Staying Power (Darshian Tales #3) Page 9

  Soza bowed his head politely. “As you say, my lord. We are all part of a team.”

  Karik was glad to hear him say that, just as he had been intensely relieved to learn that Arman had already dealt with the question of leadership of the mission. Karik hadn’t been present when Kei and Arman had explained it to Soza, but since Soza had been very satisfied with the way it had been presented to him, complimenting the wisdom of a structure which meant he would not have to bother himself with mere logistics, Karik was happy that the thorny issue of wounded pride had been so neatly sidestepped.

  “Then are we agreed? I would like to appoint him today, so he can start organising things.” Everyone nodded. “Excellent. Soza, Juizeigi, would you care to take the calash back to the House? The driver will return for us later.”

  “As you wish, my lord. Efficiently handled, if you don’t mind me saying so.”

  Arman coughed. “Ah, thank you, Soza. That will be all, everyone. Karik, remain here, please.”

  Karik stayed in his seat as the others left, his heart sinking. He shouldn’t have said anything and now Arman would want to know why he had spoken up. This was just what he had hoped to avoid, but once Arman had asked directly....

  “Don’t look so worried, Ka-chi,” Kei said, laying a hand on his shoulder. “Now what has that big bad soldier done to you?”

  “Kei, don’t be an idiot,” Arman said severely as Karik flushed hot. “Karik, I take it you and the lieutenant didn’t get off to a good start. I thought as much when you arrived.”

  “It was my fault, in a way,” Karik said, rather embarrassed. “He came to the academy to learn about plant nomenclature, and assumed I was Prijian. You know I get tired of explaining that, so I just spoke to him as he spoke to me. I never expected to see him again—and when I did, he thought I’d deliberately deceived him.”

  “I can see that not going down well,” Kei murmured. “Are you saying he took it on his own initiative to learn about plant names? Even though he’s had no training?”

  “Yes. I was impressed by that—but then he was so rude to me afterwards.”

  “Hmmm. Unfortunate,” Arman said. “Was that all that bothered you?”

  “Um, well...he doesn’t like Soza.”

  Kei looked a little embarrassed while Arman gave Karik a rueful smile. “Disliking Soza isn’t a hanging offence and, to be brutally honest, Soza isn’t the kind of man who would appeal to someone as straightforward as the lieutenant. Or to me,” he added in a perfectly audible mutter. “Kei, tell me again why we need him on this expedition?”

  Kei folded his arms and gave his lover an exasperated look. “You know as well as I do it’s political—if we want the Rulers in Urshek to help fund and support this, we have to take Jezinke’s wishes into consideration. He comes highly recommended.”

  “Uncle Arman, he really does know his plants. He’s got a very sharp eye,” Karik said, anxious to present Soza in a proper light, even if Arman had decided he didn’t care for him.

  “That may be so, but he makes my teeth ache. But it’s your honest opinion that his presence is necessary?”

  “I believe we will achieve more for his presence than without him.”

  “I’m not happy about him being on this—I hadn’t realised just how little experience he had. He’ll be deadweight, Karik. He can’t even ride.”

  That had been something that had been rather awkward to discover, and when he’d heard about it, Pa had been as forthright in his disgust as Arman was now. “I know...but he learns fast, and he got used to the ship eventually. He’ll get some riding practice in—it won’t take long for him to become capable on a quiet beast.” He was aware that sounded incredibly feeble. “He would take it as a deadly insult to be turned away now, and Master Jezinke would be offended.”

  “Nephew, I care very little what either of them think—my main, my only concern, really, is that this whole matter is carried out with no harm to either our relations with the Andonese or to any of you. If Soza goes on this, I intend to give lieutenant Romi complete authority over him—and if he has to be tied to the back of a beast and carted home, he’ll have authority to do that. He’ll have the same authority over you. Will you accept that?”

  “Yes, I do. He’ll be like the captain of a ship.”

  Arman seemed pleased at that analogy. “And do you believe he would exercise that authority well? Do you trust him? Answer me honestly.”

