Dave Duncan – The Living God – A Handful of Men. Book 4

Then she realized that Thaile was weeping. Oh!

This time the boulder was quite big enough for two. Kadie went and sat down and put an arm around Thaile. In a moment she had both arms around Thaile, and Thaile was sobbing on her shoulder. Kadie began to think about Dad, and Mom, and Krasnegar, and even silly old twin Gath, and soon she was crying, too.

They sat there together on the boulder amid the flowers of the barren lands under the washy blue sky, and wept in unison.

Still pursuing:

Let us, then, be up and doing,

With a heart for any fate;

Still achieving, still pursuing,

Learn to labor and to wait.

— Longfellow, A Psalm of Life

TWO

To the appointed place

1

About an hour past the top of the pass, the phaeton emerged at last from the clammy white mist. Angling down the side of an enormous valley, the road had just reached the tree line, where a few stunted pine pioneers seemed to be leading the forest in a general migration upward. Sunlight shone in silver on a lake far below.

“There!” Ylo said proudly. “Scenery!”

“Gorgeous. Are the tops of the hills pretty, too?”

“So I’m told. They’ve been temporarily removed for cleaning. Let’s find a place where we can eat. I’m famished.” There was so little traffic that he could have just stopped on the highway itself, but he seemed reluctant to do that. He drove on for a while, until the trees began to crowd in more thickly. Then he reined in, but he jumped down and led the roan up a gentle slope and around. behind a thick clump of conifers, the chaise lurching along behind. Eshiala passed Maya down to him and then accepted his hand to descend, wondering but not commenting. She knew Ylo now, and he would have his reasons. He would also have his reasons for not telling her his reasons.

The sun had begun to peek through the clouds, and the day was warmer. They ate lunch. Maya became engrossed in trying to feed, or possibly catch, a ground squirrel.

Lying back on the cloak Ylo had spread on the grass, Eshiala watched him through half-closed eyes. He was leaning his arms on his knees, staring at nothing. Thinking? Worrying? The sun glinted blue highlights in his black hair and traced out the angles of cheekbone and chin. He was quite the most handsome man she had ever met.

She wished her darling daughter would curl up and go to sleep and leave the two of them alone. This would be a very suitable spot to learn about outdoor loving, even if there weren’t any of his precious daffodils about. The wind was warm and gentle, the only sounds the roan’s steady munching and an occasional rattle of harness.

Whatever was she going to do when they reached Gaaze and Ylo left her? How could she fend for herself and her daughter? Her share of the gold Lady Eigaze had given them was still intact, because Ylo had insisted on spending his and not hers, and it would suffice to buy a little store, a grocer’s store, like her father’s. She knew how to serve customers in a store, but she knew nothing about buying stock or keeping books or hiring helpers, and she did not think Imperial law allowed a woman to own anything like that anyway. So she would have to find a man to help her. What man could she trust? What man could ever be as satisfying as . . .

Ylo raised his head. Hooves beat a slow tattoo on the road. Harness jingled, wheels rumbled—a carriage coming up the hill. He relaxed again. The sounds died down until the wind wiped them away. He leaned on an elbow to spot a kiss on the end of Eshiala’s nose. “Asleep?”

“Almost. What’s my dearest daughter doing?”

“Stalking.”

“Stun her with a rock, will you? Gently, of course.” He grinned, eyes close above hers. “Don’t be greedy.”

“Why not? You taught me to be greedy.” She would not have Ylo around to make love to very many more times. They were in Qoble now; at Gaaze he would leave her. That had been the agreement. The dream was almost over. She sighed, and stretched, and then laid an arm around his neck, trying to pull him down. “Time to go, I suppose?”

He resisted, frowning, listening. “In a minute.”

More hooves, and this time faster—a horseman, descending. He went by. He stopped, suddenly. The roan looked up and whinnied and was answered.

Ylo sat up, breaking free of her. His hand slid to his sword hilt, but she suspected he was unaware of it.

The hooves returned, slowly. Then the sound ended, as the horse left the roadbed. Eshiala sat up. Ylo floated to his feet, graceful as always.

