Forged in Fire (Destiny's Crucible Book 4)

by Olan Thorensen

  When the two Fuomi turned back to Yozef, Eina spoke in her own voice. “Commander Rintala says he is not quite sure how to proceed. He does not necessarily agree that it is possible for two sides of a bargaining session to know where it will end. He also admits that the ether is an important item, and he is willing to give something for it. However, what you ask is more than it is worth. We could sit here and argue about the details, but he will give a counterproposal. He will agree to some of the items on your list, but some will have limitations. He cannot agree to expose our warships, because we are so far from home and they are the only way we can leave Caedellium, when and if it becomes necessary. The obvious exception is if they have to defend our encampment in your Mittack Province. He and his men are willing to advise you on tactics, but we will take no direct part in any action against the Narthani—the exception again being if necessary to defend ourselves.

  “As for muskets and poppy extract, we don’t have sufficient supplies to give you any significant amount, but we can spare a little. To give more would potentially place our men under risk, either in battle or if wounded. The cannon he will agree to. Your request for cannon implies taking them from one of our frigates, but they will come from our transports. They each carry six cannon, but those are not enough to fight off a determined foe. The frigates are the transports’ main defense. I agree to the thirty 30-pounder cannon and will add sixteen 18-pounders, which will come from one of the sloops that will then sail for Fuomon to be rearmed and to carry my recommendation that additional cannon, muskets, ball and shot, and poppy extract be sent to Caedellium as soon as possible. Commander Rintala cannot guarantee his superiors will approve, nor can he guarantee that if they do, the shipment will arrive in time to help you against the Narthani. In return, we will get a supply of ether, detailed instructions on its creation, and samples of your kerosene and lanterns and other products, along with details of production. These may help convince Fuomon that aid to Caedellium has other benefits. You will also allow our surgeons to talk with your medicants and copy any information they deem important.”

  Yozef smiled. Rintala smiled. Both Maera and Eina wondered what the men were smiling about.

  The men rose simultaneously and held out hands. Handshakes were the custom in Fuomon, both hand and forearm clasping on Caedellium. A confusion of what to grasp where was sorted out with a handshake. The deal was struck. Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, a new protocol had begun that would extend to future Caedellium-Fuomon dealings.

  CHAPTER 17: PROMOTION AND IMPRESSIONS

  Surprises and Changes

  When Yozef arrived back in Caernford, two unexpected pieces of news awaited. In a previous conclave, the clans agreed to let the Pewitt and Bevans hetmen explore negotiations with the Narthani. No one expected acceptable results from such an effort but didn’t see any harm in discovering whether the Narthani might be interested. Yozef noted that nothing had been mentioned about Narthani negotiations in the conclave he’d just returned from, and he had deliberately avoided bringing up the topic. The lack of news was clarified the day after the group returned from Orosz City, when all hetmen received an encoded semaphore message. The sender was Zitwyn Bevan, representing himself and Milton Ernmor, the Pewitt hetman. Events had interrupted their planning, and they now agreed that news of the coming of a larger Narthani army and the formation of the clans’ War Council meant they saw no purpose in attempting negotiations. Yozef felt relieved that this inevitably fruitless avenue was closed.

  As a second surprise, the text of his short speech at the end of the conclave had been distributed throughout the clans.

  “How did that happen?” Yozef spluttered on hearing Mared Keelan recite several lines over their first evening meal at Keelan Manor.

  “Oh, I gave a copy to Cadoc Gwillamer,” said Culich. “He wanted to share it with his boyermen. He may have passed it on to other hetmen, which was a good idea. We should have thought of it. I imagine over half of the entire island will have read it or had it read to them within a month.”

  Maera put a hand over his mouth. “Don’t you go telling me it’s not your words, but those of others among your people. You are the one who put them before the people of Caedellium, and your name will be forever tied to them. So shut up about it.” She softened the scold by leaning forward and drawing him to a kiss.

