Chapter Forty-six
With the threat of war hanging over it, the military juggernaut moved swiftly and the troop was at the harbor docks that afternoon, milling about as we waited to board our ship. Laurel had disappeared earlier with Chancellor Berle and a man introduced as the dockmaster to inspect what was in Losan eso Dru’s warehouse. King Jusson had decreed that, as it was corrupt dock workers who had helped store the contraband, it would be dock workers who removed it and loaded it on the ship—after Laurel explained to them exactly what each piece was, and who it had once been a part of.
I was staring out at a trio of graceful windriders anchored in the harbor, my mind on how to get out of going to the Border. Besides not wanting to be on a death ship for the three weeks’ journey, I was a runaway apprentice and the High Council wouldn’t care that I was a trooper in the Royal Army, thrice sworn to King Jusson IV. They’d give me over to Magus Kareste as soon as I stepped ashore—if he wasn’t there waiting for me himself.
A commotion sounded behind me and I turned around. Admiral Noal was coming up the docks, accompanied by Lord Commander Thadro, Captains Suiden and Javes, Lieutenant Groskin, and—I closed my eyes and actually rubbed them before opening them wide—Ryson.
“What the poxy hell?” I turned to Jeff standing next to me. “Did you know?”
Jeff shook his head, his eyes also wide. “When the troop left the garrison he was still in the stockade.” The party saw me and veered my way as Jeff and I joined the rest of the troopers in standing at attention.
“At ease,” Thadro said. He turned to the admiral next to him. “Admiral Noal, this is Lieutenant Lord Rabbit. You saw each other at the meeting but weren’t introduced.”
Admiral Noal nodded at me, his eyes wandering over Basel. “Hello, Lieutenant. I know your uncle, Vice Admiral Havram ibn Chause, a fine officer.” What I murmured must have satisfied the admiral because he nodded again, then turned to the Lord Commander. “A few more details to settle, Thadro, and then we’ll be ready to start loading up.”
“Go on ahead, Noal,” Thadro said. “I’ll be with you in a moment.”
Admiral Noal looked at Groskin and Ryson, then back at me. “Sure, take your time.” He nodded once more and walked away toward the dock offices.
“Captain Suiden, gather all the men together, please,” Thadro said and waited until we fell into formation in front of him. “Well?” he said to Groskin and Ryson, still standing by him.
First Groskin, then Ryson, apologized to me and to the rest of the troops, just as if we all had a nursery squabble and were now being made to kiss and make up. I kept my head down the entire time and concentrated on how the water lapped against the hulls of the ships at dock, the cries of the gulls, and the smell of salt in the air.
“Risking the part to save the whole, Lieutenant,” Suiden said after everyone had been dismissed. His fury was a physical force.
I was having a hard time controlling my own anger. “I sodding didn’t mean this, sir. The only thing Ryson can call uncle is a mangy weasel. Why was he released?”
“Because if we slap Groskin on the wrist, we have to do the same for Ryson,” Javes said, coming up to us, “as he’s guilty of the same thing—allowing his fear of magicals to make him act unwisely. Or so says Archdoyen Obruesk.”
He growled the last part, his eyes yellow and hard. “The Lord Commander wants to see us, Suiden.”
I did not watch the captains move off. Neither did I watch Groskin and Ryson standing over to the side. I walked over to where my new trunk lay in the shade of a building and sat down on it. (My old one was left behind just in case any Pale Deaths had taken up residence in it.)
“Don’t they care?” Jeff asked as he followed. He made me scoot over and sat also. “I can see Groskin as he sort of lost it, but Ryson was Slevoic’s suck-up ever since the lieutenant came to Freston.”
I made a sound of assent.
“And they’re going to send him to the Border?”
“Politics, Jeff,” I said. “The archdoyen is bucking against the king, maybe because of me or because of Dru, maybe both. Or maybe just because he thinks he can.” I remembered Obruesk’s glares at Laurel and me. “He doesn’t like Border folk much.”
“They haven’t found Slevoic, have they?” Jeff asked after a moment.
“No, not that I’ve heard.”
“Think he met up with Gherat?”
I sighed. “I don’t know.”
Conversation petered out and we sat in silence, watching the shadows grow longer as the afternoon waned. After a while I heard another commotion and I stood. I could see Laurel Faena, accompanied by Chancellor Berle, coming towards us. Behind them was a long line of men pushing carts loaded high. I sat back down facing the water, as I did not want to see.
“Lord Rabbit,” Chancellor Berle said from behind me.
In politeness I stood again and turned, keeping my eyes on her face. “Yes, honored chancellor?”
“Have you seen the Lord Commander?”
“He went over there, Chancellor”—I pointed toward the dock offices—”along with Admiral Noal and Captains Suiden and Javes.”
“Thank you.” The chancellor bowed and hurried off to the offices.
“Are you all right, Rabbit?” Laurel asked, joining us.
“No.” I nodded over to Ryson. “I’m not.”
“Yes, Chancellor Berle told me,” the Faena said, also looking at the trooper. “But I am sure that between the captains, honored Jeffen, and me, the Fragrant One will not be able to harm you.”
I shrugged. “I’m not afraid of him. I’m just damn mad that he’s free.” I focused back on Laurel. “And it doesn’t matter if he’s on the ship, as I’m not going. Magus Kareste would grab me as soon as I step ashore.”
Laurel turned around and stared at me. So did Jeff and Basel. “You must go, Rabbit,” Laurel said. “I need you with me.” He waved a paw at the line of carts going past us. “I cannot handle this by myself. Besides, there’s your training.”
“But the Magus—”
“Do not worry about the Magus,” Laurel interrupted. “I will take care of him.”
“Define ‘take care of,’ ” I said.
“So young yet so suspicious.” Laurel chuffed. “Kareste will not ‘grab’ you. My oath on it.” He pointed at the red feather in my hair. “The covenant goes both ways, Rabbit. You are obligated to me, but I’m just as obligated to you.”
I sighed, staring at my boots. If I’d known how much trouble the damn pact would turn out to be, I never would have eaten with the Faena. At this moment the back mountains above Freston had strong appeal. “You’re asking me to honor the covenant?”
“Yes, and I will protect you.”
I had opened my mouth to ask him how he was going to manage that, when—for the third time—I heard a commotion coming towards us. I turned and this time I saw King Jusson with an entourage heading our way. Someone must have been on the lookout because at that moment Lord Commander Thadro, Admiral Noal, Captains Suiden and Javes, and Chancellor Berle emerged from the dock offices. They all changed direction to meet where Laurel and I stood.