Prisoner

by Megan Derr

  He found him on the parapets, surrounded at a distance by whispering soldiers and a handful of nobles. "Dieter?" Dieter did not reply, though he glanced at Matthias briefly.

  "Are they here to attack?" Matthias pressed. There was indeed a large number of them, though if five hundred was correct it was paltry compared to the thousands he knew should have composed the entirety of the Scarlet. Most were on foot, and they marched slowly through the deep snow. Those on horseback fared better, but not by much. Their dark red uniforms were a wash of blood on the white snow.

  Matthias wondered suddenly if he had made a very big mistake. He started to voice his question again when Dieter raised an arm and pointed. "The banner," he said, indicating a long, black flag bearing the triple-leaf crest of the Scarlet. It was a reference, Matthias knew, to one of the Krian gods. "Were they intending harm, it would be red. Black is a show of peace."

  "Do the Scarlet know what the word peace means?" Beraht asked from behind them.

  Dieter whipped around, and even Matthias recoiled at the fierce look in his jade-green eyes. "Peace is leaving the Regenbogen when winter arrives. Peace is being three days away from it, and knowing it's safe to relax when you sleep. Do not speak to me again, Beraht." He turned away, hands wrapping around the edge of the stone wall surrounding the palace. "I don't know why they're here. My men should be holed up in the Regenbogen fortress, unless the Kaiser ordered them to move. But they would not fly the black banner if that were the case." Muttering to himself in Krian, Dieter turned away and shoved Beraht away from the stairs, descending them rapidly and calling an order for the gates to be raised.

  Matthias motioned for them to obey when the soldiers looked to him. He watched pensively as Dieter waited, frown deepening as the Scarlet reached the palace wall. A man dismounted and stalked toward Dieter and clasped hands. From a distance, their words were undistinguishable, but the tone was not—whatever was occurring, Dieter was pleased by something.

  Suddenly, Dieter threw his head back and laughed, and it carried far across the snow, joined by that of the man with him and more than a few of the nearest soldiers. Dieter turned and looked up. "Prince Matthias!"

  "Yes, General?"

  "Have you room for some guests?"

  Matthias flicked his eyes out over the men, doing some quick calculations. "If they'll earn their keep," he called back. There should be food enough, certainly room enough, to last what remained of winter. And he had the emergency stores besides, if worst came to worst.

  Dieter's laughter spilled across the snow again, and Matthias fought an urge to smile. "Most assuredly." He spoke rapidly to the man with him, who turned and barked orders to his companions on horseback, and then Dieter was leading his Scarlet into the Illussor palace.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Matthias sat behind his desk, arms crossed as he regarded Dieter and the man beside him. What surprised him was that the man was older than Dieter by at least a couple of decades. His hair had turned completely gray, and his face bore a lifetime's worth of scars as wrinkles. He wouldn't have thought a man so obviously seasoned in war would obey a man as young as Dieter, but the most obvious thing about him was his allegiance.

  There was also a glaring lack of fear. Didn't the Scarlet fear their general as much as everyone else? Such had been so vehemently told that Matthias had not thought it merely another overblown rumor. Matthias spoke, feeling and seeing the tension of the others in the room. Kalan watched the Krians pensively, and he could see Sol's mind racing behind that still face, and Iah's shoulders hunched with worry beside him. Beraht was the only one who seemed unfazed.

  "This is Commander Reinhard Becker," Dieter said. "One of my best men, and he's survived long enough in the business he recalls not one but two of my predecessors." Matthias nodded at Reinhard.

  "He reports that several days ago he was sent orders to prepare for war, and that the Scarlet would be the first wave against the Illussor. Upon learning the details of the matter, gleaned from the messenger," Dieter's grin left no doubt as to what precisely was meant by 'gleaned,' "the remaining Scarlet, all five hundred of them, came to warn me."

  "I'm confused," Kalan interrupted. "It was always my impression that your army hated you. Why would they turn traitor for you?"

  Dieter smirked and spoke in rapid-fire Krian to his Colonel, who laughed. He turned back to Kalan. "My men are not as scared of me as everyone seems to think. They would sooner side with their general than the Kaiser who refused to acknowledge the deaths of their comrades."

