Read Online Fairs' Point by Melissa Scott - Free Book Online Page A

glowing coals. The woman said som ething, and they lifted the bar to lay the red-hot center across the anvil. The man began at once to hammer, while the woman shifted the material back and forth; Eslingen flinched at the noise, and stepped back. He didn’t need armor, any more than he needed a horse.
    “ Lieutenant vaan Esling.”
    Eslingen turned, pasting on his most bland and unrevealing smile. “Major-sergeant.”
    “ They do good work,” Patric Estradere said. He was dressed for the heat, a light block-printed coat and vest, and a painted parasol rested on his shoulder. “We’re thinking of commissioning some of our gear from them. When the Guard is approved, of course.”
    “ But you think it will be.”
    “ I think it’s unlikely it won’t,” Estradere answered. “As to when—sooner rather than later, and I want to be prepared. And, on that subject, have you given the idea any more thought?”
    “ And what would the commission cost?” Eslingen asked.
    “ Oh, Coindarel plans to equip the troop himself. Mount them, too—he bought up de Calior’s stable at a very decent price, plus he had a few still in hand. I expect her majesty will be pleased at the savings.”
    “ You’ll have to train de Calior’s lot,” Eslingen said.
    Estradere nodded. “Another reason I’d like to have you in the troop, you were always good at that. There’s a very nice bay who’d suit you, too, and he won’t need much work. In fact, why don’t you come back to the barracks with me and put him through his paces?”
    “ You’re going to quarter the troop in a barracks?” Eslingen asked. It was more a way to defuse temptation than real curiosity—more and more companies were trying the system, particularly in towns where they’d be resident for some time, and it seemed to make for better relations between soldiers and civilians.
    “ It’s not so much for the quarters as for the stabling,” Estradere answered. “And of course to have someplace besides a tavern for the duty watch to wait. You wouldn’t be required to live there. Unless you wanted to, of course.”
    “ I have lodgings,” Eslingen said.
    “ Come and try the horse,” Estradere said.
    It was a mistake, Eslingen knew, but he found himself no dding anyway.
    They caught a low-flyer across the Manufactory Bridge, skirting the gallows mercifully empty of felons’ bodies, and Estradere d irected the driver almost to the edge of the city before telling him to stop at a long, low building that seemed to back on a large and well-fenced enclosure. Estradere led him through the building—it had been built by a Silklands merchant in her native style, Estradere said, but she’d returned home and the children who’d stayed in Astreiant had sold it to buy more fashionable residences—and along the courtyard fence to the stable block opposite.
    “ Saddle King of Thieves, please,” Estradere said, to the nearest groom, and waved away Eslingen’s protest. “As you see, we’ve set up a ring in the courtyard for training, and of course we’ll have the use of the parade grounds at the palace.”
    “ It’s a long way to send in an emergency,” Eslingen said, but his attention was on the stall where King of Thieves was objecting to his saddle.
    “ I know.” Estradere nodded. “But it’s what we have for now. And being mounted will help.”
    “ God help the troop that has to go charging through these streets,” Eslingen said. King of Thieves’ objection had been more high spirits than a real complaint; the groom had him well in hand as she brought him out into the courtyard.
    “ It won’t be so bad,” Estradere said. “Give you a hand up?”
    This was definitely a mistake, Eslingen thought, his hand already on the horse’s warm satin shoulder. “Thank you.”
    Estradere heaved him up, and Eslingen settled himself as the groom hurried to open the ring’s gate. King of Thieves fought the bit as Eslingen turned him into the space, kicked up his