Parno's Gambit: The Black Sheep of Soulan: Book 3

by N. C. Reed

  “He 'll forgive you if you ask him,” Winnie said again. “And you know it, I think. You're just punishing yourself for what you did by doing this. Only problem is you're punishing him too.”

  “I really don't wish to discuss this anymore,” Stephanie stood again, her face suddenly rigid. “I do appreciate your attempts to cheer me, but I do not want to continue dwelling on this.”

  “If that's what you want,” Winnie nodded. “I came to see if you wanted to take a ride with me. I'm tired of sitting here and I'm getting out for a while. I'm going to go and visit the refugees and see how they are, and maybe have a look see around the city.”

  “I'd like that,” Stephanie nodded at once. “Getting out of here would be a break, even for a little while.”

  ~*~

  Sarah Williams blew hair from her face as she washed her son's clothes for the first time since she had been forced to take her two small children and flee her home ahead of the Nor invasion. She took a minute to look around her and make sure that her son Micah, four, and daughter Lucinda, seven, were within her line of sight. She had allowed them to play with other children while she worked, knowing the two needed the distraction as much as she did. Things had been hard for that last several weeks, and only in the last few days had her children actually had enough to eat or clean water to drink, not to mention been able to bathe properly in far too long.

  She had left with little more than than the clothes on her back when she saw the beaten soldiers of 2nd Corps retreating through her small town. Her husband dead for two years, Sarah made a living for her and her two children doing laundry for most of the rest of her small town and by serving as a midwife for expectant women in her area. Being educated, she also assisted in teaching school three days each week which had helped her manage to keep her head above water and leave a little left over for the things her children wanted.

  All that was gone now, left behind in the mad dash to get to safety ahead of the Nor heathen invading their land. At less than thirty years old, full of figure and not unpleasant to look upon according to more than one lecherous old man, she was all too aware of what fate awaited her at the hands of their invaders, and what that fate meant for her children. Taking what she could carry in a small backpack and preparing a small pack for each child to carry a random toy or doll as well as a change of clothes, Sarah had set out within an hour of the first ambulances rolling through town ferrying wounded south. While others had mocked her for doing so, she noted that she had seen none of them since.

  Maybe they were safe and sound still in their own homes while she as stuck living in a soldier's barracks, but she doubted it. That wasn't the Nor way. And she had heard more than once that the horrible Tribal Horsemen were among the invaders as well. A shiver she couldn't suppress ran through her at the thought of the hellish horse soldiers running rampant through the south. Her children wouldn't be safe from them and neither would she.

  Nor would anyone who remained behind and got caught by the paint wearing devils, that was certain.

  She admitted that this was far from ideal, living in a barracks and dependent on others for feeding and caring for her children, but at the moment it was all she had, and she was grateful for it. Wishing you still had your own living and your own home wasn't the same as being ungrateful for what you did have.

  And there were several able bodied men among the refugees that had given her the eye more than once over the last week that were no longer allowed around the women and children. That lone was worth being at least somewhat dependent on others, just to be in relative safety.

  She wasn't the only woman here with small children either. And there were men as well, though most were well past the age of serving in the military, unlike those who had given her the eye before. None of those scoundrels had apparently had wives or children either one to care for and spent their days being mouthy and threatening. She was certain that had Lady Winifred not come upon them and used her own guard to protect and care for them that her own safety would not have been certain more than another night or two. And with her went her children.

  She hoped that the guard had drug the lay-about bastards away to be forced into the army. That way the Kingdom could get some good from their useless hides and protect their victims at the same time. It would serve them right for preying on the helpless in such times as these.

  A stir among the crowd of refugees her attention and she stood up, washing still in hand, to see two women, heavily escorted, riding her way. The two were looking over the camp with a judging eye, and even in the distance Sarah could recognize the red mane of Lady Winifred. Smiling, she hurriedly finished her chore of washing, wringing the small suit for her son out and hanging it across a fence to dry as Lady Winifred drew reign before her barracks.

  “Hello Miss Williams,” Lady Winifred smiled. “How are you faring?” Sarah was flattered that the young woman remembered her name from among so many.

  “I'm well, milady,” Sarah promised, walking to where the two women still sat their horses. “How are you?”

  “I told you it's just Winnie,” Winifred semi-scolded. “I'm well, thank you. Are you getting along alright?”

  “We are,” Sarah assured her. “I must thank you again, milady, for all you've done. My two children are much better off than at any time in recent weeks thanks to you. I shall never be able to repay your kindness.”

  “There is no payment required,” Winnie promised. “It is the Kingdom that owes you. The army is doing all it can to push the Nor back, but until your homes are freed we must look after our own as best we can. Speaking of which, has Minister Philo been through to see you all?”

  “The Agriculture man?” Sarah clarified. “Yes, he was here two days past,” she replied to Winnie's nod. “He spoke of our moving soon to areas where we could plant and grow food and establish new living areas until the current crisis has passed.”

