Page 37 of The Scouts

I cast Lochan a look.

He glanced my way and damn it— something akin to regret shone in his eyes. At the confirmation that he longed for the same, disappointment gripped my heart with more heat. I tried to curb the sting of it. I failed—evidently—since Heinnés chuckled.

“Don’t look as if I smashed your bow, Morryés. I promise you’ll get a chance to have a leave together.”

“I’m going to hold you to it, sir,” I muttered with some bite.

“Fine, fine. For now, though, that’s where we are. You’ll leave in a couple of days. By then, Lieutenant Breaés will have the contracts, bills of exchange and the likes all drawn up for you. Discuss the paperwork with him.”

Had I been in a brighter mood, I might’ve laughed at the abhorrence Heinnés managed to pour into those three syllables. The commander often repeated that Lieutenant Breaés—the unit’s procurement officer who dealt with our purchases, bookkeeping and everything else that did Heinnés’ head in—was worth his weight in silver.

“I will, sir,” I said.

“Ah, and Morryés. Be smart with the coin, but don’t go skimping. A bargain is a good thing, but quality comes first.”

I nodded. Every soldier realised the dangers of saving on horses, boots and weapons. It was shite economy that ended in life losses.

“Now as to Féyes’ assignment,” Heinnés said, his eyes narrowing, “that’s on a need-to-know basis.”

As expected. I rose from my chair. “Yes, sir. I’ll wait outside.”

Afterwards, Lochan hinted he didn’t foresee returning sooner than in a fortnight. Whatever his destination, it looked as though getting there involved a fair deal of travelling. Which meant he would be bound either for the Barbarian Territory or the Empire. I had my coin on the latter. Her Grace tended to leave the free tribes mostly to their own devices while meddling in the Emperor’s affairs with more gusto.

Lochan didn’t seem overly worried about his task. But when did he ever? So that didn’t offer me much reassurance.

We parted at the crack of dawn the following day, with Lochan leaving first.

I saw him off to the stables. The clouds hung low on that dull, grey morning as we walked across the courtyard through drizzle. I watched him saddle up his mare. From his calm but distant gaze, I could tell he’d already slipped into a mission-ready focus.

Before he mounted up, I drew him in for a quick embrace. I kissed his temple, not trusting myself to go for his lips at this time. “Safe journey, mu’hrōnye,” I muttered into his hair, my voice a little hoarse. “Be careful.”

Lochan nodded, his gloved hand squeezing mine one last time. “I’ll write to you,” he said from horseback.

“You will?” I said, caught off guard by the promise.

“Scout’s honour,” he deadpanned and cued his mare to move forward. She shortly broke into a steady trot.

* * *

The Highlands

ERVYN

It turned out that I hadn’t been the only one tasked with securing a contingent of horses at the fair.

Chance had it that Verhan’s commander had sent him to the Highlands with similar orders. To my cousin’s disconsolation, his redhead hadn’t been granted leave due to his obligations with the Honour Guard. Verhan had only grumbled about that a hundred times. But we felt both chuffed at the unexpected meet.

Verhan and his mother were guests at my parents’ house on the eve of the fair. The opportunities for us to get together came few and far between these days, so everyone welcomed the prospect of some quality family time.

It didn’t, of course, take long for a disagreement to break out about the correct and superior technique of repairing the fletching on yaanöŭr distance arrows.

For a time, I watched Verhan fiddle with the feathers in a pretty unorthodox manner. “You can’t do it like that,” I said at last, unable to bear this sacrilege any longer.

‘Course I can,” he replied. “That’s the method the southern clans use in our garrison. Nought wrong with that. You should try it.”

I crossed my arms over my chest. “No, thanks. Looks like taking six bends to make three turns.”

“It’s quicker, as a matter of fact. Stop being so uptight, Ervyn.” Verhan held up his finger. “You don’t like it because it ain’t traditional. The skies won’t fall if you try something new now and again, you know.”