  “I believe...I believe he might be an irritating arse sometimes, but he would not be arbitrary. Harsh, perhaps, but open to reason.” At least, so Karik hoped.

  Arman nodded and Kei smiled. “You are always so fair-minded—it’s one of your best qualities. As for him being an arse, you’ve plenty of experience of that kind, and you’ve won more than a few of them over. Let the man see a little of your charm and he’ll be as devoted to you as we are.”

  Karik pulled a face. “No thanks,” he said firmly, which made Arman laugh.

  “Enough of that nonsense, Kei. I meant what I said, Karik—if after the training you have any reservations at all, I want to know about them. I know you won’t be petty.”

  “I hope not, uncle Arman.”

  “Good lad. Now, why don’t you two go and speak to Tiko and I’ll have a word with the colonel. I’ll tell the lieutenant my decision, and then we’ll go home. I don’t want to be late.”

  Karik smiled to himself. Arman wanted to see Jes before Seiki and Mila took her home. He was so sweet sometimes.

  Kei kept a hand on his shoulder as they walked out of the briefing room and onto the long verandah. In the exercise yard, men and women practiced weapon drills. Karik felt Kei go tense. “Let’s just go out to the colonel’s garden. I’ll ask Neka if she can send Tiko to us.”

  Karik agreed readily and they went to the small private area behind the colonel’s house. “I wish I knew how to tell Soza he’s annoying Arman,” Karik said as they sat down.

  “Ah, well, Arman’s always disliked any hint of obsequiousness. I take it Soza wasn’t like that in Urshek?”

  “He was really nice to me. I learned so much and he wasn’t like this, really. I don’t know why he’s suddenly started to behave this way.”

  Kei didn’t say anything for a moment, apparently fascinated by the winter blooms in the garden bed next to the chair. “He doesn’t have a wide circle of friends, does he?”

  Karik thought and then nodded. “He spends all his time in research.”

  “Then perhaps he’s just out of his depth. Not everyone fits in as well as you. Master Jezinke was glowing in his praise, and I second what you say about him as a researcher—but Jezinke doesn’t get out much either, I think.”

  “I’ve never seen him anywhere but the academy,” Karik admitted. “Soza was very good to me. I don’t want him turned away without a chance.”

  “No, I know, and defending him is admirable. Arman’s being severe because he’s worried about your safety, as am I. Do you really think Soza should go, Ka-chi? In your heart? I know you have some reservations,” he said with an apologetic smile and a touch to his forehead.

  “I do. I don’t know, Kei. If I say no, it’s a terrible thing to do to him. If I say yes and I’m wrong...it’s much easier on my own,” he blurted out.

  “Undoubtedly. What about this Romi? Would his opinion be worth having on this?”

  “He despises Soza,” Karik said mournfully. “Soza isn’t very pleasant when he’s sick.”

  “Hmmm. And does Romi despise you, do you think?”

  “I don’t know. He kept going hot and cold on me. I didn’t feel like playing games with him—I was too tired.”

  Kei rubbed his shoulder in comfort. “I rather suspect our handsome lieutenant is nursing a recently wounded heart. If my guess is right, it’s the reason he’s so eager to get away from Temshek for a while. People unlucky in love tend to be bitter and judgmental for a while until they’ve expended their grief. But I got no sense of malice from him, and he’s genuine in w
hat he says.”

  Karik was surprised at Kei’s surmise, but thinking about it, there could be some truth in it, he admitted. “I don’t think that would affect his opinion of Soza, though.”

  “No, I suspect not. Different worlds—Arman’s an unusual man in that he’s by nature possibly as much a scientist as you or I. Most soldiers aren’t like that, but it doesn’t make them bad people. I tell you what. Soza is going for riding lessons in the afternoons this week, and I’ll make the time to go with him. I’d like that chance to pick his brains anyway—he really has the most encyclopaedic knowledge of plants.”

  Karik nodded—on that, there was no doubting Soza’s abilities. Kei continued. “I’ll talk to him about being on the road, travelling—in a general way—and see if I can help him feel a little more at ease. Hint at how Arman would like to be treated, and so on. He’s not stupid. I think he might well take the advice. We can only do so much, of course, and you’re not responsible for his presence on the expedition or his success at it. Soza’s a grown man. He has to make his own mistakes.”

