Polynt looked directly at Mykel without any nervousness at all.

"I didn't!" Mergeyt's voice rose almost to a squeak.

Mykel turned to Jonasyr. "What happened?"

"I don't know, sir. I was looking up front. I just heard the shots. Polynt and Mergeyt were riding back of us."

The captain knew what Rykyt was going to say before the angular and weathered lander ever did.

"I heard 'em talking, sir, but not who said what. Then there were shots."

Mykel wondered... if they just buried the body? No. With his luck, someone would find the man, and then he'd be facing a flogging to the death. How... ?

He almost hit his own head as he realized he had the answer. Before he said a word, his own rifle was out. "Polynt! Mergeyt! Hand your rifles to Rykyt. Both of you. Butt first. Now!"

"Yes, sir." Polynt handed over his rifle easily, almost casually.

Mergeyt's hands were shaking as he did.

"Rykyt, check the magazines."

"Polynt's weapon's warm, sir. Two shells missing."

That was as he suspected. "What about Mergeyt's rifle?""Cold, and fully loaded, sir." Rykyt's eyes narrowed as he looked at Polynt.

"There's a mistake, sir. Mergeyt switched weapons on me." Polynt projected complete sincerity.

"We'll see about that. We'll have a hearing. I think the Myrmidon colonel's still in Dramuria. They're pretty good at finding things out." One way or another, Mykel needed to get some other officer besides Majer Vaclyn involved. He looked at the other older ranker. "Jonasyr. See if there's anyone in the cot over there."

There was no one else in the cot, and the signs were that no one else lived there.

So the dead holder's body went with them, and Mykel dreaded making the reports, but there was no safe way to hide what had been done, and no way to justify it-not that didn't leave him open to even greater risk and punishment.

44.

Slightly past midafternoon on Duadi afternoon, after returning to the mining barracks briefly, Mykel rode south to Dramuria with third squad.

He left Fifteenth Company under Bhoral, with instructions to continue the same patrols, except for the area that third squad had been covering. No one was to patrol there.

The ride to the Cadmian compound in Dramuria took more than two glasses, and Mykel brought the squad in the smaller east gate, where they would not visible from the headquarters building. Since Majer Vaclyn seldom inspected or visited the stables or the troopers' barracks, Mykel had a good chance of working matters out as he planned. It was worth the attempt.

Before he left the barracks area where third squad was quartered, Mykel gave specific orders to Chyndylt. "Keep third squad together. Keep Polynt under guard, and don't let anyone talk to anyone until I return, or until you get direct orders from someone senior."

"That bad, sir?"It was probably worse, but Mykel wasn't about to say so. "Not if we handle it right."

When he reached the headquarters building, he eased in-side and looked along the main corridor. He didn't see Ma-jer Vaclyn. He made his way to the duty desk.

"Is Majer Vaclyn in?"

"No, sir," replied the squad leader. "He left a few moment ago. He said he wouldn't be that long."

"Thank you."

Mykel couldn't find Captain Meryst, but Captain Benjyr was in his study in the headquarters building.

"What can I do for you, Captain?" asked Benjyr.

"I need a moment with Majer Herryf. Is he around?"

"He might be..."

"It's important that he and Majer Vaclyn know something, but if Majer Herryf doesn't know about it, and I report to Majer Vaclyn..."

"I think he's still in his study."

Mykel followed the other captain down the corridor.

"Sir," said Benjyr, opening the study door slightly, "Captain Mykel of Fifteenth Company would like a few words with you."

"Have him come in."

Benjyr smiled at Mykel. "Good luck." His voice was low.

Mykel stepped into the majer's study. The door clicked shut behind him.

'This is rather unusual," began Herryf. "You report to Majer Vaclyn. For whatever it is, I should send you to him.""Yes, sir. I'm not asking you to do anything. Something happened that I thought both you and Majer Vaclyn should know. He stepped out, and the duty desk didn't know when he'd be back. I thought that you might be able to counsel the majer if you knew."

