At the Queen_s command cc-1

by Michael A. Stackpole

  Deathridge steepled his fingers. "So I have several things to tell you. The first, which will be made public when you return to Norisle, is that the Queen is going to make you a Knight of the Norillian Empire. With that shall come a modest land grant here. You know what you have seen and what you like; please choose a place. A thousand acres. You might name it after the family estate."

  "A knighthood. Do not tease me."

  "No, it is quite true. Her Majesty recognizes the threat these pasmortes represent. Du Malphias had been rumored to be collecting bodies and looting graves back in the days of Villerupt. We saw no evidence of anything untoward, so suggestions of necromancy had been dismissed."

  Owen raised an eyebrow. "What about his ability to use magick beyond the realm of touch?"

  Deathridge recovered his glass and drank. "That I find the most disturbing of all. There are always rumors of magick that powerful."

  "The Shedashee can do it, after a fashion."

  "This gives the rumors more credence, certainly." Deathridge put the glass down again. "This brings me to one charge I have for you, one that you must reveal to no one else."

  "Yes?"

  Deathridge closed his eyes for a moment. "When you take the fortress, du Malphias will attempt to burn his papers. You must, at all costs, prevent this. We need his documents, to analyze and determine what breakthroughs he has made. The very future of Norisle will depend upon it."

  "That is a very important job, Uncle. I should think you save it for yourself."

  "I would, but I will not be joining you on the expedition."

  Owen frowned. "But you said your job was to advise…You're not going with Forest's troops, are you?"

  "As much as I might like to, no." His uncle sighed and almost seemed to shrink. "The packet boat did have the information I informed the Prince of concerning Tharyngian troops. It also contained a letter directing me to return to Launston with all haste. One of my political allies-one of Rivendell's enemies-suffered a public scandal. I will remain here long enough to organize supplies for the expedition, then I will return to Launston to salvage what I can."

  Deathridge covered his face with his hands, then looked up. "How smart is Prince Vlad? Is he sane? He seemed so, but many fear he has adopted Tharyngian ways."

  "He's very smart, and very sane."

  "Ambitious?"

  "Not in any way you might think." Owen smiled. "His ambition extends only to his studies. He gave me a list of plants and animals to bring back for him. He understands politics, but only uses that knowledge to do what the Crown wants."

  His uncle nodded thoughtfully. "Good. And he is not too much under the influence of the Kessian?"

  "Von Metternin? He uses the Count as an advisor, but even the Count is in awe of the Prince."

  "This is important, Owen." His uncle's expression sharpened. "What did they think of du Malphias' plan to create his own nation?"

  "The Prince laughed when I told him. He said it was impossible. Aside from Tharyngia lacking the necessary number of people, Mystria is too large, with too many regions and interests. The Continent would sooner be united than Mystria."

  "Very good." His uncle smiled quickly. "And the Kessian's thoughts?"

  "He feels the same, as best I know."

  "Good." Deathridge stood and plucked the book from the mantle. He handed it to Owen. "Do you know this book?"

  Owen ran his fingers over the cover. A Continent's Calling. "Yes. I used it as a key for coded messages to Prince Vladimir."

  Still standing, Deathridge took up his glass and sipped more whiskey. "Did you know that the author, Samuel Haste, does not exist? It is a nom de plume."

  "I wasn't aware of that fact."

  "If you knew who had written it, you would tell me, yes?"

  Owen nodded despite goosebumps puckering of his flesh. It occurred to him in a flash that the book's true author might be Doctor Frost. I would never betray him. "Of course. Is there a problem?"

  "The document is seditious. Be careful. Do not let Rivendell know you have read it."

  "I won't."

  "One last matter."

  Owen looked up. "Yes?"

  "If Lord Rivendell were to lose his mind and lead the expedition to ruin, do you think Prince Vladimir could take over? Allowing that he would use Count von Metternin as an aide. Would you be able to command troops in his name?"

  "Yes, to the first. A conditional yes to the second, since colonels will be commanding the regiments."

