Stasheff, Christopher - Rogue Wizard 06 - A Wizard in Chaos by Stasheff Christopher

Author:Stasheff, Christopher
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf

CHAPTER 12

Some things the colonists had held onto from old Earth, as curiosities if nothing else, and their descendants had taken them up again--among them military titles, ranks, organization, and the bugle. They had also held onto "Taps," presumably because of the sheer beauty of its simple melody. The Blue Company soldiers stood in the midst of their hosts, all with helmets off, as the bugle played the haunting farewell over the two new graves in the Quilichen churchyard.

The bugler lowered his instrument, the sextons took up theirs, and the soldiers turned away, mercenaries mixing with yeomen in muttered thanks and good-byes.

"I shall care well for your wounded," Magda promised Cort, "and send them back to you when they are healed."

"Thank you, my lady." Cort bowed over her hand, but didn't kiss it. "Your hospitality to them shall allow us to fare much better in evading our enemies."

Magda turned to Dirk. "I trust you are no worse wounded than when you came,

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sergeant."

"More filled with life than ever I have been, my lady." Dirk bowed over her hand, too-but he did kiss it, and a bit longer than was really polite.

He straightened, and Magda retrieved her hand, reddening somewhat. "I think you had better go now. You have far to travel, after all."

"Even so." Gar nudged Dirk aside and bowed over Magda's hand, the very picture of punctilious politeness. "I thank you for your hospitality, my lady, and hope that someday I may return your generosity."

"Then I shall send for you when next we are besieged," Magda said, smiling with relief. "Good day to you, gentlemen, and safe journeying."

They mounted, waved with a chorus of farewells, and rode off without. a backward glance-except for Dirk, who kept turning around for one more look. His heart leaped each time, to discover that Magda still stood, hand raised, eyes haunted.

They went into the woods, and Dirk sighed with regret, turning to look ahead, knowing that he couldn't see the beautiful castellan again.

He was riding at the tail end of the dozen men, so he didn't hear Gar say to Cort,

"A very bad case, I think."

Cort glanced back. "You're right; he's already sunken in gloom." He frowned, turning somber himself.

"I wouldn't think that to be a problem," Gar replied, "in view of the looks she gave him."

"Yes," Cort said thoughtfully, "assuming she doesn't give such glances to every man who comes within her sphere."

Gar looked up, eyebrows raised. "You think she may be one of the ones who delights in winning the heart of every man she can?"

"There is that," Cort said slowly, "especially if she's truly devoted to her people and as much aware of her beauty as I think she is. She might try to sway every stranger to her, to help protect her town."

"That could be," Gar admitted, "but from the way she looked at him as we rode away, I think she may be having as much sadness now as our friend Dirk.

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