Herryf frowned.

"Let me explain, sir. Fifteenth Company has been taking a lot of sniping. I've sent two men back here wounded in the last week..." Mykel quickly summarized what had happened, then went on. "... we're being called outland Cad-naians, and everyone thinks you've been pushed aside.

We won't be here forever. We never are on deployments, and it seemed to me that you'd have to deal with the results of what we do."

"That is most considerate of you, Captain, but it would have been less trouble for all of us if your man hadn't shot a Dramuran."

"There's one other problem, sir. The Cadmian who did the shooting is a Dramuran. He's one of two in my company."

"I'm not sure how that changes matters, Captain."

"It may not. If Polynt is executed, that's two Dramurans dead, and Third Battalion killed them both. It is a difficult situation. I even have to ask if the man who shot the holder might have fled Dramur and might have had a grudge against the holder."

Herryf frowned. "Why would you think that?"

"There were words exchanged, and it seems strange that, just from nowhere, a ranker would shoot someone. Polynt denies it all, of course.

The thing is, if it is a grudge shooting, then that's one thing, and it ought to be handled as a case of murder. If it's not, then you and Majer Vaclyn both need to know that all of this taunting on patrols is having an effect."

"Are you sure that it doesn't reflect lack of supervision, Captain?"

"Every company in Third Battalion has been sniped at, sir, but Fifteenth Company has taken more attacks than anyone."

"Are you hoping that this is something local?""I don't think it is, sir, but I don't know. There's no real way for either me or Majer Vaclyn to find out. You could, and that would make sure this is handled in the proper fashion."

"I can see your concerns. You also don't want to be blamed for a failure that's not in your control, either, I imagine."

"I'm responsible, one way or another, sir. I'd just like to limit the damage." Mykel tried to convey both sincerity and concern. "I had thought, with a Myrmidon colonel here, there might be something he could do... but that decision rests with you and Majer Vaclyn."

There was a knock on the study door. "Captain Benjyr, sir. Majer Vaclyn has returned. I told him you might need a few words with him. He said that he'd await your pleasure."

Herryf smiled faintly and stood. "Lead the way, Captain."

"Yes, sir." Mykel offered a half bow and turned, stepping out of the study. He could only hope that he could present matters in a way that restricted Majer Vaclyn's actions, but much of that depended on Herryf.

He knew he could not trust either majer to act fairly unless it was in each's interest to do so, and he had to set matters so that they saw matters in a similar light.

Majer Vaclyn's mouth almost dropped open as he saw Mykel, but he merely nodded as Majer Herryf followed Mykel into the small study.

"Majer," Mykel began, "I was looking for you, but you were out, and, since the matter I was seeking you for also involved Majer Herryf, I sought him out while I was waiting for your return. As you know, Fifteenth Company has been patrolling the mine road and the surrounding area in an effort to capture rebels. We have taken sporadic fire for weeks now..."

Mykel went on to explain exactly what had happened with the third squad patrol. "Because this matter will affect both of you, and because-"

"Who knows about this?" snapped Vaclyn.

"The people in this room, sir, and third squad. No one else. The holder lived alone. That was another reason why I returned immediately with third squad. Polynt is under restraint in the barracks at this point, and the squad is under orders not to talk to anyone about the matter."For several moments, there was silence.

Then Vaclyn turned to Herryf. "Majer... you have had more time to consider this, and you're more familiar with the local situation. What do you think?"

Herryf smiled politely. "I think your captain was very wise in considering what the local implications might be, particularly with a Myrmidon colonel observing us. His immediate referral to us speaks well of your example and oversight, Majer."

Mykel managed to keep his face impassive. Herryf saw a definite advantage in not having Mykel made an example, but where was the local Cadmian majer headed?

