The Born Queen - J. Gregory Keyes [125]
Hemm glanced back at Cazio. “That’s Mamercio’s pup?” He rubbed his bearded jaw. “Yeah, I see it now.”
He turned fully back to the swordmaster. “No harm meant,” he said. “I just, well, the rumor is—”
“Is wrong,” Cazio said firmly.
Hemm held his palms up and out. “Then it’s wrong. I stepped in it.”
That sounded enough like an apology, so Cazio lowered his sword.
“There’s a good lad,” Hemm said, clapping his hand on Cazio’s shoulder. “Me and your father and that old man there, we saw some times. I was sorry to hear about your papa.” He pointed at z’Acatto. “He was the finest leader a band of probucutorii ever had. He used to call us his purcii, his pigs.”
“It wasn’t a term of affection,” z’Acatto said. “It’s what you smelled like.”
“Sure,” Hemm agreed. “And the worst—Whatever happened to that old sow Ospero?”
“He went into business in z’Espino,” z’Acatto said. “I saw him a few months ago.”
“Business, eh? I can imagine what kind. That’s what I should have done. Now see where I am. But it’s good to have you here, Cassro. Me and the boys here are about at our wit’s end.”
“You couldn’t have started far from there,” z’Acatto said.
“He was your leader?” Cazio asked Hemm.
“Just me and old Piro there fought in the twenty-year war,” Hemm said. “The rest of these are too young.”
“Right, but I’ve heard of him,” Jan said.
“Who hasn’t?” someone else piped up. “The battle at Cummachio Bridge? Everyone knows that story.”
“I don’t,” Cazio said, sending a sharp look z’Acatto’s way.
The men just laughed and seemed to think he was kidding.
“What exactly are you men doing out here?” z’Acatto asked.
“Ask him,” Piro said, gesturing at Cazio. “The queen gave us to him to play with, and he fair broke us. The horsemen that didn’t die at Dunmrogh rode off and left us, so it’s just us infantry left. We’ve been hounded for days. Gave ’em the slip for a bit, but they’ve found us again. They’re forming up down the road to finish us off. I thought we were dog meat, but with you here I see a chance.”
“There’s nothing I can do for you that you can’t do yourselves,” z’Acatto said.
“Gone all humble on us, have you, Cassro?” Hemm asked. “Come on. We need you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“We’ve got good men here,” Piro said, “but no leader. Now the queen put the young Pachiomadio there in charge of us, didn’t she? And he got us in a bad spot. The way we see it, he should get us out of it.”
“Right,” Jan said. “Help us get back to Eslen.”
“It’s where we’re going, anyway,” Cazio said.
“I only agreed to help you find Austra,” the old man said. “You’re on your own getting back to Anne. But either way, we’ll have an easier time slipping out of here alone.”
“I see how it is,” Piro said. “Can’t say I don’t understand, even though I hardly believe it coming from you, Cassro. You were never one to protect your own stang when there were them around needed you.”
“That was then,” z’Acatto said.
“Leave him be,” Hemm said. “He was man enough back then for four lifetimes. I owe him my life six times over, so when I die tomorrow, I’ll still owe him five.”
“After all, z’Acatto,” Cazio said, “you’ve got wine to drink. What’s more important?”
“Dog’s piss on the lot of you,” z’Acatto snapped. “And Cazio, you cover your fester hole when you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Right,” Cazio said. “I’ve no idea what these fellows are talking about, and whose fault is that? But it doesn’t matter. I wish Anne had never put these men in my charge. I wish I had refused her. I’m a swordsman, a good one, but I’m not a soldier and certainly not a leader. But if they’re going to fight tomorrow, I have to fight with them.”
“Now,” Piro said, “that’s Mamercio’s son.”
“What about Austra?”
“What about me?” a voice said from behind. He turned to find her leaning against the carriage. “I wouldn’t have him do anything else. And I’ll be here with him, z’Acatto, and you will, too, because as much