Imager's Battalion Read Online Free PDF Page B

don’t like us much, but they hate the Bovarians.”
    “You’re worried that if we’re too effective, they’ll try to massacre the survivors?”
    “The way they were talking, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
    “How long have you spent with them?”
    “Four or five glasses over the past few days. Commander Skarpa didn’t tell me until Mardi.” Zhelan handed Quaeryt a single sheet of paper.
    Quaeryt scanned it.
2nd Co.
Major Calkoran D’Kors
 
Captain Eslym D’Kors
 
3rd Co.
Major Zhael D’Kors
 
Captain Wharyn D’Kors
 
4th Co.
Major Arion D’Kors
 
Captain Stemsed D’Kors
    D’Kors … they can’t all be related … He almost shook his head. That was the Bovarian naming custom. D’Kors just meant they were cavalry officers. He folded the paper and slipped it inside his jacket, a jacket that was too warm even before eighth glass. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” He image-projected a gentle sense of appreciation.
    “Those are matters I can help with, sir.”
    Quaeryt understood all too well what Zhelan wasn’t saying—that the major knew full well that Quaeryt was more than anyone, including Quaeryt, was admitting.
    When they reached the stable storeroom, Zhelan stepped in first, announcing, “Subcommander Quaeryt.”
    Quaeryt followed him into the storeroom, where all the officers stood waiting. “As you were.” Realizing the Khellans hadn’t understood, he repeated himself in Bovarian. After that, he said nothing for several moments, running his eyes across the battalion officers before him, some seven command officers, and the six imagers. All of the Khellan officers had brown or black hair, although two were old enough to have streaks of gray in it, and five of the six had the pale honey-colored Pharsi complexion.
    Several of them were close to staring at him.
    “Yes,” he said in Bovarian, “I am Pharsi by blood, but I was orphaned young and only know a few phrases in Pharsi.” Quaeryt could tell that most of the imagers hadn’t understood a word, but then they weren’t regular Telaryn officers, although he suspected the Bovarian of many Telaryn officers was marginal at best, at least given the reaction to the few homilies he’d given in Bovarian over the past year. He continued in Bovarian. “After this meeting, I will meet with the officers of each company in Fifth Battalion separately, beginning with first company. Fifth Battalion is part of the southern army, led by Commander Skarpa. Our task is to clear the southern side of the Aluse River…” He went on to summarize what Deucalon had passed on at the earlier meeting. When he finished, he looked to the Khellan officers. “If you have any questions, you can ask me personally when I meet with you. Is that clear?”
    They all nodded.
    “Now, if you please, I will meet with Major Zhelan and with the first company officer. I’ll meet with the undercaptains after I meet with the command officers. Those I’m not meeting with may wait in the tack room.” Quaeryt waited until the storeroom emptied and he was left with Zhelan and an older undercaptain, with a narrow face under brown hair. An old scar ran across his right jaw.
    “I don’t believe you’ve officially met Undercaptain Ghaelyn,” said Zhelan, “recently promoted from senior squad leader.”
    “I have not. It’s good to see you here, Undercaptain. We’ll be relying on you a great deal because we’ll have to use extra care with the other companies to begin with.”
    “Yes, sir. The major made that clear.”
    “Do you have any questions that the major hasn’t answered?”
    “No, sir.”
    “I wouldn’t think so. The major is very thorough, but it’s good to meet you officially.” Quaeryt refrained from smiling. The whole point of that meeting had been for Quaeryt to see Ghaelyn’s face … and little more.
    After the undercaptain left, Quaeryt motioned to Zhelan. “I think it might be best…”
    “For you to meet the Khellan officers alone? Yes, sir. I