"Oh, it's nothing," he answered, grinning. "I was running much too fast to collect anything serious, believe me. It'll be all right in a week or two."
"But did you walk back with Elvair from Lapan like that?"
"Well, someone had to come with him," said Shend-Lador.
"Shenda," she asked, "what happened? What really happened? All I've heard is rumors and tales from people who weren't there. If you're really grateful that I saved you, tell me the truth."
"Not getting out of that, is there?" he said, sitting down again and picking up his goblet. He paused. "You really want to hear everything, do you? Only-"
"Yes, I do. I've always liked Elvair: he's been very kind to me. If he's in trouble I'm sorry."
"Well, all I can honestly say, Maia, is that it's a pity for a lot of good lads that he couldn't just have stayed here and gone on being kind to you."
She said nothing, waiting.
"It wasn't too bad at the start," began Shend-Lador after a little. "The men were all in good heart and we went into Chalcon as keen as a pack of hounds on the scent. But before long we found we couldn't seem to come to grips with the enemy; and then we had to face the fact that it wasn't safe even to send out patrols to try and discover where he was, because they simply got cut up. It's appalling country-thick woodland, a lot of it, where you can't see further than a few yards, with torrents coming down out of the mountains every mile or so; not particularly wide, but swift, and very nasty to ford.
"What we wanted, of course, was a battle, but that wasn't Erketlis's idea at all. And the plain truth was that Elvair didn't really know anything about generalship or campaigning. Nor did I, come to that, but we had experienced officers who did. There was a regular officer, Kap-parah, who struck me as particularly useful-a crafty professional survivor if ever I saw one. But Elvair wouldn't hear a word from him.
" 'You know the mistake, don't you?' this Kapparah said to me one night when we were by ourselves. 'The mistake is obliging Erketlis by charging up and down this Cran-forsaken wilderness. What we ought to have done was pitch camp somewhere not too far into Chalcon, somewhere where we could be sure of our supplies; burned some villages taken a few hostages and waited. If you're dealing with one of these proud-hearted, feudal heldril like Erketlis, sooner or later his people are going to start telling him it's a matter of honor to attack; "Drive the hated invader from our native soil" and all that. Then we could have fought him where we wanted, in a spot of our own
choosing. As it is, we're looking about as ridiculous as a man chasing an untrained puppy. Just what the puppy wants, of course.'
"Up and down, round and round we went, and nothing to show for it, until the men were tired out and began to lose heart and confidence. And Elvair-he didn't really give any leadership: he didn't even set the men an example of courage and endurance. He didn't see enough of them, for a start. And he didn't seem to have a plan. I've known him for years, of course, and I could tell he was jittery- he was bothered by the solitude and the casualties.
"And then at last, one night, we got what we'd really been needing all along: a bit of reliable information from a deserter-a Beklan. Kapparah actually recognized him- a fellow who'd been enslaved five years ago. This man came and told us where Erketlis was-about five miles away-and said he'd lead us there. He was perfectly genuine-there wasn't any doubt about that at all.
" 'Well,' I said to Elvair, 'my men'll be ready in twenty minutes-less, if I've got anything to do with it. I'll get straight back to them now.' And do you know, Maia, he looked up at me-he was sitting at a trestle table in his tent-and he said 'I think this needs careful planning, don't you? We'll have an officers' meeting first thing in the morning.'
" 'For holy Cran's sake!' I said. 'How long d'you think it's going to take Erketlis to realize his man's missing, and where he must have gone? Every blasted minute's precious!' I said. 'Why, he may be off already!'
" 'Oh, no, I don't think so,' says Elvair. 'We'll sleep on it, that'll be best.'
"I knew then, Maia: I realized-well, I don't know any other way of putting it-I realized he was no good. He'd been offered Erketlis's head on a plate and he'd convinced himself-he really had, as far as I could see-that he was acting responsibly and doing the right thing. I tried to reason with him: I tried all I knew and at last he said, 'I'm sorry, Shenda, this is my decision, not yours, and I'm afraid I'll have to give you an order. Don't discuss it any more.'
"The next day we went after Erketlis and of course he'd gone: and I'm as good as certain that in his own mind Elvair was relieved.