  "That was only because they work for you," Beraht pointed out. "Isn't it kind of stupid to stay with you?"

  Dieter again spoke to Reinhard beside him, too fast for anyone but Sol to keep up, and again the man laughed. Reinhard looked at Beraht and spoke more slowly. Nearby, Sol quietly translated for the others, "It is better to side with a general who strives to keep us alive than the man who has suddenly decided that because we wear Scarlet we should die." He shook his head slowly back and forth. "He has become a stupid Kaiser. We would rather follow our traitor general than the Kaiser who leaves his throne only to kill his own men."

  Beraht frowned and glanced at Dieter, who stared silently back. They seemed to watch each other forever before Beraht finally tore his eyes away. "They're as stupid as you." Dieter said nothing.

  Matthias looked between them and shook his head. "So they will remain with us?" he asked at last. "The ministers have probably expired from outrage by this point. I can't imagine why else they haven't beaten down my door." He flicked his eyes warily to the heavy oak door of his office, half-expecting it to burst open or dissolve into splinters as angry councilmen crashed through it looking for his blood.

  "At least until the Kaiser is forced to withdraw," Dieter said.

  Beraht rolled his eyes. "I may be just a shadow-killer, but even I know what we have here cannot fight against what the Kaiser must be bringing, even if the rest of them never seemed to do more than threaten you. Nor do I think you have beaten sufficient skill into the Illussor quite yet."

  Dieter laughed coldly. "What I have is all I will need. War is not what I intend for them." His eyes gleamed with something like genuine pleasure. He looked at Matthias. "Now I have more effective means to train your men."

  Matthias could not help a burst of laughter. "You are promising to be every headache I anticipated, my general, but you are worth them. Do as you see fit and send me the reports and any complaints."

  "Matthias!" Esta hissed. "You cannot simply set the Scarlet loose around the palace. Have you forgotten—"

  "I've forgotten nothing, Essie," Matthias interrupted, unusually somber. "Perhaps you've forgotten that we currently have all of the Krian army, minus not quite a thousand Scarlet, headed for us and our men can barely hold their swords properly."

  "Of course not," Essie snapped back, "but they can hardly train if they don't trust their teachers—and why should they? Kria has been our enemy for ages, especially the Scarlet. You're going too far, Matthias. I conceded on the point of Dieter, but the entire Scarlet? There could be traitors, soldiers out to settle a grudge! The ministers could declare you unfit without even trying, and your father will probably help them!"

  Matthias frowned. "I know what I'm doing Essie, and I have enough people telling me otherwise; I don't need to hear it from you."

  "Matthias!"

  "Duchess!" Matthias said, and Essie stopped. "I've made my decision."

  There was a long pause. "Yes, Highness," Essie finally bit out, then gathered her skirts and stormed from the room.

  Matthias sighed. From a seat near a wide window, Iah offered a faint laugh. "If I were you, Matti, I'd check my bed every night for tacks."

  "Tacks are the least of my concern at the moment," Matthias said glumly. "Now everyone leave me alone so I can get work done before I'm burned at the stake. Dieter, keep the terrorizing to a minimum for the day, or you might find tacks in your bed too."

  "If I can handle Beraht,"
Dieter replied, "I can handle tacks." Nodding to Matthias, Dieter touched the fingertips of his right hand to the space over his heart before turning sharply around and stalking from the room, shadowed by Reinhard.

  The rest of the room, save Beraht, gaped after him. "Bastard."

  "Did he just salute you?" Sol asked in disbelief.

  Matthias grinned. "Of course he did. Now let me get some work done." He bent to the papers on his desk, not looking up until the room was empty of all but Kalan, with whom he immediately fell into business.

  *~*~*

  Dieter walked into the training ground as though it belonged to him—which it more or less did. Especially now. He looked with satisfaction at the men filing it, all of them either drilling or barking orders. On the fringes were a few dozen Illussor soldiers, their expressions a mix of hate, distrust, respect—and even awe on those of a few less guarded. More had shown than he'd thought. He wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed that fighting hadn't broken out. The Illussor were holding fast to their reticence on learning to fight in the Krian style.

