Hidden Ability (Book 1) (12 page)

When Jalan arrives at the Command Room, Major Erida is the only one there. The major calls him into the room and asks him to close the door.

“There was an order given by Lady Darla the same day you were made captain,” says Major Erida. “She decided to send specific lancers to the five closest houses in order to convey her personal request for aid. It seems that all five lancers happened to be some of our better mounted archers. I was tempted to countermand the order. Would you be interested in knowing why?”

Jalan gets the feeling Major Erida is trying to tell him something. His mother, Lady Shara, has done the same thing several times. She speaks to him as if they are talking about someone else. Although he hesitates, Jalan says, “Yes, sir.”

“First, I had ordered that Captains Burk, Martus and Sert select their companies from the available lancers. Had I wanted to remove any men from the choices available, I would have done so myself. Second, it is unwise for an officer to allow anyone to bypass the chain of command. It undermines the officer’s authority if people believe they can bypass him and go to someone above him to get what they want. That is not something I will tolerate.”

“Yes, sir,” says Jalan

“Consider what I have said. And, consider this conversation a warning. I will not allow you to play Lady Yen and me against each other in order to get what you want.”

Jalan had not thought of it that way. He had gone to Darla knowing she would have to contact the neighboring lords. There was a need to send someone to each house. Those messengers would have to leave immediately. Jalan thought he could solve his problem while Darla solved hers by asking her to send lancers from the list of men he and Sedic had compiled. If those lancers where away from Yen Manor serving as messengers for Lady Darla then the other Captains would not be able to take them first. Jalan would have at least a few good men to build his company around. “I am sorry, major. I should have talked to you.”

“Yes, you should have. But, I don’t expect you to be perfect and to always know the best way to handle a situation. That is why I allowed your maneuver to go forward. There were reasons for me to oppose this decision by Lady Darla, but it was not worth having a disagreement over it. I will discuss the situation with her so that she also understands we cannot operate this way in the future.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I am glad we understand each other, captain. It was also wise of you to not try to hold back the best archers and riders. I would have had to act in that case. We need those men in the field, not here training recruits how to string a bow without falling from a saddle. The men you chose are skilled. They are also patient enough to train others. You and Sedic did a good job picking them. I am willing to admit that your idea was sound even if your execution was flawed. And, the fact that you only attempted to hold onto five men also made it more palatable. They will all be ordered to report to you and Sedic upon their return to Yen Manor.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“If you want to thank me, use your men to train a company of mounted archers that the enemy will fear. Make them effective in battle. And, do it quickly. That’s all the thanks I require,” says Major Erida.

“Yes, sir. I will.”

“For the rest of the day, work with Lieutenant Goss on registering all the new recruits and volunteers. Find someone who can read and write well enough to replace you, because tomorrow you start training your own men. Dismissed.”

“Yes, sir,” says Jalan following it with a nod of the head before standing and leaving the Command Room to look for Lieutenant Goss.

Sedic and Jalan are together at the practice field when the first of Jalan’s mounted archers returns from his journey to one of the other landed houses. Lancer Serks is no taller than Jalan, but he is 3 years older. Serks volunteered for the lancers a year earlier. Before that he was one of the stable boys on the estate. Sedic probably knows more about Serks, but for Jalan it is enough to know that Serks rides well and shoots well.

Sedic makes the initial introduction by saying, “Serks, you remember Captain Yen don’t you?”

Serks arches an eyebrow and says to Jalan, “They told me at the gate to report to Captain Yen, but I never thought it was you. Ah, no disrespect, but I thought maybe some distant relative of your father.”

“It surprised me too,” says Jalan with a smile.

“Captain Yen’s young, but he’s solid,” interjects Sedic. “You and me, we’re part of his new company of mounted archers.”

After a short pause, Serks nods to Jalan and asks, “Where are the others, captain?”

“Coming,” says Jalan. “Dost, Harna, Miltrip and Reest should all return today too. They are visiting other houses.”