"Well, you've heard-at least, I suppose you have, haven't you? In the end we fell back on to the Thettit-Ikat
road, after losing something like a hundred and eighty men. And then at last we found that Erketlis was doing what we'd been praying for all along. He was offering a battle-yes, after a forced march through country which had worn us to shreds. He'd got south of us and was blocking the road; waiting for us on open ground.
"It must have been about a couple of hours after noon, I suppose. We weren't harassed at all as we approached. We deployed about half a mile away and came forward in line. They had their center right across the highway. There was a bit of a slope in their favor and they obviously had a few more men, but that was all. You could see Erketlis- there was no mistaking him-talking to his men and giving encouragement, and they were all shouting back and banging on their shields.
"Kapparah was in command on our right and there was no holding him. He went straight into them without waiting for orders, even. I was in the center, with Elvair, and we must have been about two hundred-well,' say three hundreds-yards from the enemy when I saw that we were being attacked from behind on the left. It was Elleroth of Sarkid, with his band of home-made freebooters-volunteers-whatever he calls them. They'd lain down in a hollow, behind some bales of straw, until we'd passed them. Well, they took us a bit by surprise and drove in our left more than I really cared about, but it wasn't a patch on Kapparah. He'd beaten his lot all to blazes-you could see them actually running away-almost the whole of the enemy's left wing.
"Elvair had halted the center and was just standing there, watching. I said 'Go on, Elvair! Go on! We've got them!'
" 'Oh,' he said, 'our left-our left's not secure. I think it's a bit risky, don't you?'
" 'For basting Shakkarn's sake!' I said (sorry, Maia). 'If we don't pile in now we'll lose our best chance! Their left's collapsed! Lead the men in-or tell Ta-Kominion to lead them in-or I'll do it-anything! Only we must get on with it!'
"So then he went out in front of the men and gave the order to charge. We were running towards them side by side, he and I, with everyone yelling behind us, keen as knives. And we must have been about-oh-thirty yards from the enemy, I suppose, when suddenly Elvair stopped dead in his tracks. And then-well, Maia, I'm afraid I
can't put it any other way-he simply turned round and ran back through our own front rank.
"Everyone saw it, and of course everyone wondered what on earth could have happened. A moment later we closed with the enemy and there was some pretty nasty fighting for a bit and I got this, incidentally" (he touched his leg), "but the real sting had gone out of our attack because the men were completely bewildered-no one knew, now, what the hell was supposed to be going on. Kapparah was cutting his way in towards us and he actually got through and joined up with us, but by that time our attack had just fizzled out for want of leadership. Erketlis had lost quite a few men-especially on the left-but so had we; and of course the trouble was that he was still there, where he'd been to begin with, blocking the road. We hadn't shifted him.
"The officers all wanted to go in again, but once an attack like that's failed, you know, it's very dificult to get the men to renew it. And it couldn't have been more conspicuous, you see, what Elvair'd done. You couldn't disguise it, you couldn't gloss it over. We went back about a quarter of a mile and hung about and argued. The enemy never moved: I reckon they must have been too tired
for Erketlis to risk a counter-attack. Kapparah was crazy to have another go, but Elvair'd got nothing to say to it and there was no one else who had any recognized authority or standing, you see. And then the Tonildans started muttering and saying it was only forty miles to Thettit and what were they waiting for-oh, Maia, to tell you the truth I'd rather not go on! In the end we just sort of drifted off the field. And that was the most shameful thing I've ever seen."
"Well, all I can say is-" began Maia; but Shend-Lador had not done.
"We retreated a few miles and camped for the night. They didn't pursue us. Erketlis had got what he wanted; Ikat; because we hadn't stopped him. And yet we'd had him as good as beat! He'd taken a risk and it wouldn't have come off, if only-" Shend-Lador drove his fist into his palm.
"The captains met next day and deposed Elvair. There'd have been no holding the men otherwise. I said I'd go back to Bekla with him-I was no use with this leg anyway, you see. The army fell back into Lapan and Kapparah took
over the command. He'll have handed over to Kembri by now."
He helped himself to a lump of thrilsa. After a moment, nibbling, he smiled and winked at Maia. "Never mind; they say Lespa dreams it all, don't they? Poor girl must be just about tossing and turning in her sleep by now, I should think. I wish she'd wake up for a piss: I've had about enough of this particular dream, and that's a fact."
