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courtesy was charming and her discretion remarkable, that she was welcome at
any time. She is indeed remarkable, and I must praise your ability to see far
more than either your mother or I would have&
Lorn laughs to himself. Those circumspect words were as close to a compliment
of Ryalth and an admission that his father had been wrong as he was ever
likely to get.
& Jerial is also pleased, although she has been hard-pressed lately as a result
of recent unfortunate incidents, such as occurred the last time you visited.
Recent unfortunate incidents?
Myryan has also been pressed into service, and has had far less time with her
new dwelling and her garden than she would have wished, but her skill is
undeniable. Vernt may well be considered for elevation to a lower second level
adept in the year or so ahead, so devoted he is to his work. Your mother and I
have introduced him to several young ladies, and, in light of recent events,
he might even consider seeing one of them.
Your mother and I are well, if not possessed of quite the vigor of our
offspring, and I am most pleased to be where I am at this time in my life&
Lorn frowns. From what he can tell, there has been another chaos-explosion,
perhaps on a fireship, and a great deal of stress and pressure has been placed
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on the highest level of the Magi i. The very highest level, Lorn knows, for
his father is just below the three who lead the Magi i.
The lancer captain looks at the locked foot locker on the far side of his
desk. Tomorrow& tomorrow he will deal with the patrol report and the other
administrative duties.
Tonight, he is relieved.
Half-relieved, he corrects himself as he leaves the inner study.
CIX
Lorn is in his study early the next morning, working on the patrol report.
Short as it is, he writes three versions, and it is well after mid-morning
before he is satisfied. Then& he must plead for replacement lancers in a
scroll to commander Meylyd. Drafting that request is almost as laborious, but
finally he finishes a draft.
He glances out the study window at the green-blue sky and the puffy white
clouds that drift out of the north, then looks back down at his request, his
eyes taking in what he has written.
& as I had noted in a previous meeting with Majer Maran, Second Company was
well under strength even before the extraordinary demands placed on it by the
excursions of the Accursed Forest& have managed to restrict the wild creatures
using the most conventional of Mirror Lancer tactics, and without use of
additional firelances& toll has been high, and both squads now number less
than half their normal strength& should the most recent level of activity by
the Accursed Forest continue, it would appear unlikely that even the most
esteemed and loyal Mirror Lancer officer could continue to restrict the escape
of wild creatures without reinforcements& Therefore& requesting replacements
necessary to bring Second Company up to full strength&
Lorn reads through the draft. He purses his lips. The wording is still not
right, and it nears mid-day.
Thrap.
He looks up at the knock.  Yes?
Kusyl opens the door.  There be a Majer Weylt here, ser.
 Have him come in. Lorn stands.
Weylt enters the inner study, and Kusyl shuts the door.
 Majer, what can I do for you? asks Lorn.
 I wondered if we could have something to eat before I leave. We were checking
the tower, Weylt explains.
 There s not much at mid-day, Lorn says.  Usually just bread and cheese,
maybe some dried fruit. He smiles.  I can offer some wine.
 I d appreciate that.
 I can go now. Lorn gestures toward the papers on the desk.  Reports, but
they can wait until after we eat.
 Thank you.
 If you would like, I ll meet you there. I keep the wine in my quarters, Lorn
points out.
 That would be fine.
Lorn crosses the courtyard. He notes that the Engineer firewagon is being
loaded with several firelances-those expended by Juist?
There is but one bottle of Alafraan left in his room, but Lorn suspects that
it will be worth serving for the majer, who has often provided good, if
indirect, advice before.
Weylt sits alone at the table, a platter with a large wedge of cheese and a
basket with two cold loaves of bread in the middle of the battered but
polished golden oak surface of the table.
Lorn uncorks the bottle, then seats himself and uses his belt knife to cut
several slices of the hard white cheese. He pours a half goblet of the
Alafraan for himself and closer to a full one for the Mirror Engineer majer.
Weylt takes a slow sip.  Thank you, Captain. You have the best wine of all the
compounds around the Forest.
 I was lucky. My trader provided it.
 You were lucky in more than that. Weylt breaks off a chunk of bread, eating [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]