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What will he do next?
Very little, I would judge. He will wait for events to unfold, and for others
to make mistakes. He did say that Shastylt had gravely misjudged you.
Oh? In what fashion?
He said that you were as much a son of Acorus as of Ifryn, and that Shastylt
did not understand that.
That was an odd comment, reflected Dainyl, since it was patently obvious.
Dainyl had been born on Acorus of parents also bom on Acorus, and those facts
had been one reason not the only one, but one why his advancement in the
Myrmidons had been so slow.
Sir ... if I might ask ... your shields and your Talent are tinged with
green, a green similar to the ancients ...
Dainyl laughed, shaking his head ruefully. Rhelyn attacked me with a .weapon
of the ancients. My entire arm was green, but after I recovered, the greenness
dispersed through my system and began to fade. He paused briefly, sensing
what he thought was deeply concealed shock and surprise, before continuing.
Then, a few days ago, in returning from Lyterna, I was in translation when
the ancients filled the tube with green. Chastyl the recorder in the Hall of
Justice said that they had gotten wild translations that ended up on the Table
all Talent-green as well. He assured me that it will fade as well... assuming
something else doesn t happen.
Alcyna nodded, a trace stiffly.
Dainyl had to wonder why the greenness and his story had bothered her. Because
it suggested he could survive aspects of the ancients weapons? Or because
she d been involved with Rhelyn s weapon? I don t know if I mentioned the
weapon Rhelyn used. I had thought it was a dagger, but it turned out to be a
sword of the ancients, the kind that bleeds lifeforce. I was fortunate that he
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barely cut me.
I suspect you were. What happened to the weapon?
It s been removed. No one will ever see it again. I have no idea where it
is.
Dainyl could not help but catch the slight relief within Alcyna. Where did
you find it?
She laughed, harshly. Brekylt said Shastylt underestimated you. I think he
has as well.
Near Scien? Dainyl asked.
She shook her head. Buried near one of their mountain places along the
Northern Pass. Years ago. It disappeared a year or so ago. I d never shown it
to anyone.
For the first time since she had entered his study, Dainyl sensed no evasion
or equivocation. Brekylt gave it to Rhelyn, then.
I don t know. I would judge so.
You may be fortunate that he gave it to Rhelyn before I chose you for
submarshal, suggested Dainyl. That is very possible.
For a moment, neither spoke. Dainyl saw no point in pursuing the circumstances
surrounding the weapon s disappearance.
Finally, he spoke. The best quarters for visiting senior officers have been
prepared for you, and they re yours for so long as you may require them. I
have a large stack of reports and materials waiting for you on your desk, but
I m going to go over briefly the most pressing problems with you here, first.
She nodded.
The ancients appear to be getting ready to attack in some fashion. It appears
as though they dropped a cliff on a Cadmian battalion and that they unleashed
some new Talent creatures against another battalion in the Iron Valleys....
Dainyl went on to outline the situations and the initial steps he had taken in
response. What I d like you to concentrate on are three matters following the
progress of the Table repairs in
Tempre and Hyalt; seeing what you can find out about what really happened up
in Eastice; and working with Alseryl s chief assistant on the matter of
getting more trainees from the sandox drivers.
You think we ll lose more Myrmidons?
The Third Cadmian Battalion has had better fortune against Talent creatures
than any other Cadmian unit, but it s a question as to whether they can deal
with what the ancients may do. I d rather not send Myrmidons there unless we
have to.
And not immediately, not while you re worried about what Brekylt will do?
That s right. Dainyl smiled. I almost forgot. Lystrana has asked that you
join us for supper tomorrow night.
That would be delightful. I ve heard so much about her. All of it good, of
course.
Dainyl stood. I ll show you your study, and you can get to work.
17
Late on Octdi, Alcyna sat across from Dainyl in the duty coach as it carried
them eastward on the boulevard from Myrmidon headquarters toward Dainyl s
dwelling. Both wore their duty uniforms of blue and gray.
Dainyl glanced forward in the direction of the new duty driver. It didn t
take you that long to get a replacement for Wyalt. How did you manage that?
Alcyna smiled. I just suggested to Alseryl s assistant that morale among
sandox drivers might suffer greatly if it became known that the High Alector
was refusing to allow drivers to become Myrmidon trainees, and that, in these
times, it would be a shame if the High Alector had to explain that to either
Duarch, especially if you had to brief the Duarch Khelaryt about it.
And?
She left to consult with Alseryl. When she came back, she said that there
would be no need for matters to go that far. Alcyna shrugged. I pushed a
bit. I asked if she were certain that you didn t need to brief Khelaryt. She
was quite definite that it would not be necessary.
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They don t want me near the Duarch, that is.
No more than absolutely necessary, I d judge.
AlseryPs reaction seemed excessive to Dainyl, but he decided to mull that
over, rather than comment further. Sharua seems pleased to be with First
Company and headquarters.
Very pleased. Alcyna smiled. So are the junior rankers who might have had
to do time as duty drivers.
The coach drew to a halt.
Marshal, sir? called Sharua. Is this your dwelling?
This is it. Dainyl opened the coach door and nodded for Alcyna to precede
him. Then he stepped onto the still damp paving stones of the small front
courtyard. Thank you.
My pleasure, sirs. The driver inclined her head.
Dainyl took the steps and opened the door.
Lystrana was waiting in the foyer.
Alcyna, I d like you to meet Lystrana, Dainyl said politely.
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