The Talented Read online

  “Adrienne, are you ready for dessert?”

  She snapped back to reality, wondered briefly how long she had been caught up in her own world, and nodded. “Yes, my lord, though after this meal I’m not sure how much room I have left for it.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Under normal circumstances, being summoned to Captain Garrett’s office did not worry Adrienne. She reported to him on a regular basis about the new recruits she tested, and he had taken a special interest in Jeral’s progress over the eight months of the Yearling’s training.

  Still, when the order had come down that Adrienne was to report to the captain’s office, she knew that it was not to go over the latest news about the recruits.

  “Adrienne Rydaeg, reporting as ordered, sir,” Adrienne said when the page showed her into the captain’s office.

  “Rydaeg, come in,” Captain Garrett said, his face impassive. “Sit, if you’d like.”

  Adrienne remained standing, as was her habit when in the captain’s office.

  “How is Rosch’s progress?”

  Adrienne was momentarily thrown. She had reported to the captain only a few days ago, after she and Jeral had returned from Red Ridge Keep, and they had discussed Jeral briefly at that time. Despite her confusion, she reported. “He is progressing much faster than I would have predicted eight months ago, sir. He has a natural aptitude for swordsmanship that lends itself well to our current training, and he performed well outside of Kyrog.” A sudden and unwelcome thought occurred to her. “Captain, despite his progress, if you are thinking of sending him back to Roua at this time I believe that would be a mistake. A few more months of—”

  “I value your input,” the captain said, cutting her off, “but it is not my intention to cut Rosch’s study at Kyrog short. I requested you to come here so that we could discuss you.”

  “What did you wish to talk about, Captain?” Adrienne asked, her stomach clenching nervously. She forced her body and face to appear calm and relaxed, while inside she was running through anything she had done in the last couple of days that might require disciplinary action.

  The captain had been pleased with the results of their mission, and surprised that Adrienne had gone to Red Ridge Keep and met with Lord Neecham without being told, but had been only mildly displeased that she had acted outside of her orders.

  Ricco’s prediction of flogging had not come to pass.

  Adrienne could think of nothing she might have done to displease Captain Garrett then or since her return.

  “You’ve been at Kyrog for a long time,” Captain Garrett said.

  “Yes, sir,” Adrienne answered. It had been thirteen years now, a long time for a soldier in any one place. Even longer than it seemed, considering Adrienne was barely twenty-one.

  “To my knowledge, you have never asked for higher rank, or wondered why someone of your experience is still a private instead of an officer.”

  “I am still young, Captain Garrett.” She would be lying if she said she had never wondered why the captain had never so much as hinted at a promotion. “I thought my age might be a factor.”

  “Age is always a factor to be considered, but in your case age was never the obstacle. You became a soldier so young that you have more experience as a soldier than some men—or women—half again your age. Even before coming to Kyrog you had experience.”

  The lump forming in her throat made it hard for Adrienne to swallow. Part of her thought that maybe, finally, she would become an officer. The hope refused to die, beating madly in her breast, even as a large part of her was imagining Captain Garrett telling her that there was something preventing her from ever making lieutenant.

  Worse, the idea that he might ask her to leave Kyrog came to mind and couldn’t be dismissed. “May I ask what the obstacle is?” Adrienne forced the words out.

  Captain Garrett nodded. “You are, possibly, the best soldier in Kyrog. You are dedicated—to your training, to Kyrog, to Samaro—in a way that few soldiers are. You are an example of what a great soldier should be.”

  Adrienne knew there was more waiting to be said.

  “I have never doubted your soldiering ability, or your commitment. I have known you would be great since you were thirteen, awkward and gangly when crossing the courtyard but completely controlled in the ring. You are a woman, but no one who is in Kyrog more than a week sees that as a liability.”

  “I assure you that it is not, sir,” Adrienne couldn’t help but say. She had met female officers before. Adrienne knew Captain Garrett to be a fair man, and she didn’t think he would hold her back due to gender.

