“Oh. Very well. Should we pack, or do we leave that to the army?” he asked, watching her closely.
“We see to our personal and Magical gear, but the tents and everything else the army handlers see to. Just don’t let them handle anything valuable or delicate. I’ve seen those brutes throw full trunks on to or off of wagons without anyone there to catch them.” Mellody frowned as Drake chuckled.
“Very well. Once my keeper arrives, I’ll begin seeing to my things. I really have very little in the way of belongings,” Drake replied, looking about. “Just me and the horse.”
“And the things you made,” Mellody reminded him. “Those are uniquely yours, Drake, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.”
They were interrupted by the return of Lieutenant Curtis with a fuzzy cheeked young man. “Adept Drake, this is Lieutenant Markus Ryerson. Mark, this is Adept Drake Standralson of the Darendian Empire. He is a stranger to army life, and will need a little help with etiquette and decorum. I don’t think you’ll find this to be too onerous an assignment.”
The young lieutenant snapped to attention, then bowed his head to Drake. “Adept Drake, I am pleased to meet you.”
“I am pleased to make your acquaintance as well, Lieutenant Ryerson,” Drake replied, bowing to cover his amusement. The boy didn’t look to be more than fifteen.
Mellody didn’t refrain from laughing. “Mark, Drake shouldn’t be any trouble for you. Just remember that he’s a stranger.”
“All right, Mel, if you say so,” the lieutenant replied, smiling shyly at Mellody.
Lieutenant Curtis retrieved his things from the back of the tent, and showed Markus where he would be sleeping. The boy was wide-eyed with wonder when he saw that. “This will be the first time since I had joined the army that I won’t be crammed into a tent with three other junior officers.” He smiled at Drake and Mellody as he hefted his belongings. His personal items were in a small satchel that he was holding in one hand, and he smiled again as he turned back to bow to Drake.
“I think I’m going to enjoy serving you, Adept Drake.”
Drake and Mellody laughed at the broad smile on his face. Mellody said her goodnights then and departed, leaving Drake and Markus alone. “Well, Lieutenant, I need a bath. It’s been several days since I’ve been able to find a good inn.”
The lieutenant nodded and bowed. “This way, Adept Drake. The Magi use the officers’ bathing tent.” The lieutenant led the way out and Drake followed closely behind, using a flicker of power to gather up his kit and towel. The lieutenant led him to a surprisingly large tent, and he found ten large wooden tubs arranged around a central water heater. “The tubs are filled early in the evening, Adept Drake. There’s not enough water to freshen them for everyone, so it is best to arrive early. Do you require any assistance?”
“No, I’ve been bathing myself for a long time,” Drake replied, disrobing as he spoke. “See to your own needs, Lieutenant. I’ll be fine.”
The lieutenant nodded and chose a tub off to the other side of the tent. Drake smiled and shook his head at the boy’s shyness, but didn’t say anything. He could remember all too well what it had been like for him at that age. The water in the tub was tepid, and he used a flicker of power to heat it to what he considered a comfortable temperature. They were not alone in the tent for long.
Three junior officers entered, laughing and joking, until they saw Markus. “Hey, what are you doing here so early, squirt?” one of them asked, walking over to where Lieutenant Ryerson was bathing. “You aren’t scheduled until late shift.”
Lieutenant Ryerson was looking slightly frightened as the three older men confronted him, and he began to stammer a reply when Drake came to his rescue. “He is here because of me, gentlemen. Is there a problem?”
One of the men, a dark-haired man of about twenty, turned to look at Drake. “He’s out of turn, and so are you. This is our shift in the bathing tent,” the man snarled as he walked over toward Drake. “Just who are you, anyway?”
Drake stood and stepped out of the tub, smiling. “Adept Drake.” The three men stopped dead in their tracks, their eyes widening in alarm. “I wasn’t aware that there was any particular order to the use of the baths.”
“Ah, Adept Drake, we didn’t know it was you. The Magi have free access, of course, but the officers have scheduled times,” the leader of the group said, nervously swallowing and stepping back to be closer to his compatriots.
