After a hot meal, and a good night's sleep interrupted only by his period of guard duty, Horyse found that the last lingering sense of unease he felt from his encounter with the broken Charter Stone had disappeared. A faint mist hovered over the surface of the river, but the rising sun was already beginning to disperse it by the time the patrol moved out.
That morning, they headed due south, rather than eastwards towards Last Bridge. Curran explained that the southern shore of the Southwater between Terchere's Island and Last Bridge was heavily wooded and the going very difficult, although it did provide good protection from Gore Crows.
"We'll skirt southwards along the western edge of the wood, sir, then cut back northeast for the Wallway and Last Bridge. The going is much easier, and the woods are close at hand if those Gore Crows reappear."
Shortly after midday, the patrol reached the Wallway; a wide, paved road that ran from the Crossing Point to the guard post at Barhedrin. The patrol approached the Wallway cautiously. When they were close, Curran pointed at one of the Mile Markers that were placed all along the length of the Wallway.
"Corporal Woods, check for Patrol Sign. Anshye, cover him."
Woods approached the stone slowly, sword drawn and using every scrap of cover. When he reached it, he knelt beside it, running his hands over its lichen-clad surface and appearing to listen. When his questing fingers reached a particular spot, Horyse thought he saw golden light blossom beneath them. To his surprise, Woods stood upright and came back to them along the road; and Curran went to meet him, no longer making any attempt to conceal himself.
"A patrol passed through this morning, Sarn't," said Woods. "They report the Wallway clear between Barhedrin and the Crossing point. Countryside to the east clear as well. They are making another sweep eastwards, then back towards Last Bridge."
"Good work, corporal. We'll use the Wallway and head direct for Last Bridge, and leave a Patrol Sign there to report our patrol sector clear."
They trod the Wallway swiftly. As they marched, Curran continued to instruct Horyse.
"That was a Patrol Sign, sir. It's a simple Charter Spell used to convey information and warnings. There are particular places used by patrols from both sides to leave signs. Milemarkers, certain trees, and the bridgeposts at Last Bridge."
Horyse was fascinated, but had one concern.
"Is the information reliable? What if it was there to mislead us, or lure us into a trap?" Curran shook his head.
"Not possible, sir. It's a Charter spell, so impossible for Necromancers, Free Magic creatures or the dead to use it themselves. And if they tried to compel a Charter Mage to leave false sign, it would leave a corruption in the Marks. Subtle, but recognisable to any Charter Mage in the Scouts or the Royal Guard. Plus, it's impossible for enemies to read Patrol Sign. Actually, it's more secure and reliable than anything we have south of the Wall."
Horyse nodded agreement at this. Communications on the Frontier had relied on wireless, which was often disrupted by sandstorms, or sabotage; and which could be intercepted by enemies.
Towards mid-afternoon, the patrol reached the top of a small rise. Ahead of them, the Wallway descended towards the Southwater, which was spanned by a three-arched stone bridge. Rowland, at the head of the patrol, pointed to the other side of the bridge, where the road snaked back and forth up a steep hillside.
"Movement, sir, sarn't."
Curran scanned the road with his field glasses.
"Old Kingdom patrol," he said. Horyse looked with his own glasses and saw half a dozen mounted soldiers wearing mail or armour, with red and gold surcoats. They carried lances, with red and gold pennants flying from the tips. Their leader had a red and gold plume streaming from his visored helmet.
"They've seen us," said Curran. "Let's go down and meet them. We'll reach the bridge at about the same time." He studied the patrol again, then frowned. "I do believe that's Captain Karim at their head, and they've come out deliberately to find us. Must be something important, if Karim is leading them."
The Ancelstierrans reached the bridge first, and formed up on the roadway with Horyse and Sergeant Curran at their head. The red and gold-clad horsemen clattered across the bridge and drew up opposite the Ancelstierran patrol. Their leader handed his horse's reins to another soldier and dismounted, walking forward to meet Curran. Curran halted and gave an immaculate parade-ground salute, which Captain Karim returned. Then both removed their helmets and went through the strange forehead-touching ritual that Horyse had observed among the scouts.
"Sergeant Curran, it's good to see you again," said Karim. Even before Curran replied with, "and you, ma'am," Horyse realised with a shock that Karim was a woman. In her early forties perhaps, with a tough, weather beaten face and close-cropped dark hair that was streaked with grey.