  “Yes,” Winnie nodded. “I had hoped to be able to keep everyone here, but there isn't enough room for so many to raise a garden to help feed yourselves. Also, Minister Philo believes that once the camps are established we will be able to provide at least some stock to each area for milk and eventually meat, provided we have sufficient breeding stock in each camp.”

  “That is what I was told,” Sarah affirmed.

  “Is there anything you need right away?” Winnie asked her.

  “Well,” Sarah mused. “There are a number of pregnant women among the refugees right now. I've served as a midwife for some time myself, so if I could get access to the supplies I need I could continue to do that now. I don't need much, really. A scope and a few other instruments, along with a few tools to make supplements and extract vitamin nutrients.”

  “How much training do you have?” the second woman asked suddenly, a slight frown of concentration on her face.

  “I apprenticed under an older woman in my town for two years, and assisted the doctor before he went north with the army,” Sarah replied.

  “Sarah, this is Doctor Stephanie Freeman-Corsin, the Royal Physician,” Winnie introduced.

  “Pleasure, miss,” Sarah bowed slightly.

  “Mine as well,” Stephanie smiled slightly. “Do you have time to answer a few questions for me, Miss Williams?” she asked.

  “Of course,” Sarah nodded. The dark-haired woman dismounted then and passed her reins to a green and black clad cavalry man.

  “Tell me what you know about…”

  ~*~

  “How is. . .trying to kill. . .us. . .making us bet. . .better soldiers?”

  This was a question asked by more than one 1st Corps soldier as the first day's training came to an end. Graham was gasping for air himself as he heard one of his officers asking the same question he and others were thinking.

  “I'm. . .told that it. . .it's a matter of. . .conditioning,” he offered. “The mo…more we do. . . this, th. . .the easier it be. . .becomes.”

  “I di. . .did note that. . .the instructors ran
right alongs. . ..alongside us,” another said, nodding jerkily. “And they don. . .don't seem to be breathing. . .so hard.”

  “They been do. . .doing this a lo. . .lot longer,” Graham told him. “Prince Parno did it too,” he gasped out in one breath.

  “Really?” that perked the nearby officers up. “The Mar. . .Marshal went through this?”

  “Right along with his men,” Graham nodded. “And if. . .if they can do it then s. . .so can we!” he forced out. “I don't want to see a single man falling out of line, do you. . .you hear me?” he stood before them despite his heaving lungs. “If a bunch of criminals and pansies can get through this, then 1st Corps can damn sure do. . .do it too,” he was finally getting his breathing under control.

  “Yes sir.” The collected gasp of his officers would have been funny if he hadn't been gasping right along with them.

  Several yards away, a group of green and black clad men stood comparing notes.

  “Weak as water,” one said flatly. “Ain't none of 'em could make a day in the Regiment.”

  “Neither could we when we started,” a second noted and the others, including the first speaker, nodded.

  “True that,” a third agreed. “And none of 'em quit, I note,” he added.

  “That is true,” the first speaker agreed. “They ain't nothing if not determined. And the General included,” he chuckled. “Be lucky he don't kill his fool self trying to make sure he leads the way.”

  “Reckon that will make his men follow though,” someone else said.

  “I think they can make it, assuming they keep this up,” was the general consensus when spoken by the leader of the group. “Reckon we can tell the Colonel they 'll probably make it a day or two anyways.”

  “Be Cho's turn tomorrow,” one chuckled. “Least they 'll get to sit down some for that.”

  ~*~

  “Miss Williams,” Stephanie said after quizzing Sarah for several minutes, “your knowledge seems to exceed that of the usual mid-wife. You're almost a nurse in terms of knowledge and ability.”

  “Thank you miss,” Sarah nodded. “I learned a great deal from the doctor these two years before the war. He had a small library and I was able to borrow and read a good many of his books. I learned a great deal from them, and from him.”

  “Don't thank me, I'm just being honest,” Stephanie shook her head. “As it happens, I run a school for military surgeons at Cove Canton and am establishing another school here for both surgeons and nurses. Is that something that would interest you? Serving the Kingdom as a nurse? Perhaps even as a physician, assuming you can handle the study load?”

  “Ph…physician?” Sarah was stunned. “Miss, I…milady I don't know that I could-”

  “You're obviously well educated,” Stephanie cut her off gently. “And intelligent. There's no reason you couldn't do it if you were so inclined. The decision is yours of course, but I think you would be perfect for it.”

  “Miss, I have two small children,” Sarah said softly. “I…I have to see to their care above all else.”

  “Rightly so,” Stephanie approved of the woman's dedication. “But what if I can arrange suitable childcare for you? Someone to watch over and safeguard your children while you study? You would attend class and serve in the hospitals around Nasil as well, your time split about evenly between the two. You would be paid for your work of course, a small stipend, and I will ensure you have a place to stay and are provided with meals. I admit it may not always be varied much but it will be filling and plentiful. You and your children will be taken care of, assuming you wish to participate. And you would have time for your children in the evenings before bed time, at least when not working in the hospital once your training is finished.”

  “I…I don't know that I could do it, Miss,” Sarah admitted. “What if I tried and failed?”