Drake nodded. “Very well. However, Lieutenant Ryerson has been assigned as my orderly, and I find it inconvenient to have him coming and going while I am trying to rest.” Bright golden light shrouded him for a moment, and when it faded Drake was fully clothed in what appeared to be Army robes like the other Adepts wore. “That will be all, gentlemen.” Drake waved a hand in dismissal, and the men quickly retreated to the other side of the tent, never taking their eyes off him. Lieutenant Ryerson had gotten out of his bath while Drake was distracting the others and was waiting by the tent flap as Drake walked up. “Let’s go, Lieutenant.”
Markus was quiet as they walked back to the tent, but he kept glancing at Drake. Once they were alone, he cleared his throat and got Drake’s attention. “I’m sorry about that, Adept Drake.”
Drake chuckled. “Don’t let it concern you, Lieutenant. I have a long-standing dislike of bullies. Those three have got a lot to learn about life in the real world. If that had been an inn, I would have tied them up and hung them from the ceiling.”
“But, they are senior...”
“They are nothings,” Drake interrupted, grinning at the lieutenant. “Their rank is only important here. And not very important at that. It is a sad fact of human nature that the less important someone really is, the more important they try to appear.”
“Those were senior lieutenants, Adept Drake. They may not mean much to you, but I have to work for them,” Markus replied, watching Drake carefully.
Drake just laughed and went to bed. “Not while you’re working for me, Lieutenant.”
Chapter 4
REVEILLE ARRIVED ONE HOUR BEFORE SUNRISE as Adept Caral had warned, and the loud, unusual sound of the bugle call had Drake standing in the center of the tent, blazing like a small sun as he braced for an attack.
Lieutenant Ryerson peeked out from behind the curtain, his wide eyes betraying his fear of Drake’s reaction. “I take it you’ve never been woken up by a bugle before, Adept Drake.”
Drake turned wide eyes on the lieutenant and restrained his power. “Damn right! I’ve never had such a rude awakening in my life.”
The lieutenant stood and joined Drake in the main part of the tent. “What can I lay out for you, Adept Drake?”
Drake shrugged. “Nothing. I don’t carry much in the way of baggage.” He threw a halo of power around himself for a moment, then reappeared dressed in robes that matched those of the other Adepts. He did, however, add a layer of clothing under the robe for warmth. The air in the tent had a distinct bite to it so early in the morning.
The lieutenant ducked back behind the curtain and emerged moments later dressed in his uniform. He was brushing at the wrinkles, trying to get his clothes more presentable, when Drake flicked a finger. The wrinkles disappeared as the fabric pressed itself while the lieutenant stood wide-eyed in surprise.
“I’m hungry, Lieutenant. How long do we have to wait for morning meal?”
Lieutenant Ryerson looked at him in surprise. “It’s ready now, Adept Drake. This way, please.” He led the way back to the mess tent.
Breakfast, it turned out, was a very informal meal. Drake joined Lieutenant Ryerson and Master Jamie Barkan in the serving line. Jamie was one of the younger Masters, and he greeted Drake with a smile as they walked up.
“Well, Drake, what do you think of army life so far?”
Drake laughed. “It’s full of surprises, Jamie. Is every morning like this?”
“Most. Sometimes things get exciting, but mostly it’s just the same old routine.”
Lieutenant Ryerson was watching them both closely as they spoke, not daring to say anything without being asked. Jamie saw his expression and looked him in the eye. “Yes, Mark? You had something to add?”
Markus bit his lips then glanced at Drake. “Adept Drake found the bugle call to be quite a surprise.”
Jamie laughed and looked at Drake. “Scared you stiff, didn’t it?”
“I was ready to blast something,” Drake laughed, grinning at Markus. “The lieutenant was a bit surprised by my display.”
Jamie grinned at Markus. “Don’t worry, Mark. Magi don’t get to be Adepts without being in complete control. He won’t hurt you by accident.” Markus ducked his head to hide some of his embarrassment as the men around him laughed. The line continued, and Drake joined the other Magi while Markus went over to sit with the officers.
