“Thank you. I’m happy that my husband believes I am special,” Mari said. “But other people shouldn’t. Our world is facing the problems it is because some people decided they were more special than other people.” They had reached a plaza where a few hundred of Mari’s foot soldiers were camped, and within moments every soldier in the area gathered about to see her as Mari dismounted, made sure she smiled, and began talking to as many individuals as possible.
These men and women had left their homes and families to help her change the world. To help her overthrow the Great Guilds and free the world so that their own children could be free. Mari could see the looks in their eyes as they spoke to her, and their admiration and hope frightened her almost as much as assassins did. What if she herself ever started believing she was the person that these people idolized?
* * * *
They left the east gate of Minut as the sun rose: four troops of cavalry, two large flatbed wagons carrying Alli’s battered big guns, and a dozen other wagons which had come north loaded with food for soldiers and grain for their mounts but were now nearly empty. The column had not gone far before Major Consela sent one troop out wide to the right and another wide to the left with orders to find bandits camped near the road. The other two troops and the wagons stayed on the road, which recent dry weather had left hard but dusty.
As the day wore on, the dust the column raised on the road grew into a cloud that trailed them above and behind like some vast, nebulous monster. Like the others, Alain quickly fell into the rhythm of the journey. Everyone rode for a while, then all dismounted and walked their horses for about the same length of time. They took rest breaks, during which both humans and horses sometimes caught brief naps and the horses grazed along the road. At noon came a longer break, with some grain for the horses but only cold rations for the humans, then off again down the dusty road under the unrelenting heat of the sun.
Alain had read some of the heroic epics that had been composed in the centuries since humans had come to Dematr. Once he had begun to experience actual adventures—which Mechanic Professor S’san called “bad things happening to other people”—Alain had begun noticing the differences between those epics and genuine “adventure.” Journeys such as this, in which a long day was spent just covering part of the distance from one place to another. Or horses, which in epics were untiring, even-tempered, and always perfectly obedient, but in actual use tended to wear out, bite, balk, and otherwise act like creatures with minds of their own.
Alain felt the same sense of relief as others when the column came to an unexpected halt, though of course he did not show it. That sense of respite vanished as he saw that one of the cavalry scouting ahead was riding back at high speed.
The scout rode up in a flurry of dust and saluted Major Consela. The two conferred briefly and then the major turned to Mari and Alain, who were riding nearby. “There is a large group of people ahead, just off the road. They are in defensive posture and appear ready for a fight. Your orders, Lady?”
Chapter Four
“A large group, just to the right of the road,” the scout said, repeating his report to the Major. “Between one and two hundred of them. From their clothing, they’re not from Tiae. They’re in a semi-circle, facing this way. All on foot. No horses or wagons. We saw no armor and no pole arms or spears, but we did spot sunlight reflecting off blades. There were some Mechanic jackets among them.”
“Mechanics?” Mari asked. “Did they have rifles?”
“No, Lady,” the scout said, shaking his head. “No rifles were visible.”
“They could be trying to lure you close, Lady,” Major Consela commented, “before shooting with concealed rifles or crossbows. We’ll prepare for a possible fight, but we need better information. I want you to ride close enough to them to exchange words,” the major told the scout. “Ask them who they are and what they are doing on this road. See what else you can tell from that close.”
“How about if I ride along to size up the Mechanics?” Bev asked.
Alain turned to see that Mechanic Bev had ridden up to them, her upper face a mask of dust and her nose and jaw incongruously clean where she had worn a kerchief. Bev gestured to Mari. “Loan me your far-seers and I’ll get a good look.”
Mari pulled out the far-seers, handing them over. “Bev, be careful.”
“Not a problem.”
As Mechanic Bev and the scout galloped up the road, Major Consela ordered the cavalry back into motion. “With your permission, Lady, I will not deploy my troops for battle until we are closer.”
“It does not sound as if they are prepared to attack,” Alain commented.