"As you may not know," Herryf continued, "I had raised the matter of the rebels with the Marshal of Myrmidons and Cadmians sometime ago. I had requested the authority and golds to establish another company. That request was... deferred. Then, your battalion was deployed here. For these reasons, for either one of us to hold a court-martial over the officers and men involved could be seen as less than impartial."

"You are suggesting that we request the colonel act as justicer, then?"

asked Vaclyn.

"He has that authority, and as an observer, he has even more impartiality."

"That does have merit," reflected Vaclyn.

"Since the incident did occur with Third Battalion, of course," Herryf added, "I could not make such a request, but I would be pleased to concur and add my strong recommendation. My very strong recommendation."

"The recommendation will be ready in the morning, Majer," Vaclyn replied. "I appreciate your counsel and support."

"If we do not act together," replied Herryf, "we may well suffer separately. If there is nothing more?"

"Not at the moment. Captain Mykel and I will need to discuss the details."Herryf nodded. "Thank you, Majer... Captain."

Once the study door closed, Vaclyn looked hard at Mykel. "Why did you even bring this here?" The majer's voice was low and did not conceal both anger and displeasure. "You could have handled it there."

"No, sir. The holder was an older man, with lands. People know him.

You can't keep eighteen troopers quiet. Not when the guilty one is trying to blame his riding mate. I'd just as soon have shot Polynt myself, but then every trooper in the company would be asking who I'd shoot next"

"You think you were so smart, in making sure Majer Her-ryf knew."

"Sir, the whole compound would know within a day if I tried to keep it quiet. He was here when I came looking for you. He had to know that I'd been on patrol. He's not stupid."

Vaclyn's hand blurred toward his belt.

Mykel knew what was coming, and he also knew that Va-clyn wasn't aiming to kill or injure-unless Mykel moved.

Thunk! The throwing knife vibrated from where it had embedded itself in the doorframe behind and to the left of Mykel's ear.

"Captain..." Vaclyn's voice oozed menace. "I do not like games. I do not like schemes. What does it take to make that point to you?"

"Sir... I am trying to do the best I know how. It is hard on the men, being shot at from-cover day after day, and having the locals make cracks and comments all the time. We're protecting these locals from escaped prisoners and brigands, and they think we're the enemy. Majer Herryf pointed out that all the Cadmians are considered as less than impartial, and with Polynt being from Dramur, if you or the majer find him guilty, lots of people here would say that he was a scapegoat, that we picked the one of the few Cadmians from Dramur to blame. By referring it to the colonel, you avoid that. No one questions an alector-"

"It's still a game." Majer Vaclyn smiled coldly. 'This time... this time...

you just might be right. Unlike the last time. Since this was your idea, youwrite the first draft of the request. I'll expect it here in my study in less than two glasses. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Oh... one other matter. I've let things cool off in Jy-oha, but I'll be sending Thirteenth Company off on Quattri to make sure things don't go back to the way they were."

"Yes, sir."

"Write up that draft. Make it good, Captain, very good. After that, you will also draft a report, just the way you told it to us. Tonight. Majer Herryf and I will see Colonel Dainyl in the morning. You and your squad are to remain within the compound until this is resolved. You may go, Captain."

Mykel left. He did not look at the knife in the doorframe. He'd heard about the majer and his knives, but this was the first time he'd been a target-even as a warning. Matters were definitely not good, but they could have been far worse. Still... he had a long night ahead of him. He also wondered how long it would be before the majer found some way to bring him before a court-martial-and why the majer was out after him.

45.

Over the days since he had received his latest instructions from Marshal Shastylt, Dainyl had flown twice to the peak of the ancients, after sensing something, but the soarer and her creatures had vanished long before he arrived. Could she sense him as well as he could her? Most probably. He wanted to learn more, but since he had not, he started the weekly report the marshal had hinted would be appropriate, including a few words stating that he had discovered a tunnel of the ancients venerated by at least some of the indigens near where he had been shot.