obey him from fear. There is talk of severed heads screaming all day and night, a chieftain who resisted his instruction to rise against us now walks the streets of his settlement as a dead man. The witnesses to this were quite graphic and there can be no doubt that she and her husband saw this thing.

I am afraid that the whole north is going to rise against you. You are in more peril than you know, as are all our men. Please be careful and take such action as you can to safeguard yourself and your army. I will do what I can from here to rouse public opinion to act. Accept these gifts to aid you in the spirit they are intended.

Jocasta

I read the letter again. Dead men walking? Screaming severed heads? A rogue sorcerer? Gifts?

I looked at the bag, tucked the message away to read again later and opened the small black velvet bag. Inside was a two carat stone of brilliant vermilion. I closed my fist on it. Felt its warmth. Focused my thoughts on it and felt an awareness of its existence nudge itself into my mind alongside my own. It was a gift of great value. If only I had the knowledge to use it.

I stuck a finger tip into the tiny bag. There was nothing else. Peering into the message tube I could see a small glint in the bottom of the tube. So, there was a second gift. Opening the other end I eventually managed to prise it out. It was a small tube of varnished wood with two glass lenses, the larger edge ridged slightly and rounded. I recognized it at once. It was a sorcerer's loupe.

“
How in gods' name did you get that?”

I never invoke the gods. And I mean never. Only when seriously, genuinely shocked.

All sorcerers of a college had a loupe, and students at the college were permitted to use one in order to learn spells. With it you could see magic, pure and simple. The longer you looked the more you saw. The college specialists made them, and damn few knew how. Owned by the college, used by sorcerers and loaned to students. This one must have been stolen. I had never ever heard of a loupe being found outside college premises. I would bet everything I would ever own that none of the mages or healers here had one on him.

This was not merely a generous gift. A sorcerer's loupe was priceless.

#

The march was proceeding well, I thought. The men were standing up to the forced pace, we were still in friendly territory and we were making good time. My command was under control and I thought all was right with the world. Then the letter from Sheo arrived. I saw the messenger coming down the line, and though I didn't know he was looking for me, I certainly hoped he was. I had been concerned about Sheo's lack of regular reports, so I was glad to receive the letter and read it at once.

Sumto,

I am taking the cohort north east to the border with the Orduli.

“
What?”

“
What?” Kerral echoed me, surprised.

“
Nothing!” I went back to the letter.

I have received word of the sacking of a border town of Pulindus by a large force of barbarians. The lands between there and here are pretty well populated but there are no forces to stand in their way. Don't be angry with me, please. I am not trying to steal your thunder or use your men for my own self-aggrandizement. I simply feel that this needs to be done and there is no one else to do it. I'm sure you will use my intelligence well.

In haste.

Sheo Tetris Fuliat

“
Bastard!”

“
What?”

“
You have the command, Kerral!”

I didn't wait for his answer but pulled out of the line and galloped my surprised mare to the head of the cohort, calling a warning of my reckless pace as I did so. Pulling up I saluted Tul with the letter clenched in my fist.

“
You'd better read this, sir.” My fury sounded clear even in my own ears and I struggled to get a hold of myself.

“
Yes,” he said, mildly. “I suppose I better had.”

I gave him the letter and waited while he read it, keeping pace all the while, my mare skittish and anxious under me.

After reading it twice he made to pass it back, then changed his mind. “No. I'll go.” He steered his horse out of the line and galloped off.

I watched him go. A little let down by his mild response. But he was acting. I just had no clue what he intended and there was nothing seemly I could do but wait. After a while I realized I had no further reason to be there and steered my mount off the road, walking her back down the line.

“
Bastard!” I whispered fiercely to myself every now and again.