Emerging from the tunnel into the brightness of an Ancelstierran summer day, Horyse felt momentarily blinded. The patrol handed over their horses to be taken back to the rear, and sank down onto the firestep of the frontline trench, overcome with weariness.
"Mr Horyse, are you up to a quick debrief now?" asked Colonel Fazackerly, in a concerned tone. Horyse nodded, momentarily too weary to speak. "Good. Major Tindall, take Mr Horyse to my command post and get him a tot. The rest of you go to the aid post. Major Grinstead will check you out and get you back to the rear.
Horyse sank with relief into a chair in the command bunker. Tindall handed him a mug – hot, strong tea, laced with sugar and a generous tot of rum. Then Tindall's face took on a distant look and Horyse realised he was reaching into the Charter. Glowing marks appeared at Tindall's fingertips; then, he touched Horyse's burned hand and, speaking a master mark, directed the healing spell into the wound. Horsye felt the pain lessen, and his head began to clear. By the time Fazackerly entered the dugout, he was feeling much restored and was able to give a reasonably clear and detailed account of all that had happened in the Old Kingdom.
"This is grim news," Fazackerly said, when Horyse had finished. "Karim is a grievous loss, and the destruction of Barhedrin leaves that side of the Wall essentially unguarded."
"Do you think that this is preparation for an assault on the Wall?" Asked Tindall.
"We can't rule it out," agreed Fazackerly. "In any case, I think we must extend our patrol area to include the ruins of Barhedrin. They could be used to hide gatherings of the dead, just like the ruins of Kellnesh Village."
That night, after a hot bath and a good meal, Horyse found himself unable to face sleep. He was haunted by all that he had seen and experienced, especially the sight of Karim, lashed to the broken stone with her throat cut. He was sitting on his bed, knees drawn up and arms clasped around them, when there was a soft knock at the door and Tindall came in.
"You look done in, old man," he said, in a concerned tone.
"I'll be alright," said Horyse. "It's just…" he trailed off, not knowing the words to express to his friend how he felt.
"I've brought us a nightcap, said Tindall, and Horyse saw that he was carrying a bottle and two glasses. "Old Distillery, courtesy of the CO. Then I'm putting Charter marks on you for rest and sleep."
The following afternoon, Fazackerly summoned the patrol members together. All were somewhat rested after food and sleep, but the Colonel could see in their drawn, pale faces and haunted eyes just how much the experience had affected them.
"As soon as the MO says you are fit to travel, I am giving you all two weeks' leave." He held up a hand to forestall their objections. "It's an order, not a request. None of you are any good to me in the state you are in, and I am going to need you all to be at your best. The days are long at the moment, and the met man reckons we are in for a spell of clear skies and southerly winds. We'll manage without you for a while."
After he had dismissed the men, Fazackerly motioned to Horyse to stay.
"Where will you go, Mr Horyse?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "Bain, I suppose. Find a hotel room."
"I think we can do better than that," the Colonel said, smiling.
"Sir?"
"This is a suggestion and you can take or leave it as you please. This morning, I took the liberty of telephoning Miss Fortescue at Wyverly College. I know her quite well; both my daughters are there, and my wife is the current president of the Old Wyverlians. She says she would be delighted to have you stay there for your leave. As you know, they have a number of suites of rooms for visiting parents who have come from far away. There's another advantage," he added, looking serious. "You need time away from the Perimeter to recover, but I would prefer to have you under the eye of another Charter mage. Magistrix Greenwood, who teaches Charter magic at the school, is a Charter mage of the third rank, and should be able to give you any help you may need in that department."
"Thank you, sir." Suddenly, the prospect of a week spent in the pleasant environment at Wyverly, and of time with Jayelle, seemed very appealing.
"One other thing, Sam, and I'm saying this as your friend and your CO. You must allow yourself to grieve. Karim was my friend, and I grieve for her. You were closer to her than any of us, and you've lost other close friends. Talk about them and share your memories. Don't hold it in or it will cripple you."
A few days later, Horyse found himself once again facing Miss Fortescue, this time over afternoon tea in her private sitting room at Wyverly College. There was a knock, and Miss Fortescue opened the door to admit a calm, quiet lady of about his own age, dressed sombrely and bearing a forehead Charter mark.
"Mr Horyse, may I introduce Miss Greenwood, our Magistrix," said Miss Fortescue.
"It's an honour," said Horyse.
"Likewise," said Miss Greenwood, extending the first two fingers of her right hand, in the traditional gesture of invitation to test her Charter mark. Horyse extended his own fingers to touch her forehead and was instantly caught in the endless flow of the Charter. He felt the calm strength of the Magistrix and realised that she had it in her to reach higher than the third rank. They sat down, and Miss Fortescue began to pour tea.
