The march was proceeding well, I thought. The men were standing up to the forced pace, we were still in friendly territory and we were making good time. My command was under control and I thought all was right with the world. Then the letter from Sheo arrived. I saw the messenger coming down the line, and though I didn't know he was looking for me, I certainly hoped he was. I had been concerned about Sheo's lack of regular reports, so I was glad to receive the letter and read it at once.
Sumto,
I am taking the cohort north east to the border with the Orduli.
“What?”
“What?” Kerral echoed me, surprised.
“Nothing!” I went back to the letter.
I have received word of the sacking of a border town of Pulindus by a large force of barbarians. The lands between there and here are pretty well populated but there are no forces to stand in their way. Don't be angry with me, please. I am not trying to steal your thunder or use your men for my own self-aggrandizement. I simply feel that this needs to be done and there is no one else to do it. I'm sure you will use my intelligence well.
In haste.
Sheo Tetris Fuliat
“Bastard!”
“What?”
“You have the command, Kerral!”
I didn't wait for his answer but pulled out of the line and galloped my surprised mare to the head of the cohort, calling a warning of my reckless pace as I did so. Pulling up I saluted Tul with the letter clenched in my fist.
“You'd better read this, sir.” My fury sounded clear even in my own ears and I struggled to get a hold of myself.
“Yes,” he said, mildly. “I suppose I better had.”
I gave him the letter and waited while he read it, keeping pace all the while, my mare skittish and anxious under me.
After reading it twice he made to pass it back, then changed his mind. “No. I'll go.” He steered his horse out of the line and galloped off.
I watched him go. A little let down by his mild response. But he was acting. I just had no clue what he intended and there was nothing seemly I could do but wait. After a while I realized I had no further reason to be there and steered my mount off the road, walking her back down the line.
“Bastard!” I whispered fiercely to myself every now and again.
He had taken my command into danger without so much as a by-your-leave. It was a clear breach of discipline for a start. And he knew damn well I wouldn't… I held that thought. I might order him to act, but I wouldn't like it. In fact, I would have had to do as I did with the letter containing the fact of his actions even if it had only contained the request. And the request might be refused by Tul or Orthand. Needs doing, I thought, large force, no one else between them and us. Bastard. He might be right. How large a force? How the hell did he know where they would be when he arrived on the scene? How did he hope to stand against them if he found them? He was throwing my men away for nothing. He should have marched when he heard, but not north and east. He should have marched south, to us, to join our force with his new information.
When I pulled back into the line by Kerral I was still white-faced with anger and swearing under my breath. He raised an eyebrow but wisely didn't say anything.
“How far to the border?”
“About a hundred miles, I'd say.”
Four days to get to where he had been. Too late to be thinking about it. He was gone and lost. Forget it, I told myself, forget your cohort, they are dead and gone.
“Bastard.”
Kerral didn't say a word.