The Red paladin immediately demonstrated he was as much a genius at leading and training troops in a military setting as he’d been at shaping trainees into paladins. Indeed, he revealed to them that his father had been a ranking officer in Sellan army, and until his father’s death, he’d grown up in an officer’s tent during the Third Merishank War,[17] absorbing everything his father did and said.
During their first meeting, before they even had a chance to ask, Gerard had addressed the simple question, “Why us?”
“Look, boys,” the Red paladin said with little preamble, “I’ll be honest, this situation is not one I’d have chosen for myself, nor is it likely what you were expecting. We all know your training was rushed, and we all know why. You’re all still raw as far as I’m concerned, and under other circumstances I might have chosen several more experienced paladins to help me lead this group. But I’ve seen you work together first-hand, and I have to say, I’ve never trained a more balanced, cohesive group of friends in all my years as Training Master. You’ve still got some growing up to do, but I’ve seen the potential you each have to grow into your Facets, and you’re what they had in mind when they crafted the jintaal as a balanced representation of the entire Prism. For what I have planned, I want younger, open minds that aren’t cluttered up with years of drivel and half-assed training. What you all received was abbreviated and rushed, but it was focused and purpose-driven.
“The fact that one of you is a denarae just sweetens the deal as far as I’m concerned, given the demographics I’m about to face. Even so, I chose you all because of what you’ve done and what I believe you can do.”
Before accepting their commissions under the older paladin, Danner and his friends had discussed what they would tell him about the denarae. They quickly decided the only way for Gerard to effectively lead and train them was for him to know the truth. After Trebor reported for duty, the first words out of his mouth were to tell the Red paladin about the unique mental abilities of the denarae. Gerard had immediately seen the potential of these abilities in both social and military matters.
“Imagine soldiers with the ability to creep through enemy lines because they can pinpoint every sentry through his thoughts,” Gerard said, his face and thoughts focused. “Denarae skin coloration already offers camouflage at night. You tell me most of those here already have some skill at fighting? We’ll see soon enough. How skillful are they at moving silently? No, not something I’d expect you to know yet, but my bet is enough of them for my purposes. Yes, a command of crack troops able to communicate with each other nonverbally. No misinterpretation of orders. No flubbed operations because someone starts before the others are ready. Perfect coordination. Do you realize the weapon you’ve just handed me?”
Danner listened to Gerard’s stream of thoughts and wondered at the man’s ability to piece so many things together and plan so quickly. Within moments, he’d shaped several training exercises to gauge the fighting and stealth abilities of the denarae and was working through possible scenarios to enact based on the results of those exercises. He discussed his plans with them and used their feedback to sculpt and refine his plans. Having so recently completed their own training, they were able to tell him how they would react to the techniques he wanted to employ, and Trebor was able to give him input on how his people would likely respond to Gerard’s methods.
“Sir, you have to remember they won’t react to things like most humans would,” Trebor said patiently. “Trying to manipulate them into thinking or reacting one way won’t work, because they can look into your mind and see what you’re really after. They can tell when you’re mad because you’ve had a bad day or when you’re just acting to make them work a little harder to avoid your wrath. They won’t be fooled by a false show of anger or surprise, and false praise and unjust condemnations will only turn them against you in ways you don’t want. You have to realize that most of them will be able to know your thoughts almost as soon as you do, and those who don’t have that ability will just be told by the ones who do. There will be no secrets, no tricks, and no pretenses.”
“So up-front honesty and clarity will be the rule of the day, eh?” Gerard said. “Well, I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, and I’m sure as bloody Hell not going to start now. I’ve been wanting something new to spice up the training process anyway.”
- 2 -
They met and planned for the rest of the Sabbatha, then waited for Onday morning before they left to meet with the denarae troops. The seven of them gathered at dawn inside the front gates to the Prism chapterhouse and rode out together. Gerard rode Sabor, a thick-bodied, vicious-looking red dakkan, and even in its runner form Danner couldn’t help but compare it with the demon he’d seen months ago on the road from Demar. The rest of them rode in Faldergash’s buggy, which the gnome had decided to lend them on a more or less permanent basis. Danner had protested the gnome’s decision at first, but Faldergash had cheerfully announced his plans to construct another, better buggy for himself.
The new paladins had been fitted for platemail armor, which the Prism would provide them as soon as possible, but for the time being they wore only new, leather armor that had been easier to obtain. Their cloaks billowed out behind them in the wind, and Danner felt an intense surge of pride as he appeared in public for the first time as a full paladin in the Prismatic Order. The sights and sensations of the city had gained a new vitality, and he looked on with a new feeling of confidence as he sat behind the wheel of the buggy. He glanced over and saw that Marc was sitting a bit straighter than usual, and Flasch’s chest was puffed up slightly.
“You noticed it too, eh?” Trebor kythed to Danner.
“Can’t really blame them,” Danner replied.
“Them?”
“Okay, us.” Danner couldn’t keep a hint of worry out of his mental voice.