“No, Sir Mage,” Consela said after a moment. She had joined Mari’s forces only three months ago and was still getting used to speaking to Mages. “They are in a defensive formation, and all on foot. We would expect any bandits to either run or, if they could not run, to prepare to fight. But an ambush might present itself in such a non-threatening way before the trap was sprung.”
The column crested a low hill, heading into the vale where the group could be seen ahead.
The scout and Bev came galloping back, their horses blowing from the exertion. “Lady,” the scout said, “they claim to be travelers seeking refuge with the people of the daughter. They say they crossed the border from the Confederation about a week ago, coming south through the grasslands east of Minut. But this morning when they awoke, the guides they had paid to see them to the daughter’s fortress had vanished. They were still debating what to do when they saw the dust from our approach and feared that bandits or the forces of a warlord were approaching.”
“I didn’t recognize any of the Mechanics,” Bev said. “But they all appear to be unarmed. Most of the commons just have the sort of daggers and knives that everybody carries. I saw a few swords, and a lot of walking sticks, but that was it for weapons.”
“Coming overland?” Mari said. “That wasn’t smart. We’ll have to ask them why they did that.”
“We should proceed, Lady?” Major Consela asked.
Mari looked at Alain. “I see no warning of danger,” Alain said.
“Then yes, let’s get closer,” Mari told the Major. As the Major called the order and the column surged back into motion, Mari gave Alain another glance. “Do I have a fortress?”
“Perhaps it is a surprise from Princess Sien,” Alain said.
Mari grinned. “I’m sure that explains it. Why do you suppose they walked overland instead of coming by ship?”
“We have been told that the Great Guilds were trying to stop ships coming south,” Alain said. “They may have been able to blockade the Strait of Gulls and the ports of the Confederation on the Jules Sea.”
“That would complicate things for us,” Mari said. “I hope you’re wrong.”
“Captain Banda has been seeking approval to strike at ships controlled by the Great Guilds,” Alain reminded her. “With the port of Minut under control, your own ships can reopen passage at least from the Confederation.”
“Remind me to talk to Banda and the others about that,” Mari said. “I’ll add it to the list. But I’m worried that striking directly at the Great Guilds outside of Tiae might provoke direct attacks here before we’re ready to deal with them.”
They had gotten close enough to the group for Major Consela’s leading cavalry to confirm that the travelers were not a danger. Most of the cavalry stayed on the road while Mari, Alain, the major, and twenty soldiers rode up to the front of the defensive arc of travelers. “You’re on your way to Pacta Servanda?” Mari asked, looking down from her seat in the saddle.
A man and a woman stepped out from the group. “Is that where the daughter is?” the man asked, then stared. “Is it you?”
Alain could see Mari’s discomfort, but she smiled. “I am Master Mechanic Mari of Caer Lyn.”
“Lady Mari!” The name was repeated again and again among the travelers, their postures finally relaxing and smiles breaking o
ut.
A group of Mechanics came closer, the middle-aged man in the lead nodding to Mari. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Mari stared at him, then grinned. “Talis? From Dorcastle?”
“Not lately, but that’s where we met.” Talis gestured to indicate the other Mechanics. “We understand that you’ve got jobs available for Mechanics who want to work with forbidden technology.”
“It’s a little more complicated than that,” Mari said with a laugh. “But I think you’ll all be happy.” She started to dismount, then looked again at Alain.
“He speaks the truth,” Alain said.
“Good. I would have hated for Talis to have turned against me after he was so nice in Dorcastle.” Mari swung down from her horse. “I’m glad you got away from the Guild,” she told Talis.
Talis was looking at Alain, though. “Mari, I have to be honest. Having Mages around is going to take some getting used to.”
“You’ve met this one before,” Mari said. “Mage Alain of Ihris. He carried my tools for me when we inspected the damage to that trestle that almost wrecked our train on the way to Dorcastle.”
“Him?” Talis stared. “You were with a Mage that early?”
