Do you know what I believe, Axis?” Georgdi said as they rode their horses eastward in an easy loose-reined amble. “I think you are enjoying this freedom so much that you are secretly pleased the Lealfast haven’t spotted so much as a general’s whisker in the days since we’ve left Maximilian.”
Axis grinned. “As are you, Georgdi. You Outlanders are never happier than when roaming your country’s vast plains with no destination in sight.”
“It would be better,” said Georgdi, “if there were no Isembaardians in sight, either.”
He suddenly realized what he’d said, and looked at their companion in some consternation. “Present company excepted, of course, Zeboath.”
“No offense taken,” said Zeboath. The young physician had been traveling with the Isembaardian army ever since it had left Sakkuth so many months previously. He’d not had much to do, apart from splint the occasional broken bone from campfire brawls, and now reveled in the chance to travel in a much smaller unit with Axis—as once they had when they’d escorted Ishbel from the FarReach Mountains down to Aqhat.
“It cannot be easy for you,” Zeboath continued, “to see such vast numbers of foreigners suddenly move through your land.”
“I don’t have much say in the matter,” Georgdi said.
The conversation lagged, and the three men rode in silence for a while. Their men rode in a loose column behind them, relaxing in the late winter sunshine.
The Lealfast had seen nothing of the generals in the days since Axis had left the main army. There had been a single incident a few days previously, one of the Lealfast being slightly injured by a collision with a bird while investigating a small column of Isembaardian soldiers, but no sign of the generals.
Well, no physical sign, but there were signs that they were active. The Lealfast had reported to Axis that troops were massing near Margalit, which was almost certainly due to one or more of the generals’ influence. Axis had sent word back to Maximilian, but until he could see for himself—and he was at least a week away from the larger troop congregations—he wanted to take no action.
Axis was also having some doubt about the Lealfast.
He’d had gnawing doubts ever since Eleanon and Inardle had shown him the origin of their people, mainly centered about the why of the Lealfast’s apparent devotion to Maximilian. Added to these doubts were now grave reservations about their fighting ability. He’d tried to talk to Eleanon about the Lealfast’s experience, with no luck. He’d tried to draw out the Lealfast man on tactics.
With no luck.
Whatever Axis tried to discuss, Eleanon evaded. Axis thought that evasion was what the man was best at.
Axis felt as if his hands were tied. If he pushed, he was afraid he might alienate the prickly Lealfast so greatly that they would abandon Maximilian altogether, and Axis was not sure Maximilian could afford to lose them.
Well, at least he was riding with them now, if a day or two behind their forward units.
At least he was closer, if something should go awry.
Eleanon drifted with his fighters, looking for Armat, although in truth his heart was not in the search. As each day, almost each hour, passed, Eleanon grew more resentful at Axis’ attitude, even though it was little more than he had expected from the StarMan. Axis kept probing and jibing, and Eleanon just withdrew deeper into his defensive arrogance.
He communicated a little with Bingaleal. As yet Bingaleal had heard nothing from the One, but he had met some of the roving parties of Skraelings who told him that the One was a great god who thought the Skraelings his true servants and would reward them, once he had consolidated his power over all lands, by making them his favored counselors. Naturally riches and much free meat also featured in the Skraelings’ tales of just how the One would eventually reward them.
It irritated Eleanon that the Skraelings had such contact with the One and the Lealfast as yet did not. The dark spire was too dangerous to use while Axis watched Eleanon so closely and while the marsh witch Ravenna was out scrying for power to fuel her own ambitions.
The One surely understood that the Skraelings were vile creatures, useful only for the mass terror they could generate, while the Lealfast could be much better partners in the One’s quest for power.
Surely.
Eleanon wished he were in Isembaard. This entire journey north to Maximilian Persimius had been all but useless. Maximilian was weak and could not give the Lealfast what they needed.
He should be south.
South was almost certainly where lay the Lealfast’s future.