"Mr Horyse, I wanted to have a private talk with you before you see Jayelle. Colonel Fazackerly told me a little of what happened to you in the Old Kingdom, and I have told Miss Greenwood some of it. We at Wyverly will do all we can to assist you. Miss Greenwood, in particular, is at your service."
"I am only of the third rank," said the Magistrix, "but I have a strong connection to the Charter, and have mastered basic spells of healing, cleansing and rest. Even if Miss Fortescue had told me nothing of your recent past, I knew as soon as I tested your mark that you are deeply troubled. Tonight, with your permission, I will place marks of rest and cleansing on you, and every other night until you are able to sleep without them."
Horyse stammered his thanks.
"I understand you have spent time in the Old Kingdom?" Miss Greenwood's eyes had a look of longing.
"Yes, learning Charter magic. At Barhedrin, with…" He bit his lip; he would not disgrace himself with tears in front of these women.
"I am sorry," said the Magistrix, looking embarrassed at her blunder.
"No, it's alright," Horyse said. "I learned from Captain Karim and other Charter mages of the Royal Guard. I am a Charter mage of the sixth rank."
Miss Greenwood raised her eyes in admiration. "I don't think any Ancelstierran has ever gone higher than the fifth," she said, "and the only one I can think of in recent history who got even that high was killed on the Perimeter some years ago."
"If I may make so bold, Magistrix, I felt something in your Charter Mark too. You have power enough to progress to the fourth rank, and maybe even beyond. If you will permit me, I will teach you some of what I know while I am here. A small repayment for all the kindness Wyverly has shown me and my sister over the years."
"I will take you up on that," she said with a smile. "And, if you need or want to speak of matters that only another Charter mage would understand, I am at your disposal."
"Now," said Miss Fortescue, "we have given you a set of rooms in the north wing. General and Higher Certificate exams have just finished, so many of the fifth and upper sixth have gone home and won't return until Speech Day. Those, like Jayelle, who remain here, are on a relaxed timetable. I have instructed Mrs Umbrade, her housemistress, that she is granted a daily exeat until supper. If you wish to take her out later, or in the evening, you may do so but must inform me or Mrs Umbrade. If you wish to take any of the other girls with you, you must seek permission from me or from her housemistress. The Blenheim is at your disposal."
"I cannot thank you enough for your kindness, Miss Fortescue," he said.
"It's no trouble. After all, we at Wyverly are the nearest that you and Jayelle have to a family. I wish you a pleasant stay."
Afterwards, Horyse would remember this leave as one of the happiest of his life. The weather was warm and sunny, with mild, southerly breezes. He took many long walks and picnics with Jayelle; sometimes just the two of them, and sometimes with a group of her friends. He told Jayelle only a little of his experiences in the Old Kingdom, focussing on good times and making incidents like the fight at Last Bridge seem like an adventure.
Horyse met every day with Miss Greenwood, teaching her new marks and spells, and helping her to channel and develop her untapped power. He spoke to her in more depth about his experiences, and found her to be a perceptive listener. She questioned him deftly, so that he told her far more than he had ever intended. He told her the full story of Last Bridge, and of being imprisoned in the River of Death. He told her of his friends. Merreth, killed in the forefront of the fighting. Culver, struck with his own armourer's hammer, and Linnead, killed in the very act of healing. He spoke of Kearn and Jessil, who had died trying to protect the Charter stone; and he even spoke of Karim."
"How horrible," said Miss Greenwood of the last. "I have heard of such a spell, but I cannot imagine what would drive someone to so evil a purpose."
"We believe that the Necromancer sought to bring something through into Life. One of the Greater Dead, perhaps."
"Should we be worried, this far North?" she asked, her eyes boring sharply into his.
"I don't know," he admitted. "You are safe as long as the Wall holds. And we will hold the wall, or die to the last man trying. But you should make precautions. No doors or windows to be open after dark. Rowan or silver on all doors and windows to bar entry if the dead attack. And make sure everyone knows what to do."
"We still teach the old rhyme, here at Wyverly," she said, and began to recite.
"When the dead do come, seek water's run,
For this the dead will always shun.
Swift river's best, or else a lake,
To guard your life, and shelter make.
If water fails thee, fire's thy friend.
If neither serves, it will by thy end."
"We used to skip to that at my prep school in Corvere," Horyse admitted. "But we never knew what it meant. I always thought it was nonsense until I got posted to the Perimeter."
"Ah, but that was in the south. Up here, close to the Wall, we still remember, even though the last incursion of the dead was over fifty years ago. Don't worry, Sam," she added, in answer to the question he had not asked, though he longed to. "If the dead come here, I will protect Jayelle and the other girls, or die trying."