I shook my head. “Enemy hands? The Geneshans? Sir, I don’t understand.”
He let out a long sigh. “Sergeant, I don’t have time for this now. We’ll talk later when we’re heading back north. I have a few things I want to pick your mind about.”
Molak-be-damned, Balak came all this way to find me because he still didn’t have confidence in his strategies. More than ever, I wished I had pretended stupidity in my first couple of years of the war.
“General, I can’t do that.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“The same. I appreciate that you have a need for people of fighting age, but we’ve served our time.”
“And you’ll serve it again,” he said like he was already issuing me another order. “Your country needs you.”
“My country is no more, General. Ava herself said that nothing could have survived that first eruption in Hol. There is no king. There is no government. That means there is no Turine.”
“We can find a new king and make a new government. Turine is the land, Sergeant.”
A land he obviously wanted to rule.
“Sir, look around. Most of the land is dead. The rest is dying.”
“It won’t always be this way. Now again, since maybe I wasn’t clear the first time around. This isn’t a request. It is an order. You will march back to that outpost and get those people out of there or I will force them out and be less kind about it.”
“Sir, there are women and children in there. You have no use for them.”
“Any man or boy that can carry a spear, I have a use for. Any woman or girl old enough to bleed who isn’t capable of fighting like your sister can join the other followers and serve by spreading their legs and keeping my men happy. The children can forage or run odd tasks. Trust me, Tyrus, there’s plenty of work that needs doing, and in order to increase our numbers I’m going to have to stop being so selective in recruits.”
Ira growled next to me. Thankfully, he kept his composure.
Jareb chuckled in the space that followed Balak’s order. I squeezed the reins and took a breath. I was going about this the wrong way. Balak had controlled the conversation from the beginning, and I was trying to play on the sympathies of a man with little heart.
I let my face go slack. “General, tell your men to leave us and I’ll do the same with Ira and Dekar. You and I need to speak in private.”
He grit his teeth. “I’m not accustomed to having orders given to me by my own men.”
“Call it a request then,” I said unmoving.
We stared at each again. Once more he broke away first. He looked over his shoulder. “Give us twenty yards.”
I told Ira and Dekar to do the same.
“I’m listening,” he said once we were alone.
I chose my words carefully. “You need me.”
“I told you I could use more soldiers like you to help—”
“Enough with the act. It’s just you and me. I wouldn’t say this in front of the others because I know your pride would not allow me to walk away alive. But you need me. And not because I’m a good soldier. You didn’t come all the way so I can start my unit up again. You need me because of the way I think and the fact I could always spot the holes in your strategies. We both know you took credit for my ideas on handling the Geneshans. I didn’t care then. But now I do.” I paused, studying him. “You’re worried. You’ve got no one you trust to watch your back, to second guess you in a way that doesn’t make you look bad. Or you do, but don’t have the confidence in them that you had in me. You’re not sure that you can win whatever war you’re heading to. Like I said, you need me.” I paused, gauging his reaction. “Right?”
He said nothing, but the look on his face conveyed I had hit a nerve. The nerve.
“I thought so.”
He hissed. “Make your point, Sergeant.”
“I know you well enough that there is no way I’ll walk away alive unless I come with you. You’d rather see me dead, than not have me. I get that and so I’ll join your Molak-be-damned war, whatever it is.”
He started to open his mouth.
“But. And there is a but. There is no way you’re going to get my full cooperation unless you give me something in return. I can see what you’re thinking. You’re angry I would try to give you an ultimatum. Your first inclination is to threaten me. Maybe hurt someone close to me. Maybe Ira or Dekar. Maybe someone in that outpost. You think that by doing so, I’ll do whatever you say without any trouble.” I paused. “You’re right. I would do just that. For a little while. But I could never let something like that go.”
“I could just kill you now.” He leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. “Kill the whole lot of you in that outpost too. You know I’d do it.”
“You could. But then you’ll spend your whole campaign wondering if you’re leading your men into a trap, wondering what it is you might have missed. Wondering what Tyrus might have seen that you couldn’t. You ready to live like that? Are you ready to lose whatever it is you’re going after, on account of your pride? Your inability to bend just a little? This once?”
He worked his jaw. “What do you propose?”
“I give you ten people of fighting age including me, Ira, and Dekar. Enough to save face with the rest of your army so they don’t think that I swindled you. It’s also enough for a squad in case you do intend on me taking that role again. At least it would make it so others aren’t wise to my role in your strategy. Everyone else at that outpost stays.”
“That isn’t giving me much.”
“It’s better than nothing. Especially getting Ira and Dekar. You know they’re better than anyone else you have right now. Besides, it’s not like I’m asking for a piece of the power you’re pursuing.”
“I assume your sister is among those seven others coming.”
“No. She’s dead.”
“Dead? You didn’t say that before.”
“I’m saying it now. She died in a cave-in during the third eruption trying to save my children. We lost half our people, including Ava and my kids.”