“Danner, you don’t have to tiptoe around me,” Trebor kythed, his mental voice calm and reassuring. “I’m happier than you can imagine that the five of you made it as paladins. It’s not your fault that I’m not wearing a cloak, too. I’ll find some other way to make my dreams come true. Don’t worry about it.”
Despite Trebor’s words, Danner knew his friend would still feel a twinge of pain every now and then just seeing them in their cloaks and armor. But if Trebor could ignore it, Danner resolved that he could too, if only to prevent things from becoming awkward between them all.
Danner steered the buggy and followed Gerard through the streets toward the east gate of Nocka. Following the fiery-red Sabor was easy. The few people they passed on the streets practically leapt out of the way of the mean-looking beast. Danner hid a smile as he thought perhaps Gerard was even more vicious looking than his mount, and it was him the people were avoiding rather than the dakkan.
They reached the gates and were immediately waved through; Danner noticed two of the guards staring with thinly disguised hostility at Trebor, who was ignoring them. Danner stayed silent, and the seven of them rode into the early morning sun bathing the grassy plains with a baptism of light. Danner squinted against the brilliant yellow orb rising directly in front of them, and he nearly ran over Sabor’s tail when the dakkan suddenly stopped in front of him. Danner swerved to the side and pulled up beside Gerard as if he’d been planning all along to do just that.
He glanced up once at the Red paladin, then followed his gaze to the north and east. On a series of low hills was a large encampment, far enough away that those just waking up were little larger than Danner’s fingernails. The morning fog still lingered on the ground, creeping ever steadily back toward the distant trees. Gray tendrils of mist wrapped through and around the encampment, then gradually they released their hold like a creature of fog reluctantly yielding its prey.
“That’s them,” Trebor said needlessly. “How are you planning on handling this, sir?” he asked. It had already been agreed that Trebor would not invade the privacy of Gerard’s mind without either prior permission or el
se what Gerard called a “bloody damn good reason.”
“As I said before, Trebor,” Gerard said. “Plain honesty is what you suggested, so that’s what I’ll give them. If you will do the honors of announcing our imminent arrival.”
As they started forward again, Trebor kythed a mental warning to everyone who could hear him. By the time they arrived at the camp, three hundred gray-skinned denarae had assembled in a loose formation on an open expanse of grass a dozen yards from the nearest tent. There was a general stir at the sight of Gerard on his dakkan followed by the buggy full of young paladins. There was even some surprise over the sight of Trebor arriving in such company; either some denarae hadn’t gotten the complete message or else they hadn’t entirely believed it.
For a moment, no one spoke. Danner wasn’t sure what the protocol was in situations like this, so he wasn’t sure if Gerard was waiting for something or just testing them. As it turned out, neither was true. Gerard was turning his own thoughts toward the group of denarae as his first step of establishing his authority. A few seconds later, Trebor included Danner and the others in the mental broadcast Gerard was giving the denarae.
“I know many of you can hear me,” Gerard was saying mentally. “If you would be so good as to pass this message on to those who cannot, I think we can proceed with at least the beginnings of trust and openness.”
He waited a moment to be sure everyone had received the message, then Gerard called loudly, “Now, are there any doubts that I know something of your people?” His booming voice carried even to the denarae farthest away in the crowd.
No one answered. The faces staring back at him were hostile and stiff as though affronted at his knowledge. A few ugly stares were even directed toward Trebor as the presumed source of that information.
“As many of you have no doubt already discovered,” Gerard continued, “my name is Gerard Morningham, paladin of the Red Facet, and I have been given the task of creating a military unit from you who have volunteered. I want there to be no misunderstandings between us. I do not like denarae any more or less than I like my fellow humans, and I don’t give a damn whether you like humans or hold some deep racial grudge against us for whatever wrongs you perceive have been done against you.”
He paused for a moment. Danner meanwhile was barely maintaining a straight face. Whatever he’d expected Gerard to say to the denarae, this certainly was not it.
Gerard went on. “I know you can discover the truth from me as easy as breathing, so I will be as honest as I know how. I did not ask for this position, nor would I have chosen it had it been offered to me, at least not perhaps until recently. I don’t care about your history, and I don’t care about your people.” He paused again, and took the time to scan the entire crowd of assembled denarae. Gerard gauged their reactions from their facial expressions, some of which were incredulous while others bordered on naked hatred.
“But I do care about you,” he said, his voice losing none of its accustomed harshness. “I care that every one of you trains to be a valuable part of this unit, and I’m going to train and use you toward that end, for the protection of this city and by extension the entire world. I care that each of you fulfills the potential within you, and I care that each of you survives every day you’re in my charge a little more easily than you survived the day before. I will not play games with you. Everything I do will be toward the purpose of building this command as the most God-awfully lethal fighting force the world has ever seen. You will all be trained and crafted as warriors in my deadly image, and I swear to God Himself I will push all of you to your breaking point and haul you back again stronger than you were before, then push you right back out again. If a single damned one of you thinks I’m too bloody awful, you can get your cursed hide out of my unit and haul your ash-dark ass back to your mommy and ask her to milk you up some courage. You’ll be doing nothing that either I haven’t done before or won’t be doing with you, and you’re allowed to fail only after I do.
