"I--er--well, I came to look for you, that's all. You've been missed." Then, as it were assuming a harsher note to cover his embarrassment, he asked abruptly, "Who are these men?"
"They're Ortelgan officers," she answered no less coldly, "come to talk with Lord Elleroth. I think you'd better put up your sword, captain. I'm acting as their surety."
Zen-Kurel, frowning perplexedly, did as she had suggested.
"What do they want with Lord Elleroth?"
"I reckon that's between him and them," she said; "in the first place, anyway." Then, as the three Ortelgans came up, "This is Lord Ta-Kominion of Ortelga: Captain Zen-Kurel of Katria."
Ta-Kominion bowed, concealing his surprise. "Has King Karnat seconded officers to Erketlis, then? I didn't know that."
"No," replied Zen-Kurel, "I'm here by an accident of war. I was a prisoner of the Leopards in Bekla, but I managed--that's to say, Maia--she--er--she contrived my escape."
"Did she?" answered Ta-Kominion. "At that rate, it seems we all owe her a debt in common."
It was full daylight now, the clear sky already blue, the grasshoppers beginning to chirp in the brown, dry grass. Pushing through a belt of trees near the river, they found themselves within fifty yards of eight or nine Sarkidian soldiers. They had thrown a plank across the dried-up watercourse which Maia had crossed the night before, and set up an outpost on the nearer bank.
Maia again went forward, and addressed the tryzatt.
"Tryzatt, these Ortelgan officers have come in peace to talk with Lord Elleroth. Can you please conduct them to him at once?"
She had already turned away by herself when Zen-Kurel overtook her.
"Where are you going, Maia?"
"Across the river," she said, "to join the other women and go to sleep; I'm very tired. Thank you for coming to look for me."
94: MERIS'S LAST ESCAPADE
As the servants removed the Ortelgans' knives and plates and cleared the table Elleroth, who had briefly left them, returned and drew up a bench. With him were Mollo, Tolis and two or three more of his officers, as well as Bayub-Otal and Zen-Kurel.
"I've sent all the food we can spare over to your camp," he said to Ta-Kominion. "I'm afraid it's rather penitential stuff, but perhaps your sybaritic connoisseurs will make allowances. Have you many sick and wounded?"
"Too many," replied Ta-Kominion. "We had our own surgeon with us, but he died in Chalcon, poor fellow. The High Baron's not going to be pleased about that: he was a good doctor--trained on Quiso."
"Well, that's the place, no doubt of it," said Elleroth. "I'm sending Muzarkalleen, one of my officers, to be treated by the Tuginda, if only we can get him there. He got badly cut up at that little affair on the highway."
"So did we, sir," said Dy-Karn. "Lost seventy-six men, though some of them may have been able to get themselves back to Ortelga, I hope."
"I'll send our doctor over to your camp," said Elleroth. "Could you see to it, Tolis, please? But that reminds me, Ta-Kominion; I'd like your advice. We have these slave children to find homes for, you know, and it's not easy. I'm determined they shall go to good homes, not to places where they'll remain slaves in everything but name. I had a notion to send two of the girls to Quiso with Muzarkalleen, as a sort of offering. You never know, they might make priestesses one day. What do you think?"
"Are they clever?" asked Ta-Kominion.
"One of them--Melathys--struck me as a particularly sharp child," answered Elleroth. "That's why I picked her."
"Well," said Ta-Kominion, "I imagine that if they're clever they'll be welcome. A little non-Ortelgan blood among the priestesses might be all to the good. They'll be well treated, anyway; you can be sure of that."
"Well, it's a small matter," said Elleroth, "but I'm glad to hear you approve. Still, we'd better get down to business, hadn't we? You say Kembri's in a bad way?"
"We all think his position's hopeless: that's why we're here, of course. You see, the army was badly demoralized in Chalcon and the reinforcements from Bekla--well, they've turned out worse than nothing, really. And then on top of that we heard that Randronoth had defected--"
"So it occurred to you to tiptoe away on fairy feet, in darkness and clandestine order, did it?"
"Well, you have to put yourself in Ortelga's position," replied Ta-Kominion. "Bel-ka-Trazet's policy has always been to keep in with Bekla, so that we can count on help against the Deelguy when it's needed."