  Deathridge smiled coldly. "I yet have it within my power to do certain things, Owen. Before I leave, I shall write out a sealed order and give it to the Prince. It will grant you a field promotion to General in the event that Rivendell is relieved of command. I will brief the Prince on this matter."

  Owen blinked. "Are you certain, Uncle?"

  "I am. You have to be my man here, Owen. You have to be Norisle's man here. If we fail to deal with du Malphias, our position in the world is compromised. My enemies do not see it that way, but it is quite clear. I know it, and I know their will is such that when adversity strikes, they will withdraw and merely hasten a collapse that never need happen.

  "You, Owen Strake, have seen the evil that is Guy du Malphias. It falls to you to eliminate him. It is our family duty to thusly serve the Crown."

  Owen shook his head as if to clear it. Is this truly my uncle?

  He knew there had to be more going on than he was seeing. Before he could even begin to puzzle it out, his uncle set the whisky down and extended his hand. "I must be leaving."

  Owen stood and shook his hand. "But I thought… Dinner?"

  "One last ruse, and you will understand." Deathridge smiled curiously. "You will still have dinner, and you will enjoy the company."

  Deathridge exited to the foyer. Owen made to follow, but a voice from behind, from the dining room, stopped him. "Owen."

  He turned, his heart instantly in his throat. There she stood, perfect and smiling, a gown of white reminding him of the day they wed. "Catherine!"

  She flew to him and he gathered her into his arms. She clung to him, burying her face against his chest, her body wracked with sobs. She grabbed handfuls of his coat. She seemed so small and delicate. All he could do was hold her and stroke her hair.

  "Shhhhh, nothing is wrong, beloved."

  She pulled back and looked up, her cheeks wet. "I thought I had lost you."

  "No, darling, no."

  "Owen, I sent you from me and then when you were hurt, when you almost died. It was my fault. I had hurt my husband, my love."

  "Hush. I am fine."

  "You don't know, Owen. But for the kindness of your Uncle Richard, I should have been undone." She stroked his face, holding it in both hands. "It really is you, isn't it?"

  He smiled and turned his face to kiss her palms each in turn. "You never lost me. You never came close to losing me."

  "Oh, you are such a frightful liar." She closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his breastbone. "Your uncle, too. He would not tell me how close to death you were, not for the longest time. But I was inconsolable, Owen. I love you so much."

  He tipped her head up, then kissed her. She melted into his arms, her hands running beneath his jacket, holding him tightly. She broke the kiss, then kissed his chest. "I thought I should never have you in my arms again."

  "I am here, now, Catherine."

  "Yes, you are." She pulled back and took both his hands in hers. She led him into the hallway and deeper into the apartments. On the left, toward the back, she brought him into a bedroom and bade him sit on the bed. She knelt and tugged his boots off, then stripped him of hose.

  "Your uncle brought me to Mystria because I could not bear to be without you. He said nothing of my passage on the packet boat to surprise you. I had to go with him, of course, since it would not do for me to be left alone on a troop transport. You soldiers can be such a randy lot."

  Owen stared at her. "If one of them touched you…"

&n
bsp; "Calm yourself, Owen. None of them did, beloved. None of them touched me as you have, as you will." She peeled his coat off him and slowly unbuttoned his waistcoat. Both of them she deposited on a spindly chair, pausing then to kiss him again and press herself to him. Smiling, she unbuttoned his shirt, teasing, kissing exposed flesh.

  His hands rose to hers, stopping her halfway.

  "There are new scars, Catherine."

  "They are part of you, husband, so I love them." She opened his shirt and shivered, but just for a moment. Her smile grew wide again. She leaned in and kissed the bullet wound on his left flank.

  Owen gasped. Until the heat of her kisses flowed into his flesh, he had not realized how alone he felt. Part of his captivity had remained with him, grown out of the dreams where Catherine held herself apart. She had feared losing him, and deep down, he had feared losing her. One kiss, a kiss which was but the harbinger of many more, was enough to banish that fear.

  Sinking to her knees in a rustle of linen, Catherine unbuttoned his breeches and stripped him naked. She ran her hands from his waist along his thighs, her thumbs brushing over his bullet wounds, her fingers tracing the splinter scars on his hip. Her breath warmed his skin as she kissed the wounds on his thighs.