"Oh, quiet, Shenda!" cried Maia, who was supersti-tiously frightened by impiety-especially where Lespa was concerned. "But I don't understand! I was told as Ran-dronoth was supposed to be going to join to you with every man he had. When did you and Elvair leave? Didn't you see Randronoth at all?"
"Well, that's the mysterious thing," replied Shend-La-dor. "No one's seen hide nor hair of Randronoth or any of his men, either. When I left with Elvair, they'd already sent two messengers to ask where the hell he was and what he meant to do."
"So it'll be all right now, will it?" asked Maia. "I mean, that ought to be enough to keep Erketlis from getting anywhere near Bekla?"
"I wish I felt sure of that," said Shend-Lador. "Kembri's a good general, but what he's got there is a demoralized army to which I gather they've just added a bunch of untrained, reluctant conscripts. As for Randronoth, if I were Kembri I'd believe him when I saw him."
"Why, where d'you reckon he's got to, then?" asked Maia.
"Well, I think he's like the rest of them-hanging back and waiting to see how things turn out. The provinces have all got enough troubles of their own, you know, Maia. There are half-a-dozen heldro scraps going on in as many different provinces, and no governor's got men to spare. I heard that most of the men they sent up to Bekla for Kembri were just about the bottom of the barrel: they'd even let 'em out of the jails, some of them."
"Ah!" said Maia, "That just accounts for something as I saw t'other day, down the Market. I'd say you were just about right."
"Well, I might find myself catching it in the neck yet, I suppose," said Shend-Lador, rather in the tone of voice in which he might have said he was expecting to be badgered by creditors. Looking down at the gold Leopard em-
blem round his neck, he pretended to tug at it. "It won't come off, you see. But you'll be all right, Maia. You're going to be Sacred Queen, aren't you? That'll mean-"
"No!" she cried, stamping her foot. "No! I'm not, and I'm sick and tired of bein' told as I am! I-"
"Well, that's only what everybody's saying," he answered. "But whether or not, no one's going to be in a hurry to chop up a lass like you. It isn't even as if you'd been a Leopards' shearna or any particular Leopard's girl, is it? I think you've handled things very cleverly from that point of view."
"First time anyone's said that, I'll tell you, Shenda. Far's I can see, most of 'em reckons I'm just about suicidal not t'ave taken up with some big Leopard to protect me by now."
But his thoughts had apparently run on. "I wouldn't like to be Milvushina, though, would you? If Erketlis does get to Bekla-" He shook his head. "And then, Elvair's little lapse: whatever happens-even if we were to win hands down-I don't see what they're going to be able to do with him after this. Ambassador to Deelguy'll be about the size of it, I suppose: something like that."
"How's Milva taken it?" asked Maia.
"I haven't seen her. I'm afraid she may be regretting she didn't take Fornis's tip and go back to Chalcon like a good girl."
"I'm damned sure she isn't!" cried Maia. "Want my opinion, all you men make a lot too much of this fighting carry-on. There's Elvair, as nice a fellow as ever-"
"I personally don't make much of it," replied Shend-Lador. "Only I do think it's bad luck, don't you, when ordinary, rough-and-ready fellows entrust their lives to people who've always lived in luxury and had the best of everything, and then those people lead them badly and let them down in the pinch? That's all I'm saying. I mean, take that lame slave-girl of yours-would you run away if someone else was going to knock her about?"
Maia made no reply.
It was not in Shend-Lador's nature, however, to rub anything in until it hurt. "I'm sorry for Elvair," he said, "and I've told him as much. I'd help him if I could, but how's anyone ta help him? He's ruined himself, that's about the size of it."
"You could let yourself be seen about with him," said Maia.
"Well, so I will, if ever we get back to any sort of ordinary life," answered Shend-Lador.
Suddenly he fell on one knee before her. "Maia, you're beautiful; you're lovely! I adore you! That's what I really came to say, only you made me waste such a lot of time talking about the war. Won't you go to bed with me?" He slapped his pockets. "I believe I've got fifty meld left somewhere, so I won't charge you!"
