Parno's Peril

by N. C. Reed

  “As to how it happens, that we can also blame on the aggression of the Nor for the simple fact that most good men who would have prevented what we just encountered are away fighting the invasion. All that is left behind are the dregs of society. That unfortunately includes the few men remaining in positions of authority. There are a few constables, good ones I mean, who are still on the job, usually supported by small militia contingents, but those few men have a huge territory to cover. And they can't do it all. Can't be everywhere at once.”

  “How do they miss something like that, though?” Winnie demanded.

  “It's not what they're looking for,” Case replied. “They're looking for things out of the ordinary. Men like Benton and his cronies, all the others we apprehended, they fight like hell to maintain the illusion of ordinary. Normal. With threats, with bribes, with whatever it takes to get the job done. Had you not mouse-trapped Benton into committing sedition and removing him and his men from their spot, it's unlikely anyone would have had the courage to speak to you about what was happening. It would have been their word against Benton's, and in their place whose word do you think they would expect to be believed? While I castigated the men who had allowed those things to happen, a man has to think of his family's safety as well. If he tried and failed then his family pays the price for it.”

  “And ma'am, if I may,” Rucker spoke, “you caught what was wrong, you and Captain Case, right off the bat. Not everyone can see through a ruse like that. I know that I learned something. From now on I’ll be more aware of who is where. But had it been me, I might not have noticed. I would have camped and then rode on. Not because I wouldn't want to stop it, but because I'd not have noticed it to begin with.”

  “He's right,” Conway nodded slowly. “Awareness comes with experience as well as training. And while training is necessary, it can never replace experience and that is especially true when we're talking about experience dealing with people. For us,” he motioned to himself and the other soldiers, “we don't often interact with civilians other than to ask them to please make way. We're trained to look for assassins. To look for an attack on the Royal Family. Not the palace, not anything other than the Royal Family. That is our responsibility. So, our training dictates that is what we concentrate on. And we separate that in our minds by remembering that there are constables to take care of criminals and they can call on the militia when needed. It isn't our responsibility.”

  “I made it your responsibility,” Winnie pointed out.

  “And you are, or will be the civilian authority,” Conway replied as if Winnie had just made his point for him. “You can do it. We're trained not to.”

  “I see what you mean,” Winnie nodded after thinking that one over. “That makes sense.”

  “And on that philosophical exposition, I am for bed,” Bragg stood. “Good night milady, gentlemen.”

  “I have the watch,” Rucker stood. “I should check on that. By your permission, sir?”

  “Carry on,” Case nodded. “I think I’ll turn in myself. I might sleep tonight for a change.”

  “Good night all,” Winnie said. “And thank you.”

  A chorus of 'welcome milady' came from a half dozen sources. She smiled as she made her way to her carriage for the night. For perhaps the first time she felt as if maybe, just maybe with a little work and a lot help she could do it.

  Maybe she could be Queen.

  -

  Morning came on Jerome Baxter's fifth day. He could feel exhaustion still trying to hold on to him and knew his men would feel it as bad or worse than he had. But there was nothing he could do about it. Tomorrow morning, he had to be leading his men west.

  He had called a meeting of officers down to regimental seconds for an hour before mess. He arrived just as the last of his officer trooped inside his command tent and made short work of the meeting.

  “You already know this, but I'm telling you officially that we leave tomorrow at sunrise to screen 1st Corps as they move west to a map dot called Unity. Two infantry divisions have completely disappeared either in the town or on the road between here and there and nothing was found of them other than the body of the commanding General. Let me say right now that if someone discovers my dead body anywhere, all of you better be found next to me.” A chorus of chuckles met his demand as he smiled.

  “Seriously, 1st Corps moves out in the morning planning to take and occupy this small town and then make the Soulanie come take it back. Wilson thinks there's something out that way the Soulanies don't want us to find, or to see. I think he's full of shit, but he outranks me so we're going.” More chuckles at that along with head nodding.

  “It is an almost certainty that we won't have sufficient horses to mount everyone who made the trip back with us,” he informed them. “We're looking to be down roughly one thousand horses all totaled. Nothing to be done about it and I won't have the actual figure from the wranglers until just before lunch. If there are men in your command that you're concerned about making this jaunt, remove them from the roster and leave them here. We’ll place them in charge of the camp so they can't be stolen and some lucky officer will get to stay behind and command. Volunteers for that job will not be considered, by the way, because if they were I'd take it myself.” Again, he got the hoped-for response; laughs.

  “We will not collect our horses until one hour before dark,” he told them. “Allow them every last bit of rest and care we can before moving them to our own holding areas. In the morning we will wait until the very last minute to saddle up. Saddles and gear can be set ready to use, but we will do everything else before saddling to ride. Make that clear. Our horses are still questionable so save whatever strength they still have for any encounter with Soulan cavalry. Our orders will post after lunch when I know for certain how many horses we will have. Any questions?”

