Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3)

by Ann Somerville

  Staying Power: 8

  The intense preparation meant time passed far too quickly for Karik. As they entered the final days before departure, he had to apologise to Romi and say he would need to be away from the barracks almost until they were ready to leave. To his relief, the touchy lieutenant didn’t seem annoyed and even told him to make the most of the time with his family.

  At Arman’s request, Karik was also making a surreptitious assessment of Soza’s improvement. Fortunately, he seemed to be taking advantage of the chances he’d been given—he now kept an adequate seat on a beast and was as confident as a novice could be, and he could now manage a few polite phrases in Andonese, which was all that was needed. He’d also stopped being so overtly obsequious to Arman, to his uncle’s obvious relief, though Arman still didn’t care for the man and avoided him wherever it was politely possible to do so.

  Two days before departure, Karik and Kei had lunch at the academy to discuss the expedition—Kei wanted Karik’s frank assessment before they met up with Soza and Arman to go to the barracks and make a formal inspection of the preparations. “Now, Karik—how do you feel about it all?”

  Karik grinned. “Can’t you tell?”

  “Don’t be a brat, nephew. But if you’re cheerful enough to tease, I think you must be feeling confident. I take it you and Romi have found a way of working together? Still think he’s an arse?”

  “Maybe not as much,” Karik admitted, which made his uncle’s smile widen. “He’s very good at what he does, and he inspires respect and confidence. He’s not been rude to me for nearly two weeks.”

  “I told you just had to work your charms on him, Ka-chi.” Karik gave him a withering look for that stupidity, but Kei only grinned back. “I felt he was sound, and I’m glad to have that confirmed. Going on the reports I’ve had back, unless we sent researchers from the academy, I doubt we’d have more able field collectors than those men either. It sounds to me like they’re wasted as soldiers, some of them.”

  “Perhaps.” Karik could hardly wish them to be discontent with their lives as they were.

  “And Soza? He’s not been spending much time at the barracks—I suggested he should, but he said he was too busy. Unfortunate that he didn’t understand the importance of making an early start on becoming part of the team.”

  That had been Karik’s view too, although he’d had no complaint from Romi about Soza’s absence. “Well, he has had a lot to do, and he’s made good progress. He does understand the importance of the teamwork, I’m sure of it. We’ll have two weeks on the boat, don’t forget.”

  “Hmmm, well I hope he’s not going to spend it puking his guts up. He needs to get on deck sooner than he did last time.”

  “Yes, it was all explained to him. I won’t run around after him.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Kei said. “Well, I can’t think of anything we’ve left undone. I can’t help but worry about it. I wish now I had arranged to go with you.”

  “I don’t see what you could do that we can’t. I’ve got a lot more experience than you have. You’re the healer, I’m the collector, remember?”

  Kei reached over to tug his braid. “Cheeky brat.” Then he sighed. “The house will be so empty when you go, and Reji and Jena and Gyo head home.”

  “Mila and Seiki will still visit. You’ll see Gyo and Risa in a couple of months, and Meran will be at the dormitory. I’m surprised you don’t want some peace and quiet.”

  “I think Arman might, just occasionally, but I’ve loved having you all here. You know, Reji and Jena have been talking about Jena taking up a position at the academy. Did she mention it to you?”

  “No,” Karik said, somewhat surprised. “I didn’t think Pa would want to leave the village.”

  “Well, he doesn’t, but he’s been talking to people here and so has your Ma, and they think it might be possible for Reji to split his breeding business between here and Ai-Albon, so they can spend half the year here and half there. Jena says she wants to wait until Meran finishes her training but then there’s no need for her to be a full-time healer. You know she’s a researcher at heart.”

  “But she’s also a healer at heart.” Karik couldn’t imagine his Ma not being a healer, but if they moved to Darshek, he would definitely see them more, and so would Jes. “It would be good for you, though.”