The rider came into view around the pines, a legionary, mail flashing bright in the sunlight. A swarthy and surprisingly youthful face peered out from his helmet. He reined in a few feet away and saluted.

“Signifer Ylo!”

Ylo hesitated. His fists were clenched tight. Then he laughed. “Hawk! Well, well. Hawk, you old rascal!”

Hawk nodded. His eyes flickered momentarily to Eshiala and then away again. ”On vacation . . . sir?”

Ylo was out of uniform. The man’s tone was respectful, but it indicated that distinction somehow.

“More or less,” Ylo said. “They don’t call you Hawk for nothing, do they?”

“A blind bat could see those wheel tracks.” The youngster looked pleased by the flattery, though.

“Transferred to first cohort, I see. How’s Anlya?”

The legionary’s mount began to prance, and he brought it under control with more effort than a skilled horseman would have needed. “She’s fine, just fine. Deeded me a big bouncing son couple of months ago.” He beamed proudly. “Young bullock, he is.”

“Hey, great! Congratulations. Give her my regards.”

“Will do.” Again Hawk glanced briefly at Eshiala, and then at Maya, who was watching from a safe distance. He regarded Ylo appraisingly.

His horse began to fidget again and he swore at it. “Signifer . . . I think this brute may be going to go a little lame, you know?”

“Want me to take a look?” Ylo asked hesitantly, puzzled. The legionary shook his head in a blaze of sun on bronze. “It’ll slow me, I mean. I may be late arriving. Er, just past the second ford, there’s a track goes off to the left. It’s a bit rough for wheels, but it takes you around Pinebridge.”

Ylo’s fists relaxed. “Ah. Thanks, Hawk. Appreciate that information.”

“Useful shortcut.” The legionary smiled grimly. “Try and stay out of trouble, Signifer.” He patted the dispatch pouch at his belt thoughtfully.

“Trouble tells a man who his friends are.”

“Well, there’s that. The Good be with you. My lady.”

The kid nodded, wheeled his horse clumsily, and headed back to the highway. A moment later, hooves clopped on the paving.

Ylo stood stock still, staring after him. Eshiala climbed to her feet, heart thumping.

“Now tell me what all that was about.” She waited, aware that she was starting to shake. “Ylo? Tell me!”

He shrugged and turned to smile at her. “It’ can’t be the Covin, obviously. So it’s mundanes.”

“Who?”

The smile became wooden, a mask hiding his feelings. “Hardgraa, I expect. We made a fool of him, locking him in the cellar. Aunt Eigaze did.”

Eshiala moved closer, wanting comfort. “Spell it out, darling, please!”

“It’s my own evilish fault!” he said, suddenly furious. “Back at Yewdark I blabbed about looking for a warmer climate. Hardgraa’s a lot smarter than he looks. He must’ve guessed I meant to head back to Qoble. He’s still loyal to Shandie’s memory. He thinks it’s his duty to turn your daughter in at court.”

Eshiala shivered. Suddenly the wind seemed much colder. “He’s only a centurion!”

Ylo shook his head. “Everyone in the XIIth knows he’s Shandie’s man. He wouldn’t need papers and warrants. He could’ve reached Gaaze ahead of us, easy. And talked to the legate. The XIIth guards the passes.”

“They’re going to arrest us?”

His anger was obvious now. “Detain us for questioning. He won’t have mentioned who you are, of course. He’s probably told them some tale about a high official’s wife and the imperor being furious but not wanting a scandal. Hardgraa can spin yarns like that by the league. That would be my guess. And the legate’s told them to look out for me.”

“They all know you!”

He nodded. “And my reputation.”

If he wasn’t going to initiate a hug, then she would have to. She stepped close and put her arms around him. He did not respond, just stood there, looking down at her coldly. “Well-earned reputation!”

“’The finest lover in Pandemia,” she countered.

“Finest seducer of beautiful young women!” he said bitterly. Surely he was not having an attack of conscience? Not Ylo! “And a hero to the army. Hawk was offering to commit treason for you, darling-wasn’t he?”