"Dear me, yes; those dashing, vagabond laddies--"
"This isn't the first time Ortelga's had to choose the right moment to run up a tilting plank to the other end," put in Dy-Karn. "It was the same when the Leopards deposed Senda-na-Say."
"Kembri was very insistent that we should send men to join Elvair-ka-Virrion," said Ta-Kominion.
"Bel-ka-Tra-zet didn't really care for the idea, but he couldn't very well get out of it. So he picked on me." He gave a short, sardonic laugh. "Oh, I admit I was keen enough: I reckoned we'd all do very well out of it; but that was more than Bel-ka-Trazet ever thought, if I know anything about him. Why, even at the barrarz in Bekla he was warning me to get out quick if we had to. I didn't think much about it at the time, but after the battle I felt it would be best to bring what was left of the men back as soon as I could."
"Yes, indeed," said Elleroth, "and perhaps a short bil-let-doux to Santil wouldn't come amiss, either: but that's for you to decide. Well, let us consider the ins and outs of this jolly log-roll, shall we? As a matter of fact, it will be literally that, as Captain Mollo will now explain."
"Got to get up through Purn before the rains, that's it. Need more men--got to get on faster."
"Northward through Purn: one might almost call that a step in the right direction as far as you're concerned, might not one?" asked Elleroth. "Have you a few meaty lads capable of swinging an axe?"
"Yes, but no axes."
"I have some more axes coming up from Sarkid, but swords are good enough for undergrowth and that sort of thing. Well then, when we get out on the other side of Purn I have a fancy to turn east and cut the Bekla-Ikat road behind Kembri. He'll really love that, if he hasn't already fallen back on Bekla. Would you care to join us in a little spree of that nature?"
"Well, if that's your price," replied Ta-Kominion, "we'll have to pay it--"
"Think of the novelty; the wonderful excitement--"
"--but from what I've seen, Kembri may very well collapse before he can fall back anywhere, if Erketlis attacks him."
"We don't know what's happening in Bekla, though, do we?" said Elleroth, dropping his bantering manner and speaking more seriously. "Who's got it? Fornis, Eud-Ecachlon or the Lapanese?"
"I suppose Erketlis means to have it, doesn't he?" said Dy-Karn.
"Certainly; and before the rains, if he can. I've no quarrel with Eud-Ecachlon; but that evil woman mustn't be allowed time to make herself stronger in Bekla. I'll admit I am afraid of her. She's a sorceress: she can bewitch people out of their right minds; and she'd destroy the empire before she'd relinquish power--call in the Deelguy or something like that."
Ta-Kominion nodded. "That's what I think, too. Well, let's agree on this much. As soon as my men have had a day's food and rest and got back some spirit, we'll help you through the forest. Then let's talk again in the light of what we find out when we get to the other side. That's meant to be honest and no more than I'm ready to stand to. Will you accept it?"
"Yes, I will," said Elleroth. He gave Ta-Kominion his hand. "I'm sure Maia will be delighted to hear about this little bargain of ours."
"By the Ledges, that's a girl, sir!" said Dy-Karn. "I couldn't believe it last night, when she said she'd come across to us of her own accord."
"Oh, really? Now I could, you know," answered Elleroth. "As a matter of fact, that was why I recalled our patrols. When I was told she was missing, I had a sort of notion that she might be paying you a call; and I didn't want anything to spoil it--no little animosity in the tene-brosity, you know, or anything
like that."
"You mean you'd already thought we might join you?"
"I mean nothing so vainglorious. I had no idea--none of us had--whether you might not be Kembri in full fig. As a military commander I could hardly do anything very amicable, could I, until I knew that? Awkward chap, Kem-bri; might have been rather stuffy, don't you know. But that splendid girl--she took the whole risk on herself and saved us all any amount of trouble, to say the very least."
"You might have let me know earlier that she was gone, sir," said Zen-Kurel. "I didn't learn it till just before dawn."
"Oh, might I, now?" replied Elleroth, gravely returning his glance. "Do you know, I'm afraid that never really occurred to me? I thought you'd said earlier on--"
"If we'd only known," broke in Bayub-Otal, "I think we'd both have gone out after her a great deal earlier."
"Well, I thought it would be a shame to wake you," replied Elleroth suavely, "after-the hard day you'd had. However, next time she does anything like that, I assure you I'll--"
Suddenly Tolis burst in, wide-eyed. As everyone looked up Elleroth broke off, laying a hand on his arm.