“It’s a long story,” Mari said. “Since we have a ways to go to Pacta Servanda, I can fill you in on all of it. For now, let’s just say that this Mage was the only reason I was still alive and on that train. The Mechanics Guild had already tried to get me killed before that, and the Mage Guild had already tried to cause his death.”
“If you’re really that daughter person, anyone with you would be marked,” Talis said. “Up north we heard that Professor S’san was working with you. We know that she wouldn’t have signed on if you weren’t on the level.”
“She’s one of my senior people,” Mari said. “And in case you’re wondering, S’san hasn’t lightened up one little bit.”
“Still tough as nails, eh?” Talis grinned.
“Lady?” Major Consela asked. “There are some children here, and some of the adults are the worse for walking so far. We can load them in the wagons. I assume you wish us to escort these people to Pacta Servanda?”
“That’s right,” Mari said. “Alain, please have the Mages check over everyone to see if the Great Guilds have slipped any surprises in among them. Talis, I need to get this group ready to move so we can make the village we were planning to stop at tonight. I’ll look you up later.”
Mari led her horse over to the two commons who had first spoken to her. “Are you two the leaders of this group?”
“We have no leaders,” the woman said. “We were following the guides.”
“All right,” Mari said. “You two are now leaders, because I need someone to pass word on to the rest of your group. We’re heading for Pacta Servanda. It’s still a long walk. Tell everyone to get ready to move.”
“We’re coming with you?” the man asked.
“Of course you are,” Mari said. “My cavalry will protect you, and you’ll be able to make better time by swapping people in and out of the wagons we have. There are going to be Mages moving through your group. Tell everyone not to worry. These are my Mages. They won’t hurt anyone who doesn’t try to hurt anyone else.”
Alain heard a young girl’s voice, audible over the other noises, which sounded oddly familiar. “Mari.”
“Yes?” Mari frowned as she caught the voice, too. “Who is that girl?”
“You recognize the voice as well?”
The girl’s next statement came clearly across the crowd. “I am not a child!”
Mari suddenly smiled in amazement. “It’s Kath! Alain, that has to be Kath!” She pulled on her reins, leading her horse through the group of people to where some of Mari’s soldiers confronted an angry girl.
Alain caught Mari’s reins as she dropped them and ran up to the girl. “Kath! What are you doing here?”
“Mari! That’s my sister!” Kath informed the soldiers before returning Mari’s hug.
Alain looked beyond Kath and saw a woman he recognized, one who resembled an older version of Mari. Standing with her was a stern-looking man who was gazing at Mari as if unable to decide on which emotions to feel. Alain, used to easily reading the feelings of non-Mages, was surprised to see how many different emotions were warring within this common. “Greetings, Lady Kath,” Alain said, then inclined his head respectfully toward Mari’s mother. “Greetings, Eireen.”
“Eireen?” Mari became aware of her mother and jumped up to embrace her as well. “Why didn’t you send word that you were coming? I could have sent a ship. I could have sent a lot of soldiers or a Roc.” She faltered as she caught sight of the man. “Father?”
He nodded stiffly. “Mari.”
Mari hesitated, then hugged him as well. “It’s been so many years.”
He responded awkwardly, his face once again a tangle of emotions that Alain had trouble sorting out. “Your mother told me that you had grown,” Mari’s father said, sounding perplexed. “But it is very odd to see you now like this.” His gaze, looking puzzled and sad to Alain’s eyes, shifted to her Mechanics jacket and became unhappy enough that Alain thought anyone could see.
“It’s been twelve years,” Mari said. “And, well, a lot has happened. Oh. Father,” Mari continued, her voice growing formal, “mother and Kath have met Alain, but you haven’t. This is my promised husband, Mage Alain of Ihris.” She said it proudly, with a smile that faded as her father only nodded stiffly, not looking at Alain. “Alain, this is Marc of Caer Lyn, my father.”
Alain inclined his head toward Marc, trying to ensure that he put proper feeling into his voice. “It is an honor to meet you.”