Jamie waited until they were seated before talking to Drake again. “He’s a good kid, just young.”
“Yes, I noticed. Having him here is something of a surprise. I didn’t know that any armies accepted officers that young.”
Jamie nodded. “They normally don’t, but Mark and a few others are special cases. His father is a major with the Seventh Cavalry. His mother died when he was twelve, leaving just him and his dad. The king and the general granted special dispensation for him to join the Second Support Battalion, since they follow the Seventh Cavalry. He has the rank to keep him unmolested, but there’s little authority associated with it.”
Drake nodded, filing the information away. “He seems to know just about everyone here.”
“Oh, yes. Mark and the others like him serve in a lot of different capacities, but mostly in Supply and here in the Mess. They’re the ones who see to seating arrangements, special occasions, that sort of thing.” Jamie grinned before he continued. “We’ve all gotten to know them quite well over the years.”
“He seems to know Mellody quite well,” Drake observed, earning him a piercing look from Jamie.
“Big sister complex. She’s adopted all of the youngsters,” Jamie supplied, watching Drake closely. “And they have adopted her. If her own power weren’t enough to keep anyone from bothering her, there are fifteen young, eager, and well-trained fighters who would be quite happy to defend her honor.”
Drake chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind. Anyone else I should be careful of?”
“All males between the ages of eight and eighty,” Jamie said seriously, then laughed. “You’ve seen her, seen the way she affects men. One pouting lip from Mel and the man who made her pout is going to regret ever having been born.”
Drake grinned, then turned the subject to the plans for the future. “What will happen when the Bresardians have gone home?”
“We’ll disperse. Everyone will go home, except the regular army troops. We, the Magi, will be allowed to return to our civilian employment or businesses. You, on the other hand,” he paused to grin, “will most likely be persuaded to go to Mount Royal and meet the queen. That’ll be Mellody’s idea. If I were you, I’d simply let her have her way. You will in the end, want to or not. Mellody can be very persuasive.” He said the last with rolling eyes and a skyward look that spoke eloquently of having encountered Mellody’s persuasiveness first hand.
* * *
The army spent five days waiting for the Bresardians to leave. General Preston kept all of his commands with him until the Bresardian army had actually departed. Then the force split, with the bulk of the men heading home while the general led his holding force a day’s march behind General Boatwright.
The march was uneventful for the most part. There were a few small incidents where Bresardian stragglers were encouraged to catch up with their main force, but nothing serious. On the tenth day they stopped to set up camp, and Drake looked at the sky with some trepidation.
There was a storm brewing, and they were setting up a minimal camp, as they had every night: Without tents. Before supper the rain began, and Drake demonstrated his power once again. A canopy formed over the entire force, sheeting the water to the edges.
Drake made the canopy large enough to cover the camp followers as well as the soldiers. He had been surprised by the presence of the camp followers until Adept Caral had explained that many of them were actually the families of the lower ranking soldiers, and even some of the junior officers. There were the expected prostitutes, as well as the purveyors of questionable products, but it was the families that Drake was thinking of.
Adept Caral walked over to where Drake and Markus were setting up their beds. “Nice work, Drake. The cooks want to know if you can funnel some of that water their way. Save having someone run out into the storm to fill the water barrels.”
Drake nodded, and Markus led him to where the cooks were setting up. Once there, he shaped the shield to form a deep depression over the cooks. He directed that the water barrels be brought over, and filled each as it was presented. When the army barrels were seen to, he walked down to where the camp followers were set up and filled their barrels as well. Then he returned the shield to its original shape to divert the water away. He returned to his bed to find Mellody sitting on it.
“Nice,” she commented, looking skyward.
Drake nodded deeply in acknowledgment. “I hate sleeping wet.”
Mellody laughed at that. “Don’t we all? This storm shouldn’t last past sunrise. General Preston will be dismissing everyone in the next day or two. We, the Magi I mean, will be the last to go. Are you still planning on traveling on? I would like to take you to Mount Royal and introduce you to Rochelle.”
