by Kal Spriggs
***
Captain Gwendolyn Wallace
"You seriously thought this was a good idea?" Gregor shook his head. "I'd had half a mind just to riddle you all with arrows and be done with it. You're damned lucky I chose to offer the chance to surrender!" Her brother gave a wave, "And keeping your survival secret, it's a terrible thing to do to me, you're the only family I've got left in the world!"
Gwendolyn gave her older brother a level look. "Aye," she said, "because letting it be known that one of Hector's most trusted mercenary's close family betrayed the Usurper and survived is a good thing to have happen?"
Gregor closed his mouth at that. After a moment, he gave a grudging nod, "You may have a point there. Lord Hector wouldn't have trusted me if it became common knowledge. Certainly he wouldn't have trusted me if I'd known. The bastard." She could see from the harsh set of his jaw that he placed the blame for what had happened on Lord Hector's shoulders.
"I'm not even certain that he knows, to be honest," Gwendolyn admitted. She shrugged, "Remember, Covle Darkbit would take the blame for what happened in the South. He may not have told Hector that I changed sides." Her gaze went distant, "Given what happened to most of my company and the injuries I sustained fighting Grel, he might well have assumed I'd died so there wasn't a need to pass the information along." She shivered a bit as she remembered how Grel had simply overpowered her. She'd had to see his body herself afterwards, to just make certain he was really dead.
"It is a good thing that bastard is dead," Gregor said, "else I'd kill him again myself." He cocked his head, "Who do I owe the favor?"
Gwendolyn rolled her eyes at his tone, "One of Katarina's officers. Captain Swordbreaker."
"Ah, so that rumor is true, at least," Gregor nodded. "We've heard quite a bit about this Captain Swordbreaker here in the south. A grizzled warrior he must be to have accomplished all that he has."
Gwendolyn snorted with humor at that. "Hardly. He's barely a man. He's the most damnable good luck and he's been in the thick of things since this all started, though." She shook her head as she thought about him. "He's a story like ours, lost his village to a raid and had to fight to survive."
"Well, I still will need to thank him," Gregor said. He smiled then, "Probably hoist some ale with him, too." He gave her a level look, "So, then, what is it that you came here to do?"
"Lady Katarina knew that Baron Marcel had been passing information to Hector's mercenaries. She wanted to expose him... and also wanted me to make contact with you." She looked around at where the survivors of her company had mingled with the warriors of her brother's company. Hardly a surprise since most of them were family or friends, recruited from the same villages and towns in Taral.
"You'll be wanting me to switch sides, then?" Gregor asked. His tone wasn't surprised so much as doubting. He shook his head, "I've taken Lord Hector's coin for cycles. It's a sour feeling to return that with betrayal."
"Not to switch sides," Gwendolyn said, even though she privately wished he would. Her own experience serving under Covle Darkbit had soured her towards Lord Hector's cause. "To stand down. To surrender, honorably and under terms. Lady Katarina would like to sign you to service, not under her or Lord Hector... but to the Duchy of Masov."
Her brother's eyes went narrow, "Doing what, exactly?"
"Guarding the Ryftguard, loyal to whoever emerges victorious from this civil war," Gwendolyn said. "She has similar terms for whoever else is here under Hector's service."
Gregor's eyes went wide. "Guarding the Ryftguard? She would trust us to do that? We could betray her and cut off her supply lines to Marovingia and bring her whole rebellion to a halt!"
"You could... except I vouched for you," Gwendolyn said. She gave a shrug, "Unlike you, I've already been put on the opposing side... so if you do that, you'll be dooming me too."
Gregor gave a sour grimace, "I've half a mind to lock you up in one of the towers here until you rethink that."
"Gregor Wallace, if you try that, I'll kick your arse up between your ears," Gwendolyn snapped. From the chuckles nearby, it was clear that more than a few of their people listened in on their conversation. "Now, which other Captains are here and who has overall command?"
Gregor scowled at her, "I'm the overall commander of the garrison." He shrugged after a moment, "Captain Shaw Murtaugh and Captain Zastava Correia are the others."
