Lord of the High Reaches

by James Haddock

  After unpacking, we went down to the dining room for a meal. There were few others there. It was quiet, which suited me just fine. After dining, as we started back to our suite, a clerk stopped us.

  "Excuse me, Colonel. There’s a message for you," he said, handing it to me.

  "Thank you.” Once in the suite, I opened it. "Robert, we have an appointment to see the king at nine in the morning."

  "Zero-nine-hundred," he corrected me.

  "Right, zero-nine-hundred."

  * * *

  At zero-eight-thirty, we presented ourselves at the palace, wearing formal dress uniforms. At zero-nine-hundred, we were ushered into the king’s office.

  Entering, we bowed. "Good Morning, Sire."

  "Good morning, Colonel. Good to see you again. You’ve been busy in the south."

  "The Westies keep us on our toes, Sire."

  King Edward looked at Robert like an archer marking his target, then back at me.

  Not one to miss a cue, I said, "That will be all, Sergeant Mercer. Wait for me at reception.”

  "Yes, sir." Then, he bowed, “Your highness."

  "Sergeant," King Edward replied.

  Once the door shut, and we were alone, "Come, sit you."

  "Thank you, Sire."

  "I have Lord Windford’s letter about what happened. It pained me to hear of the loss of his father and mother."

  "And seemingly all because they befriended me."

  He frowned. "Explain."

  I told him all I had learned, and most of the events that had transpired since last we spoke. He listened without comment until I finished.

  "So, the Westies have targeted lords, at the behest of the Northers. This is new.” He shook his head. “Usually, the aristocracy is left alone, or, at most, captured for ransom."

  "I believe the Westies are about to step up their assaults in the south. The Northers want everyone's attention focused there. They want the Eastern and Southern kingdoms to expend resources, confronting the west. In the meantime, the Northers grow stronger."

  Brow creased, he responded, "This is a dangerous game the Northers play. They manipulate others into wasting lives and material, keeping their own safe, until the last move, when they sweep in and take all. Checkmate. Game over.”

  “This game is not over yet, Your Highness. It’s our turn to move.” Pulling design drawings from my bag, "This is a new type of heavy long gun. It fires an exploding bullet with a range roughly 1000 yards. With a trained crew, it will fire three times faster than a normal cannon."

  He bent over the table, scrutinizing the drawings. Looking up at me, "You have seen this?"

  "I have." He didn't ask if I had one, and I didn't volunteer the information.

  "King Micha sent this," I said, passing him the letter.

  When finished reading, he laid it down. "He says that the west is encroaching on our land, but Lord Du-cat and Major Bishop stopped their latest deployment. He goes on to say because of a treaty between the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, he can't sell us any ships. However, he suggested Colonel Bishop may have some insights about the treaty."

  "We talked about it. As he said, he can't sell or help us directly in gaining a skyship. As luck would have it, Lord Du-cat discovered one that crashed after a fight. It can be used as a pattern to build more."

  "And where do you plan to build these skyships?"

  "Windford. The farther away from Northers, the better. When they find out, they will not be happy."

  He smiled. “I like this plan. What do you need?"

  "A hanger is being built. Once done, it will provide an indoor location to build the ships. Colonel Bishop will hire mercenaries for security and defense. Blacksmiths and metal workers with experience making heavy guns and cannons will be needed, as well as shipwrights and sail makers. We have the wood close at hand. What we don't have is cloth and iron to make anything else.

  “One other need is miners who know how to extract a black rock called ‘hard coal’. The boilers use hard coal as a heat source. It burns hotter than wood and for a longer time.” I made a short, silent prayer that he would not ask how I knew this. Don’t let him ask, so I don’t have to tell.

  He stood and began to pace, then stopped to look at maps on the wall. "This will be tricky. As soon as we start sending building supplies south, the Northers will hear about it. You are going to have to buy supplies offshore and smuggle them in. No mention of any of this in any messages. The same problem exists with the experts you need. As soon as experts in those fields are moved, the Northers will know. They watch us, just like we watch them. So far, the Northern Kingdom has not shared their skyship knowledge with the Westies. Who can say how long that will last? If I were the king of the Western Kingdom, I'd be doing the same thing we are. Get skyships at any cost."

