“But why are you still here?” the captain asked. “Why were you waiting for us instead of going on to me Royal City?”
“The Council realized that even my lone presence in Iversterre could upset its denizens. They felt that an escort from the kingdom would ease things and so I was charged to have Lord Rabbit accompany me.”
Feeling the weight of Captain Suiden’s stare, I swallowed and cast him a quick look—and blinked, as his eyes seemed to be glowing in the gloom of the tent.
“So why Rabbit?” the captain asked. “There’s a large garrison at Veldecke, right on the Border. You could have gone there for an escort.”
“Where do you think the runners are coming from?” Laurel asked. “Do you think that the town’s elders haven’t noticed the trees, slaves, pelts and other contraband showing up in their marketplace? Being ferried down their roads? The garrison is most diligent, as you surely are, in their patrols. Do you think that they haven’t seen what is being carried out of the Border?” His ruff bristled. “Perhaps I would’ve received an escort. Or perhaps I would’ve ended up stuffed and mounted in some lord’s hall.”
Not bloody likely, I thought.
“However, Lord Rabbit’s family is known and respected throughout the Border,” Laurel said, “and here he is kin to two powerful Houses of your kingdom.”
Captain Suiden turned his stare on Laurel. His eyes were glowing. He picked up the teapot and poured another cup, adding just lemon. “Why didn’t you say something when you first met us, then? Why this waiting and guessing game?”
“No game, honored captain. After your adventures, you were too upset to hear anything I had to say. If I remember correctly, you accused me of planning to eat you and your men, and Lieutenant Groskin had a novel idea of how to cover up both that you were lost and that his horse liked me.”
While Groskin found the bottom of his cup very interesting, Suiden waved his hand at these mere details. “But if we didn’t return? What would you have done then?”
“I would’ve gone to my second plan,” Laurel replied. “Which was my first until I found you wandering up here.” He watched Suiden open his mouth and cut him off. “To go into the town and speak with your commander.”
“I’m just a farmer’s son from the Border, Laurel Faena,” I said, setting aside the images of pandemonium and riot that his plans evoked, “no matter how my da stands before the Council. I can’t see how my presence would help, but I can easily see how it could hinder. A lot.”
“Farmer’s son, true,” Laurel said. “But you are also the nephew of Lord Chause, thirty-two lines to the throne of the kingdom, no? The grandson of Lord Flavan, forty lines to the throne?”
“Well, yes, but my parents left all that.”
“Does that make you any less the nephew or the grandson?”
I’d once met a couple of lordlings who were stranded in Freston during a winter’s storm. In their sneering arrogance, they’d reminded me of the underbelly of a toad—soft, white, and poisonous—and they cured any desire I had to claim nobility. I wasn’t about to start now. I opened my mouth to say so but Captain Suiden spoke first.
“You have valid points, Sro Laurel, but Rabbit belongs to my troop and with my troop he will stay. Further, I must take this request to my commander before a course of action can be decided.”
“Why? Does he not trust your judgment?”
The captain stared at me, his eyes now blazing, but I shook my head. I hadn’t told Laurel the commander’s words.
“Don’t look so surprised, honored captain. You’re here without a multitude of soldiers.”
“Commander Ebner trusts me to fact-find and report back to him, not to have one of my men go haring off on your say-so,” Captain Suiden said, each word deliberate. He set his teacup down.
“So while we dither about, blood is spilled and our rage grows until war is unavoidable.” Laurel pointed at the feather pinned to my tunic. “There is an obligation.”
“I will not be coerced or manipulated.” The captain’s anger filled the tent and pressed down on us. “Don’t tell me that you had nothing to do with us being lost.”
Laurel growled, showing his eyeteeth, and lifted up on his haunches. “I did not. I am no swindler.”
“Ballocks.”
“Sir,” I said, trying hard to keep my voice from shaking. “If Laurel Faena said he didn’t cause us to be lost, he didn’t. He wouldn’t lie, sir. Any more than you would commit treason.” I turned to Laurel and saw that his pupils took up almost all of his irises. I swallowed hard. “And Laurel Faena, Captain Suiden is right. I’m obliged to you, but I also have an obligation to Commander Ebner. I would break faith and be declared a deserter if I were to leave without his permission.” Stalemate. Oh, please God, I prayed, do not make me choose.
“If I may make a suggestion, sir,” Lieutenant Groskin said. He waited for Captain Suiden’s nod before he continued. “What if we were to send a trooper back to Commander Ebner with a report? The horses had an easy ride yesterday and a good rest last night. Whoever’s sent should make base before sunset and we should have an answer tomorrow morning, latest.” There was a moment’s quiet as Laurel sank down until he was sitting again. Suiden raised his eyebrows at him. “Is this acceptable?”
“It is acceptable.”
“Do it,” Captain Suiden said to Groskin.
Lieutenant Groskin got up, carefully edged around the cups and tea tray, and left the tent. The captain picked up his cold and probably very bitter tea and took a sip. At the same time Laurel began to preen, running his tongue over his paw. Both stopped with a grimace and Laurel lowered his paw while the captain put his cup down again. They did not look at each other as we sat in silence.
A few moments later, Lieutenant Groskin opened the tent flap and peered in. Captain Suiden made a sharp gesture for him to enter.
“I sent Ryson’s tentmate,” Groskin said as the flap closed behind him. “I figure that his nose deserved a reprieve.” The captain stared at Groskin and the lieutenant’s smile faded. He cleared his throat. “He understands, sir, that he is not to linger but as soon as he gets an answer from Commander Ebner to return here. I also took the liberty, sir, to have him ask for additional supplies if the commander approves us escorting the mag—uhm, Laurel Faena.” Lieutenant Groskin, problem solver and forward thinker. My brain tried to shut down again.
“Very good, Lieutenant,” Captain Suiden said. “You and Lieutenant Rabbit are dismissed.”
We both were out of the tent so fast that the flaps swung back and forth for a few moments before settling into place. Groskin and I stared at each other and I wondered if I looked as wild-eyed as he did. We both turned and looked at the tent entrance. Laurel was not exiting. We waited for a moment but Groskin probably decided, as I did, that Laurel Faena could take care of himself. We started walking away, our steps picking up speed.
“Did you see, sir?” I asked. “How the captain’s eyes—”
Groskin’s feet moved faster. “I’ve never seen him so angry,” he said over me.
“But—”
Groskin reached his tent and dived in. I stood staring after him; then feeling incredibly exposed, I went to hide among the other troopers, figuring there was safety in numbers.
I played least in sight for the rest of the day. But when I fell asleep that night I dreamed of being made into taffy.