  She looked into his eyes. "I have missed you so, Owen, you cannot know my agonies, my fears." She kissed his flesh again. "But now they have all evaporated."

  He drew her to her feet. He began to fuss with the knotted lacings of her gown, but she pushed his hands away. She gathered pillows on the bed and directed him to lay against them, kissing him once, then pressing a finger to his lips.

  She loosened the ties that bound her into her gown and let the dress slip to the floor. She was as he remembered her, slender with full breasts and large nipples. He smiled, and she blew out the bedside candle. Then she slid onto the bed and straddled him.

  Catherine unfastened her hair. It cascaded down about her shoulders. She leaned forward, kissing him again, then whispered, "I feared I had lost you, Owen. I will now rediscover you, every inch of you, and show you how so completely I missed you."

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  May 30, 1764

  Temperance

  Temperance Bay, Mystria

  "T ruth be told, sir, I ain't too proud to acknowledge I am pleased to be leaving Temperance behind." Nathaniel walked beside Major Forest. "Every foot between me and Bishop Bumble makes me happy."

  Forest smiled. "It was good he gave us that blessing before we headed out. His heart is in the right place."

  Nathaniel frowned, unsure he believed Bumble had a heart. The Bishop had offered an hour-long sermon on the horrors of Tharyngian society, telling the men that their mission was really God's plan. He offered numerous scriptures to underscore this opinion, even mentioning the Good Lord wandering for forty days and forty nights in the wilderness. "Not sure I find tales of the Lord wandering and lost much of a good omen, Major."

  "Your feelings not withstanding, Captain Woods, I'm sure the sermon was a comfort to some." Forest's eyes narrowed. "Everyone fell out properly."

  "True, sir, with a few exceptions."

  By rule both companies of the Mystrian Rangers carried a hundred rounds of ball or bullet per man. The riflemen among them had an added twenty of the prince's pasmorte killers. All of them had their long guns in a deer- or moose-skin case. Most all the men had decorated them with beads, buttons, bits of shell, or fancy stitching. They carried hatchets or tomahawks and knives.

  Each carried two types of packs. The first, consisting of a blanket wrapped in bearskin, had a strap looped through its middle. That loop settled over the man's shoulders and across his chest rather high. A few men tucked some notions in the blanket, but nothing too heavy. A canvas cloth rolled up and tied on either end into a loop made up the second pack. It closely resembled a big sausage. The men carried rice, beans, some salt, some sausage and salt pork in it, as well as eating utensils, some ginger, sugar, and tea.

  In a separate satchel they kept bullet molds, lead, spare firestones, and tools. Because these things tended to be heavy, four or five men would share them, passing the satchel around every couple of miles. Nathaniel had his own satchel with the molds, but Makepeace offered to haul it since they both used the same rounds.

  Nathaniel smiled as the troops marched along. No one would mistake them for Norillian troops, as they looked far more raggedy than professional soldiers. In general, the Rangers all dressed alike, wearing moccasins and leather leggings, breeches, leather tunics or homespun shirts, with short jackets over them, and caps. The similarity ended there, however, as colors marked the men as different. Caleb and his college friends all wore sashes of maroon and gold around their middles. The men from Summerland had their red caps. The Branches and Casks all wore foxskin caps, while the southerners had adopted the Fairlee militia's green coat.

  Nathaniel hadn't been immune to sprucing up his appearance. He decorated his slouch-brimmed, black felt hat with a band of jeopard fur. William's mother had made him a necklace with bear and jeopard claws-the bear claws for his relationship to Msitazi, and the jeopard claws to celebrate his warrior nature. Just seeing that made some men smile and soured Rufus Branch's expression right quick.

  Caleb's men-whom the others had taken to calling the Bookworms-had made a point of carrying a diary, pencils or pens, and at least one other book. They planned, during pauses in the marches, to read to each other, continuing their education on the way. Not to be outdone, Makepeace had managed to find himself a copy of the Bible and threatened to read the entire thing to every Tharyngian left alive at Fort Cuivre.