  "To buy all this offshore and import it will cost, no doubt about that."

  "The cost of not doing it will be higher. The kingdom will finance it. You just get it done."

  I stood, thinking. "We can't build these new heavy long guns either. As soon as we do, they’ll know. Next, they either bomb the factory, steal the designs, or both."

  Edward nodded, "Exactly." He handed the drawings back to me.

  "So, we import everything and carry on with our other businesses like nothing has changed. We'll say the mercenary company is to counter Westie incursions and to protect railroad construction. That's close enough to the truth." I tried to see other angles of the problem.

  "Sire, do you have maps of the location of the Northers’ skyship yards, black powder depots, and storage facilities?"

  "We do," he said, sorting through maps. Pulling one out, he pointed. “This shows their capital. Here is their palace, the skyship yards, the foundry, and powder depots."

  I looked at the map. Everything was bunched together, like eggs all in one nice, tidy basket. Someone must have thought having key functions—government and critical industrials—in one area would make them easier to defend. In the past, that would have worked, but this was not the past.

  It was abundantly clear, the Northers were overly confident in their game, the likely result being a war of miscalculation on their own doorstep. It was time to break some eggs.

  I smiled. “Sure would be a shame if those facilities caught fire. As close as they are to each other, the whole place might go up in flames."

  "It would, and we've tried. We can't get within a half-mile of the place."

  "I'll give it some thought," I replied.

  Skyships will be more powerful than even a queen in this royal chess game. A chess board is flat, limiting movements to forward, backward, sideways, and diagonal. But skyships…well, now…that’s a whole new game.

  Chapter 21

  Sergeant Mercer fell in behind me as we left the palace. “First, we change clothes, then have lunch some place where mercenaries gather."

  "Yes, sir. I know just the place," Robert answered.

  Once we changed into standard dress uniform, we were off. It was a fair walk, but I was interested in seeing this side of the city. We wound up at tap house called, 'The Hound'. Inside, we took a table out of the way and ordered. Robert gave a sideways glance at a man at the next table. Disheveled and bleary-eyed, he and his friends looked hungover from the night before.

  "Woo-who, look at the pretty kitty," one said. His friends laughed. Another fool trying to impress his friends. Not real bright, these guys had to re-learn how to tie their shoes every morning.

  The tap room went quiet. Ignoring him, I began to eat. The mouthy one said something to his friend, who left the table. A few minutes later, he returned with a bowl of milk.

  "Try that kitty," Mouthy said. The room waited for the explosion.

  Some stereotypes are true; I picked up the bowl and drank it. "Thank you. Have your wife bring me another," I said, pushing the empty bowl toward him. The room busted out laughing, while the fool and his wife looked angry.

  Robert stood up. "Calm down, m
ate. It was a good jest, but if you push it, I'll be all night cleaning blood out of his uniform."

  "I won't hurt him too bad." Mouthy stood up.

  "It's not his blood I'm talking about," Robert replied.

  Mouthy started to draw his knife. Before he got it out of the sheath, Robert punched him in the throat then slammed his head onto the table. Mouthy was down and out. Mouthy's wife, standing next to me, drew his knife going for Robert’s back. I let out a loud growl, freezing everyone.

  Robert now faced the man with the drawn knife. "Now you've done it," Robert said, loudly. "I'll have to find him a bloody hunk of meat to calm him down."

  "No," I said, continuing the menacing growl. "Just cut that one's leg off," pointing to the unconscious Mouthy. "I'll eat it here."

  The three drunks grabbed Mouthy and got out as fast as they could move. Everyone was still quiet, waiting.

  "A free round for everyone! Compliments of the Black Cat Mercenary Company!" Robert shouted.

  The tap room cheered. Everybody loves a free drink. The server brought me another bowl of stew－and a bowl of milk. I chuckled.