“And, we’ll be adding recruits as they come in,” says Sedic. “We billet in Barracks Three, Ground South. See to your mount, drop your gear and get back here.”

“All right,” says Serks. “Captain,” he says to Jalan with a nod.

“And sergeant,” cuts in Sedic. Serks raises his eyebrows questioningly. “I know. I haven’t had time to sew on the fool braid,” says Sedic.

Serks leaves. Sedic’s comment about sewing reminds Jalan that he needs to see Mistress Treana for his uniform fitting. It would probably make meeting the rest of his men easier if he were dressed properly. Jalan excuses himself and goes directly to Mistress Treana’s salon.

Brianne greats him and ushers him into the room where Jalan waits for a short time. When Mistress Treana enters she is followed by two young women Jalan does not know, although they look familiar.

“These are my twin nieces, Crisa and Sesen,” says the Mistress. “They are new apprentices. With all this commotion there is even more to do. My most experienced apprentice has left to open her own shop. It has thrown everything into chaos, but I wish her well. If we are fortunate, these two will be half the seamstress Jillnie was.”

The two girls lay out shirts, jackets, pants and two caps across a table and two chairs before giving a slight curtsy and exiting.

“They are so cute,” confides Mistress Treana. “Don’t you think so, captain?”

Jalan thinks about how his mother would answer. The girls have a strong family resemblance to Mistress Treana. He’s not sure if women like to be called cute. But, he knows his sister, Vee, likes it. “Yes,” he says while hoping he is not asked any more questions about girls. It is bad enough to have to try on clothes, but if he has to talk about girls too then he will be wearing rags before anyone can drag him back here.

Mistress Treana gives Jalan a bright smile and indicates one of the sets of clothes as she simultaneously unties the stay of a curtain that falls across one corner of the room and says, “You may change into the first uniform behind the curtain and then we’ll have a look at you.”

By the time the fitting ends, Jalan is sure he would rather go on one of Master Enmar’s runs. Mistress Treana assures him his uniforms will be ready tomorrow afternoon. There are two field uniforms for everyday use and one formal dress uniform Jalan hopes he never has a reason to wear. In addition, there are two capes. One for cold weather in the field and the second to go with the dress uniform.

Jalan decides to stop at the new cobbler’s shop. Not because of Mistress Treana’s observation about his shoes being unsuitable for a formal occasion, but because he needs new riding boots. And, the shoes Master Enmar had made for him are a bit worn. It would be a good idea to have a replacement pair made. He sighs as he also adds dress shoes to his mental list. If he does not do it now, someone will make him do it later anyway.

His discussion with the cobbler reminds him that he will have to pay for his uniforms and foot wear and likely several other things. The morning is gone. If Jalan wants to get anything done with his men he needs to see Darla right way and ask for help managing his lancer pay.

Lady Darla is set up in the Business Room right off the manor house parlor. Jalan goes to the parlor hoping to drop in on his sister and quickly speak with her. When he walks into the parlor he finds that it has been transformed from a comfortable meeting and entertaining room into a waiting room to see Lady Darla. There are comfortable chairs, but they are no long arranged around the fireplace. Instead they face more toward the doorway to the Business Room. Next to the doorway is a desk with a chair. A young woman, maybe Darla’s age, sits in the chair. Her brown hair is tied back with tan and blue ribbons. She looks up from the bound set of papers she is reading.

“May I be of service, young gentleman?” Her voice sounds very pleasant and she finishes her words with a little smile. Jalan notices that her eyes are dark like her long hair.

“I am here to see my sister. Er, I mean, Lady Darla,” says Jalan.

“Oh, you must be Captain Jalan. I am Jacey, Lady Darla’s assistant. Might I ask about the nature of your visit? Perhaps there is something I can help you with?”

Although Jacey seems nice, Jalan is uncertain about talking to her. “I think I would rather speak with Lady Darla, please.”

Jacey frowns slightly and says, “Very well. The lady is meeting with someone now, but if you wait she will be able to see you next.”

“Well, I suppose, that is, I imagine it would be all right to talk with you,” says Jalan. He does not really want to, but would not mind seeing Jacey smile again.