  Bodyguards

  Yozef’s three amigos—Carnigan, Wyfor, and Balwis—had been supplemented with Gowlin Reese as permanent features of the Kolsko household after the attack at Maera’s birthday dinner. Two of them always remained nearby, and all four assembled for travel, with additional escorts rotating among men of the Caernford garrison. The situation with the four regulars became more untenable as Balwis and Wyfor took on more duties, especially with Balwis training and leading a platoon of escaped Preddi and off-island slaves.

  As much as Yozef had come to trust and depend on Balwis’s presence, necessity ruled when Balwis was handed more responsibility.

  Yozef had delayed talking with Balwis until the day he saw the scarred man showing Ceinwyn Keelan how to hold and dry-fire a musket behind the Kolsko barn.

  “Well, I never,” said Maera. She had walked up behind Yozef without his noticing, so intent was he on watching Balwis stand behind Ceinwyn, his arms around her to position her arms with the musket.

  “Is this something new?” asked Yozef. “Balwis giving firearms lessons?”

  “Firearms, yes,” said Maera, “though I’ve seen the two of them talking several times.”

  Yozef didn’t need an explanation for why seeing Balwis talk to anyone was worth noting. The man wasn’t known for his congeniality.

  “You don’t think he’s . . . you know . . . interested in Ceinwyn, do you?”

  Maera frowned. “I wouldn’t have thought so. God forgive me, she’s my sister, but Ceinwyn would never have been called attractive. And now, with that scar . . . I’ve worried how she would adjust. I know she thought she would have a hard time finding a husband, no matter what Mother or anyone said to her. Then there’s her disposition. I’d taken to avoiding her, because I didn’t want to listen to her whining and pouting. But things have changed. She seems different. I’ve thought she has drawn inward after what happened, and I know Mother is worried about her.”

  The participants in musket practice still hadn’t noticed them. Balwis said something. Ceinwyn laughed, and even from their distance, they could see a flush on the side of her face with the wound. The scar hadn’t matured yet, and its jagged bright pink path was prominent.

  “Come, Yozef. Let’s not spy on them.”

  “You didn’t answer me. Do you think there’s more here than just musket lessons?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll look for a chance to probe Ceinwyn.”

  “Should I speak with Balwis about this?”

  Maera didn’t answer for several steps as they walked arm in arm back to the house. “No, I’ll talk with Ceinwyn first, and then maybe we’ll know more.”

  “Okay, but this reminds me that I need to talk with Balwis about something else. He’s going to be taking on additional responsibilities and will be around less in the future.”

  “That may be for the best,” said Maera. “I know he’s loyal to you and has been important for us, but I’m uneasy about him and Ceinwyn.”

  They entered the house and walked to the room where Braithe had just finished feeding Aeneas. The wet nurse burped him on her shoulder, her dress slipped to her waist. Yozef had still not fully adjusted to a more nonchalant habit of bare breasts than he was used to. Braithe’s breasts were generous, and he tried not to stare, though he knew no one cared.

  “He’s almost asleep, Sen Kolsko. He was hungry, and I’m sure he got his fill.”

  Maera had given up trying to get Braithe to use her first name.

  “It wouldn’t be proper respect,” Braithe insisted.

  Maera let Yozef retrieve Aeneas from Braithe and smiled while watching him try to take the baby wi
thout touching a bare breast. He mainly succeeded until Aeneas grabbed a nipple and Yozef had to gently pry him off—while flushing slightly.

  They walked to her study, where she took Aeneas and laid him in a cradle with a hemispherical base. The cradle was attached to a pedal by a stiff cord. Yozef had suggested that he’d heard babies were quieter if rocked in two dimensions instead of back and forth. Maera had taken the idea to a woodworker in Caernford, and the cradle was the result. The woodworker had come to Yozef to ask if he should pay a fraction of the profit he was making—word had spread of a new cradle design and one associated with Yozef Kolsko. The woodworker was aware of what had happened to an Abersford soap maker who attempted to cheat Yozef out of his share of new soaps he’d developed.

  “Ser,” said Yozef, “I think you’d better talk with my wife about this. She’s more involved, but I don’t think a share is necessary.”

  Maera later told Yozef that the man had nervously asked the same question of her, and she gave the same answer.