  “You can't fail the nurse part,” Stephanie shook her head. “As I said, you're almost there now, and a woman of your obvious education will have no trouble finishing the program. You will be able to test out on the beginning part of the course I feel certain. Even if you can't, you will still be well ahead of the norm. We aren't desperate for nurses yet, but that time is coming,” she confided softly. “I'm trying to get ahead of the need by finding people that can serve now and having them ready to meet that need when it comes.”

  “I…I didn't think the military allowed women to serve,” Sarah temporized. A physician? Her?

  “They don't allow it on the lines,” Stephanie nodded. “For good reason. It's no place for a woman and I speak from bitter experience,” she added, thinking about the Gap. “But with so many men serving, women are having to fill the gaps left by their absence, and the medical field is one of those areas. A large one at that. It's not just military, either,” she pointed out. “We all have need of medical help at some point, military or civilian. There will be a shortage of doctors for some time to come I fear, and nurses especially will be in short supply. As you pointed out yourself, if nothing else there are expectant women to be cared for.”

  “I will see to it that an adequate care facility for your children and any others is provided, Sarah,” Winnie offered. “There are likely some women among you who wouldn't be able to work a farm but can and would care for children, including continuing their education where needful. You probably aren't the only woman among the refugees who might be qualified for Stephanie's programs.”

  “There are a right few women here who have at least as much education as I do,” Sarah nodded in agreement. “And there are at least a handful of school teachers. They've already been working to make sure the children don't suffer too much disruption in their learning.”

  “Introduce us then, at least to the ones you know,” Winnie ordered, stepping down from her own horse and passing the reins over. Four men and two female constables dismounted with her but remained unobtrusive.

  “Please,” Stephanie agreed. “We need all the help we can get.”

  ~*~

  “Well?” Parno asked as Karls walked into his small camp later that evening. “How'd it go?”

  “None of them died,” Karls chuckled. “Honestly, they did about as well as you could expect, not having done much of that sort. And Graham hung in to the last as well,” he added.

  “May have had him wrong,” Parno nodded thoughtfully. “I don't think he's that good an actor, and he was stunned to learn what all Therron had done. Swore to try his best to complete the course and expected the same treatment as any of his men should he fail.”

  “That's a good start anyway,” Karls nodded in agreement. “And he worked. Didn't complain, didn't try to pull rank, nothing. Didn't offer to entertain his officer's complaints either. He let the instructors do the talking when it was needful and just concentrated on getting through the day himself.”

  “Well, he was true to his word for one day, anyway,” Parno sighed. “Have to see if that continues.”

  “What about your day?” Karls asked.

  “Same as always,” Parno shrugged. “Reports, meetings, issues to solve, that sort of thing. With 2nd Corps on their way, all I need do is finalize the plans for the units headed into the central highlands and I 'll be done for the moment. After that it's hit, feint, repeat for the foreseeable future.”

  “Any word from Beaumont?” Karls asked.

  “I don't expect any unless they have trouble,” Parno replied. “And honestly that's Memmnon's headache now that he's awake and aware and doing well. I have enough on my plate as it is. Not to mention that I need to stay as far from Therron as I can so that I don't have to try and overpower the urge to kill him.”

  “I see,” Karls nodded. He had thought he and Enri had difficulties.

  “Anyway,” Parno stood up, stretching. “I need to go meet with Davies. The man he's selected to lead the troop into the mid province above the capitol is coming and I want to meet him. Welcome to come along if you'd like,” he added.

  “Okay.”

  ~*~r />
  Brigadier Nelson Pierce was uneasy. He had been singled out from his own command in 2nd Corps and told to stay behind, reporting to General Davies this evening. He knew of no reason why he would be relieved of his command, having performed well, or so he thought, since the war began. He had led the retreat from the bridges in good order, having been promoted to full Brigadier following that action and had continued to lead his men well since.

  Yet what remained of his men and the new men that had replaced his losses were even now on their way to the Marshal's home posting for retraining, rest and refit while he himself stood here waiting to see General Davies.

  Perhaps it's a staff assignment, he told himself. He didn't want such a posting, but working for General Davies would be fine. He had served the General for many years and now that Davies commanded an entire army group he would want experienced officers to staff it.

  “Good evening Nelson,” Davies' voice cut into his rumination and Pierce shot to attention.

  “Evening sir.”

  “At ease,” Davies told him, waving the man forward into a chair near his field desk. “I know you're wondering what this is about,” Davies said at once. “First of all let me assure you that you've done nothing wrong. The fact is that I have a new assignment for you, and your past performance is one of the reasons I've chosen you for it.”

  “Sir,” Pierce nodded.

  “The Marshal has ordered a force prepared from organic units that answer to no higher command and sent into the central Tinsee highlands, north of the capitol and the Cumberland River as a screen against attack from that direction and down the river itself.” He indicated the map before him. “The Cumberland itself, if they can navigate it down, is a natural invasion route to the capitol and with 1st Corps in the field, there's little left there in the way of defense.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “I've decided to give this command to you, pending the Marshal's approval, and send you into this area to prevent the Nor from being able to approach the capitol undetected.”