Imager’s Battalion by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Read Free Book Online Page A

nodded. “The nearest bridge over the Aluse in Bovaria is at Villerive, but there’s a cable ferry at Rivecote. It joins Rivecote Sud and Nord.”
    “That’s what … sixty milles upriver?” asked Quaeryt.
    “If the maps and the millestones are accurate, and I wouldn’t wager on that.”
    Neither would Quaeryt.
    “I’d like to reach Rivecote Sud well before Deucalon nears Rivecote Nord. It will be even more important that we reach Villerive before Deucalon does. The Bovarians don’t expect an army, even a small one, to advance on the south side of the Aluse. If we hold the ferry and the bridge, then we cut off their retreat … or we can attack their rear. Either way, that will put us in a stronger position.”
    “Then we’ll be more than a day ahead of the northern forces,” said Meinyt evenly.
    “What the marshal had in mind, I am certain,” said Skarpa, “was that we should never be far enough ahead of his forces that we could not support him. I intend to be able to support him where and when it is possible. There are sections of the southern side of the river where there is no road, only a path. Preparing to be able to support him will require our getting an early start.”
    Meinyt nodded, not bothering to hide a smile.
    “Can your imagers smooth out things or remove rocks if necessary?” asked Skarpa.
    “If they’re not too large,” replied Quaeryt.
    “That could prove most helpful. We’re short of engineers.”
    Quaeryt glanced to Meinyt, then back to Skarpa.
    “Myskyl said that the northern army needed them in case the Bovarians tried to destroy more bridges, the way they did over the Myal River when we were riding to Ferravyl. So Deucalon took the engineers from Third Regiment and left us with those from the Piedryn regiment. Meinyt never got any engineers for Fifth Regiment.” Skarpa shrugged. “Myskyl did say that if your imagers could build bridges, they ought to be able to repair them.”
    “It’s not that easy,” Quaeryt said. “I’m also not certain anyone wants to risk freezing the regiments to build a bridge. He seems to have forgotten that we killed almost an entire battalion of our own troopers.”
    “He didn’t forget. He’s never forgotten anything,” Skarpa said in a matter-of-fact fashion. “Though there are times when I’m not certain he’s learned anything from what happens. It doesn’t matter. We don’t have good engineers. We’ll do the best we can.” He looked to Meinyt. “We’ll be sending our own scouts out. Do you think we’ll need a recon in force?”
    “Not on Lundi. Perhaps not on Mardi. After that, if we see more than a few tracks, I’d recommend half squads. Full squads as we near Rivecote.”
    That brought another nod from Skarpa. “Quaeryt … I’d like to keep the imagers near the front. Do you have any problem riding with me and keeping them close?”
    “No, sir. I’d recommend that for the first few days. After that, it would depend on what’s ahead.”
    Skarpa continued to ask questions and seek observations for another half glass, then abruptly said, “That’s all.” He turned to Quaeryt. “You might as well leave for Nordruil now, or whenever you’re finished with your battalion. I’d like you back tomorrow evening.”
    Quaeryt understood that all too well. Lundi morning would come all too early. “I’ll be here.”

 
    6
    On Samedi evening, when Quaeryt reached Nordruil, Vaelora was waiting at the front entrance for him, dressed in a flattering, and clinging, green cotton dress that somehow made her light brown eyes look almost luminously amber. Even before he dismounted, he wanted to wrap his arms around her, to lose himself in her. Instead, he permitted himself a long embrace and a tender, but passionate kiss, far more than was proper in public, he knew.
    As he lifted his lips from hers, she said, “You’re only here for tonight and tomorrow, aren’t you?”
    He nodded. “We leave before dawn on Lundi.”
    “Then