Then she mounted her horse and rode off for the next canton.
* * *
—
“WELL,” SAID ANA when I told her the news. “That’s a pretty big goddamn surprise, isn’t it!” She grinned.
“Apologies, ma’am, but I can’t find much to smile about at this moment,” I said.
“Oh, you’ve always got to smile a little, Din,” said Ana. “Even during, you know, the abysmally fucking awful times.” She cocked her head. “A commander-prificto! That’s a high rank indeed…and she’s coming here for me, personally, during a crisis. Something’s amiss.”
“I had assumed the same, ma’am. But what, I can’t imagine.”
“Hm.” She sat back in her short stuffed chair, her eyes blindfolded. “Din—you only have the one Iudex coat, don’t you?”
“Ah—yes, ma’am?”
“And your boots. They’re a bit shit, aren’t they? Not to insult you, but…”
“They’re not as fine as some boots, ma’am,” I said curtly. “But they’re what I can afford.”
“Right…I think you’re going to need to buy some new clothes, Din. Several coats and new boots, certainly.” She stood, walked to one desk, and opened a drawer. “Here.” She slid out a small bag of talint coins. “A present for you, given your performance during the Blas murder. Try and get that done before nightfall. Then shower, pack, and be ready.”
“Thank you, but—ready for what, ma’am?”
“A very serious conversation,” she said. “About something very bad. And then, I think, a departure. But to where, I’m not yet sure.”
* * *
—
I WAITED AT the post station, dressed in my fine new blue coat and my shiny black boots. None of my apparel had been broken in yet—the coat chafed my armpits, and the boots pinched my toes—so I kept pacing, hands behind my back.
Then I heard the sound of horses’ hooves and peered into the darkness. Two riders emerged from the wet night, both covered in black cloaks, their helmets painted black as well. They slowed to a halt at the post station and dismounted. Stephinos took their horses, exchanged a quick word with them, then pointed to me.
I stood up straight, hands behind my back, face purged of emotion. I’d never spoken to anyone above the rank of captain before—except for Ana, who hardly seemed to count. I had especially never spoken to an elite officer in the Legion, the most demanding and honored of all the Iyalets. I shoved my breast forward at them, ensuring they’d see all my heralds: the flower and the bar, denoting me assistant investigator; and the eye set within a box, indicating I was also an engraver.
The commander-prificto approached me first. I didn’t need to see the heralds on her ebony cloak to identify her as such: a glance at her gray face indicated many alterations, and her dark, serious eyes suggested someone who had seen no shortage of horrors in her time. She was a tall woman, shoulders broad, jaw set. Slight twitch to her step, suggesting some chronic tweak in her back. Her helm was ornate, engraved with letters in Old Khanum: the emperor’s declaration founding the Legion so many centuries ago. A fine piece of artistry. I wondered if she wore it in such critical moments to command the greatest respect.
She was followed by a Legion captain, a tall, younger man with a handsome, fair face and pale eyes. Though his helm was fine and black, it wasn’t engraved like the commander-prificto’s. His eyes were dark with fatigue, a dash of stubble clinging to his chin; yet though he was obviously tired, he moved robustly, his big, athletic frame bouncing along merrily. The physical alterations of the Legion, I guessed, could keep a fellow going even after a breach.
I bowed low as they approached. “Welcome to Daretana,” I said. “I’m Signum Dinios Kol, Assistant Investigator for Immunis Ana Dolabra.”
Both of them gave me the tiniest bows in return. “Thank you for meeting us,” said the commander-prificto. Her voice sounded very hoarse, and very tired. “Please take me to the investigator right away.”
I led them through Daretana, then to the edge of town and into the dark jungle. They did not talk. I expected them to be surprised by Ana’s living quarters, but neither said a thing; either they knew about her situation or they were too tired to care.
I had planned to walk up, knock, and introduce the commander-prificto to Ana; but there appeared to be some unspoken Legion procedure here, for the captain stopped me to talk, while the commander-prificto continued on.