It was four days before Sapphire threw down his practice sword and said, “Practice with your own men from now on. I've taught you all I can in the time,” and walked away without another word.
I swore at him under my breath.
Pakat didn't say anything but I could see he didn't approve.
I was hurting too much to care. I thought I had been busy before but that was nothing, I now realized. I worked with Sapphire for an hour each night, or rather he worked me over. I was up before dawn, planning the day and giving orders. Latrines. My army literally couldn't take a dump without me giving an order. Then I went and trained with the men till noon. Every single problem came to my tent. I didn't have the experience to deal with it but I did have knowledge.
Unknowingly I gained a reputation as being thoughtful commander, because I paused every time I was asked anything to think and remember. I was glad I had the natural arrogance of my class or I never would have had the guts for it. Still, I couldn't cope alone and I learned to delegate. First had been the chain of command: Tulian above me, and no one else. Then myself commanding one cohort and Kerral the other. I'd left Quail in charge of the half cohort. Sheo to command the equestes and Yebratt Shaheel as captain, the equivalent of first centurion; he had been delighted and grateful for the promotion. For each cohort I had assigned Pakat and Luk as first centurions, and Geheran and Gobin as seconds. Tul had let me keep them. I had managed to hire two healers, Libby and Westel, from the nearest town, called Undralt, where they had lived and worked. They cost a fortune and I was already in debt after day two. But in debt to a surprise creditor.
Sapphire had come to my tent early the morning after we had arrived. He'd dumped a satchel on my desk without a word of preamble and handed me a letter.
This scrip is a loan.
That was all. Not a word of praise. Still, I was relieved to have the scrip with his seal on it. I had played with the idea of using my own but every single transaction would have been an argument out here where I was not known; my family name might have cut it sometimes but I didn't have time to argue with everyone I wanted to hire or buy from. My father's name was much better known and trusted, and natives could ask a man of the city and be assured the scrip was good. I was relieved of one more problem but couldn't quite manage gratitude.
As I watched Sapphire walk away now, having just been worked over by him, I wondered why I had never seen him before. He was my father's agent after all, and clearly very well trusted. Why had I never seen him? All of my father's Clients came to his door every day throughout my childhood. I dismissed the thought, but it would come back to me later, just one more thing nagging for my attention.
“What do you think?”
Pakat was also looking into the night after Sapphire. “Dangerous.”
“That's what Kerral said.”
“He was righter than he knew.”
“Could you take him?”
Pakat wondered over and idly picked up the discarded practice blade. “Nope. Maybe. There's always a chance. Always luck, good or bad. Wouldn't like to know for sure.”
Hell. I'd seen Kerral take down three men with his bare hands in that alley the day he had saved my life. And Pakat was better. So Sapphire was what? He'd killed me fifty times tonight so I didn't even pretend to have a chance against him. Kerral, less chance that Pakat.
“Don't fret. He's on your side. He was teaching you.”
“Any man can turn into an enemy.”
“True,” Pakat mused. “Too true.”