Tarashana by Rachel Neumeier (little red riding hood ebook TXT) 📕

some powerful sorcerer begins causing trouble somewhere else, he’ll need me. In fact, now that I think of it, he may well be waiting for that kind of problem to occur; that would give him an excellent reason to recall me. If something like that happens and I’m not here to be recalled ... that could be awkward.” He tapped his scepter into the palm of his other hand. “Still. I’m inclined to write to Soretes, point out that he’s been hoping for a chance to make amends to your king for the problems Lorellan caused, and let him know that I’ve gone to do that. I believe that would give him adequate reason to forgive me for taking such broad action. It’s a bit tricky. It’s not entirely legal for me to lay aside my scepter, but your mother’s right: I definitely can’t enter the winter country as a scepter-holder of the summer king without Koro inKarano’s explicit permission to do so.” He paused again, then sighed. “I’ll have to think about this. Trooper Rasas, please inform Talon Commander Sharet that I would like to see him immediately after breakfast tomorrow. Trooper Eroen, if you would kindly give the same message to Talon Commander Talat. Trooper Suyet, the same message, if you please, to Troop Leader Geras.”

My guards all murmured my lord and hurried away—leaving me. I was not supposed to go about the town alone. No one considered this as important now as it had been: there were so many soldiers here, and so much time had passed since Lorellan had made trouble between Lau and Ugaro, that there was little chance any Lau in Tavas Sen would insult or attack me. The chance was even less that I would be forced to disobey Aras by injuring or killing a Lau. But the command still stood. Aras was either so distracted he had forgotten that, or he wanted me to stay here for this night. I said to Rakasa and Bara, “I will show you a place in this house where you may sleep. You will find it interesting.”

“We will indeed,” Rakasa agreed, pleased. They were the sort of young men who were always interested in new adventures.

“You can tell me more of the starlit lands and this avila woman,” I told him, not looking at Aras. “I would be interested to see that person and that country for myself.”

“Yes, I already know your opinion, Ryo,” Aras told me. “Go away, and try not to dream too loudly. I’ll see you at breakfast.”

Two days later, it was decided: Aras would go into the winter country and see what he could understand about the avila and the starlit country. By the time he announced it, no one was surprised. By that time, everyone knew he wished to do it. The arguments in favor were good enough that his talon commanders had ceased arguing with him.

But his talon commanders both wanted to come, with all their men—they at least wanted one or the other to come. To this idea, Aras responded, mildly, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, no. I’m fairly certain Koro inKarano wouldn’t care to see hundreds of Lau soldiers riding through the winter lands, all the way to the foot of the great northern mountains. Besides, supplies would be a considerable problem if we tried anything of the kind; you know that. More than that, I depend on you to take care of everything here. I can hardly disappear into the winter lands and take all of you with me. Soretes would conclude I had abandoned my responsibilities entirely. I wouldn’t care to try to rebut that conclusion, as he would clearly be right.”

There was a glum silence as both talon commanders conceded the truth of all these points. After long enough to make it plain that everyone knew neither talon could go, Aras went on. “Sigaur, I’d like you to take on the responsibility of tracking down and arresting everyone related to Kerren Rahavet. It’s an unpleasant job and I hate to ask it of you, but—” he spread his hands.

Talon Commander Sigaur Talat shrugged. “Someone has to do it.” He was not a demonstrative man. He seldom spoke at all unless he had something to say. He had lost a hand many years ago in some battle or accident, but he was still a dangerous man with a knife or a sword; and he was a good warleader. His men respected him and tried hard to earn his regard.

“Declaring the penalty and seeing it carried out is my responsibility, so you’ll have to bring them here, to Tavas Sen, and hold them until I return.” He turned to Talon Commander Sharet. “Rounding them up will take some time, Leonas, but I imagine you’ll need to hold them here for a while. Tavas Sen hasn’t the least need for a large prison, but extending the town further would probably meet with approval. Ask the headwoman what businesses might prove most beneficial to the town and build structures that can be converted to those uses later. Throw a palisade around the area—I trust inGara will permit timber to be cut—”

“Yes,” I said. “Cut as you find necessary for all this building. If someone asks the timberers, they should say I said they could cut trees. They will want silver for the timber, or steel.”

Aras nodded. “Thank you, Ryo. Trade at the customary ratio, finished steel for finished timber. We’ll take the palisade down later and find something else useful to do with the timber.”

“Yes, my lord,” agreed Sharet. He knew perfectly well—we all knew—that Aras had decided on this trip partly so that he could avoid having all those people executed for a long time. But the talon commander did not show in any way that he understood this. He merely asked, “You’re quite certain you won’t take half a talon, my lord? Or