The Twilight herald

'I – I imagine you need to have a new commander of your guard.' |achen paused. 'Oh Gods.'

'A new commander!' exclaimed Lord Isak with affected delight. Correct! I must have been right about the collar after all. Now, what do you think Swordmaster Kerin was doing when he presented men who irritated me beyond measure?' He raised his finger – as white as a bone in moonlight – and began pacing, looking for all the world like a schoolmaster lecturing an errant pupil, rather than one of the most powerful men in the Land.

'Firstly, Scion Cormeh, who will soon be Suzerain Cormeh, from what I bear. I could tell from his expression that the pious little shit disapproved of my cursing; he was lucky to get out of the room without being strangled. Next, a knight from Foleh, who lacked any personal¬ity, nodded at everything and managed no more than three words in any given sentence. I can't trust any man who's going to follow every order I give without question – I am a bloody white-eye, after all.'

Jachen fIroze. Gods, I didn't say it out loud, did 1?

Lord Isak turned like a sergeant on the parade ground and con-tinued his, lecture Then there was the colonel with the ridiculous

moustache. Despite Kerin's recommendation, the man was a complete idiot. He obviously considered my opinions worthless because I was less than half his age. The last one was… well, he was ugly. Very ugly. Face like a ten-week-old side of lamb. It annoyed me.' He shook his head. 'I didn't get close enough to smell the man, but I'm confident he stank – and as you know, I'm never wrong.'

Lord Isak glanced towards the door. Jachen followed the movement, but he saw nothing untoward. The door remained steadfastly shut and he could hear nothing beyond it. When he returned his attention to Lord Isak, the white-eye was scrutinising him again.

'Kerin gave me those four, then you. You don't really fit with the rest of the list, so why?'

'I don't know,' Jachen said with feeling. 'The Swordmaster knows I have done some things right in my life, though he's no great admirer. I led a night assault on a castle. I saved the life of the former Suzerain Danva, who showed his gratitude by buying me my commission. I also served as his hurscal for a year.'

'Only a year?'

'I have a history of making bad decisions.'

'So what do you imagine were Kerin's thoughts on the subject of including you on this list?'

Jachen took a deep breath. He was warming to Isak: the young man had an unnervingly intense air about him, but Jachen was beginninig enjoy the luminary presence of his lord. Either that, or abject terror had made him light-headed. Probably best not to speculate which- 'A counter-point to the others, no doubt. If you are making a choice, variety is always preferable.'

'Does that strike you as like the man?'

'No, not really,' Jachen admitted. 'Swordmaster Kerin's too clever for that.'

'So why send me men likely to annoy me?'

'To direct your choice towards the one he wants.'

'And that would be you?'

'I'd say I've managed to annoy you at least as much as the others, so who comes after me?'

Lord Isak grinned. 'You might be right there, but there's no one else. Any other thoughts?'

Jachen hesitated. A history oj bad decisions. Oh well, all or nothing here. 'That you're hellish to serve, dismissing perfectly competent

officers for no good reason. You want a commander who suits your eccentricity, but is experienced in battle and able to think on his feet.'

'How many think when they're on their back?' Lord Isak countered, his grin widening.

'Quite; you also need a commander who understands your puer¬ile sense of humour. Lastly, that a sensible man would have to be desperate to take the post because there's a good chance of being run through or blasted by the wrath of the heavens, or both, even.' He dared a breath. Isak was still smiling. In fact, the Duke of Tirah appeared decidedly pleased.

Perhaps Kerin has got this right after all, Jachen thought hesitantly. With Count Vesna at his side, Lord Isak doesn't need the best tactician in the army, nor a champion as commander of his guard. He needs a man he can stand to speak to every day as much as anything.

'It's a fair point,' the white-eye replied. 'Do you know what my last commander did when he thought I was making the wrong decision? He clouted me round the head in public. For that I almost squeezed the life out of him. Do you think you could do the same if you thought it was right? Do you still want this post?'

'I don't ever remember wanting this post, my Lord. Certainly I don't know whether I'd have the guts to face you down from doing something stupid, but I'll take it if you'll have me. Maybe I do want a. chance to prove myself again.'

'Only maybe?'

'Maybe I just don't care any more.' The comment came out with the flippancy of truth before Jachen could bite it back.

Lord Isak's expression fell. He looked grave.

Damn. How much did 1 really mean that?

'I hope that's not the case. I need a man to temper the flames of any.anger, not let them run amok. Don't you have any family to prove

yourself to?"

Don't think there's much hope there,' Jachen sighed. 'In any case, I've served long enough to know that there's only one person you can prove anything lo and that's yourself. Men who look to be heroes are usually the dead ones.'

Good. Tell me one thing: what exactly did you do to get in Kerin's bad books in the first place?'

Jachen grimaced, 'In the first place would be going back a ways, but what the men hate me for is leaving my post. I abandoned my regiment for the sake of my wife and daughter.'

'Did they survive?'

'Of the regiment? A few.'

I meant your family,' said Lord Isak.

'My daughter did. She hates me for a coward, like the rest of the tribe.'

'Most men would want to justify what they'd just said.'

'It's my tale, and mine to tell as much of it as I want.' Jachen couldn't help sounding petulant as he said it. The insinuation in Isak's voice had been obvious, and Jachen had risen to it.

'True. I'm just intrigued when a man makes so little effort to defend his actions, especially when he has been recommended by one of the most respected soldiers in the Land. Kerin's covered himself well, though; he's not formally suggested you, merely arranged a meet-ing. That way no one can complain about being passed over, and he doesn't get in trouble if I hate you. About which, by the way, Major Jachen Ansayl, I'm still undecided.'

'Ah, Lord Isak, might I make a request?' Jachen said, hesitantly. Could I ask that you call me Major Jachen, or even just Jachen? I realise it's informal, but there'll be enough men reminding me I'm a bastard without you doing so.'

'Done – but I still might call you one from time to time.'

Before Jachen could think of a suitable reply, there came a sharp rap on the door behind him, and a dazzling young woman strode in without waiting for a response. She spared him a puzzled glance before falling into a graceful but perfunctory curtsey. She looked as if she was about to attend High Reverence at the Temple: her white dress was spotless and a silk scarf was draped over her arm, as if ready to cover three of the four beautiful charms pinned into her lustrous braided hair (after all, no one would go into Nartis' Temple leaving uncovered devices of Triena, Goddess of Fidelity, Ial, an Aspect of Hit, and Anarie, Goddess of Calm Glades, an Aspect of Amavoq). With a slab of guilt, Jachen realised that Anarie was the only God he had prayed to in the last few years. She'd not answered.

'My Lord, it is time.'

He sighed. 'Of course – but Tila, first I want you to meet the new commander of my personal guard, Major Jachen Ansayl, who prefers to be called Major Jachen. Jachen, this is Tila Introl, my political advisor. I suggest you keep your temper around her. Lady Tila's tongue is barbed and she lacks my sweet temper.'