  “The only thing that would make me happier would be if I could move the entire village north, or the academy south,” Kei said, smiling. “And Myka could come up too when Jena went home. Banji is going to hand the mine work over to Pijli and her lot, and do something less strenuous. Since Keiji’s off with Misek, he can please himself now.”

  “Well, whatever makes it easy to see them all, is good for me,” Karik said. He packed up their plates onto the tray. “We’d better go.”

  “Yes. Karik, you won’t take any stupid risks on this, will you?” Kei said, suddenly frowning. “I’d never forgive myself if you were hurt or killed. The collecting is important, but not worth a life.”

  “Kei, I’m not going to put myself or anyone else in danger. Besides, fate’s tried to kill me already and failed. I’ll live to be a hundred.”

  Kei grinned and tugged his braid again. “Easily a hundred, nephew. Very well, I’ll hold you to that boast. Now, let’s go.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Romi was confident that Lord Arman and Master Kei would find nothing lacking in their preparations, but he still ran over all the details and the inventory once more before they arrived just to be sure. He was glad he had done, since the Ruler seemed to be determined to examine every piece of equipment and question every choice that had been made. His men, standing smartly to attention, were asked to prove they understood what they had learned over the previous three weeks, and it wasn’t just Lord Arman asking penetrating questions—Kei also tested them, and genial though he was, it was clear he was a rigorous task master when it came to his profession. Karik stood quietly aside and let his uncles conduct their investigation, but he didn’t look worried, and even gave Romi a brief smile as if to say he knew there would be no fault found. Soza regarded the proceedings with a slightly bored and haughty look, as if it was all beneath his notice.

  At last Lord Arman straightened up after looking at Kepi’s perfectly made field kit. “Excellent, captain. Very good work, all of you. I’m proud to be sending such fine examples of Darshianese personnel as our emissaries.”

  Romi flushed with pleasure. “Thank you, my lord. It’s difficult to anticipate everything, but I honestly believe we’re as prepared as we can be.”

  “Yes, I’d agree with that. You can dismiss your men, but your medic needs to go with Kei and Karik to show them what arrangements he’s made. If you could stay with us, I’d be grateful.”

  “Certainly. Netu, please go with Master Kei. Everyone else—dismissed. You’re off duty now until tomorrow evening.”

  Lord Arman waited until Romi’s men had left, and Netu had gone out of the stores room with Karik and Kei. “Not that they don’t deserve it, I’m sure, but are you really able to stand them down until just before you leave?”

  “My lord, we’re drilled, trained and prepared, and they’ve not had a full day off since we arrived. Letters to families need to be written, they’ll want time to say goodbye to new friends and so on. Besides, some of them haven’t seen much of Darshek and she’s a fair city.”

  The Ruler smiled. “Yes, she is. And you’re quite right, they need time for personal matters. Juizeigi was impressed with your cultural acclimatisation programme.”

  “Hardly that, my lord.”

  “Still....” He glanced at Soza before continuing. “This is going to be an important project for us, captain. The alliance with Andon is crucial to Darshian as you well know, and the knowledge we acquire and share from this expedition will go a long way to strengthening it. I don’t need to tell you how causing offence or being arrogant to your hosts could cause irreparable damage to the bond.”

  “No, indee
d, my lord,” Romi agreed neutrally, wondering if this was the Ruler’s way of warning Soza to behave or whether it was a general concern. “That’s why I wanted to be sure we were as familiar with customs and mores as we could be. Our people are well-mannered—at least for soldiers,” he added with a smile. “They know what’s at stake.”

  “Good. Now, I want a word with Colonel Leke. Would you wait for Kei to return, please? Soza, if you could do so?”

  “Yes, my lord,” Soza said, bowing respectfully, but less formally than before. The man could be taught after all.

  Soza waited until Lord Arman had left before wandering over and looking at the neatly organised supplies. “Everything seems to be as we agreed,” he drawled. “I’m glad to see my instructions so well carried out.”

  Romi knew he was being baited, so bit back on the response that sprang to his lips. “Yes, and without close supervision too.”