"I infer that something untoward has occurred, Tolis," he said composedly. "I wonder what. Not Kembri, I hope?"
"No, sir," said Tolis. "There's been a murder in camp, sir: a woman!"
"O gods!" said Elleroth, getting up. "How boring! I knew it would happen sooner or later. Who is it?"
"It's the girl who came last night, sir," said Tolis, "with these officers--"
"Not Maia?" cried Zen-Kurel. Bayub-Otal, white to the lips, sprang to his feet, gripping the edge of the table.
"No, sir," answered Tolis. "The other girl, the Belishban girl; she's dead, sir!"
"Do we know how?" asked Elleroth, taking his sword-belt from the orderly.
"Yes, sir. There's two men being held under guard. They reported the girl's death themselves. They admit having caused it."
"Who are they?" said Elleroth.
"Lortil and Dectaron, sir. Captain Mollo's company."
"But great Cran, those are two damned good men, that's it! Never been in any sort of trouble! What the--"
"Calm yourself, Mollo! Obviously we must look into this at once. Where have they put the poor girl?"
EUeroth turned to Tolis.
"In one of the shelters, sir, up the lines."
Elleroth looked round at the officers present. "Mollo and Tolis, you'd better come with me; and of course you'll wish to come, too, won't you?" he said to Bayub-Otal and Zen-Kurel. "Perhaps the rest of you won't mind waiting here for the time being--unless, of course," he added to Ta-Kominion, "you'd prefer to go back to your camp and start making arrangements in the light of what we've just agreed. We'll meet again later."
Having taken Ta-Kominion's hands for a moment in farewell, he ducked out under the curtain which the orderly was holding aside.
The body of Meris, covered with a blanket,-was lying in the further corner of the shelter to which Tolis led the way. A soldier on guard saluted as the commander entered. Gently, Elleroth drew back the blanket from the head. The girl's face was contorted, the teeth clenched, the lips drawn back so far that the cheeks were ridged under the open eyes.
"Where's the wound?" asked Elleroth.
"Her neck's broken, sir," answered Tolis.
One of Meris's arms was protruding stiffly from under the blanket. Elleroth took the cold hand in his own, stooped and touched it with his lips. He turned to Bayub-Otal and Zen-Kurel.
"I'm more sorry than I can tell you. My guest--your friend--I feel to blame."
As Bayub-Otal murmured some conventional words of demurral, Zirek entered in tears and fell on his knees beside the bed.
"Someone must put some clothes on the body and lay her out decently," said Elleroth to the soldier.
"Yes, sir," he answered. "There's some women waiting. Only tryzatt Miarn said not to alter anything until you'd seen her, sir, and said what was to be done, like."
"Perfectly correct," said Elleroth. "Tell the tryzatt to let the women come in. And say a pyre's to be prepared for this evening."
"Sir."
Elleroth was turning to go when Zirek touched his hand.
"I'd like to--to stay here and pray for a minute or two, sir, if I may, before the women come. I won't be long."
"Of course," replied Elleroth. He turned to the soldier. "Wait outside, please, Hospa, until U-Zirek has finished."
"Sir."
"Where are the two men under guard?"
"With the tryzatt, sir. They're not making no trouble, sir; only they've asked if they can see Captain Mollo."
Elleroth nodded. "Well, Captain Mollo, will you go and talk to them, and then bring them to me under guard as soon as you're ready? Shall we say in about half an hour?"
The officers went out, followed by the soldier. Zirek, left alone, stood for some time prayings with raised, outstretched arms. Then, bending forward, he drew the blanket entirely away from the body, so that Meris lay naked before him as she had so often lain in life--the firm, smooth thighs, the gentle curve of the belly with its deep, hollow navel, the big circles round the nipples like dark-hued lilies on rose-pink water--a reversal of nature. Even now, against wish and will---so that he felt ashamed, and once more covered the body--her stricken, cold beauty had the power to kindle desire. He knelt and kissed her feet, one and then the other.
"I'm sorry, lass," he said aloud. "Cran knows I'm sorry. I'd have loved you and kept you safe, if only you'd let me. I always said you'd do it once too often, but you wouldn't listen, would you? At least it'll leave you in peace now."
The sentry, who had retired to a decent distance, returned at the sound of his voice. "I'm sorry, sir, did you speak to me? I'm afraid I didn't catch what you said."