  "Sergeant Mercer,” a man said, walking toward us. “Still stirring up trouble, I see. I'm surprised you haven't climbed the 13 steps to the hangman’s noose, yet."

  "In my defense…" Robert started.

  "Save it for the judge," the man retorted.

  "The hangman don't want me, Top. I'm too scrawny." They both laughed.

  "Colonel Bishop, may I introduce Top Sergeant Bounty, the best top sergeant I ever served under."

  "The only top sergeant he ever served under," Top quipped. "A pleasure, Colonel." He offered his hand.

  "Take a seat, Top," I said, as I shook his hand. He sat down, and they brought him a beer.

  "So, you're back with the companies? I thought you'd cashed out and went home," Top said, looking at Robert.

  "I did, we've had some trouble with the Westies at home. Our clan lord hired the colonel here to take care of it. So, I hired on with him. Are you still with the Beast?"

  "No, unfortunately, he was killed on our last contract. The company will be disbanding. We were badly mauled anyway; it was a rough one. We lost half the infantry and half the cavalry."

  "Sorry to hear that. Did Pattie make it?"

  Top shook his head. "Nor did his brother."

  "To absent friends," Robert said, raising his glass.

  “To absent friends.”

  We sat in silence for a bit. "So, Top, if your company is disbanding, what are you going to do?" I asked.

  "To be honest, I'm looking for a new home. Me and the officers have been checking for upcoming contracts. I doubt we'll all stay together, but we wanted to get the lads placed if we can."

  I looked at Robert, who nodded his head just enough for me to see. "How many men do you have?"

  "Around 75 effectives, consisting of 50 infantry and 25 cavalry. Among the walking wounded, 40 cavalry and 30 infantry, more or less."

  "Animals and equipment?"

  “No animals. Probably 30 percent of the men will need equipment."

  "How many officers and NCOs?"

  "Three lieutenants, six sergeants, and nine corporals."

  "Do you have a contract officer?"

  "We do. He's talking about packing it in though."

  "A doctor and medics?"

  "None.”

  "What?" Robert looked shocked. "Doc and Stitch?"

  Top hung his head. "As I said, it was a hard contract. Worst, I ever served under."

  We’d need more men, but it was a start. These men had fighting experience. They waited while I considered.

  "Okay, Top. Here's what I can offer. All of your men and officers can join us. There's no action at the moment, so that gives the wounded time to heal. I'll start effectives at winter garrison rates, and the walking wounded half that. As the wounded heal, they'll get a raise. The needed equipment will be replaced. It may not be new, but it will be serviceable. And while we’re talking, I’m going to hire another 250 men, some engineers, artillery cannoners, a doctor and medics."

  He sat back, nodding," A fair offer, Colonel. I'll take it to the men. Can you come to the company house tomorrow afternoon? Sergeant Mercer knows where it is."

  "We'll be there."

  He shook my hand. "Tomorrow then."

  When Top was gone, Robert said, "Well, I've got a lot of work to do. I need to find good used equipment and horses.

  "They haven't taken my offer yet."

  "Oh, they'll take it. You offered to hire both effectives and the wounded; they'll take it. Now, I just got to keep you out of tavern fights."

  "In my defense…"

  "Save it for the judge," he interrupted, laughing.

  Back at the military guest house, we spent the evening planning what was needed to kit out our new company.

  * * *

  The next afternoon, we left for the meeting. Our route took us through the market district, which was as large as the Southern Kingdom's. It was a cold but sunny day. It felt good to feel the sun on my face. We passed several skyships, that were unloading cargo. I didn't recognize any of the flags they flew.

  We arrived at the 'Beast House', as Robert called it. Not sure how it got its name. It was their company's headquarters. Greeted, we were taken to a large meeting room. There must have been 30 officers present with similar uniforms, but varying colors.

  Top Sergeant Bounty introduced me. "I have presented your proposal to our company. Since you were interested in hiring additional men, I invited a few other companies, we’ve worked with in the past. All represented have fine records and a long history of completed contracts. With that said, we give you the floor to discuss details of your contract."