Mari’s father said nothing.
Mari’s mother intervened in the increasingly awkward scene. “We couldn’t send word, Mari. We had to sneak out of the Sharr Isles. Imperial agents were coming by almost every day to question us, and someone in the Sharr government sympathetic to your cause warned us that they were preparing to arrest us and take us to Palandur.”
“To use against me,” Mari said, angry.
“Yes,” Eireen agreed. “And Mechanics kept coming by as well, and even a few Mages. They kept asking questions even though we kept telling them we didn’t know anything.”
“Questions?” Alain asked, pretending he was not aware that Mari’s father was still acting as if he didn’t exist.
“Yes. Almost all of them about Marandur, of all places. I knew the Imperials had banned anyone from going there, but I didn’t know they were so obsessed with it! The Mechanics, too! Why did Mari go there? What did Mari want? Did she bring anything out?” Mari’s mother tossed up her hands in frustration.
Alain felt alarm stirring inside him. He was not yet certain what was creating that feeling, but something Eireen had said worried him.
“Lady?” One of the cavalry pointed to Kath. “Is this girl supposed to go to a wagon or not?”
“She can walk,” Mari said. “Or ride with me when she gets tired.”
“She said she is your sister?”
“Yes,” Mari said. “This is my family,” she added, waving to indicate her mother and father as well.
The soldiers all smiled. “They will be well protected, Lady,” one assured Mari. “I will notify Major Consela.”
“You’re on your way to Pacta Servanda, aren’t you?” Mari asked her parents.
“To wherever the daughter has her fortress,” Eireen said. “Everyone tends to be mysterious about that.”
“We don’t want the Great Guilds knowing too much,” Mari said apologetically. “Don’t worry. You and the others will be escorted the rest of the way. Pacta Servanda is not exactly a fortress, by the way.”
“It’s fortunate that you happened to be traveling with this group of soldiers,” her father said abruptly, sounding as if he was not certain whether or not he approved.
“I don’t just happen to be with them,” Mari said. “We’re on our way back from Minut, sweeping t
he countryside as we go for bandit gangs.”
“We?” her father pressed.
“This is part of my army,” Mari explained.
Alain saw a flash of disbelief on her father’s face, quickly replaced by impatience. Perhaps that was understandable in a parent who encountered part of his daughter’s army, but it seemed odd to Alain.
“Minut?” her father asked. “That’s a pirate den. We had to avoid it.”
“Not any more,” Mari announced proudly. “My army, and the army of Tiae, took Minut about a week ago. We destroyed the warlords who had been controlling the city and the area around it. The flag of Tiae flies over Minut once more.”
Major Consela led her horse up to them. “Lady, we have talked to most of the people here. We haven’t found anyone who was robbed, beaten, raped, or otherwise harmed. The guides they hired simply took off with the money they had been paid and left these people stranded. Do you want to send a detachment in pursuit of those guides?”
Mari shook her head. “Not if they didn’t harm anyone. I don’t want to risk a detachment alone out there given some of the larger bandit gangs that may still be operating between here and Minut.”
“Yes, Lady. I understand this is your family?”
“That’s right.”
“I will assign an escort to them,” Consela said. “We’ll be ready to head out again soon. Do you want to bring in the troops on the flanks?”
“No,” Mari said. “Have them keep sweeping for bandits. Whenever we’re ready to start moving again, tell everyone to fall in and I’ll rejoin you.”
“Yes, Lady.” The Major saluted before leaving.
“You’re chasing bandits?” Kath asked.
“Gangs,” Mari said. “Trying to clear them out.”
“Shouldn’t that be left to the authorities?” her father asked.
“I am the authorities,” Mari told him. “I have full authority in Tiae, by order of Princess Sien.”
“I want to join your army,” Kath announced excitedly.
Mari’s parents were both turning appalled looks on Kath when Mari spoke. “No, Kath. You’re too young.”