That bloodthirsty warden came back, and a bit of my anger died.
“Tribune,” Kutulu said, seeing my hesitation, “these people are admittedly guilty and must be punished. Should we ignore them, and chase wisps that will disappear in the hills?”
“Seer,” I said, “the emperor’s warden has a point. Can the ones who actually did it be brought down?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Is there a map of this area?”
“Domina Bikaner. A map, if you please!”
“Sir!” Captain Lasta pulled one from a saddlebag and handed it to Bikaner, who brought it to me.
“If you could … align it, I think is the word?” Sinait asked.
I dismounted and laid the map on the ground, using the village and a readily identifiable hillcrest not far away to orient it.
“We are where, exactly?”
I knelt and pointed. Sinait got down beside me, picked up a bit of muddy earth, and touched it to the map where I’d pointed.
“You are what you picture
You are what you show
Tell me true
Tell me firm
Jacini of the Earth
Limax of this land
One other who must not be named
But she knows, she knows
She knows I pray to her
Become what you show.”
For just an instant, I swear the map became a tiny replica of the land, so Nevern wasn’t tiny dots of ink, but small houses, and the hills around us rose up, like a sand-table model. But then everything returned to normal. Sinait took the dagger once more and held it over the map by the gold cord, muttering words I couldn’t distinguish. The dagger hung level, dipped. She lowered her hand until the dagger’s point touched the map.
“The ones you seek will be there.”
I showed Captain Lasta the spot on the map.
“One hour distant, I’d guess,” he said. “We can follow this trail … here. It doesn’t look too bad, unless the map’s lying to us or the rain’s washed it out.”
I stood. “Lance Karjan, ride for Captain Pelym, and tell him to bring his company back.”
“Yessir.”
Kutulu was frowning. “A word, Tribune?”
We stepped a few feet away.
“Do you accept her magic?”
“Not entirely,” I said. “But I know damned well a group of farmers didn’t come up with the magic to slaughter a quarter hundred Lancers, nor with the courage.”
“But they knew,” Kutulu said stubbornly. “Even the seer said that.”
“So she did, and they’ll be punished. But there are other ways of punishment than the sword or prison. I could order the village razed, but how many friends do you think that would win for Numantia in the towns around us?
“They’ll be punished, Kutulu. Don’t doubt that. Perhaps I’ll order their marketplace destroyed, and all sellers and buyers to do their business elsewhere for a year. I must think on it.”
“There is no place for weakness in the law,” said the Serpent Who Never Sleeps.
“You might call it weakness,” I said. “Perhaps I’ll use another word. Mercy. Now, those are my orders. Obey them, sir.”
Kutulu dipped his head and walked back to his horse.
• • •
Within a few moments of Captain Lasta’s prediction, we reached the place Sinait had indicated our quarry would be. It was almost dark, and the rain had returned, but softer than before.
I’d already given orders to Bikaner, Lasta, Pelym, and Tiger Troop’s commander, Legate Thanet, as the column wound through the hills. We’d leave the horses and close on foot. One man in four had been told off to hold them. The Lancers left their primary weapons behind. If I’d known we’d be fighting on foot, I would’ve had them draw shortswords and knives before we marched out. But their sabers would serve for the task I proposed.
I was properly armed, having learned years ago from my father that a saber is a single-purpose weapon, good only for a man on horseback, and so carried a straight double-edged blade whether afoot or riding.
I was at the head of the soldiers, and Domina Bikaner brought up the rear. Behind me was Karjan, then Kutulu
“Tribune,” Kutulu said, seeing my hesitation, “these people are admittedly guilty and must be punished. Should we ignore them, and chase wisps that will disappear in the hills?”
“Seer,” I said, “the emperor’s warden has a point. Can the ones who actually did it be brought down?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “Is there a map of this area?”
“Domina Bikaner. A map, if you please!”
“Sir!” Captain Lasta pulled one from a saddlebag and handed it to Bikaner, who brought it to me.
“If you could … align it, I think is the word?” Sinait asked.
I dismounted and laid the map on the ground, using the village and a readily identifiable hillcrest not far away to orient it.
“We are where, exactly?”
I knelt and pointed. Sinait got down beside me, picked up a bit of muddy earth, and touched it to the map where I’d pointed.
“You are what you picture
You are what you show
Tell me true
Tell me firm
Jacini of the Earth
Limax of this land
One other who must not be named
But she knows, she knows
She knows I pray to her
Become what you show.”
For just an instant, I swear the map became a tiny replica of the land, so Nevern wasn’t tiny dots of ink, but small houses, and the hills around us rose up, like a sand-table model. But then everything returned to normal. Sinait took the dagger once more and held it over the map by the gold cord, muttering words I couldn’t distinguish. The dagger hung level, dipped. She lowered her hand until the dagger’s point touched the map.
“The ones you seek will be there.”
I showed Captain Lasta the spot on the map.
“One hour distant, I’d guess,” he said. “We can follow this trail … here. It doesn’t look too bad, unless the map’s lying to us or the rain’s washed it out.”
I stood. “Lance Karjan, ride for Captain Pelym, and tell him to bring his company back.”
“Yessir.”
Kutulu was frowning. “A word, Tribune?”
We stepped a few feet away.
“Do you accept her magic?”
“Not entirely,” I said. “But I know damned well a group of farmers didn’t come up with the magic to slaughter a quarter hundred Lancers, nor with the courage.”
“But they knew,” Kutulu said stubbornly. “Even the seer said that.”
“So she did, and they’ll be punished. But there are other ways of punishment than the sword or prison. I could order the village razed, but how many friends do you think that would win for Numantia in the towns around us?
“They’ll be punished, Kutulu. Don’t doubt that. Perhaps I’ll order their marketplace destroyed, and all sellers and buyers to do their business elsewhere for a year. I must think on it.”
“There is no place for weakness in the law,” said the Serpent Who Never Sleeps.
“You might call it weakness,” I said. “Perhaps I’ll use another word. Mercy. Now, those are my orders. Obey them, sir.”
Kutulu dipped his head and walked back to his horse.
• • •
Within a few moments of Captain Lasta’s prediction, we reached the place Sinait had indicated our quarry would be. It was almost dark, and the rain had returned, but softer than before.
I’d already given orders to Bikaner, Lasta, Pelym, and Tiger Troop’s commander, Legate Thanet, as the column wound through the hills. We’d leave the horses and close on foot. One man in four had been told off to hold them. The Lancers left their primary weapons behind. If I’d known we’d be fighting on foot, I would’ve had them draw shortswords and knives before we marched out. But their sabers would serve for the task I proposed.
I was properly armed, having learned years ago from my father that a saber is a single-purpose weapon, good only for a man on horseback, and so carried a straight double-edged blade whether afoot or riding.
I was at the head of the soldiers, and Domina Bikaner brought up the rear. Behind me was Karjan, then Kutulu
Similar Books