"It's not often we see you out here, Captain," continued Curran.
"No, indeed," answered Karim. "But you have a new officer I see."
"Yes, ma'am, this is Lieutenant Horyse."
Horyse stepped forward and saluted, feeling self-conscious.
"Pleased to meet you, ma'am."
"And you, Lieutenant." She looked at Curran, who was still frowning slightly. "You are wondering why I came out myself, just to meet your new officer? The fact is, we received a message hawk yesterday. The Clayr Saw us meeting today, on this very bridge, and seemed to think it was important. They also Saw that this young man will be instrumental in defeating one of the Greater Dead, though the vision was not clear and they could not say where or when this will happen."
This was entirely baffling to Horyse, though apparently not to Curran who was nodding as though it all made perfect sense.
"I also have a message for Captain Tindall," Karim continued. "The Clayr have Seen some sort of attack on the Crossing Point. You should ensure that your defences are in good order, and that you have your strongest Charter Mages prepared to meet any threat."
Curran nodded again. "We thought something was amiss," he said. "We were tracked by Gore Crows up near Kallnesh, but the village itself was quiet. Too quiet," he added.
Karim frowned. "You should keep a close eye on that village," she said. "The broken Charter Stone weakens the boundary between Life and Death, and there are many dead buried there. An accomplished Necromancer could assemble a couple of hundred Dead Hands in a matter of hours. Though the Clayr seemed to think that the attack will take some hitherto unseen form." She paused for a moment. "You should also tell Captain Tindall that there is more trouble in Bellisare, and that a further half-company from my garrison has been recalled to deal with it. Rumour has it that the Regent has been assassinated. I do wonder if someone, or something, is deliberately trying to weaken the garrison at Barhedrin. The fact is, if there is an attack on the Crossing Point, I may not be able to send help. And if we are attacked, I may need help from the Perimeter garrison."
Curran nodded. "We'll be ready, ma'am. And I'll convey your message to the Captain." He fumbled in his haversack, then handed Karim a small package, wrapped in brown paper. She carefully tore back some of the paper, then smiled.
"Thank you, Sergeant." She turned to Horyse. "It was good to meet you, Lieutenant. I have a feeling that we will meet again before long. Sergeant Curran, you should return as swiftly as you can and deliver my message. The Wallway is clear, and you should reach the Crossing Point before sundown."
They exchanged salutes. Karim remounted, then the Old Kingdom soldiers wheeled their horses around, and clattered back over the bridge, their horses' hooves striking sparks from the flagstones.
For a few minutes, the Ancelstierran soldiers stood in silence, watching them go. Then Curran turned to the others.
"Alright, lads. We're supposed to be out another two days, but an urgent message from Karim trumps that. We make directly for the Crossing Point. Smith 56, take point."
As they marched, Curran turned to Horyse.
"What did you make of Captain Karim, sir?"
"She's not quite what I expected," admitted Horyse.
"Because she's a woman, sir?" answered Curran. "About half the garrison are women. We tend to think that in Ancelstierre we are years ahead of the Old Kingdom, but in many ways, they are ahead of us. A woman can rise to the highest ranks in their military, or in any guild or profession. Karim is one of the finest soldiers I know, and the best Charter Mage."
Horyse nodded, thinking of Jayelle whose dearest ambition was to be a doctor. Despite his own and Miss Fortescue's full support, she faced an uphill struggle against the convention in Ancelstierre that men became doctors and women became nurses. Then he thought of another question.
"What on earth are the Clayr?"
"You've got me there, sir," Curran answered with a grin. "Never quite managed to make sense of that. As far as I can tell it's some sort of cult that can see the future. I know, sounds preposterous to us. But we've had warnings of attacks from them before and they've been right on the money, so standing orders are that any messages from them are to be passed straight to Captain Tindall or the CO."
"I see," said Horyse, and then, "and what was that package you gave Captain Karim?"
"Tea, sir," Curran answered with a chuckle. "Captain Karim is very partial to Ancelstierran tea. They have tea in the Old Kingdom but it's poor, weak stuff which they drink with slices of lemon." He scowled at such perversion. "Karim has developed a liking for the proper stuff. Army ration tea, strong, with milk and plenty of sugar. I always bring some with me on patrol, and either hand it to any Old Kingdom patrols I meet, or cache it at Last Bridge."