  “Yes. My concern had nothing to do with your gender, or your skill. It is your ability to lead that I have questioned through the years, whenever the question of promoting you came up.”

  Adrienne felt as if she had been punched in the gut. Worse, because she could not retaliate, or even defend herself from another blow. “I see,” she said, struggling to sound calm despite the screaming in her head. That Captain Garrett, a man she liked and respected, should find her lacking in such an important area hurt far more than she could have anticipated.

  “Do you? You are very action-oriented, Adrienne. This is a good quality in a soldier, but you prefer to act alone. Though you follow orders, it has not typically been in character for you to take the lead in a group situation. To my knowledge, you have only one true friend here, and only a small group outside of that with whom you choose to socialize.”

  Adrienne had not realized that Captain Garrett knew so much about her private life, though hearing it now she did not find it surprising. The captain was a very thorough man. If he was considering promoting someone to officer, he would look at all aspects of that person’s life, not just ability in the sparring ring or speed on an obstacle course.

  “Because you demonstrate the qualities of a loner, I worried that you might not do well in a command situation. A leader needs to know more than just how to fight.”

  “I understand why you might think that,” Adrienne said. She was a loner. For all her skill, Adrienne was aware that she preferred to be by herself, with Ricco as the rare exception. Most leaders were more sociable, more charismatic.

  “I think that you do understand. However, since you took on Jeral Rosch as your trainee, of your own accord, I have been forced to reconsider my thinking.”

  “Sir?”

  “Training someone, especially with the attention and consistency you have given Rosch for the past eight months, is not an easy task. Although I know you to be a determined individual, I sense that it is not only determination and a sense of commitment that drives you to continue his training.”

  “No, sir,” Adrienne said. “I enjoy training Rosch, watching his progress, adapting my own methods to best suit him.”

  “The results are proof of your dedication,” Captain Garrett said with approval. “Ricco reported to me after Pelarion and told me how Rosch performed. From what Ricco said, Rosch is now a far superior fighter compared to the recruits who arrived when he did. He has benefited from the personal instruction he gets from you.”

  Adrienne had known that, but she was proud that the captain had come to that conclusion as well.

  “I am also pleased that you have enlisted some of the others here to help you with training. Although I believe that you still have loner tendencies, it has become apparent in the past eight months that these tendencies did not affect your ability to train Rosch, or your willingness to bring others in on your projects.”

  “Rosch benefited from practicing with different soldiers,” Adrienne said. “I would not deny any trainee that, not if I wanted him to excel.”

  Captain Garrett nodded. “There was an incident some months ago that also moved me to reconsider your career.”

  The way he phrased it left no doubt in Adrienne’s mind that the captain was referring to what had happened with Lieutenant Nissen. “Captain Garrett, I can explain—”

  Captain Garrett held up a hand
to stop her. “An explanation is not necessary, nor at this late date particularly welcome.” That kept Adrienne quiet. “What interested me was the solidarity amongst the men in response to what happened. The other soldiers regard you as one of them completely, and maybe as something more. The respect those serving here have for you is greater and more true than the respect even some of the more well-liked officers are given.”

  “Let me apologize for—”

  “Apologies, like explanations, we can do without at this time. Unless you wish to make a formal complaint.” The captain’s eyes made it clear that he did not want one, and it was something Adrienne was not eager to give in any case. She shook her head. “Very well. Respect is earned, Rydaeg. It does not come easily, nor do officers automatically gain respect. You have already earned the respect and loyalty of the men at Kyrog, just as you have shown your leadership abilities with Rosch.”

  Adrienne waited, barely able to breathe.

  “You’ve grown since you began training Rosch. I had you take the lead in sorting out Pelarion as a test. You chose a solid group of men, Rosch included, and by all accounts you were a good leader. I was further impressed by your impromptu visit to Red Ridge Keep. Although I would have preferred you wait until sent, the fact that it occurred to you to contact our patron and inform him of what had happened at Pelarion proved to me that you have vision that reaches beyond the walls of this camp.”