She could not help laughing, and did not resist even when he kissed her and ran his hands for a moment over her deldas under their smooth, close-fitting silk bodice. But still she shook her head as he released her.
"Why," said he, "this is worse than Chalcon-to keep looking at the jam-pot and get no jam."
"There's no one else gets any, honest," she answered, smiling.
"Randronoth?"
"Yes, once-for nine thousand mekl-and I never touched a trug of it. But he'll never get it again."
"It was for the Chalcon expedition, wasn't it?" said Shend-Lador. "What a waste! I'll bet it was all Lapanese taxes, too."
"It was a waste all right," said Maia. "You can take that from me, Shenda. I'll tell you what wouldn't be, though. If you really meant what you just said, go and see Elvair. Go and see him now, and have a drink with him." At random she picked up a silver filigree box from a side-table. "Give him that from me and tell him I'm his friend. It'll give you an excuse to go."
He kissed her again and this time she returned his kiss. They walked together to the outer door, where Jarvil gave him his belt and sword.
" 'No one could hinder, The Serrelinda!' My lads used to sing that in Chalcon, you know. By the way, have you noticed, the big star doesn't seem so bright tonight? May be gone soon, I suppose."
Maia looked up into the northern sky. It was even as Shend-Lador had said.
81: RANDRONOTH
She woke with a start. Ogma was bending over her with a lamp, her familiar, ugly face all shadow one side and wavering, yellow brightness the other. Maia sat up quickly.
"What is it, Ogma? Is the house on fire?"
"No, miss, it's-"
"Is there fighting or something?" She swung her legs out of bed.
"No, miss; it's Lord Randronoth."
"What d'you mean, Lord Randronoth? Where? You mean he's been killed or what?"
"No, miss; he's downstairs."
"Downstairs? Ogma, have you gone crazy? He can't be downstairs; he's in Lapan and it's the middle of the night! Go back to bed."
"Saiyett-Miss Maia-it's not my fault! Lord Randronoth was knocking and he woke Jarvil: and Jarvil looked out and saw it was Lord Randronoth and he just had two soldiers with him, no one else. So then Lord Randronoth said he had to see you at once-it was very important. And Ja
rvil came and woke me and said what should he do? So of course I said yes, let them in-"
"But Ogma, whatever for?"
"What, Lord Randronoth, miss?" said Ogma in a puzzled tone, as though Maia's question were quite inexplicable. "Well, of course I let him in!"
The sweaty smell of her, stooping over Maia in her nightdress, came strong. It had always been a job to get Ogma to wash. Maia, now really angry, felt ready to box her ears. She was perfectly entitled to hit Ogma, of course, only she never had as yet.
"Well, now you just go down and tell him to go away again. Go on!"
"I don't reckon he'd do it, miss. Well, not for my saying so, that is. He seemed kind of-well, I don't know-kind of beside himself, like: not what you'd call normal, he isn't."
"Well, then, what the bloody basting hell did you let him in for?" stormed Maia. "Great Cran, Ogma, I often wonder I don't sell you, I really do! No, all right-" holding up her hand-"you needn't start in. I suppose you'd better give him some wine and tell him I'll be down in a few
minutes. Now light me some lamps and then get out of here!"
Randronoth! she thought. Randronoth-here, in the middle of the night; when he ought to be at the front in Lapan. Did Eud-Ecachlon know he'd come to Bekla? Probably not.
No doubt about what he's here for. What else could he be here for? And thereupon Occula took over. The bloody crazy damned basting menstrual tairth-struck bastard! And it's completely compromising! It leaves me wide open! Oh, Cran! and with Eud-Ecachlon, of all people, left in command of the city! I've got to get him out of here somehow!
She was hurrying into her clothes, yet even in this crisis stopped to wash her face and comb her hair. Middle of the night or no middle of the night, she'd be damned if she was going to let Randronoth or anyone else see her all in a flurry and lookng like-what was it Occula used to say?-a pig's venda in a thunderstorm. Becoming a little more composed as she looked at herself in the mirror, she put on her diamonds and the jewelled Leopard emblem with which the Council had presented her. Then, with all the outrage, authority and dignity of which she was capable, the Serrelinda made herself walk slowly down the stairs and into the parlor.
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