  “I don't suppose there's a way to get another day or two before we go, is there?” one brigade commander asked.

  “I had to risk court martial to get these last five days,” Baxter replied evenly. “I'd say it's safe bet the answer is no.”

  “Figured,” the man nodded. “Our baggage train going this time?”

  “It is, but we will not require moving camp. Otherwise bring or load everything we normally would need. Our wagons will fall in with the infantry which will make them marginally safer. Anything else? If not, then I will see you at evening mess for final orders. See to your commands and expect runners after lunch. Good day, gentlemen.”

  -

  “I really threw our schedule off, didn't I?” Winnie said as she rode with Case at the head of the train. It was still early, but the advantage of using a well-maintained trade route was that it was easier to navigate even in the dim light of early morning.

  “Had to be done,” Case shrugged. “And it just gives the couriers we sent off a few more days to get to their destination and for people in those towns to send representatives to Jason. It will work out.”

  “I wish after what we seen before that we were going through those towns ourselves,” Winnie sighed.

  “Not our responsibility, milady,” Case reminded her. “I know you don't want to hear that, but you have to learn that you can't do everything. You won't even be able to do most things. Pick your battles wisely and delegate the lesser things to others. In normal times you would have been able to count on the local constabulary to deal with what we just saw. What you're doing is more important than police work, our most recent adventure notwithstanding.”

  “How can you stand to know something like that is happening and not do something about it?” Winnie asked. Not accusing but asking for advice.

  “You have to concentrate on what you're supposed to be doing,” he replied after a minute. “What I'd like to do has nothing to do with what the King expects of me. He expects me to do my duty. Counts on me to do it in fact, having delegated it to me in the first place. I can't go off and change what I'm going to do on my own orders. The King will be counting on
me to be where I'm supposed to be and if I'm not, then what? So, I do my duty as it has been given to me and I hope that others do the same.”

  “Even when you know you should do something else?” Winnie asked.

  “Milady, you will, Lord willing, be my Queen one day,” Case had a sudden attack of frank discussion. “When that happens, you will be able to do something about these things, or even order me to do it. You will be the power in Soulan save for the King and Crown Prince or Lord Marshal. I, however, am a mere Captain… Senior Captain,” he corrected, “and I cannot. I don't get to decide what orders I follow and which I change or ignore altogether. That isn't how this works.”

  Winnie blinked at that, turning her head back to look down the road ahead. She had never thought of it that way. She was accustomed to being free to do as she chose so long as she could accomplish it that it didn't always occur to her that not everyone had that option.

  “I'm sorry, Captain... Senior Captain,” she grinned at him as she corrected herself. “I didn't think that through. I am so used to doing as I please, and I mean all my life not just since... since,” she clarified, “that I don't always think about being constrained by orders or duty or anything else. Before, the only thing that limited me was my ability. Was I strong enough to climb that high? Was I good enough to take that shot? Could I track that animal? It all depended on whether I could actually do it and nothing else. It takes some getting used to,” she admitted.

  “I should imagine,” Case nodded slowly, rethinking what he knew of the young woman at his side. She had grown up in a rough and tumble environment that had forged her into a strong, tough and independent young woman. He had known her background of course, but knowing something and realizing what it meant were two different things.

  “War won't last forever,” Winnie said finally. “Things will get better. And we’ll help.”

  “Yes,” Case smiled slightly. “We will.”

  -

  “That looks like their cavalry but... where are their horses?”

  “I don't see any,” Dagger Earl shook his head as he used his own glass to scan the enemy lines.

  “Reckon they made them infantry now?” Felds chuckled, then turned serious. “I wish we could hear what they're saying,” he indicated a small knot of men within sight.

  “Can't get no closer,” Earl shook his head.

  “I know,” Felds sighed in disgust. “Sides that, I don't want to get caught out by this bunch.”

  “Me neither,” Earl agreed. “Do we report in?”

  “Ain't nothing to report as yet,” Felds shook his head. “We’ll keep watching. I got a feeling they're gonna do something soon.”

  “Like what?” Earl asked as the two crawled through the tall grass over the ridge behind them where their horses were hidden.

  “I knew that, I'd be a general,” Felds replied.

  “Like hell.”

  -

  “Morning, General,” Parno walked in the main command tent to see Davies already at work. “How do things look?”

  “Fine at the moment, milord,” the older man nodded. “We're still watching the Imperial lines closely. All indications are that there is a move coming, but nothing indicates how many of them or where other than the location of the activity. Because it's along the enemy right, we believe they are preparing a movement in strength to the west, possibly back to Unity. It could be a ruse of course, but a large number of their men have been pulled from the lines. It's the only thing I can think of that makes sense at the moment. I can't find another single reason for them to do any of this.”

  “Well, when you've eliminated everything else then it has to be what's left,” Parno shrugged. “All we can do is wait and watch. I've been concerned myself. I've been restless the last few days and that has usually been a precursor to action. I don't want to sound like a soothsayer but I've learned to trust my instincts.”