Balak stared at me. “Jareb said your kids had a resistance to sorcery like you did.”
I tensed.
“You hate him, don’t you?”
“You could say that.”
“He is a piece of dung. Not worth much to me at this point. The man hates you about as much as you probably hate him. He told me a lot of other things about your family, Tyrus. Things that make me wonder why you let him live.”
Me too.
He studied me. “I think you’re lying about Ava and your kids.”
“They’re dead,” I said in a dead pan voice, trying to make it seem that I was numb to the news, having still not come to terms with it.
“So, you’re telling me the three people you care about most in the world, the ones with the most value to me after you, all happen to be dead? A mage and two with a resistance to sorcery? I bet I’d find them if I went to that outpost, wouldn’t I?”
“Go look yourself. I can’t stop you. But if you do, our agreement is off.”
“What? Introducing new terms?”
“Something like that.”
He paused, narrowed his eyes, then growled. “Fine Sergeant. Then I want three more men to take their place. Understand?”
I nodded.
“Then go get them. You have half an hour. Try anything funny and I’m coming in with everything I have and taking everyone anyway.”
Balak turned without another word, ending the conversation. I guess that last show of power made him feel better about how things went. So long as he kept his end of our deal, I didn’t care.
The eleven men he rode with followed him back to the main army. Oddly enough, the last man to join him was the square-helmed man. He made no effort to hide his intentions, gazing at me like a man with a vendetta.
That didn’t sit well with me. A man with a grudge, especially a calm one was never a good thing.
Ira
and Dekar trotted up.
“Did you win?” asked Ira.
“In a manner of speaking.”
“We going back into the army?”
I worked my jaw. “Yeah.”
Ira cursed. “That sure doesn’t sound like winning in a manner of speaking. That sounds like losing, Ty.”
“Not for everyone.” I turned my horse back to the outpost. “C’mon. We’ve got half an hour.”
“Until what?” asked Dekar.
“Until we rejoin Balak. I convinced him not to take the women and children into slavery, and most of the others. The tradeoff is that we bring along ten more of fighting age and then go help him win his war.”
“Well, taking care of the kids is something,” said Ira.
“Which ten are coming with us?” Dekar asked.
“Still trying to figure that part out,” I said. “Figure I should lay it out before the group first. Maybe I’ll get some volunteers.”
“Not many people are dumb enough to volunteer to go to war,” said Ira.
I turned. “Didn’t you tell me that you and Dekar volunteered?”
He puffed his chest out. “Even brilliant people show flashes of stupidity, Ty.”
I snorted as thoughts of how my kids would react to the news of me leaving them again entered my mind. None were good.
* * *
We passed through the gate and into the courtyard. A few cheers went up, thinking that since we had returned I somehow had sweet talked the general into letting us go.
Then they saw our faces and the truth written on them. The cheers faded.
“What happened?” Rezub asked.
As usual, the former mayor took the role of spokesperson. I rehashed my conversation with Balak to the group, leaving out what they didn’t need to know, like my lying about Ava and the kids. Instead, I focused on what was important. In order for the majority to live and be spared, several of us, including me, would have to potentially give our lives to a cause we knew little about.
Talk about dredging up old memories.
I had barely known anything about the Geneshans when I was forced into joining the army. My only knowledge was that they were the bad guys and Turine had to stop them. Unfortunately, I didn’t even have that much to offer to the group this time around.
No one took the news well. Questions flared.
Myra didn’t say anything. She simply stormed off with her head down. Zadok and Ava ran after her. My sister gave me a look that said she knew I was hiding something.
“Just because this general gave you those terms doesn’t mean we have to accept them,” said Benami. “Because frankly, I’d prefer to negotiate my own life rather than have you do it for me.”
I gave him a sour look. He and I hadn’t said much since I held a sword to his throat in the cave. But then again, that sort of thing was bound to put a damper on any relationship.
“If you or anyone else is stupid enough to think you can do a better job than me then please, try. I’ll make sure not to step over your corpse when we leave. I told you what he intended for all of you before. You think that will change because you ask him? You have nothing to offer him. Nothing to bargain with at this point. So just shut your mouth. We don’t have time to entertain your stupidity, or anyone else’s.”
Benami had the brains not to say anything more. Either that or he saw Ira sneaking toward him with balled fists. Regardless, he better understood the situation.
“Who’s supposed to go with you?” asked Rezub.
“I didn’t give him names other than myself, Ira, and Dekar. However, I was thinking that among the others that need to go, we should count the five men without a family.”
“What!” shouted one of the intended five. “So because I don’t have a wife or kids, my life is less important?”
I gave him a cold stare. I didn’t have time to coax him into this gently. “It’s not.”
“Molak curse you to hell, Tyrus.”
“If he’s real, he did that a long time ago.”
“What if I don’t want to go?”
“Then I make you go,” Dekar said in a low voice beside me.
The man took a hasty step back. He had been in the cave with Dekar when he’d thrown Fromel out into the storm.