  "Thank you, Top. I'm sure you've shared what the pay is. So, I won't rehash it. The mission is simple, but not always easy." That got a chuckle. Highly experienced soldiers like these usually weren’t hired for the easy stuff.

  “We will guard the southeastern borderlands, specifically, Lord Windford’s. There have been multiple incursions by Westies. During the last raid, they killed the former Lord Windford. Then, began killing any others they could find, including Lady Windford, housekeeping staff, tenant farmers and their families. Killing innocents just for the sake of killing. There is also railroad construction underway. Those workers will also need protection.

  “So far, there have been no direct engagements, just raids. Doubtless, that will not last. The west becomes bolder with each passing day. Phase one of the mission will be to guard Windford Keep, patrol the area around it, and guard the rail workers. At the same time, we will build barracks and other facilities to house troops. During phase two, palisades will be built, extending the keep’s walls and reinforcing her defenses. I expect this contract to last at least two years, possibly more. Questions?"

  A man stood to be recognized. "Yes," I said, acknowledging him.

  "Sergeant Major Danig of the Danig Artillery Detachment. I was told you needed artillery cannoneers. Do you have any? Cannons, that is," he clarified.

  "I do not. I'm looking to buy them," I answered. He nodded and sat down.

  Another stood. "Captain Stanz, Calvary. Top said you would supply horses for the Beasties. Does that apply to everyone else?" He sat down.

  I hooked around the room, noticing how strained and weathered their faces were. "You have all had a hard contract; some worse than others. Some may have finances put by to weather this storm, some may not. But consider this, you've made it home. You got your people home. Yes, you lost equipment, weapons, horses, supplies, all of which can be replaced. The one thing you can't replace, you brought home with you That one thing was you."

  "Gentlemen, I can buy horses, equipment, weapons, and supplies. What I'm looking for is trained men to use those things and officers to lead them. If you'll work with me on the cost of replacing what you need, I think we can help each other."

  I waited for other questions. There were none. "
Top," I said, giving him the floor once again.

  "Right,” he said. Let's make this simple. If you're of a mind to contract with Colonel Bishop, keep your seats. If not, have a good day." Everyone looked around to see who would leave; none left. Top turned to me. "Colonel?"

  "Right," I said, standing. "Do we have a contracting officer here?" Two raised their hands. "Gentlemen, we need a general contract stating what we've discussed. When we get to the specifics of re-equipping individual units, we’ll discuss percentages."

  “Payroll clerks?" I called out. Four men stood. "Ranking man takes charge and readies the rolls. I have banknotes for deposit, and we'll need cash on hand as well."

  "Yes, Colonel." They got to it.

  "Top Sergeant Bounty?"

  "Sir?"

  "Are you the ranking sergeant?"

  "Other than Sergeant Major Danig, I am.

  I nodded. "You are now my Sergeant Major. Don't let me screw this up, Top." The hall roared with laughter.

  "God help us poor officers," someone said.

  "The All Mighty is busy, Lieutenant. But never you mind, I'll get you sorted out," Top shouted back over the laughter. Quickly, he got sections paired off and working.

  At my request, the officers gathered around me. "Gentlemen, I know things have been, and continue to be, lean for you and your men. Once you are under contract, I will advance the first month’s pay.” Immediate relief swept their faces.

  “I need two things. First, a list of needed supplies and equipment. Second, a plan on how to move this many men, horses, and equipment. Have the plan to me day after tomorrow by noon. Movement will be by train to Windford, as soon as possible. Get to it, gentlemen.”

  There was a saying, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” Now that orders were being carried out, I stayed by the side, letting men who did this for a living do their job. By mid-afternoon, soldiers started showing up from individual companies to lend a hand. Cooks had set up a mess tent and a chow line inside the walled compound behind the headquarters building. People would grab a meal, then keep working. At 2100, Robert and I left them to their work and returned to the guest house.