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for a headland, guarding the high-arched and narrow stone
bridge that spanned the Vedra. The outpost itself—unlike those in the north—was
walled. The walls were not of finely dressed stone as in Madrien, but rather of
crude blocks of all sizes and colors wedged and mortared in place. The
ironbound oak gates of the outpost were open, and a single sentry from one of
the two squads of the Third Foot stationed at Emal stood watch in a guardhouse
just outside the gates.
    The
ranker stepped out of his shelter as Alucius neared the gates, his eyes peering
through the dimness, then catching the militia winter parka.
    “Captain
Alucius…” Alucius slowed Wildebeast and took in the other, catching his
self-identity, and adding, “Nyllen, isn’t it?”
    “Ah…yes,
sir. Couldn’t see you in the darkness, sir.”
    “Have
you seen anyone from Twenty-first Company?”
    “Three
or four came back today, sir. Senior Squad Leader Longyl came in, too. They’re
in the barracks.”
    “Good.”
Alucius nodded and rode past the gates toward the stables.
    A
squad leader walked out of the duty room at the end of the barracks and across
the end of the courtyard to the sentry.
    “It
was Captain Alucius, sir,” Nyllen said to the squad leader, adding in a lower
voice that Alucius should not have been able to hear. “Does he recognize
everyone?”
    “Pretty
near, Nyllen.”
    Alucius
reined up outside the closed stable door and was about to dismount when the
door slid open. He dismounted and led Wildebeast into the comparative warmth of
the stable while the ostler closed the door behind them.
    “Cold
evening it is, sir,” offered Vinkin, the head ostler at Emal, both for
Twenty-first Company and for Fifth Company. “Some wondered as whether you’d be
making it tonight. I said you’d be here. Weather doesn’t stop an officer who’s
a herder.”
    “Not
this time, anyway,” replied Alucius with a smile.
    “There’s
grain and water waiting, Captain.”
    “Thank
you, Vinkin.” Alucius projected the slightest sense of gratitude and
appreciation.
    The
ostler bowed his head in response.
    Twenty-first
Company had the stalls on the north side of the long stable, with the first
stall being the captain’s. At times, Alucius definitely appreciated that
perquisite of rank. This was one of those times.
    Wildebeast
shook himself, then whuffed when Alucius led him
into the stall and started to unsaddle him.
    “I
know. It was a long and cold ride. Let’s hope we’ll have a few days before
someone wants a patrol.”
    Wildebeast
didn’t respond to the comment, not that Alucius expected that of the stallion.
    Once
he’d finished with his mount, Alucius shouldered his saddlebags, picked up his
rifle from where he had leaned it against the stall wall, and closed the stall
door. He crossed the stable, nodding to Vinkin as he neared the small access
door to the courtyard. Once he closed the door behind him, he started across
the frozen clay of the courtyard toward the headquarters building, scarcely
larger than a small sheep shed, for all that it contained rooms for three
company officers, two rooms for visiting officers, and a conference room, a
common washroom, and a kitchen and small mess for officers and squad leaders.
    He
stamped his feet on the porch, but since there was no boot brush, that was the
best he could do to get the snow off his boots and trousers before stepping
inside into the entry area. A single oil lamp cast a dim glow.
    Another
officer, wearing a black wool sweater over his tunic, appeared in the archway
on the far side of the entry hall. “Glad to see you, Alucius.”
    “Good
to see you, Feran. I’m glad the journey’s over. It’s cold out there.”
    “You
took the bluff road, didn’t you?” Even in the dimness of the hall, the lines
radiating from Feran’s eyes were deep enough to show his age—a good fifteen
years older than Alucius.
    Alucius
nodded as he moved toward the hallway where Feran stood and along