  He had spent the better portion of his day yelling at men in Illussor and Krian, listened as his men did the same as they put the Illussor through various basic drills. Though he didn't really care what language he spoke, it felt strange to speak something other than Krian while drilling.

  As he entered, the drilling immediately fell off as his men lined up and snapped sharp salutes, right fist touched to left shoulder before they stood tall and unmoving. "Scarlet, your actions commend you." A few grins ghosted briefly through the ranks. "Captains," he said to the three men at the fore of the ranks, "I'll expect your reports by sundown tomorrow. Reinhard, update me."

  Briskly Reinhard began to relate all that had transpired since Dieter's departure of the Regenbogen, going into more detail than he had earlier. As soon as he finished, Dieter launched into what they would now be doing, and though confusion rippled back and forth across the men's faces, no one spoke. "Resume practice," Dieter finished.

  "Will you be joining us, Lord General?" Reinhard asked then said in an undertone. "It would do much."

  Dieter grunted. "Of course. See that as we go, an effort is made to draw in the Illussor." He motioned to the men watching with mixed emotion as the Scarlet took over their space. "The faster we can quell rumors as to your presence here, the less trouble we'll have later. I know at least twelve here can speak Illussor to some degree. See that they do so and teach it to the rest." His tone brooked no argument. Stepping into the middle of the cleared arena, he drew his sword and grinned at Reinhard. "Now come, old man."

  Reinhard grimaced. "You shouldn't be throwing old men in the dirt, Lord General." He drew his sword, however, and brought it up just in time to block the blow Dieter swung, jarring his arms and sending Reinhard reeling briefly back. He recovered quickly and soon was doing reasonably well to stay up, even as Dieter was driving him back.

  When Reinhard at last signaled defeat from where he had fallen to the ground, Dieter grinned and whirled, barking out a sharp "Next!" and immediately another soldier, dressed in a Scarlet tunic, attacked him. A half dozen soldiers came after that, and Dieter fought them all, distantly making note as Reinhard dispensed orders to his captains, and so on down the line. When he at last called a halt to his own participation and withdrew to the wall to observe, he was pleased to see that several Illussor had been draw in to circle too try—though not nearly enough.

  However, progress was progress.

  Reinhard appeared at his side. "If even a few men choose to remain here, as I imagine they will given the options left to them now in Kria, you will need a larger practice hall."

  "Yes," Dieter said. "How far away are the Krian forces?"

  "A week from the Regenbogen, Lord General. The weather could alter that either way. Worst case, they are three days from it, putting them at two weeks or so from here. The army moves slowly under the Kaiser's command. Your scouts report that Lord General Heilwig appears to be doing the bulk of the leading, and that she is even flourishing."

  Dieter grunted, but said nothing. He watched the practicing soldiers. "How quickly can our sword smiths be ready to work? The Illussor weapons are not fit for children's games."

  Reinhard agreed with a grimace. "Yes, they are enough to make a soldier cry. They await permission, but otherwise it will not take them more than a few hours."

  "There is plenty of room behind the palace proper, if I recall correctly. I will speak with his Highness to be sure and send you word. Have them set up immediately once permission is obtained. If there are any problems, bring them to me or ask to speak with the Duke of Ferra. Keep them drilling and make sure the Illussor learn the Krian commands. It will be easier in the long run. Handle whatever problems crop up unless they are bad enough to require my presence."

  "I think your men will be smart enough not to cause that much trouble, Lord General. The Illussor are a different matter, but your men won't misbehave—not where you might hear of it, anyway."

  Dieter looked at the men on the wall. "I don't think they'll be much trouble, more's the pity. See how far a bit of provocation will get you, but don't let the men go too far. I'll expect a report first thing in the morning."

  "Yes, Lord General." Reinhard made to salute, but was halted by Dieter's shaking head. He watched as Dieter saluted him in the Illussor manner, then nodded and mimicked the gesture, fingertips touched to the space over his heart. "So you truly are Illussor now?"