  “I know, I just don’t want any bad feelings. I want to be able to keep working with the Urshek academy, Kei. They have a wonderful reference collection, and Soza’s not the only botanist down there I wish you could meet.”

  “With good will, many things are possible,” Kei said peaceably. “Don’t look so worried, nephew mine. Look, there’s Tiko.” He rose and went to greet their friend.

  Karik felt a little calmer. Kei had such a way of making things seem so much less tangled. He just hoped Soza would take the well-meant advice and learn a few of the social skills he lacked, and that was surely all that was needed for him to fit in with the rest of the team. If not.... Well, best not to think of that.

  ~~~~~~~~

  Romi got the summons to return to the colonel’s offices a bare half hour after he’d been dismissed. He wondered what Lord Arman could want to cover that he had not done already—he doubted the man could be having second thoughts.

  The colonel welcomed him and then told him that Lord Arman would be using his office for a few minutes while he, the colonel, attended to other business. The Ruler greeted him politely and invited him to sit. “Sorry this is such an extended business, lieutenant—we had a few matters to settle before I spoke to you again. But before I do that, would you be good enough to tell me your assessment of your colleagues from the south? Speak frankly, please.”

  “I’m glad to do so, my lord, because they’re all good people. Sound, capable and intelligent. There’s not one I would not like at my side.”

  Lord Arman smiled. “Then you’ll be pleased to know that was exactly their opinion of you. It’s a stroke of luck to have so many volunteers of such quality. We had four more soldiers ready to join the expedition, but they won’t be needed. You seem to have formed a good team in short order—that speaks well of you all. However, the team needs a leader, and my colleagues and I have decided that should be you. Would you be willing to take on this role?”

  “Yes, my lord, gladly. It would be an honour.”

  “A great responsibility as well, but I know you understand that. Of course, you’ll be given a field promotion to captain with a commensurate pay increase for the duration.”

  Romi hadn’t been expecting that at all. “Thank you, my lord,” he said, flushing a little in pleasure. “Does this mean Captain Pek won’t be coming?”

  “Unless you feel your team is understaffed, I can’t see a reason for him to do so. Your task starts now, lieutenant. Your job, in addition to being trained, is to test your team for weakness, see if you have enough people to compensate, and to anticipate and plan for all emergencies. We’ve done a lot of planning, but I will plan and prepare and supply this expedition until it is as safe as we can make it for the people on it. That means you too—and the civilians. Especially the civilians.” At those last words, Lord Arman fixed him with a steely blue gaze.

  “Yes, of course, my lord. I’ve sworn to protect the citizens of Darshian even at the cost of my own life. That won’t change because we’re in Andon.”

  “Good. Because I shall take it very personally if the slightest harm comes to my nephew through any lack—or prejudice—of yours.”

  Romi flushed. “Your nephew will be as considerately treated as anyone else, my lord. I’m a little insulted you think it could be otherwise.”

  “Then you’ll be pleased to know he was just as adamant that you would be even-handed and trustworthy despite his own feelings towards you.” Romi was a little startled by that—Karik had been defending him? “I know you and he didn’t have the best beginnings for a relationship among team members. You two will have to reach your own understanding, but I will say this—Karik bears making the effort to understand. He’s an exceptional man, and serves this country as devotedly as any soldier. I speak now not as a friend and an uncle, but as someone looking to this country’s future. I believe you also will give much to Darshian. It would be a shame if you two pulled in different directions over some petty grudge.”

  “Yes, my lord. My aim is to make sure this mission succeeds in every way possible. I am aware how important your nephew is to that success.”

  “Hmmm. There’s another consideration, and I confess I can’t be as wholehearted about this as I should perhaps be.”

  “Soza?”

  The Ruler gave him a wry look. “So you’re a mind-speaker as well as a fire-shaper?”

  “No, my lord, but I’d be amazed if someone like yourself had not considered his...deficiencies.”

