The Magic of Recluce - L. E. Modesitt [198]
Finally, I noted an area. “In this area, and it runs due east and west…” I tried to describe the thin valley that she should be able to see beyond the illusions, and what the road looked like, and how the long-gone wizards of Frven had planed off the sides of mountains to build their roads. But they had used order as well, somehow. Chaos to destroy the mountains and to create the hidden road valleys, and order to reinforce the stonework and the bridges.
“Can you pass that on to someone else?” asked Krystal.
I hadn’t realized she had stood behind us.
“I think so,” responded Yelena. “You still want me to escort the order-master?”
“If you would find that acceptable.”
Yelena nodded. “How many, and when do we leave?”
“Two plus yourself.” Krystal looked to me for the second answer.
“Shortly. The sooner we leave, the sooner…” I didn’t know what would be sooner, or even what exactly I might discover, but all of us were running out of time.
“Where are we headed?” asked Yelena.
Explaining that took a bit longer, and more struggle with the maps, but there was an old road that looked like it went where I wanted and, if the maps were correct, joined with the old main central pass road that led to Sarronnyn. That was the road that no one took any longer because they never seemed to arrive on the other side of the Westhorns.
Finally, I looked up. “That’s the best I can do.”
“Yelena?”
“It will be interesting, commander.”
Interesting—that was one way of putting it.
“Well…I guess I’ll get Gairloch.”
“What…do you have a mount?”
“Oh…Gairloch is in the stables by the gate.”
“We will meet you there.” Yelena inclined her head to Krystal. “Honor, commander.”
“Honor, leader.”
I followed Krystal from the mess into the main guard yard, where we stopped in an open space.
“Make sure you’re doing this for yourself, Lerris.”
I shook my head. “Nothing’s that simple.”
“I guess not.” She smiled with her mouth, not her eyes. “Then, try to do it mostly for your reasons.”
“I’ll do what I must, and we’ll sort out the reasons later. All right?”
She nodded. “Fair enough. I won’t say to take care. But…do come back to sort out those reasons.”
I wet my lips, feeling the cool wind chill them as I did. With all that I felt, there was little to say. “Until later.”
“Until later.”
I looked down, then back into her black eyes, seeing the tiredness again.
She raised her hand in a gesture that was part benediction, part salute, and I inclined my head to her, then turned while I could. I did not look back, but kept my eyes fixed on the building that was the stable.
Yelena and two others waited, already mounted, as I walked up with my staff and pack.
“Where’s your pass?” demanded the ostler.
“Oh, hell…” I had never bothered to get anyone to sign the damned parchment square. “Just a moment.”
“Leader Yelena?”
“Yes, order-master?”
“I forgot to have the sub-commander autograph this pass.”
“Autograph?”
I kept from shaking my head at the brown-haired sub-officer with the long nose and square chin. “A pass to release my horse.”
“Pheww on a pass! Get your horse.” She rode into the stable in front of me.
“…on official business for the Sub-Commander. None of this crap about passes!”
The ostler was backing into a corner as Yelena threatened to ride him down.
I ignored them both and quickly saddled Gairloch, recovering my saddlebags in the process.
The ostler swallowed as I rode out. “Good…day…order-master…”
“Good day.” My tone was not totally cheerful. I hadn’t wanted to pay for the stable, since my stock of coinage was scarcely deep, and having to ask for Yelena’s assistance bothered me.
“That’s a horse?” asked the sub-officer.
“No, this is Gairloch. You don’t think I could really ride one of those monsters you use, do you?” I grinned at the dour officer.
“Glad you recognize it, order-master.” I almost fell off Gairloch when she smiled back.
The other two looked at each other and kept their mouths closed as we rode out through the gates into Kyphrien.
Even in the gray drizzle that had begun to fall, the city was