“Thank you, ser.”
Lorn watches as the curly-haired commander closes the door. Then he sits down slowly, wondering who else has read the orders sent by the Majer-Commander, and what others, if any will visit.
After a time, he shakes his head. Speculation will avail him little…yet, and he has reports to read, and to summarize for the Majer-Commander. He picks up the first sheet and begins to read. When he finishes the first report, he writes three lines on a separate sheet, then picks up the next one.
He finishes three reports, ignoring the heavier beat of rain on the panes of the closed window.
Thrap.
At the knock on his study door, Lorn looks up. “Yes? Come in.” He stands even before he has finished speaking.
The swarthy and dark-browed Luss steps into Lorn’s study, and closes the door firmly. “Did you know I was coming, Majer?” asks the Captain-Commander with a frown.
“No, ser. But in the season-and-a-half I’ve been here, I’ve yet to meet an officer junior to me, and the messengers and rankers are always announced.”
Luss laughs. “Every time I talk with you, I discover more why the Majer-Commander ordered you here. You see too much too quickly at too young a rank to be left in the field without understanding headquarters.”
“I appreciate your compliment, ser, but I am sure there are others who see more.”
Luss waves off Lorn’s demurral and sits down opposite the table desk.
Lorn sits slowly and waits.
“The Mirror Lancers have always served Cyador, Majer. I’m certain that you understand that.”
“Yes, ser.”
“And every company, wherever it may be, is in the end under the command of the Majer-Commander.”
Lorn nods, understanding all too well the impact of the phrases yet unuttered, but keeping his expression politely interested.
“The duty of the Majer-Commander, whoever he may be,” Luss continues, “is to use the Mirror Lancers to preserve Cyador, just as the duty of the First Magus is to use his powers to preserve the Land of Eternal Light.”
“Yes, ser.”
“Those who serve the Majer-Commander cannot question the Majer-Commander’s orders, not and carry out their duties as Mirror Lancer officers.”
“No, ser, they cannot.”
Luss smiles, almost lazily. “Are you a Mirror Lancer officer, Majer?”
“Yes, ser. My duty is to the Majer-Commander, and to serve Cyador under his command.”
Luss frowns, ever so slightly. “Would that be your answer were you still in Invidra?”
“Not quite, ser. My duty would still be to the Majer-Commander, but I would serve Cyador through his orders to the commander at Assyadt.”
“As I recall, Majer…you had some difficulties there.”
“No, ser.” His eyes hard, Lorn faces Luss. “I always served Cyador, and the Majer-Commander. I did not serve Majer Dettaur.”
“He was in the chain of command, Majer.”
Lorn smiles. “He failed to protect Cyador, or the lancers, and I brought this to the attention of both Commander Ikynd and you, and the Majer-Commander. Had I been wrong, I would have been disgraced or executed. I put my life and belief in the Majer-Commander, the Mirror Lancers, and Cyador in the hands of the Majer-Commander.”
“You did indeed.” Luss smiles genially-and falsely, Lorn knows. “But the Majer-Commander is not a person, but a position of trust.”
“Yes, ser, and had you been Majer-Commander, I would have done the same.” Lorn hopes Luss will accept the words, because, true as they are, Lorn would have done the same, had Luss been Majer-Commander, for most different reasons.
“You do believe that, don’t you?”
“Yes, ser,” Lorn replies truthfully.
“Would that others had such devotion to the Mirror Lancers and the Majer-Commander as you.” Luss stands.
Lorn stands quickly. “I feel that most officers feel as I do.”
“One would hope so, Majer.” Luss inclines his head. “Good day.” He leaves as abruptly as he has entered.
Lorn feels like taking a deep breath, but does not. Instead, he sits slowly and looks at the heavy raindrops striking the ancient glass. He feels like the name in the ancient poem-whoever Sampson might have been.
After gathering himself together, Lorn has just turned back to his reading and summarizing the stack of reports from Syadtar, when there is another knock at the door, and Fayrken peers in. “Ser, Tygyl sent down word that the Majer-Commander expects you in his study soon as you can get there.”
Replacing the two reports he has just read on the stack, Lorn stands. “I’m on my way.”
He walks quickly up the stairs. At the upper desk, Tygyl motions for him to enter the Majer-Commander’s study.
Lorn does so, closing the door, and bowing. “You requested my presence, ser.”
Sitting at his desk, Rynst gestures to the chairs, barely waiting for Lorn to sit before he asks, “How many visitors have you had about your coming assignment, Majer-besides the Captain-Commander and Commander Shykt? Has Commander Inylt contacted you?
“No, ser. And there were no others…so far, ser.”
“Another cautious answer. I wondered about Commander Inylt, since he is charged with converting part of one of the unused Mirror Lancer warehouses into a barracks and a stable.” Rynst leans forward in his chair, seeming larger-than-life framed in the ancient windows that show the backdrop of heavy gray clouds and rain that sleets across Cyad, almost obscuring the Palace of Eternal Light. “I assume that Commander Shykt warned you-most obliquely-against the machinations of others, most probably those of Commander Muyro and the Captain-Commander-and that the Captain-Commander reminded you of the chain of command. Luss doubtless tried to make the point that all companies of the Mirror Lancers are ultimately commanded by the Majer-Commander-whoever he may be-on behalf of Cyador.” Rynst pauses.
Lorn waits.
“Yes…or no?” Rynst’s voice is cold.
“Commander Shykt was far more cautious, ser. He merely suggested that I think through my actions in light of their probable results and remember that, in a way, the fate of Cyad and Cyador rests on the soundness of every officer, no matter how junior. He also asked-if companies of Mirror Lancers were stationed in Cyad-what kind of officer should command them. I suggested that the officer should believe in Cyador above himself.”
Rynst laughs. “Ah…Shykt knows you. He knows you far better than Luss.” Laugh and smile vanish. “How would you interpret these visits?”
“Commander Shykt worries that I may hold power greater than I realize if given command of two full companies of Mirror Lancers in Cyad.”
“Do you think so?”
“Ser…as my father said many years ago, neither the Magi’i nor the Mirror Lancers nor even the merchanters can stand against the will of the people.” Lorn offers a shrug he does not feel. “If I do my duty, and my senior officers uphold Cyad, then I will have little power except to uphold what is. If I do not do my duty or my senior officers do not, I will also have little power, for two companies are of little use against a city.”
Rynst frowns. “You do not think your senior officers know their duty?”
“You know your duty, ser, and you will die, I believe, before you would betray it. The others know it. Some may not have your strength of will.”
Rynst laughs. “You seek to flatter me.”
“No, ser. I tell you what I see, and I fear to do so. Honestly is seldom well-regarded, despite all that is said for it.”
“That indeed is true.” The Majer-Commander shakes his head. “So…what will you do if you are tested?”
“My duty is to Cyador, ser.”
“An ambiguous answer, Majer.”
“It must be, ser. If I answer that my duty is to you, then I could betray all that Cyador is. If I say that it is to the Majer-Commander, then I would be bound to support whoever held the position, no matter if he would destroy Cyador…” Lorn shrugs helplessly.