  Adrienne said nothing, unsure of what to think or feel. The barrage of emotions, from hope to fear that the captain might find her inadequate, was too much for her to fully process.

  “Adrienne Rydaeg, as Captain of Kyrog, I would like to formally offer you the position of lieutenant.”

  Adrienne gave a mental cry of triumph while limiting her physical response to a nod. Despite her stoic efforts, she was unable to suppress her smile. “Thank you, sir. I would be honored.” Her words were heartfelt, and she knew that the captain could see everything she was feeling in her deep brown eyes. Embarrassment could not outweigh her joy, however, and her smile grew to reveal straight white teeth.

  Pride that she had reached the goal she had been secretly striving toward for years swamped her.

  “In addition to your promotion, I would like to place you in charge of training all of the Yearlings,” Captain Garrett said, surprising her enough that some of the euphoria cleared.

  “Lieutenant Mylig is in charge of training at Kyrog,” Adrienne said. She had heard no rumors that Mylig would be leaving, or worse, retiring. He was too skilled a soldier and teacher to waste his talent growing beans or whatever soldiers did after retirement. He was meant to teach and fight, not succumb to old age on a farm somewhere in the countryside.

  Adrienne would rather die in a fight than spend the rest of her years living such a life, and she had always gotten the feeling that Mylig felt the same. He was not the retiring type.

  “He will remain in charge of the soldiers who will be staying at Kyrog indefinitely; men who have years to learn and perfect their skills,” Captain Garrett elucidated. “In light of what you have been able to do with Rosch, I would like you to continue training him and other soldiers in the same circumstances as he.”

  Adrienne was surprised at the immediate increase in responsibility that came with her promotion. “I will need to set up a team to help me,” Adrienne said, still reeling from the sudden promotion and the new task before her. Excitement, almost like the tense anticipation she often felt before a fight, coursed through her veins as she began making plans.

  “Of course. Although a one-on-one mentorship will not be feasible due to the number of recruits, I expect you to assemble a large enough team of experienced soldiers to help with the training of the Yearlings. I want to see the same results with the other Yearlings that I have seen with Rosch.”

  “I will do my best, Captain,” she promised.

  “Then you are dismissed, Lieutenant Rydaeg.”

  ••••••

  News spread like wildfire in Kyrog, and Ricco had already heard of Adrienne’s promotion before she had a chance to find him and tell him herself.

  “Congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant, sir.” Ricco saluted and his smile was, if possible, even wider than usual as pleasure and pride vied for position on his face.

  Adrienne allowed her friend to pull her into a congratulatory hug. His massive arms squeezed the breath from her lungs, and for a few seconds Adrienne worried that Ricco might end up cracking a rib in his enthusiasm, but after a few painful moments he loosened his hold enough to eliminate that danger. “It’s about time Captain Garrett moved you up the chain of command,” he said, ending the hug with a slap on the back in a manner much more typical of their relationship than the long, close hug had been.

  “What about you?” Adrienne asked. Ricco was older than Adrienne, and had already been at Kyrog for six years.

  Ricco shook his head vehemently and held his hands up in defense. “I don’t want the responsibilities of being an officer.”

  She laughed and shoved his shoulder. “Good, because you’d make a lousy lieutenant,” she joked, causing Ricco to laugh.

  “And you’ll make a great one.” He slung his arm around Adrienne and hauled her up against his side. “This calls for a celebration.”

  Adrienne smiled. “What have you got in mind?”

  Ricco’s eyes cut toward her appraisingly. “I suggest a bunch of us go to Nils’ Tavern and get drunk.”

  Adrienne shook her head on a laugh. “I’m a lieutenant now. I have to be responsible. It wouldn’t be right to spend my first night as lieutenant getting drunk in a tavern.”