Gwendolyn nodded at that. Murtaugh was an old acquaintance, he'd fought by her side back in Taral and he and Gregor were old friends. Whichever way her brother went, Shaw would probably follow. "How do you think this Captain Correia will decide?"
"That's a good question," Gregor said as he rubbed at his beard. "He's from Asador, so he's little personal stake in the fight. All the same, he has served under Hector for the past cycle, fighting in the north against the Armen on the Lonely Isle. He's here as much for battle experience as anything else, so even if Shaw and I surrendered, he might still chose to fight it out."
She sighed, "I might add that Lady Katarina will continue to pay for your services at a matching rate to what Lord Hector pays."
Her brother gave her a calculating look, "Lord Hector pays us very well... especially for the Harbringers... that is, Captain Correia’s company of heavy cavalry. You're certain she can pay matching rates?"
Gwendolyn thought of the wealth that the noblewoman had access to, taken from the ruins of Southwatch and augmented by passage tolls for merchant ships headed through the Ryft. "Yes," she nodded.
"That's not a bad deal," Gregor said after a moment. "If the war goes well for Lord Hector, he'll have to credit us for holding the Ryftguard for him. If it doesn't, we'll still be paid and we'll have earned Lady Katarina's favor." He cocked his head, "Though I imagine we'll be freeing up some of her troops from that guard duty."
Gwendolyn nodded, "A battalion, I'm told, recruited from the men and women who live in the Ryft Peaks."
Her brother nodded again, "It's a shrewd move on her part. Everyone wins from this arrangement... except for whoever loses this war." His eyes went narrow. "Lord Hector won't be happy, you know. If he does win, you'll be lucky to escape with your life and I'll have no more work from him. He won't trust me after this."
Gwendolyn gave him a smile, "I don't plan on losing, brother."
***
Lady Katarina Emberhill
Katarina waited patiently as the small group came out of the side gate and rode forward to meet her party. She could see Bulmor scowl a bit at the size of the party, yet he didn't say anything. The group was large for this kind of meeting, but that was understandable on the part of the mercenaries. This was their leadership and they weren't meeting here under formal parley, but in secret. These were some of Lord Hector's most capable mercenaries. They hadn't become successful by being trusting.
She waited as they came up and Gwendolyn covered the rest of the distance, pulling her horse up next to Katarina. "May I introduce Captain Gregor Wallace, Captain Shaw Murtaugh, and Captain Zastava Correia."
Gwendolyn's brother was easily recognizable even at dusk, his shock of curly red hair and curly red beard stood out. The other Taral officer was equally bearded, though with blonde hair and a braided blonde beard. Both of them gave Katarina a nod. Both were big, tall men, but Captain Correia made them both look tiny in comparison.
Captain Correia rode a truly massive warhorse, the biggest that Katarina had ever seen. He himself could have been the biggest man she'd ever seen, except for Nakkikki, and even then it was a close thing. Captain Correia had a big, black bushy beard and tanned skin. He pulled off his helmet and scratched at his bald head, "Well," he said in a booming voice, "let's get down to it, shall we?"
Katarina saw the other two Captains wince a bit, though whether that was because they feared discovery or just because they felt this kind of thing should be done in secret, she didn't know.
"I trust Captain Gwendolyn Wallace has explained the details of my offer?"
"Yes, she ha
s at that," Gregor Wallace said. "A fair offer... though I can't say it's one that sits well with me, turning tail."
Katarina kept from saying the obvious. If Gregor wasn't at least interested, he wouldn't have come to meet her. "As stated, you would be in position to look good to your employer if he wins and to be in a position to benefit if he doesn't," Katarina said. "While I'm certain the Usurper won't win, I can understand you wanting to hedge your bets."
"We may cover ourselves by delivering up the Ryftguard to him," Captain Murtaugh said, "but he'll not trust us after that. If he wins, we'd be out of work out here in Masov for some time... and frankly, those of us from Taral need that kind of work." He squinted at her, "And forgive the assumption, but you don't seem the type to want to hire mercenaries in the long run."