I turned back to the rest of the group. “I’ll still need five more volunteers among the men who are married. Boys of fighting age, sixteen and older, will also do. Anyone?”
People looked around nervously at each other, none wanting to make the first move.
“People, I know this is hard. But we have to make these decisions now. If we don’t get out there soon, I promise you the general will come in here and take every last person, not just the ten he originally agreed to. Do you want to watch your wife and children abused? Your friends beaten? I sure don’t.”
Boaz stepped forward. “I’ll go.”
My heart dropped. Not him. I didn’t want him to be among the volunteers. The former innkeeper was genuinely a good person. He and his family had been a consistent bright spot in my life since the first eruption.
Dinah stepped up and pulled on his arm, hissing in his ear. He whispered something back to her and tears fell from both their eyes as they embraced. Abigail looked confused, flashing looks between her father, her mother, and me.
I had to look away. I felt like I was letting them down. Balak had come after me. This was my fault.
I cleared my throat. “Who else?”
Three more men came forward with similar exchanges from wives and children. The heartache written on each man’s face was enough to make even the coldest person shed a tear. My respect for those men grew tremendously. I promised myself I would do everything in my power to make sure they survived.
The wife of the third man blamed me for her husband’s sense of duty. A wad of spit struck my chest before she turned and sobbed on her husband’s shoulder.
The scene made me think of my own goodbye with Lasha ten years ago. It wasn’t easy for us either, though she at least had the decency not to spit on anyone.
Gods, I missed that woman.
One more spot to fill and no one volunteered to take it. Well, no one volunteered to take it who I’d also let come.
Nason looked ready to step forward, but I gave him a stare that said he better not. Regardless of his sense of obligation to me, or his good nature, no way would I let him leave his kids behind without either parent.
I know I was doing the same thing to Myra and Zadok, but I didn’t have the choice that he did.
Besides, Myra and Zadok were older. And I had arranged it so Ava could stay with them in my absence. They returned to the group, not making any effort to hide their scowls. Only Ava met my eyes. The grief my kids so clearly bore was like a kick to the crotch.
“I’ll go,” said Sivan after another moment. “I’m old. My daughter has grown into a fine woman. I can afford to take the risk.”
Damaris was at his side, tugging on his arm, obviously disagreeing with that latter statement.
I shook my head. “No. I need you to stay. With so many of us already leaving, your knowledge and experience is even more valuable to everyone remaining. I’m counting on you and Ava to look after everyone here.”
He nodded and relaxed.
Damaris gave her father a hug, turned her head to me and mouthed a silent thank you.
Reuma stepped forward. “Sir, I’d like to take that last spot. I don’t have any family and you didn’t say that the volunteers had to be men. Just people who can soldier. You already said I have what it takes.”
I noticed Ira tensing at that. That man really did have it for her to be so concerned in such a short amount of time. That tugged at my heart. I was dragging him back into the military while asking him to leave a woman he cared for behind. That scenario hadn’t worked out well for me or Dekar.
I thought of Captain Nehab for the first time in months. Perhaps, Reuma might find a place in the south that mirrored Treetown. Then when Ir
a returned, the two could embrace like Nehab and his wife had. Nehab was one of the few who got to live the dream we all had hoped for upon our return.
Well, at least Nehab got to live that dream for a little while. Molak knows what happened to him after the artifact.
I shook my head at Reuma. “I need you here for the same reason I need Sivan here. You’ll need to make sure people don’t get relaxed. The drills and weapons training need to continue. It’s still a long way to the Southern Kingdoms.”
Reuma’s face reddened to match her hair. Her anger was evident. She forced a “yes sir,” and started to walk away.
Ira pulled her close and whispered something to her. Something passed between them. Then she cast me a glance and waited as Ira strode forward.
When he was close enough so only I could hear, he started, “I need you to let her come.”
“I thought you’d want her to stay.”
“Yes and no. She wants to come and deserves the chance. This is important to her.”
“You know what kind of stuff can potentially happen to her.”
His face went hard. “It won’t. I’ll make that clear right away. And so will she.”
“What about the people here, Ira? The three of us are already going away. I was counting on her to help lead this group to safety. To make sure my kids and my sister made it.”
Ira made a face. “I understand all of that. I really do. And if you say she has to stay, I’ll go with it. Just like I’ve always trusted you to make the right call. But the more I think about it, the more I want her to come. I’m actually a little scared for her not to. No offense, but I’ve seen what happened to you and Dekar and your wives. I don’t want that to be me. I know she’ll be risking her life in the army, but she’ll at least be at my side.”
I sighed. Hard. He was putting me in a bad spot, making me choose between family and friends, the well-being of my children and sister, or the happiness of a man who had risked his life for me over and over.
In the ten years I’d known Ira, the man complained, joked, and gave me a hard time. But not once did he go against my orders and never did he shy away from doing the dirty work. And never did he truly ask me for something like he was doing now. “All right. She comes.”
Wayward Soldiers Page 30