  Dieter said nothing, merely turned to go. Reinhard's voice carried over the racket in the arena, calling all men to a halt. He then saluted Dieter again so that all could see. Immediate obedience that had been ruthlessly drilled in by the Wolf of Kria meant the Scarlet did not hesitate to perform the new salute. Around them, the Illussor soldiers rippled in surprise, and a few hesitantly followed suit. Dieter smiled briefly, pleased, and nodded to them all before he swept out.

  He'd make real soldiers of them eventually, though he wondered how long things would go as peacefully as they had. Dieter looked up as his name was called and frowned as Kalan came bearing down on him. "Yes?"

  "Want to go before the ministers?"

  "No."

  Kalan laughed. "Too bad. Matthias has requested your presence. The ministers are, I think, mere moments from stringing him up. Come glare at everyone until they do his bidding." Dieter looked at him and shrugged off the hand on his arm. "Perfect, that's exactly the glare we need." Grinning, Kalan turned and led the way to the Hall of Ministry.

  Wordlessly Dieter followed, loosening his sword in its scabbard. The noise when he entered was deafening. Tits of the Winter Princess, he'd never known old men to be so noisome. It died off, however, when the ministers realized who had entered behind Kalan.

  Dieter glared at them all. Matthias nodded at him in greeting. "Ah, General. Thank you for coming so quickly. Assure the good ministers that you and your Scarlet do not intend to murder us in our sleep."

  "That would be the work of cowards," Dieter said in contempt. "If our plan had been to sneak our way inside under guise of truce, you would already be dead. Why go to such trouble when you have nothing we want? Illussor has nothing Kria does not already possess in greater quantities."

  "Kria always wants more land."

  Dieter looked at the man who had spoken, a spindly older man with gray hair and eyes dressed in blue and green. Eventually the gray eyes broke away. "If you are interested in what Kria wants, ask a politician. I'm merely a soldier; I do as I am told."

  "Hardly a mere soldier, Wolf of Kria." A man of about fifty eyed Dieter thoughtfully and with a trace of respect. "Most men of your station are my age. Yet all in three countries know and fear your name. Prince Matthias has been careful to keep us from attacking you before now. I would know why we should believe that the Wolf of Kria has suddenly decided to become a Wolf for Illussor."

  Dieter flicked a brief look at Matthias who merely shrugged. He turned back to the ministers who look
ed like a pack of small, hungry dogs. "Kaiser Benno never held my loyalty. I have opted to give it to Prince Matthias."

  "Why?"

  "That is my business, not yours."

  The Head Minister, a man with wild brown-gray hair and wilder blue eyes, slammed his fist down on the table. "You will answer our questions, General! It is only because we have been indulgent that we have not demanded you be killed or locked away. His Highness might think he's the king, but he has a ways to go yet. If you do not satisfy our questions, then we will have you put down like the beast you are!"

  Laughter rippled across the room, full of contemptuous amusement and punctuated by the hiss of steel sliding from leather. Dieter held the edge of his sword to Matthias' neck, ignoring the slight gasp of surprise that escaped the prince, too faint for any, but him to have heard it. He motioned with his free hand for the ministers to resume their seats. He saw Kalan from the corner of his eye, but did not have to motion for him to hold his place. "You speak so dismissively of him, yet if I were to kill him you would find yourselves in quite a quandary. Even if I were the villain you accuse me of being, there is nothing you can do about it. I can kill every man in this room with very little effort, and it would take a great many of your soldiers to kill me." He slid the sword away and sheathed it; there was not a single mark upon Matthias' skin.

  "There is a saying in my country," Dieter continued slowly, "that a poor man has no choice, but to make the best of what he finds or is given." He eyed each minister in turn. "Until you obtain someone better, you have no choice, but to endure me lest you want your people to die." He turned, saluted the prince, and left.

  Tits of the Winter Princess, he hated politics. The ministers here were as annoying as every slithering noble in Kria. Dieter stifled a sigh and ignored the mixed expressions of the people he passed in the hallway.

  "General!"

  Dieter grit his teeth and turned to face Kalan. "What now?"

  "I need to convince you and Sol both to become ministers."