"No, that's all right, lad," said Zirek. "I'm done now, thanks. Let the women come in."
Elleroth and Mollo looked up at the two soldiers standing before them. Both were conspicuously scratched and had bled about the face and neck. On either side of them stood their own tryzatt and another. Bayub-Otal, Zen-Kurel and Zirek were standing behind and to the left of Elleroth. The hut was close and stuffy, and all nine men were sweating.
"Now," said Elleroth, looking from one prisoner to the other as he addressed them, "you had better both understand at once that this is a very serious matter indeed. A young woman has come to a violent end. She was a secret agent of General Erketlis, who had carried out a very important and dangerous exploit in Bekla with the greatest heroism. She had escaped and was on her way to General Erketlis to be honored and rewarded. She was a personal friend of the gentlemen you see here, and she was my guest and therefore under my protection. Now have you understood that, Dectaron?"
"Yes, sir."
"And you, Lortil?"
"Yes, sir."
"Am I to understand that you admit having caused this woman's death?"
"Yes, sir."
"Both of you?"
"Yes, sir."
"I want to be perfectly plain with you. You realize that this is a hanging matter?"
"Yes, sir."
"I understand that you both came to tryzatt Miarn of your own accord and reported that you'd killed the woman. Is that correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, Dectaron, you're the older man. You'd better tell me what happened."
"Beg your pardon, sir; might we have permission to sit down, sir? Not meaning any disrespect--"
"I think everybody had better sit down," said Elleroth. "Tryzatt, please set some more benches. Thank you. Now, Dectaron, how did this come about?"
"Well, sir, it was like this, sir. Last night I was on guard duty, sir, and we enforced curfew on the women and children at the usual time, in accordance with standing orders. It must have been about two hours after that, sir, as I was going round the far end of the camp on my beat, that I happened to be passing close to my own shelter, as I share with another man, Olfane, only he was on the guard too. There was no one about a
t all, when suddenly I sees this young woman coming towards me quite openly, sir. So I challenged her and asked her what she thought she was doing out at that hour. And she come up to me, sir, and put her arms round my neck and asked me if I'd like to go with her. 'For forty meld,' she says, 'you can do with me whatever you like.' "
Dectaron stopped, met Elleroth's eyes for a moTnent and looked down at the earth floor, hesitating.
"Go on," said Elleroth, grimly.
"She was--well, sir, she was very pressing, sir, sort of; she'd got her robe open and her deldas bare and--well, the long and short of it was, sir, I'm afraid it was too much for me, and I agreed with her for thirty meld, which was all I'd got."
"Even though you were supposed to be on guard?" asked Mollo.
"Yes, sir, I'm afraid so, sir. So I took her into my shelter, which was empty and just close by, as I've explained. And we were--we were there together, sir, for some time, like."
"And did you give her thirty meld?" asked Mollo.
"Yes, sir."
"Did you find that money on her, tryzatt?" asked Elleroth.
"In her clothes, sir, yes: that and a little more, actually."
"Go on, Dectaron."
"Well, sir, after a while I said, 'You realize I'm supposed to be on guard duty?' Naturally I was afraid of being missed, sir, you see. And she said that was nothing to her, so I says, 'Well, it is to me,' I says, 'and I'll have to be getting back quick.' So then she asked could she stay where she was, and I told her I thought it would be best if she did, right up until the morning, rather than start running about the camp again and getting into more trouble--"
"But she hadn't been in any trouble up till then, had she, soldier?" said Mollo. "And who's to blame for that, eh?"
"I am, sir." Neither Elleroth nor Mollo said more and after a short silence the wretched man, who was clearly very much afraid, went on.
"Well, so I left her there, sir, in my bed, and went back on guard duty: I hadn't been missed and I spent the rest of the night on and off sentry-go in the usual way."
"Excuse me, sir," broke in Lortil, "but I'm just as much to blame, sir, and if it's in order, I reckon I ought to go on now."
"Very well," replied Elleroth.
"Well, sir, I was one of those detailed to go across the river with the women and children. Some stayed over there all night, but the lot I was with were ordered back to camp very late, and then we were dismissed. And I was coming back to my shelter, sir, next to Dectaron's, when this girl came out. She was naked, sir, and she came up to me and began--well, sir, she began making up to me and asking me to come into Dectaron's shelter with her."