  Soza smiled unpleasantly. “Come now, lieutenant, you don’t expect me to be down here holding your hand. Your soldiers are perfectly competent to organise such routine matters and I had so many requests for my time at the academy. Master Kei wanted to speak to me on a daily basis.”

  “How gratifying for you. Fortunately for us, Karik was able to lend us a hand in your unavoidable absence.”

  “Ah, yes, Karik is a saint for the patience he’s shown. Of course, if he hadn’t been able to escape back to the bosom of his family each evening, I suspect he wouldn’t have been quite so patient. I know he finds the military environment quite a trial. Something about the rigid way of thinking, he says.”

  “Is that right?” Romi said, stung despite himself. “Nice to know he can associate with people of such high calibre once he’s finished lowering himself.”

  Soza bowed a little. “I trust I have not offended you, lieutenant. After all, Karik and I inhabit a different world from you and your men.”

  “Sounds like it. I hope Karik found time to sort out his domestic situation while he was resting from such tiring company.”

  “His domestic situation?”

  “Regarding the mother of his child. Or have you kept your relationship secret from her?”

  Romi knew he was pushing it, but this man made him sick with his oily smile and oilier words. However, Soza’s smile merely widened. “Oh, her. Nothing to sort out, lieutenant. The child was the result of a brief liaison. The mother is a slutty little actress who’s now living with someone else. Took advantage of Karik quite disgracefully, so I understand. He’s being very forbearing about it, but I know the situation causes him distress. He doesn’t like to talk about it.”

  “Then perhaps you should refrain from doing so,” Romi said, keeping his temper under tight control. At least that explained why Karik’s family didn’t seem to condemn him for leaving his lover behind. It seemed Karik also knew what it was like to be deserted, though if the woman was what Soza said she was—and Romi wouldn’t condemn anyone on Soza’s assessment—Romi was surprised he had taken up with her at all. But then Soza was no prize either, so perhaps Karik generally just had poor taste in lovers.

  “I only mentioned it because you were so curious, lieutenant. I’m not one for gossip myself.”

  “Really,” Romi said. He wished the other three would return so he could put an end to this inspection. He wondered how in hells he’d restrain himself from strangling this blasted man over the coming months, and could only hope that his company, once diluted by others, would be more tolerable. He also wondered if Karik had any idea what a two-faced little shit his lover was, and then decided he didn’t care. Karik was an adult and no innocent. If he couldn’t see what Soza was like, it wasn’t Romi’s job to enlighten him.

  He heard footsteps on the verandah and turned gratefully to the doorway, where Kei and the others appeared moments later. “Oh, he’s run off and left you,” Kei said cheerfully. “Sorry about that.”

  “Are you satisfied with the arrangements, Master Kei?”

  “Completely. Part of the brief is to pass on knowledge to the more remote settlements and help their local healers, and I think Netu and Karik have got that well in hand. Karik, the only thing we might add would be needle and suture packs—they won’t add much weight, and they’d be appreciated, I’m sure.”

  “Yes, I’ll collect some tomorrow.”

  “Then other than that, I think it’s as perfect as we can make it. Well done, Netu, Romi. I really am very impressed.”

  “Thank you. If you don’t need Netu, I’ll dismiss him.”

  “Please do. Thank you, Netu,” Kei said with a polite bow.

  “It’s been an honour, Master Kei. And I’d like to think about that training offer if I may.”

  “Of course! I’ve always thought all medics should have a chance to do full healer training and you’re a bright young man, I’m sure you’d manage it.”

  “Then I might do it. See you all later.”

  Kei turned to Romi. “Now where did that blasted man go off to? I said I wouldn’t be long.”

  “His lordship said he wanted a word with Colonel Leke,” Soza answered before Romi had a chance to.

  “Then I better find him. Soza, if I could have a word....” He nodded at Karik. “We won’t be long, just outside. Don’t let Arman wander away again.”