“Don’t you mean Queen Rochelle?” Drake asked, looking at her with a lopsided grin.
“I do, but I get away with being outrageous and just calling her by her given name.” Mellody grinned as she spoke. “Roe and I go way back.”
“All the way back to diapers,” Caral commented, drawing her glare. “Drake, Mel and the queen were born in the same month. Her mother was Queen Leda’s matron. Among other things. Mel and the queen were raised almost like sisters.”
Drake looked at Mellody, grinned, and said, “I was warned to let you have your way.” Then he had to laugh at her expression when she looked at Caral. “No, not by Caral. By everyone. You have quite a reputation.”
“Oh really?” she asked in a dangerously soft voice, but then she smiled. “Well, at least you agreed without arguing.”
* * *
The army dispersed after two additional days of waiting for the Bresardian Army to return to their soil. Mellody, Caral, Drake, and Jettie accompanied General Preston and the core of the army back to Mount Royal, passing through the countryside as the people waved and cheered. The trip took five weeks at the pace of the foot troops, and Drake enjoyed the trip as he became more familiar with his hosts. His relationship with Mellody was maturing, and he was taking his time with her. The idea of spending several decades with her was becoming more appealing by the day, and he didn’t want to risk offending her by being too forward.
Chapter 5
MOUNT ROYAL, THE CAPITAL CITY OF Vernardia, was a very large city that crowned a small mountain. Drake estimated the population at between three and four hundred thousand. The city was built in rings, six in all, and Drake guessed that the rings denoted the old city walls that had expanded as the city had grown down the mountain. Now the city was expanding out into the surrounding plain.
The army personnel split off while Drake joined Mellody and a few others on the trip up to the palace of Queen Rochelle. The palace guards passed them through the great gates without question. Grooms arrived at their sides as soon as they entered the palace courtyard, and Mellody was greeted over and over again. Drake stood back and smiled as she was hugged by everyone who was near, and almost laughed as people streamed out of the palace to join the throng.
A young man took Drake’s horse after he’d had his turn welcoming Mellody home, and directed Drake up the stairs to where a distinguished-looking older man was waiting.
/> “Adept Drake?” he asked, bowing slightly. At Drake’s nod, he smiled. “I am Kenton Broom, valet to our late King Bevan. Her Majesty has asked me to see to your comfort.”
Drake nodded in return. “I am pleased to meet you, Master Kenton. I have little in the way of baggage, so we may proceed if you are ready.”
If Kenton was surprised by Drake’s familiarity with palace protocol, he covered it well. “This way, if you please. A suitable suite has been set aside for your use. Is there anything you require?”
Drake smiled and nodded. “A few things, but nothing more pressing than a nice hot bath. Traveling with the army has been a new experience for me.”
Kenton nodded but didn’t say anything more. He led Drake to a well-appointed, six-room suite in the palace’s east wing, where the minor nobility were accommodated. Drake looked around and decided it was about the size of his parents’ house back in Chanders. The suite’s bathing chamber was just slightly larger than a closet, but the tub was deep, the water was hot, and the soap was plentiful. Kenton stayed, serving in his function as Drake’s valet.
“Is there anything that I can lay out for you, or have cleaned, Adept Drake?” he asked as Drake stripped.
“No, thank you, Master Kenton. As I said, I have little in the way of baggage. I’ll simply make something suitable when I’m clean,” Drake replied as he submerged to wet his hair, then began giving himself a vigorous scrub.
* * *
Queen Rochelle was waiting for Mellody in her suite when she finally managed to make it upstairs. “Melly! It’s so good to see you again. Did you bring him?” she asked as she rushed over to hug her.
Mellody laughed and hugged her friend. “Yes, Roe, I brought him. He drifted off with Kenton while I was being mobbed. I need a bath.”
“You sure do!” the queen agreed. “Your hair’s a mess.” She followed Mellody into the bathing chamber and stood aside as Mellody’s servants helped undress her. “It must’ve been terrible out there without servants.”
The Chronicles of Amberdrake Page 5
