Good solider, good friend

Kira stepped into the hall and closed the door behind her. She let out a sigh while stretching her lower back and shoulders.

'Well done Captain Raedwynn. That was impressive.' A soft-spoken voice behind her said. ‘As always, you prove to be a good soldier and a good friend to the summoned.’

A good soldier and a good friend? The words lodged in her ears. They would have caused her to feel great pride once. Without turning around, she replied.

'Alderman Atlestan, did you hear everything?'

'Yes, the reports have been quite thorough. What a pitiable man. To be separated from you beloved children must be devastating for any father.'

'I could not imagine what he is feeling right now. What are we going to do? Has there ever been a mistake like this?'

'Of course. There are always mistakes, but it has been a long time.' His lips curled up in a mirthless smile, 'The first time, in fact, since I took command of the High Office of Summoning.'

Kira thought she could her the sharpening of knives already. She spun quickly and looked the Alderman in the eye. 'Can we help him?'

'We will do our best to make him as comfortable as possible. If he chooses, he can spend the rest of his days in luxury and leisure.'

'Luxury,' Kira’s voice dropping almost into a whisper, 'That isn’t what I was talking about.'

'We can discuss it tomorrow. I’ll will invite Edward to a private meeting. You are welcome to join him.'

The way the Alderman said Edward’s name made Kira think of a magic philosopher preparing to dissect a newly acquired magical beast.

'But sir, I have my duties to think of.'

'I will speak to your captain personally. Trust me. There won’t be an issue.'

I bet that will make Captain Ryan squirm. Kira could see her escape routes closing, but she wasn’t quite ready to concede.

'You must have someone else. One of these people listening to private conversations in other languages and making reports for you? Your spies. Surely one of them could...' Her voicefaltered in her last attempt to resist.

'You know the answer to that. We aren’t just looking for linguistic skills. There is no one else. No one who could perform this task as you could. Until tomorrow, Captain.'

'And sir, I’m a guardsman.'

'Yes, you said that before. Goodbye, guardsman, for now.' He turned around and headed down the hall.

Every time Kira spoke to the Alderman, she could see every turn and dead end in the conversation. Yet, she still managed to walk exactly where he wanted her to go. She gave out an even larger sigh.

She was exhausted, despite only waking up a few hours ago. It had been several months since she last talked so much and the conversations tonight were difficult, in so many ways. All she had seen and heard brought back painful memories. She didn’t know if she could be a supporter to a summoned again. Even so, she couldn’t deny the Adlerman’s words. There was more to being a supporter than just speaking the language.

‘Maybe just one more day; just to make sure Edward is OK.’ She whispered to herself.

Her mind wondered to other parts of the conversation and to the old, informal saying they like to throw around in the Palace.

‘Did you hear him, Lauren? A good soldier and a good friend? If only that were true.’

Kira walked over to the room next to Edward’s and went inside. Near the bed was all her belongings, collected from Elli’s Inn. Adlerman Atlestan doesn’t waste time.

*

Early next morning, there was a quick, rhythmic knock at the door. Kira jumped up and quickly opened it. In the doorway stood a mature man in his 40s dressed in military uniform. Kira’s eyes were drawn to the immaculate bronze breastplate, intricately incised and decorated with gold and silver gilding. She knew it and the man well.

‘Good morning, Captain Raedwynn. What a great pleasure to see you again.’ The man said, leaning on an ornate staff in front of him.

‘Grand Master Landric, I wasn’t expecting you. I am so sorry for my attire. I’m afraid I don’t have anything more suitable for seeing such important guests.’ She said.

‘What a coincidence, that’s partly why I am here. May I come in.’ He walked in without waiting for a reply ‘Thank you. My, what a luxurious room this is. It must be an improvement on the dingy inns down by the docks.’

‘There’s no denying it’s a fine room.’ Kira replied.

It was true. The room was filled with exquisitely carved furniture and patterned fabrics. Even so, Kira couldn’t help preferring Elli’s inn.

‘I am so sorry you had to come all the way here to see me, Grand Master. You must be very busy. Please sit down.’

‘Thank you, and I’m not so busy as that. Not so busy that I can’t make time for one of the finest soldiers I’ve ever had the fortune to command.’

Interesting, Kira thought. She had been in the capital for three months and this was the first time she had seen the Grand Master.

‘You are too humble sir. With the newly arrived summoned, you must have much to arrange.’

‘That’s true,’ The Grand Master’s banal smile faded for a moment. ‘And what of your new arrival?’

My new arrival? ‘If you mean Edward, he is still sleeping next door.’

‘Good, good.’ He said, smiling again. ‘A bit of trouble he caused last night. I hope a good night’s rest will put him in a better mood.’

‘Maybe,’ she forced herself to say through a closed-lip smile. ‘Please forgive me sir, I forgot to offer you some tea.’ She made to get up, but the Grand Master signalled for her to stay seated.

‘No please, Captain. I can’t stay long. I came to bring you something. Come in, Lieutenant.’

A soldier entered the room and placed an item on the table between them before leaving again.

The package was wrapped in a cloth familiar to Kira. It was the deep teal colour of her old order, the Huscarls of the Silverhand. In the centre was the group’s symbol and motto: a gauntlet of silver and the words ‘For our nation, for the summoned.’

Kira stared a moment at it, and after some encouragement from the Grand Master, reluctantly opened it. Inside was a green military tunic with silver embroidery along its margins.

‘Sir, I can’t take this’ Kira said.

‘You will take it, Captain. As long as you remain beside a summoned, it is only appropriate.’

‘But sir, it has been so long. I don’t know if it will fit.’ Kira said, more to herself than anyone else. ‘Honestly, I always found it a little tight.’

‘Captain Raedwynn, that uniform was made for you. Now if you excuse me, I must be off. I expect I will be seeing you again not too long from now.’

As the Grand Master made his way to the door, he turned around.

‘And Captain, you have permission to again wear a sword within the grounds of the Palace and Heaven’s Gate. Do you still have your family sword?’

‘Yes sir, I still have it.’

‘Fine weapon that sword. Even a king would feel no shame wearing it. I’m not sure even my own sword compares.’ He said wistfully before leaving the room.

Kira remained seated, gently rubbing down the tunic with her hand. The fabric was still soft, and the silver threats still glittered. She carefully carried it to the chest of drawers next to the bed and placed the tunic inside.

She didn’t have to think too hard about who was really behind the Grand Master’s visit. There weren’t many men that could compel an ego so large, even fewer who could make him visit a subordinate. Or former subordinate.

In any case, she could make her decision another time. She needed to be ready for when Edward wakes up. Yesterday was hard, she thought, but there was still the meeting with Adlerman Atlestan to get through.