  “I won’t,” Karik said with a grin, going over and perching on a store box, and waving his uncle off.

  Romi heard the two men speaking in low voices out on the verandah. Karik got up and went over to the arrayed packs. “Well, all we have to do now is get on the boat. Are you excited?”

  “I suppose. Does the army know that Kei’s trying to entice its medics off on year-long training? I’m not sure Netu’s colonel would be happy to know about that.”

  Karik just smiled and shook his head. “Oh, he can’t help himself. He thinks everyone should train as much as they can, and things like colonels are mere trivialities.”

  “And you?”

  “Well, I can see an argument for that, but I believe medics have their place too and there’s no point in making someone unhappy with their position.”

  “So you don’t think Netu has the brains to become a healer or do you think he’s too narrow-minded?”

  Karik looked surprised. “Not narrow-minded, no. He likes rigid discipline more than I do, but then all soldiers do.”

  “That rigid discipline is what keeps us alive sometimes,” Romi snapped. “Having standard rules and procedures means we know what we need to do and how to do it, so we don’t waste valuable time and energy arguing over things instead of doing them. It doesn’t make us stupid.”

  “I never said it did, Romi—”

  “Not to my face, no. You accused me of harsh judgements, Karik. Beware of your own prejudices. You might be grateful one day when one of us rigid thinking soldiers saves your pretty little arse. Now excuse me, I’ll go and let your uncle know Master Kei is finished. Good day.”

  ~~~~~~~~

  Karik was left with his mouth hanging open in shock as Romi stalked out of the stores room. What in hells was that all about? He went back over the conversation and couldn’t see where he’d accused anyone of rigidity, or been the least offensive. The man was insane, that had to be it. But was he dangerously insane? It was hard to know if these constant spats would make the expedition merely tiresome, or impossible.

  He just wished he knew what kept setting Romi off—one minute he was as reasonable as one could hope for, and the next he was like a spoilt child. The only thing that offered hope was that Karik had seen no evidence Romi was prone to violence or irrational decisions that might lead to danger. He also seemed able to keep his temper when other people were present, which, while it might be hypocritical, did mean the nastiness was kept to the two of them.

  He slumped onto a store box. It was too late to turn back, and besides, what would he give as his reason to cancel the mission? “Oh, Captain Romi doesn’t like me.” He’d sound like a child, and Arman would think him ridiculous, w
hich he would be. No, all he could do was grit his teeth and learn patience. Romi wasn’t the worst arse Karik had ever met, just the most recent.

  Things had gone quiet outside. He put his head out the doorway and saw Soza was sitting on a bench. “Kei’s gone to look for his lordship,” he said with a smile. “I was surprised to see the lieutenant leave when he’d been asked to stay.”

  “Captain,” Karik corrected absently. “He, uh, had to go find someone. He seemed a little angry about something—you don’t happen to know what, do you?”

  “Perhaps it was because I told him that I didn’t appreciate him gossiping about you,” Soza said, his smile turning solemn. “Apparently he’s heard some talk about you and your daughter, and wanted to tell me how much he disapproved of the situation.”

  “He what?” Karik said, utterly appalled. “What business is that to him?”

  “None at all, and I told him that, and said his disgusting opinions were not something I wished to hear. Really, Karik, soldiers can be dreadfully vulgar.”

  “Yes, they can,” Karik said angrily. “How dare he comment on Jes? Or Mila, or Seiki? The smallest hair on my daughter’s head is worth more than ten of him.”

  “I agree, and I know her parents would be horrified. I don’t think you should tell them about this.”

  “Of course I won’t. Why should I pass on the comments of a fool?” Karik was so disgusted he nearly spat. “Thanks for telling him off for me, though. He better keep his opinions to himself in future or I’ll have something to say about it.”

  Soza shook his head in disgust. “Personally, my dear fellow, I think the less you have to do with that man, the better. He’s all right for the coarse tasks, but he’s not up to anything subtle. I hope he won’t upset the Andonese.”