She rewards him with another little smile and says, “Please, tell me your concern.”

“I’m a captain. Well, you know that. I mean because I’m a captain the lancers pay me.” He stops, uncertain what to say next.

“Yes?” says Jacey with a clear sense of expectation in her voice.

“I don’t know what to do with the money,” he confides.

Jacey giggles.
She is laughing at me.
Normally this would bother Jalan, especially if it was Vee laughing. But when Jacey laughs, it is different. He is not sure why it is different. He just knows that it is.

“That is the best problem I have heard all day. That is a wonderful problem to have,” says Jacey. “And, you were right. You do need to speak with my lady. You have a family issue and I cannot help with those.”

“Why not?” says Jalan.

“Because, I am Lady Darla’s assistant. I’m not family. There are some matters that should be private.”

“Oh.” Jalan recalls things about The Ability that he and his mother have kept private even from the rest of the family. It makes sense to him that Jacey might learn of things that are kept within the family while working closely with Darla.

“But if you are working with Lady Darla, what difference does it make?”

Jacey seems to consider her answer before saying, “Perhaps it is a matter of degree. Have you ever kept a diary?”

Jalan shakes his head and says, “No.”

“Well, I have. A diary is a journal of one’s personal thoughts. If I think something, it is private. No one else knows about it. And, if I write it in my diary because I want to remember it or think about it more, then it is still private. The diary can be told things, but it will not do anything with what it is told. It is just a book. But, people are not diaries. The more private things you tell them, the more chance that they will do something with one of those things and it will not be private any longer.”

“You tell others things told to you in confidence?” asks Jalan. He is a little shocked to think Jacey might do such a thing.

Jacey giggles again. “No. Never!” she says with mock seriousness. And then with her face set in an earnest expression and looking Jalan right in the eye she adds, “It is not always what people say that matters. If someone knows something they can act on that knowledge even if they never tell anyone else what they know. Someone else watching them might guess at the secret because of the way the one keeping the secret acts.” Her face relaxes and her eyes sparkle as she adds, “It is easier not to know. Then there is nothing to hide and nothing to accidentally reveal.”

“If only more people felt that way, I would not be plagued with questions,” says Major Erida as he steps out of the Business Room with Lieutenant Goss behind him.

Jalan automatically straightens his posture and focuses on his commanding officer.

“Captain Jalan is there anything we might need to discuss before you see Lady Darla?” says Erida.

“No, sir. Just a family matter,” says Jalan.

“Very good. As you were.” Major Erida walks across the parlor and exits the room with Goss trailing behind him.

Some of Jalan’s tension slips away when the Major departs. He turns back to Jacey.

She rises from her seat behind the desk and holding up one finger to Jalan she says, “A moment. I will announce you.” Then she steps into the Business Room.

At the instant Jalan thinks he should take a seat and wait, Jacey returns and escorts him into the Business room where Lady Darla sits in her own chair behind a large worktable covered with documents. Darla looks so busy that Jalan is almost sorry to interrupt until he recalls everything else he needs to do today. It seems they are both very busy. He decides to be as brief as possible.

“I hope you’re not going to ask me to assign tasks to any more lancers,” says Lady Darla as she looks up from the papers laid out before her to speak to Jalan. Her smile tells him she is teasing.

He smiles back and shakes his head. “I need to speak with you about my lancer pay.”

“Jacey indicated you have a concern about how to handle the money?”

“Yes, my lady.”

She pauses and says, “Please call me Darla. I’m not ready for my little brother to be so grown up. This war, if that is what it is, is making us older much too fast.”

“Yes, Darla.”

Darla laughs. It has been so long since he heard her do it that Jalan laughs too.

“All right,” she says once her mirth subsides. “If you are going to make my name sound like that, you might as well call me lady. Now explain your concerns so that I can understand how I might help.”

Jalan tells Darla of the conversation he had with Master Enmar concerning saving a portion of his pay. And, he explains the items he is purchasing from Mistress Treana and the cobbler.