  Yozef looked at the cradle, and Aeneas, briefly woken from the trip, waved his arms and gurgled.

  “He should fall back asleep for an hour or so, which will let me work on the latest MIU reports. Then I promised Mother and Mared I’d leave him there while I go into Caernford for the afternoon. They’ll bring him back to Braithe when he gets hungry. What do you have planned for the rest of the day?”

  “I think I need to talk with Balwis about that other matter, as long as I’m thinking about it. Then I’ll be at the clan headquarters and will come by the MIU later. Maybe we can return home together.”

  With a quick kiss to Maera and a stroke down the soft skin of Aeneas’s leg, he went to the back veranda and waited for Balwis to appear.

  He sat, thinking, and realized he didn’t have a clear sense of who exactly Balwis was, outside of the obvious: he was an escaped Preddi, was reliable as a bodyguard, would volunteer for dangerous missions that Yozef suggested, and was a vociferous hater of the Narthani. However, the image of him and Ceinwyn didn’t quite resonate. Yozef wasn’t sure whether it was his imagination or not, but he’d have sworn that when Balwis was instructing Ceinwyn, did his hand linger just a bit on her shoulder and arm?

  Fifteen minutes later, Balwis strode quickly around the corner of the house. He saw Yozef, hesitated, tugged on a pants leg, then continued up the veranda side steps.

  “Were you looking for me, Yozef?”

  It’s hard to tell with Balwis, but I’d almost suspect he’s a little flustered. Either that, or he has saddle itch. “Yes, have a seat. Denes tells me your platoon of Preddi escapees is one of the best of our entire forces. Mulron says the same and that your men work at training after other units are exhausted.”

  “They’re motivated,” growled Balwis. “They’ve seen firsthand what the Narthani are and what they do, as have I. We all have debts to pay.”

  “As long as all of you keep your heads. There’s no place in our plans to fight the Narthani for men or leaders who let emotions rule over cold logical decisions, no matter what the perceived debt they want to force on the Narthani.”

  “I admit it’s not always easy,” said Balwis, leaning forward in his chair, elbows on knees, hands clasped together.

  “Easy is not a word any of us should ever consider using for what faces us. We can’t afford to make mistakes that we can avoid. What about the men of your platoon? Do you see any potential leaders there? Men who can make such decisions devoid of personal hatred?”

  Balwis sat back. “Some, but not all. Of the four squads, three of the squad leaders I chose to begin with are working out fine. The fourth one I replaced after only a week when I recognized I’d made a mistake, and he was too hot-headed. His replacement had a cooler temperament and was a fine fighter, but after a month both of us agreed leading a squad wasn’t working. I believe I’m satisfied with the third man I’ve put in that position.”

  “Do you think any of the squad leaders are candidates to lead platoons of their own?”

  Balwis flushed. “Does that mean you’re going to take them away from me, and I’ll have to work with new squad leaders, after all the time I’ve spent with my platoon?”

  “Let me ask you a question, Balwis. We need leaders at every level. If one or more of your squad leaders is capable of being a good platoon leader, should we leave them where they are and put less capable people as platoon leaders, or should we promote them, let them lead a platoon, and have you train new squad leaders?”

  Balwis smoldered for a moment, then ground out between his teeth, “You know it’s irritating as hell when you use logic and guilt on people, don’t you?”

  “I frankly don’t give a shit how irritating I might be. Answer the question. Is your convenience more important than the Caedelli preparing its men the best we can to face the Narthani?”

  “All right, all right. Just tell me the ones you’re going to take away. Can I at least pick existing men to fill their positions, or are you going to foist on me men I don’t know?”

  “Oh, there will be times when I’ll foist men on you, but not today. No, you can keep all your men. But the squad leaders will be promoted to platoon leaders, and you should think about which other men can be squad leaders.”

  “What—?” Balwis furrowed his brow. “What are you talking about? How can there be five platoon leaders in a platoon?”

  Yozef smiled. “Because you’re going to command a company of four platoons. We have more than enough escaped Preddi and ex-slaves to fill the ranks. That includes many from those rescued on Denes’s raid across the Preddi border.”