Katarina nodded in reply, "I plan to raise a professional army. I'll not discount the possibility of hiring on mercenaries, but my main force will be made up of citizens of the Duchy of Masov."
"Things are quiet out in Asador of late," Gregor Wallace said. "Which means dry work for mercenaries. This is more than our livlihood, this is our future, it's how those of us from Taral pay for reconquest of our homeland." He grimaced, "There's no money from fighting back home."
Katarina pursed her lips. It wasn't something she had thought much about. While many of Hector's mercenaries were little better than bandits, others were professionals like Correia, men who had fought on many sides in Asador's ongoing civil war. Still others were like Gwendolyn and her brother, adrift with no home, seeking to amass enough wealth to reclaim lands they had been displaced from.
"How about a pledge of alliance?" Katarina asked.
"Alliance?" Gregor asked.
"Alliance?" Bulmor muttered just loud enough for her to hear.
This wasn't something she had thought about, but she felt something come together in her mind. "In ancient times, under the rule of the High Kings, the Five Duchies were one nation. When one Duchy came under attack, the others would respond with troops and support." She sighed, "You may not know it, but I've sworn an oath to the High Kings, to lend what aide I can towards their restoration."
She saw their eyes go wide at that. "If you would accept a similar oath, I'd be honor-bound to help you in your endeavors to reclaim Taral. We would be allies... and I would only ask your support if I needed it, nothing more."
"That's probably the most addle-headed thing I've ever heard," Shaw Murtaugh growled. "Either you think we're idiots or you must be crazy to make such an offer."
Katarina leveled a serious look upon him, "I swear to you, on the spirits of my ancestors, that I swore a binding oath to serve the High Kings. What I said was true... if you gave a similar oath I would be bound to help you and your allies in Taral."
"You haven't finished off your civil war here and you expect to get involved in our mess in Taral?" Gregor Wallace shook his head. "You are crazy... but that's a damned fine offer."
It was, she knew. The Wallaces and Shaw Murtaugh would have the support of an entire Duchy. They would be able to stage out of the Ryftguard and they would have an ally who by oath had repudated any claims on the land they reconquered.
"I can't promise to put my own lands at risk to the Armen, but we'll have some forces that we can contribute to the efforts," Katarina said. She felt as if this had quickly spun out of control.
Captain Correia cocked his head, "Would you hold the same terms to the other Duchies?"
"Against foreign enemies, yes," Katarina said. "I've no desire to get involved in the internal politics of the other Duchies, if that's what you're asking."
Captain Correia gave her a broad grin, "I wouldn't dream of it." He glanced at the other two mercenary commanders, "I can tell these two have already made up their minds, squabbling about details aside, the offer is too good to pass up." He went on and stroked his bushy black beard, "No, how about this... you have a nobleman who has betrayed you, right?"
Katarina gave a nod, "Baron Marcel, he was in contact with Hector and now with Captain Wallace, he tried to betray me in return for his confiscated lands and some spare coin."
"Well," Captain Correia grinned, "that suits me just fine. I'll take his lands and title, in return, I'll promise you a company of the finest cavalry in the world, sworn to your service and your cause."
Katarina stared at him, "It's not that easy to make someone a noble..."
"It worked for Countess Darkriver of the Mongrels," Captain Correia said. "And all she did for your father was help him in the fight at the Black Fortress. I'm offering you the keys to Ember Castle." He turned his grin on his two companions, "And no offense, but neither of you want to fight my men, even on foot, over this. If I wanted, I'd hold this place."
"Why ask for lands under me?" Katarina asked. "I'm sure Hector could reward you equally or better, particularly if you did hold out against me."
Captain Correia's smile faded. "Lord Hector, despite his many fine points, is still a despot. He's at best a benevolent dictator and at worst..." he shrugged, "well, I think there are plenty in your army who can speak to the worst of Lord Hector."
He gave a wave at her, "You, though... if you've sworn an oath to the High Kings, one that you mean to uphold, then you also have to uphold their laws. The old laws, the ones on personal freedoms, I'll hold you to those."
