Mage-Fire War by L. E. Modesitt Jr

Author:L. E. Modesitt Jr [Modesitt, L. E. Jr]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, fantasy, epic, Military, Action & Adventure
ISBN: 9781250207821
Google: TwdquwEACAAJ
Amazon: 1250207827
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2019-08-13T07:00:00+00:00

Beltur handed the dispatch to Jessyla, who read it and handed it back.

“That doesn’t offer much support,” said Tulya, her tone of voice verging on outrage.

“What he’s saying is that he’s sending what he can as soon as he can,” replied Lhadoraak, “but to stop the Hydlenese will take more men than he has.”

“That’s pretty much what the captain told us when we left,” said Taasn.

Both Ruell and Therran nodded.

Almost absently, Beltur noted that Therran wore Montgren blues, if without any insignia or emblems.

“How many companies are at Weevett?” asked Beltur. “Just one?”

“Yes, ser,” replied Ruell.

“Does anyone know what the message we didn’t get might have said?” Beltur looked to Taasn, then Ruell.

“It was to warn you that the Hydlenese might attack wearing Lydian or Certan uniforms. According to the captain, Lord Korsaen found out something about that.”

“That would have helped,” said Tulya reproachfully.

“The messenger was captured and killed only a day before the attack,” said Beltur. “I’m not sure that would have changed matters much. Speaking of uniforms … did we scavenge any Hydlenese uniforms? Besides Graalur’s?”

“Maybe three or four,” offered Gustaan. “Most of the rest of them … either … well…”

“Those killed early were stripped by townspeople, and the uniforms of those killed later were … rather mangled?” suggested Beltur.

“Something like that.”

“The fighting between us and Hydlen could go on for a time. We might find a use for captured uniforms. If you’d keep an eye out…”

“Yes, ser,” Gustaan and Waerdyn replied almost together.

“What about Graalur?” asked Beltur.

“His arm is better,” replied Gustaan. “He’s asked to stay here.” The former squad leader’s tone turned sardonic. “It occurred to him that he might not be exactly welcome in Hydlen.”

Beltur nodded. If anyone could convey that to Graalur, it would be Gustaan.

“We were talking about setting up a more formal civic patrol,” said Tulya.

Beltur could see and sense that Tulya’s words surprised Lhadoraak, but he said, “We’d talked about that earlier. Are there enough men to make it workable?”

“You shouldn’t be riding patrols that others could do,” said Lhadoraak. “We’d talked about Gustaan acting as head patroller.”

“Is that agreeable to you?” Beltur asked the former squad leader.

“Yes, ser. Dussef, Therran, and Turlow all would like to be patrollers … and even Graalur. With all the captured mounts and weapons, we’d have enough equipment. Except for uniforms.”

“Gustaan and I have been working on that,” said Jessyla. “Julli says she can do something with the captured uniforms, dyeing and bleaching them into a blue close to the Spidlarian uniforms you and Lhadoraak wear.”

“You do know that there’s still a chance that you’ll be patrollers for a very short time?” Beltur said.

“If we’re being honest, ser,” Gustaan continued, “we stand a better chance of surviving as Haven patrollers no matter what happens. And a better chance if people see us as patrollers soon.”

Beltur laughed softly. “You’re likely right.”

“But, ser,” Gustaan went on, “after what we’ve seen, we think that it’s more likely we’ll prevail against Hydlen than not.”

From what Beltur could tell, Gustaan actually believed what he said.

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