  Ricco snorted. “Getting drunk is exactly the right way to spend your first night as a lieutenant. This is your last day before taking on more duties. Who knows when you’ll have another chance to get ripping drunk?”

  She thought it must be overexcitement that made that idea sound so appealing, but Adrienne found herself agreeing with Ricco and planning to meet him at the tavern after the evening meal in the mess.

  Hours later, Adrienne was sitting at the bar in Nils’ Tavern, one of the few permanent structures in the large camp, surrounded by well-wishers and empty mugs of ale, and was well on her way to meeting Ricco’s expectations of drunkenness. She liked the warm glow left by the alcohol and the continuous congratulations she was receiving, and wondered why she did not go out with Ricco more often. Even watching him flirt with the serving women had become more amusing than embarrassing.

  “It’s about time,” a man announced in a booming baritone. Adrienne focused her eyes on Lieutenant Curtis Turric, a man who before tonight she would have said was only a casual acquaintance at most.

  “Thank you, sir,” Adrienne responded automatically. A smile still came to her face with every congratulation she received, and her response to the dark-skinned lieutenant was no exception.

  “Curtis,” he corrected with a grin. “Or Turric, if you’d rather. You don’t ‘sir’ a fellow lieutenant.” He shifted his drink over to his left hand and extended his right. “I’ve been wondering when Captain Garrett would get around to promoting you.” He motioned for the bartender to supply Adrienne with another mug of ale. “You’re one of the best soldiers in Kyrog.”

  “She damned well is,” Ricco agreed, raising his mug in cheers. “She’s bloody brilliant.”

  Adrienne accepted the mug with a smile before turning to Ricco, amused by his current state. The stocky soldier was imbued with a wry humor when sober, but when drunk his joking nature came out full force, and she knew she was not the only person in the tavern being entertained by Ricco’s behavior that night.

  As for herself, Adrienne didn’t like the idea of entertaining anyone, and decided to make the mug of ale from Turric her last one of the night. As it was, she was sure her head would be awful in the morning. Despite the warm glow she was feeling from the alcohol, she wasn’t fond of how her senses were already dulled by it. She preferred a clear head.

&
nbsp; Adrienne scanned the room, and when she spotted Jeral she gestured for him to come over.

  “Congratulations, Lieutenant, sir,” Jeral said.

  Even through the pleasant haze of alcohol, Adrienne could tell that his words and smile were forced. “What’s wrong, Rosch?” she asked.

  Jeral seemed momentarily taken aback by her bluntness, as if he had expected the alcohol to affect her perception, but he recovered quickly and answered her question with the honesty she had come to expect from him over the past eight months. “I was wondering if you were still going to be my trainer.”

  “Of course I will,” Adrienne said, forgetting herself and accepting another drink from the barkeep. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Well, I heard you would be training other soldiers now. Other Yearlings.”

  Adrienne shoved Jeral lightly. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop training you. I haven’t finished with you yet.”

  Jeral’s smile became genuine at the news. “Thanks, Lieutenant.”

  “Adrienne, I would like a word with you,” Lieutenant Nissen said, stepping in front of Jeral as if the boy wasn’t there. His expression lacked even the parody of charm that it usually had.

  Adrienne’s first instinct was to evade the officer. Then she remembered that Nissen was no longer her superior, and she no longer had to avoid a confrontation with him. He could not intimidate her any longer, especially not over drinks in the smoky tavern where people had gathered to celebrate her promotion.

  She relaxed back onto her stool, resting an elbow on the bar and taking a slow sip of ale. “Sorry, Craig, I’m having a conversation with Rosch here,” she said coolly, using his first name as a subtle reminder that they were equals now. “We will have to talk some other time.”

  His green eyes went hard and stormy, and his face filled momentarily with surprised anger before he managed to control it. “Very well. I wished to congratulate you on your promotion.” He turned and spun away, ignored by the other soldiers who were too busy joking and drinking to care about any one person, even a superior officer.