Katarina gave him a nod, "It makes sense." She remembered reading some of those laws as a child. It was the basis of those laws that would allow her to rule as Duchess, rather than being forced to give up her power once she married. "If that's what you want, then if you join my side, I'll grant you temporary rights to Baron Marcel's lands as soon as I strip them from him and his title and position once I am the Duchess." On the one hand, it seemed strange to her that someone might risk everything for laws that had not been enforced for a thousand cycles, yet on the other hand, she understood. Her fight with Hector came back to rule of law. Too many of his mercenaries had flaunted the law, secure in the knowledge that he would back them. He had corrupted the law and used it when it suited his needs and ignored it when it didn't.
She could see that Gregor Wallace's and Shaw Murtaugh's faces had gone sour. They would have to struggle and fight for their lands, still, and Captain Correia had just had it handed to him.
Still, it wasn’t as if they were going to trade sides.
"It's settled, then," Gregor Wallace said. He nodded at Zastava Correia, "Shall we go back and tell our people?"
"We will," Captain Correia said. Then, to Katarina's surprise, he dismounted and then knelt, "Lady Katarina, I, Zastava Correia, swear my loyalty to you, on pain of death, for as long as you uphold the law and oaths of your office." He drew his sword and then offered it up, pommel first.
Katarina dismounted and stepped forward. She rested her hand on the pommel of his sword. "Zastava Correia, I accept your oath of loyalty and promise to uphold my oaths to the people, to the High Kings, and to uphold the law."
The big man rose and gave her a nod. In the dim light, it almost looked like his eyes glowed a bit. "Well, then," he said in a friendly voice. "I guess that settles that."
***
Chapter XIII
Captain Aerion Swordbreaker
Ember Castle, Duchy of Masov
6th of Shallob, Cycle 1000 Post Sundering
"I can't beleive we didn't get to kill anyone," Walker grumbled. He, Quinn, and Aerion were gathered in Quinn's quarters, not far from where Cederic the wizard's quarters lay in one of the castle's outlying towers.
"Really?" Aerion asked. "You haven't had your fill of fighting?" He shook his head, "Trust me, if we could end this war now and no one on either side had to die, I'd probably be happy."
Walker frowned and his face went serious, "Aerion, there's something..."
"He's just irritated that we've got this fancy banquet to attend and all his finery is travel and battle-stained," Quinn joked. "How's he supposed to impress anyone with his taste in clothing when he hasn't a thing to wear?
" Quinn adopted a falsetto in mockery that made Aerion snort.
Walker's mouth snapped shut and he gave Quinn a glare. But to Aerion's surprise, Walker didn't snap back with a joke like he normally would, he just looked uncertain. Aerion almost asked him what was wrong. He had known for weeks that something bothered his friend. Oddly enough, after the last battle, he had seemed the happiest and most at ease.
Before Aerion could speak, though, the door opened and Lord Jarek stuck his head in the room, "Aerion! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you!"
Walker's scowl deepened and Aerion realized that the moment had passed. Whatever bothered is friend, he wouldn't speak of it in front of Jarek. More's the pity, Aerion thought, Jarek is a good man and I wish that Walker and he would be friends.
"Lady Katarina wants to give everyone time to rotate through and enjoy the planned festivities for next week," Lord Jarek said. "So I thought I'd get with you and see if we could divide our companies into a set of rotations, that way all our people can join in with the general celebrations."
"Of course," Aerion said. He had forgotten that Lady Katarina wanted to celebrate the recovery of Ember Castle. She'd made the announcement as they marched in, but Aerion hadn't thought much about it.
"Well," Walker said, "I'll leave you to it." There was anger and irritation in his face and Aerion bi his tongue on a sharp reply. Walker should help him to do this sort of thing... his leaving was more a sign of distaste for Lord Jarek than anything else.
Quinn looked after Walker, "What's eating him?"
Aerion just shook his head. He would have to find time to pull his friend aside and see what was wrong. Later, Aerion thought, there will be time later.
***
First Sergeant Walker
"Stupid fucking nobles," Walker spat over the side of the parapet. He hated Lord Jarek. Not just because he was a noble, but because he had stolen Walker's friends away.