  “A company!” Balwis blurted. “Who says I want to command a company? I’m happy with a platoon.”

  “Unfortunately, what you’re happy with is irrelevant. I would be happy staying in Abersford with my shops and getting the university going. All of us would be happy to see the Narthani decide the Caedellium weather is too mild and they go home to their deserts, heat, and wind. A child worries about what would make him happy, but a man does what is necessary.”

  Yozef stared at Balwis, who glowered back to no avail. He tried another tactic. “But how can I help guard you and your family if I’m training and working with an entire company?”

  “As much as I appreciate and trust you to protect me and my family, we all have to move on. You might still accompany me on specific occasions, but there will be two new guards, one to replace you and one to replace Wyfor. He’s also getting more responsibilities, although in his case it’s spending time training men to be trainers. Even if Wyfor is the best at hand-to-hand fighting, he can’t train thousands of men. He’ll be training groups of twenty to thirty for a month, and then they’ll go out to train others. Depending on how much time the Narthani give us, I hope most Caedelli fighting men will have a chance to learn some basics. Of course, some already can take care of themselves, but Wyfor and those he trains will concentrate on men who need the most training.”

  Balwis had quit fuming. “Who will take our places?” he asked plaintively.

  “Toowin Kales is one of the new men. He is Wyfor’s nephew and was one of the original Abersford dragoons. He saw action at Moreland City and has been trained by Wyfor ever since he returned to Caedellium. Wyfor also said he would make a good sparring partner for me, because we’re closer in ability than I am to Wyfor.”

  “I know Toowin. He’s good,” said Balwis grudgingly. “Who’s the other new guard?”

  “I believe you know him. Synton Ethlore.”

  Balwis grunted. Synton was one of the three men accompanying Balwis and Wyfor on the strike at the Memas Erdelin, the Narthani commanding Eywell Province. Synton’s reputation was nearly as disreputable as Wyfor’s.

  “They’re both good,” Balwis admitted. “But I still say I don’t know anything about commanding a company.”

  “You didn’t know anything about commanding a platoon, either. But that has worked out well, by any measure. It comes to me that the same will ha
ppen with a company. And don’t think I haven’t noticed you reading the On War summary I wrote for Hetman Keelan. I’ll bet you have a copy somewhere on your person right now.”

  Balwis didn’t respond, thereby confirming Yozef’s suspicion.

  “In fact, I bet you have it memorized.”

  Again, no confirmation or denial.

  “Both Denes and Mulron have told me you’ve asked them questions about it. Why haven’t you come to me?”

  “Because I was afraid that what would happen is exactly this. You’d put me in command of more men. It’s one thing to risk myself, but it’s hard enough feeling responsible for a platoon, and now you want me to lead a company!”

  “That’s the same problem I have, Balwis. The hetmen ask me for advice, and I have to give what I can, even though I fear making mistakes and getting people killed.”

  Balwis’s face softened. “How do you do it, Yozef? It’s must be far worse for you. Even with a company, I’ll only worry about less than two hundred men. How do you worry about tens of thousands?”

  For the first time, it was Yozef’s face that showed emotion: resignation. “As Culich says, we do the best we can and hope God and other people forgive our mistakes and the mistakes aren’t too bad. What else is there to do?

  “However, let’s leave what we don’t want to do and what we fear and get back to what will be done. I’m confident you’ll do your best, and be assured you aren’t the only man facing the same problems. I’m afraid I won’t be more help than what I wrote in On War, but I’ll be talking with the Fuomi. Their army officer, Kivalian, is experienced in fighting the Narthani on land. I intend to work with him to see if he can provide more training than I can on how to command units in battle. I foresee our men in leadership positions gathering in groups of twenty to work with Kivalian for a month. Much as we’re doing with Wyfor, those men will then pass it on to men they command. Again, if the Narthani give us enough time, I hope all our leaders, at least at the platoon level and higher, will have some level of training. You’ll be in the first group. It won’t be anywhere near enough, and real-life experience in battles will be the ultimate training, but it’s the best we can do.”