“Does anyone have any questions?”
The silence now was more stunned than expectant, and Danner looked at the assembled denarae apprehensively. Many wore stony expressions, some were shocked, and others were nearly murderous as they stared at Gerard. Surprisingly, a few he saw were actually smiling, and Danner thought perhaps these either didn’t take Gerard seriously or else saw through to what he was saying and were anxious to begin. Either way, Danner thought they were idiots.
Gerard broke the silence once more.
“Now, just so there is no confusion, I have the acting rank of colonel, and as far as this unit is concerned, there’s God then there’s me. Only the Prismatic Council and the Almighty Himself have the right tell me what to do, and I assure you I won’t let either one stop me from achieving my goals. The five paladins you see before you are my captains, as is Trebor Dok, who some of you may know.” Here Gerard paused again for a brief glance back at Trebor. “Understand, he is no longer your friend. He is your commanding officer as I am his, and when he speaks, you can count his words as if they came from my mouth. The same goes for these others. They are the angels of command through whom you will hear many of my orders, and they are the angels of wrath who will discipline anyone who disobeys those orders.
“You all have now heard who I am and what I intend. I hold nothing back, and I don’t intend to change that policy. I will put all of my sweat, blood, and soul into making this unit, and I expect and demand that each of you do the same. If there is anyone who cannot accept my absolute authority over you or has any other complaint or reservation, let him step forward now and speak. I don’t punish honest queries, just disobedience and disrespect.”
Danner was expecting what happened next. Gerard had, in his stream-of-consciousness ramblings the day before, said there would be at least one who tried to stand up to a new leader and pull him from his horse ─ figuratively speaking, of course. Just as the Red paladin had predicted, one bare-chested, muscular denarae stepped forward with three others close behind him. The foremost was not one of those who had looked on with hatred during Gerard’s speech, but instead was one of the stone-faced denarae who revealed nothing of his inner thoughts.
“Here’s where he either wins or loses them all,” Michael muttered in Danner’s ear. Danner nodded.
The quartet of denarae stopped a few feet from Gerard’s dakkan and stood looking up at him. Gerard had placed himself far enough away that to directly confront him, they had to noticeably separate themselves from the larger group, and the three in the back looked less and less certain as they moved further away from the protection of their fellows, but they had come too far to back down. All four of them carried swords at their sides.
“You have a question or problem?” Gerard asked harshly.
“Why do we need a human to command us?” the denarae asked. “We can fight on our own without the help of some pale-skinned, God-fearing freak.”
Gerard stared at him a moment, then swept his leg over and slid down the side of the dakkan. He landed smoothly and walked the two steps to stand an arm’s length from the foremost denarae. Danner idly noted that Gerard was unarmed.
They stared at each other a moment, and Danner began to wonder if Gerard wasn’t talking to his opponent telepathically. Just as Danner started to ask Trebor if he knew what was happening, the large denarae facing Gerard reached down to draw his sword. He got so far as to put his hand on the hilt and had the blade half drawn when Gerard’s outthrust palm caught the denarae’s forearm, pushing his arm back just as the hilt was crossing his chest. Gerard added force and direction to the motion, and the upcoming hilt caught the denarae in the chin and felled him instantly. Before anyone could react, Gerard stepped forward and put the heel of his boot on the fallen denarae’s groin.
“If anyone else wants to make trouble, I suggest you consider this man’s future as a father,” Gerard said without menace. There was a long, troubled silence. “I said I don’t punish honest queries, but if any one of yo
u draws a blade on me without cause from this moment on, I will leave you broken and bleeding on the ground and wishing you’d never even heard of a sword.”
That said, he removed the threat of his boot and reached down to grasp the denarae’s forearm. He hauled the man easily to his feet and made sure he was steady before removing his grasp.
“Now, to answer your question, you need me to command you because otherwise you will flounder at the heels of human units digging latrines and sharpening swords. If you don’t have proper leadership, you’ll be placed in the front lines against insurmountable odds and left to be ground to dust against unsympathetic walls, and no matter how good you think you are, you will be ground to dust without me.
“I assume you came here not out of a deep and abiding love for humanity, but because you understood the critical nature of the battle we will soon face and its impact on every race. The men and women in that city don’t give a damn about you or your lives, just that you defend their city at your expense. I, at least, care that you live, and that’s the most you’ll ever get here. I have trained and been around men in combat most of my life, and I say without false bravado that there is no one better able to train and lead you than I. I will make you sweat here so you don’t bleed later.
“Some of you probably think you’re good soldiers already. I’ll make you better. You may think you know how to sneak around and hide in the night. I’ll make you quieter and more invisible. I understand most of you already have some training with swords and other weapons. I’ll make you deadlier.”
Gerard locked eyes with the bare-chested denarae until he nodded slowly in acceptance.
“What’s your name?” Gerard asked flatly.
“Brican Dok,” he replied.
Danner turned toward Trebor in surprise.
The Devil's Deuce (The Barrier War) Page 14
