at the head of the valley. The winds blew fiercely. Asta stopped and tightened the baggage on her yithhe to make sure nothing would blow free. The air had that dry, Garran-smell that irritated her nose. It seemed worse near Wanthe--the smell of the world of Garran.
Wanthe was not home to only one tribe but a mixture of the tribes and also a few Chanden. It held a Chanden school, which had been mandatory for years, though the law proved difficult to enforce. All children were required to spend two years during the season of Dusk at the school. There was also a healthy marketplace here for the trading of goods, both Garran and Chanden.
As she approached Wanthe, the poverty and decay of the city impressed Asta. She had been here once before, on one of her training missions. Not a journey she wanted to make alone--but as an agent, she needed to be up to the task.
This trip, things seemed worse than the first time she'd visited. People looked thinner, their clothes more ragged (if that was possible), the houses looked more ancient and crumbly. Even the air seemed drier and more difficult to breathe.
“You must stay with the Greystone Clan,” insisted Molot, as they lumbered into town on their yithhe .
“Thank you,” said Asta, glad of a place to stay. She had no desire to enter this nearly all-Garran outpost alone.
CHAPTER NINE
The meeting with First Militia Commander Nyan went better than expected. Koethe had met him at the main barracks in Urrlan, the capital city. The review of the troops had taken less time than Koethe expected.
Nyan had asked some standard questions and Koethe had given standard answers. A few hours later, Nyan seemed satisfied.
They sat and drank tami , a favored drink from their homeworld of Vhorlend. The conversation relaxed from there and they spoke of matters of common interest: new military rulings and the war. Koethe learned that Nyan had spent several years on Koethe's own homeworld of Toolash, in the same principality that Koethe was raised in--Aggravis.
This led to reminiscing about their favorite bars, restaurants and sports teams. Koethe felt that he could work with Nyan.
But the interview he dreaded more was the one that afternoon with Second Militia Commander Montani. Anticipating that, Koethe reluctantly excused himself. All the visiting officers had been invited to dinner the following night.
"I'll see you then," said Koethe.
"I look forward to it," said Nyan.
He walked back to his office, enjoying the exercise. Commander Montani was waiting for him when he arrived. She was early. His own First Chief Richt waited with her. How long she'd been there, Koethe didn't know, but she already sat at a terminal with access to the financial records, no doubt she had already begun viewing them. Chief Richt must have allowed her access.
She rose when he entered the room. "Commander Koethe," she said with stiff politeness.
"Commander Montani," he responded back, hiding his surprise at the early intrusion. "You're early." She knew he had an appointment with Commander Nyan that morning.
He knew he should make small talk or offer her a drink but her attitude angered him. Was that her plan? Did she want to anger him?
"I trust that you've been given access to the records you need." Koethe said with just enough politeness.
"Chief Richt has been very helpful, thank you," said Montani. Had she been questioning him about Koethe's activities? His anger spiked. She had no right to pry like this.
Koethe glanced at Richt, who looked a little uncomfortable. No doubt she had intimidated him. "Thank you, Chief Richt," he said. It was a dismissal.
"Sir," said Richt. Taking the hint, he excused himself.
"Take all the time you need to examine the records," said Koethe, attempting a friendly tone but only half succeeding.
"I will," said Montani somberly. He had no doubt. However, she did not sit down. "I do have a few questions," she said.
"Already?" he asked, wishing that he could pour
Wanthe was not home to only one tribe but a mixture of the tribes and also a few Chanden. It held a Chanden school, which had been mandatory for years, though the law proved difficult to enforce. All children were required to spend two years during the season of Dusk at the school. There was also a healthy marketplace here for the trading of goods, both Garran and Chanden.
As she approached Wanthe, the poverty and decay of the city impressed Asta. She had been here once before, on one of her training missions. Not a journey she wanted to make alone--but as an agent, she needed to be up to the task.
This trip, things seemed worse than the first time she'd visited. People looked thinner, their clothes more ragged (if that was possible), the houses looked more ancient and crumbly. Even the air seemed drier and more difficult to breathe.
“You must stay with the Greystone Clan,” insisted Molot, as they lumbered into town on their yithhe .
“Thank you,” said Asta, glad of a place to stay. She had no desire to enter this nearly all-Garran outpost alone.
CHAPTER NINE
The meeting with First Militia Commander Nyan went better than expected. Koethe had met him at the main barracks in Urrlan, the capital city. The review of the troops had taken less time than Koethe expected.
Nyan had asked some standard questions and Koethe had given standard answers. A few hours later, Nyan seemed satisfied.
They sat and drank tami , a favored drink from their homeworld of Vhorlend. The conversation relaxed from there and they spoke of matters of common interest: new military rulings and the war. Koethe learned that Nyan had spent several years on Koethe's own homeworld of Toolash, in the same principality that Koethe was raised in--Aggravis.
This led to reminiscing about their favorite bars, restaurants and sports teams. Koethe felt that he could work with Nyan.
But the interview he dreaded more was the one that afternoon with Second Militia Commander Montani. Anticipating that, Koethe reluctantly excused himself. All the visiting officers had been invited to dinner the following night.
"I'll see you then," said Koethe.
"I look forward to it," said Nyan.
He walked back to his office, enjoying the exercise. Commander Montani was waiting for him when he arrived. She was early. His own First Chief Richt waited with her. How long she'd been there, Koethe didn't know, but she already sat at a terminal with access to the financial records, no doubt she had already begun viewing them. Chief Richt must have allowed her access.
She rose when he entered the room. "Commander Koethe," she said with stiff politeness.
"Commander Montani," he responded back, hiding his surprise at the early intrusion. "You're early." She knew he had an appointment with Commander Nyan that morning.
He knew he should make small talk or offer her a drink but her attitude angered him. Was that her plan? Did she want to anger him?
"I trust that you've been given access to the records you need." Koethe said with just enough politeness.
"Chief Richt has been very helpful, thank you," said Montani. Had she been questioning him about Koethe's activities? His anger spiked. She had no right to pry like this.
Koethe glanced at Richt, who looked a little uncomfortable. No doubt she had intimidated him. "Thank you, Chief Richt," he said. It was a dismissal.
"Sir," said Richt. Taking the hint, he excused himself.
"Take all the time you need to examine the records," said Koethe, attempting a friendly tone but only half succeeding.
"I will," said Montani somberly. He had no doubt. However, she did not sit down. "I do have a few questions," she said.
"Already?" he asked, wishing that he could pour
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