Glen Cook Dread Empire 01 The Fire In His Hands

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suspicious.
Did you ask Father about those Guildsmen?
I mentioned it. He ll do something when he gets time.
Haroun was pleased. Bragi and Haaken had saved his life. They deserved a
reward. Thank you.
Have you completed those geometry exercises? Radetic had no mercy. There
was no break in the studies, even for convalescence.
I ve been busy . . .
Busy malingering. Go to your quarters. Don t come out till you have
solutions you re prepared to defend.
There s the old guy, Haaken said.
Bragi turned, watched Megelin Radetic make his way along the battlements.
Radetic paused to talk to each soldier. He remind you a little of
Grandfather?
Keep an eye on those fools out there, Haaken said. Or Sanguinet will eat
you alive.
Little had been said about the recruit company s failure in battle. No
fatigues or punishments had been enforced. Rumor said Hawkwind believed the
recruits had done well, considering the terrain and concentrated resistance
they had faced.
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The veterans were less understanding. Their General s record had been
sullied. Hundreds of comrades were dead. They didn t care that the briny water
had been thigh deep, nor that the recruits had borne the brunt of the fury of
El Murid s army. They saw more recruits surviving than members of any other
company, and they were not pleased.
Radetic reached the youths. He paused between them, leaned on a merlon.
Below, el Nadim s men were hard at work. Confident as ants, aren t they?
Maybe they got reasons, Haaken grumbled.
Bragi did not respond. He did not know how to take the older man. Radetic was
important here, yet seldom acted it. He did ask, How s Haroun?
Mending. The Wahlig sends his regards. He ll thank you personally when he
has a free moment.
Okay.
So enthusiastic! He s a generous man. Haroun is his favorite son.
The only thing I could get enthusiastic about is getting out of here.
Radetic made a thoughtful Hmm? sound.
It s hot and dry and there s nothing out there but miles and miles of
nothing.
My patrimony for a decent tree. I feel the same sometimes. Radetic patted
Bragi s shoulder. Homesick, lad?
Bragi blustered then poured out his story. Radetic looked interested, and
encouraged him whenever he faltered.
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Hewas homesick. Much as he pretended otherwise, he was just a boy forced into
a man s role. He missed his people.
Bragi related his feelings about the defeat. Radetic patted his shoulder
again. No need to feel shame there. The General was surprised you held up so
well. If there s any blame due, it belongs to him and the Wahlig. They got
cocky. And you soldiers paid the price. I d better move along.
Bragi did not understand what the old scholar had done, but he did feel
better. And Haaken didn t look half as glum.
Sergeant Trubacik arrived moments later. The Lieutenant wants you,
Ragnarson. Get your butt down there.
But
Go.
Bragi went. He shivered all the way, though the day was a scorcher. Now it
begins, he thought. Now the repercussions set in.
Sanguinet was set up in a storeroom off the stables. It was a dark, musty
room, badly lighted by a single lantern. Bragi knocked on the doorframe.
Ragnarson, sir.
Come in. Close the door.
Bragi did as he was told, wishing he were elsewhere. He could tell himself it
didn t matter what these people thought, thathe knew he had done his best, but
it did matter. It mattered very much.
Sanguinet stared for fifteen seconds. Then, Birdsong died this morning.
I m sorry, sir.
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So am I. He was a good man. Not much imagination, but he could hold a squad
together.
Yes sir.
I m preparing the report. You were there. Tell me how it happened.
We was slogging through that salt water. A stone knicked his elbow. He
dropped his shield. Before he got it up again a javelin hit right at the edge
of his breastplate. Went in under his arm and got his lung, I guess.
You took over?
Yes sir. The guys were kind of used to me telling them what to do. From
training.
You had only one other casualty?
Kildragon, sir. Reskird had gotten excited, broken formation to get at a
particular enemy, and had paid the price of indiscipline.
Corporal Stone commanded the squad on your left. He says you held your
ground.
I tried . . . We tried, sir. But we couldn t stand fast when everybody else
was pulling back.
No. You couldn t. All right, Ragnarson. You may have the makings. I m
entering the promotion in the record. Pay and a half from the day Birdsong was
wounded.
Sir? He thought he had missed something.
You re taking over. Permanent promotion. Subject to the General s approval.
Go back to your men, Corporal.
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For half a minute Bragi stood there, dazed, wanting to argue, to protest, or
something. This was not what he had expected.
I said you re dismissed, Ragnarson.
Yes sir. He bumbled out, returned to his post.
Congratulations, Trubacik said, and hobbled off.
What was that? Haaken asked.
Bragi tried to explain, but did not understand. He just could not see himself
as deserving.
Each afternoon el Nadim drew his men up in formation, offering battle. Each
afternoon the defenders of el As wad refused his challenge. This afternoon
started no differently. El Nadim advanced to within extreme bowshot. He sent a
herald to demand the surrender of el Aswad. The Wahlig sent him back
empty-handed.
The besiegers then customarily withdrew a few hundred yards. Once a lack of
response was assured they resumed their labors.
Not this time. El Nadim did not back down. He and the Disciple came to the
van. The Disciple raised a fist to the sky. His amulet waxed brighter, till he [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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