  “Nothing wrong with trusting instincts that have proven accurate,” Davies agreed at once. “How is the training of 1st Corps coming along?” he asked.

  “They're almost done,” Parno informed him. “Why?”

  “Allow me to recommend that they be given some time to stand down,” Davies ventured. “A week perhaps, to make sure equipment is in good shape and the men are well rested. Assembly each morning before mess, camp duties, general drill, the sort of routine things we do every day.”

  “I can order that,” Parno agreed. “Why?”

  “I have instincts too, milord,” Davies looked grim. “And mine are screaming that we’ll need those men and need them soon. I'd rather they be rested and refit when we do.”

  “That makes good sense,” Parno nodded. “I will see to it right now. Anything else before I go?”

  “Not at present, milord,” Davies was still looking at his map. “We have things well in hand so long as they remain unchanged.” Implied in that was the idea that things were about to make that change.

  Parno nodded and left to send a courier to 1st Corps.

  -

  General Graham looked at the message and felt his brow crease slightly. They were supposedly almost done, so why this sudden stand down to camp routine, with 'all material preparations sufficient and necessary to enter combat'?

  That was an odd turn of phrase if he had ever seen one. He thought about it for just a minute and decided it could mean only one of two things; they were being tested… or they were about to be needed.

  Either way he had a great deal of work to do and not much time to see to it. He summoned runners to him and sent them to find division commanders as well as Colonel Willard and Cho Feng.

  It looked as if things might be heating up soon.

  -

  “Milady, I'm grateful for all you have done...” Harrel began, then stopped, seeming to weigh his words.

  “But?” Stephanie prompted him with a smile. “I sense a 'but' in there somewhere.”

  “But I would like you to be straightforward with me,” he continued. “Will I ever be able to return to duty? With the Regiment, I mean? The Prince said it was unlikely, but...”

  “Harrel, it's too soon to say for sure one way or another,” Stephanie replied. She had been dreading this question. “You have a great deal of muscle damage in your back, Harrel. We were incredibly fortunate that horrid thing didn't hit an organ or we'd likely not be having this conversation right now.”

  “I know,” Harrel nodded. “I knew what it was as soon as I saw it.”

  “I will promise you this,” Stephanie looked him in the eye. “I have given you the absolute best care I can, and I will continue to do so until you are healed. If there is a way for you to be fit enough to return to duty we will find it. I won't promise you that it will happen because I honestly don't know. I do know that the odds are against it, I won't lie. The damage is likely going to be permanent. Not this,” she indicated his current condition. “Not like this. You will walk again and be able to dance with your bride at your wedding someday. But service in the regular army is hard enough, Harrel,” she added softly. “Service in the Black Sheep...”

  “I know,” Harrel sighed. “It was the greatest thing,” he sounded as if he wasn't talking to her anymore. “It was the greatest achievement I could have attained. For a short while, I was... special.”

  “Harrel,” Stephanie almost breathed his name. “Harrel you defeated three Imperial assassins single handed, killing two and incapacitating another, saving the Crown Prince in the process. I don't know how much more 'special' you can be.”

  “I suppose that is something, isn't it?” he nodded absently. “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “Try and get some rest,” Stephanie stood.

  “All I do anymore is rest.”

  -

  “I don't know you,” Edema said, looking up at the young Captain standing before her. He wore the uniform of Parno's personal regiment but that didn't mean anything if she didn't know him.

  “Captain Antoine Pike, Lady Cumberland,
at your service,” the young man snapped to attention and bowed slightly.

  “For?” she asked hesitantly.

  “I... I assumed the Prince had informed you, milady,” Pike looked confused.

  “About?”

  “I am the commanding officer of your escort, Lady Cumberland,” Pike told her quietly. “And I have under my command a smaller separate escort specifically for Lady Dhalia as well. My charge from the Prince himself is to maintain your and her safety above all else.”

  “What?” Edema was getting pretty good at one-word sentences.

  “Where you go, we go,” Pike said simply, shrugging ever so slightly. “When you depart this camp and head for home, we’ll be following you, ma'am.”

  “You will, will you?” Edema mused.

  -

  “Yes, he will,” Parno was scratching through the papers on his desk while a fuming Edema Willows stood in front of him shaking her head.

  “No, he won't,” she replied. “I told you I don't need-”

  “And I said you did,” Parno cut her off smoothly as he finally found what he needed. “Ah-hah!” he crowed as he spread the map across his desk, weighing it down with odd and end pieces of equipment.

  “I am not going to be followed around everywhere I go by-”

  “You want to spend the rest of the war confined to the palace?” Parno didn't look up as he spoke.

  “What?” the screeched reply was just bordering on outrage.

  “Those are your choices,” he told her, still pouring over the map. “Pike and his men go with you, or you go to the palace where Memmnon can look after you.”

  “I have been looking after myself since before you were born, young man!” she snapped. Parno stopped what he was doing with a sigh and looked up at her.