  "I reckon them books will get heavy, Major."

  "I believe you are correct. I suggested they read from one of them until it was finished, then move to the next. I suspect some will be abandoned in Hattersburg."

  "We'll be leaving more than books." Nathaniel pointed to a skinny man whose buckskin clothes hung on him like mammoth hide on a mouse. "It was kindly of Bishop Bumble to give us Mr. Beecher to tend to our spiritual needs, but he ain't gonna make it."

  "It could be worse."

  Nathaniel smiled. At the end of his sermon, Bishop Bumble announced that he would accompany Lord Rivendell and his army. This appeared to surprise his wife, who began crying and had to be comforted by Lilith and Mrs. Frost. Mrs. Frost appeared a bit weepy, too, but she put on a brave face when she said her good-byes to Caleb.

  "True enough, Major." Justice Bone, who got himself elected Corporal in charge of the third squad, had picked Beecher as part of his squad. The other men split up his heavier gear, leaving him with a knife, his Bible, and his blanket pack. The squad would eat their way through his supplies first, then let him

  carry his empty canvas pack until they resupplied at Hattersburg.

  "I reckon I will head back and see to the first squad."

  "Thank you, Captain."

  Forest had deployed his hundred and forty men well for traveling. A pair of men headed out in front of the column, a pair flanked it either side, and two followed it, rotating the duty through all the men in whichever squad had that particular assignment. Since the northerners knew the area better, they got the honor of guaranteeing the unit's safety.

  The Bookworms had won the job of rearguard for the march from Temperance. As Nathaniel fell back, he greeted men and pet a number of the dogs traveling with the column. A few men had fitted their dogs with packs, but most just muzzled them. Dogs made sniffing out ambushes much easier, and the muzzles prevented a lot of barking from alerting the enemy to their location.

  The Bookworms appeared to be in high spirits by the time Nathaniel reached them. They clearly were enjoying their new clothes-they had outfitted themselves in buckskins head to toe, having bartered clothes from Norisle in some cases for soiled and ratty skins. Nathaniel was pretty sure none of them had killed any of the animals whose skins they'd pulled on. They walked with a swagger the long miles would burn out of them. He expected half would remain in H
attersburg, but it pleased him to have them along.

  Makepeace had dropped all the way back to school whichever Bookworm marched beside him. Nathaniel fell in beside Caleb, who traveled with his fellows despite being in charge of the fifth squad. Caleb, himself wearing a black felt, slouch-brimmed hat, gave Nathaniel a nod.

  "How does it look up front, Captain?"

  "Moving right along." Nathaniel acknowledged the Bookworms with a nod. "How are your boys holding up?"

  "We've barely gotten a mile, Captain. They will be fine."

  "Going's easy now."

  Caleb nodded. "Most all of them know it."

  "Way I see it, you have two jobs, Lieutenant Frost." A long line of men walking two abreast wound its way down the road. "First is to see to the fifth squad. Makepeace will see to your Bookworms."

  "I understand."

  "Second, don't be preaching no glory and duty." Nathaniel smiled. "Leave all the preaching to Mr. Beecher."

  "I don't believe I understand your point, Captain."

  "Men will talk themselves into all manner of stupid things. See it mostly when they been drinking. But speechifying, that will make some men drunk. And glory-seeking is stupid. On this here long walk we will be wet, bug bit, snake bit, thorn-scratched, hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, sore, shot at, and just plain tired. A man what figgers he's doing all that for glory, he's a man who will run when he learns there ain't no glory. Man who won't run is one who looks on down inside and knows he's doing this for himself and his kin, the ones he loves."

  "My men won't run."

  "I will accept your word on that. Just soes you know that you need to treat them like men. Make 'em believe they can do it and they will. Tease them with a reward that don't mean nothing, and they won't."

  "Thank you, Captain."

  "And you can get through this, Caleb."

  The younger man smiled. "I know. Captain, I hope you won't mind, but I did something for you, back in Temperance."

  "What would that be?"

  "I know you didn't get a chance to see Rachel before we marched. So I told my sister to tell her that you wished Rachel well."