  “One way of describing it, and if I’m honest, I’d really like him struck from this mission. However, Kei and Karik both insist he’s necessary and they’re the experts on botany, not me. Your job is also to enable Soza to contribute what he may—but you have absolute power in this matter. You will be a dictator, but a benevolent one, I trust. Having said that, you must do all in your power to help the scientists get on with their job. Where there is a dispute, I expect you to use diplomacy, not order things done or not done. Civilians don’t like that kind of thing, and you can’t expect them to accept military discipline. You have three weeks to build up relations with everyone on the team, including Soza. By the time that ship leaves, I want you to be able to handle him and compensate for him. If you can’t, then someone will be left behind, because this is too important and too dangerous for one man’s ego to destroy. Do you understand me?”

  “Perfectly, my lord. I’ll do my best.”

  “Good. Now, that’s more than enough for today, but we shall speak again. I expect daily progress reports and assessments directly from you. Give them to Karik to bring to our home, or have them delivered. Now, speak to Tiko—he knows my decision and is waiting to help you get started. You’ll be earning every rina of your extra pay, I warn you.”

  “I’m not afraid of hard work, my lord. Thank you—and thank Karik for his endorsement.”

  Lord Arman shook his head and smiled. “No, you do your own dirty work, lieutenant. It’s an excellent chance for you to mend some fences.”

  “As you wish.” He stood and saluted, then at the Ruler’s dismissal, he left.

  A promotion! Even if it did mean pandering to that damn fool for months, it would make a real difference to Romi’s long term career prospects—field promotions were rare, and nearly always meant a full promotion was not long in coming. But that meant he really had to lay his dislike of the two naturalists aside and pull the team into shape. He suspected Lord Arman’s ‘taking it personally’ involved long pointy objects, so Karik’s pretty backside would have to be treated like it was made of glass from now on.

  Oh well, it was just one more challenge and Romi thrived on challenges. He whistled as he walked off. Yes, this really would be a great expedition.

  Staying Power: 7

  After the congratulations and celebratory beers, it was down to work. Unfortunately, training got off to an inauspicious start with a session by Soza, which took a group of bri
ght, interested and motivated people and reduced them to fidgeting tedium with three unrelieved hours of rambling, pompous discourse on plant collecting. Even Karik was looking less than fascinated long before the end of it. Romi would have a revolt on his hands if his people had to put up with three more weeks of this.

  Fortunately, Soza had a luncheon appointment and would be busy that afternoon. Karik had been deputised to take them through the practical exercises and oversee the fieldwork on the subsequent two days. There were audible sighs of relief as Romi called the session to a halt for the morning, and told the team to head to the mess for lunch. He politely helped Soza collect his materials and escorted him to the calash, and walked back with Karik to the mess. Karik seemed rather embarrassed. “Not a natural teacher, is he?” Romi said.

  Karik gave him a sharp look, then slumped a little. “He’s much better one to one—and with someone with a little background in the subject. Teaching’s a skill like any other, and not everyone has it.”

  “You do. You explained things to me just fine in the library.”

  Karik looked as if he was about to make a smart remark, but then thought better of it. “What do you want me to do? I doubt your soldiers have the patience to sit through another lecture.”

  “You’re having lunch with us—why not just explain things over the meal, let them ask questions. Perhaps explain what you and Soza will be doing with the material we collect before it’s sent back to port.”

  “I can do that, lieutenant.”

  “Uh, actually, it’s ‘captain’ while we’re on this mission. But ‘Romi’ is fine—I don’t insist on rank, especially not with civilians.”

  Karik drew himself up to his full height. “As you wish, captain.” Then he walked off across the yard to the mess, leaving Romi to wonder how he’d managed to offend the little shit this time.

  But he had to give Karik his due—he made himself approachable to the team, even diffidently criticising Soza’s methods while expressing respect for his knowledge, and giving the soldiers an opening to ask questions and vent a little. Karik would have to get used to people criticising Soza, but Romi would make sure the bitching didn’t get out of hand. It would help if Soza could display some kind of conspicuous competence—that would do more than all the spouting of facts and theories to win over the people who would be working with him.