The cho-ja mages could not help in this war. Their magic must be kept secret until the most desperate moment when the Assembly at last acted, for with rival factions massing to descend on Kentosani, full-scale conflict was only a matter of time. The rival armies could only face off for so long, abiding skirmishes and small encounters. Neither would be deterred by the dozen or so smaller armies that jockeyed for the most advantageous positions from which to pick over what bones the great houses might leave in their wake of destruction.
Mara motioned for the Force Commander to enter her quarter. 'How long? Jiro must make a move soon, either to break our lines or to order his allies from the west in siege of the Holy City. How much longer can we hang back without jeopardising support to Hokanu? If something goes wrong . . .' Her voice trailed off; she felt beaten down by the forced agony of waiting, fully armed and at the ready, yet unable to advance. If she ordered her main army to march on Kentosani, she left open a way for the Anasati forces to reach the river or the trade roads, or to attack her from the rear. As long as the Acoma forces held their lines, Jiro's Force Commander could not attack and break through to Sulan-Qu without inciting retribution from the Assembly.
But it pained her to hold firm, knowing that Ichindar's assassination was but the first step in a complex, linked plot. Jiro had not spent years building siege engines or paid lavish bribes and won alliances in the estates surrounding the Inrodaka for nothing. The threat to Justin would come from the west, she was sure, and were her enemies to break through the defenses of the Imperial Precinct before she could get there, her children would lose their lives. The Imperial Whites' were good warriors, but with Ichindar dead, who would command their loyalty? Ichindar's First Wife could not even control her own daughter. The Imperial Force Commander would defend the Imperial Precinct, but without a clear authority from above, his men would be an unknown factor. They would fight, but would they defend with the same dedication and selflessness her own forces gave to her? Any warrior might be expected to falter, if the Lord ordering the assault upon the Imperial Precinct might be the next Emperor. Now, more than ever, Mara perceived the flaws in the Tsurani order of rule.
'Gods,' she exclaimed in frustration, 'this campaign would be bloody but straightforward if we could plan without interference from the Assembly!'
Lujan considered his mistress's restlessness with concern, experienced as he was in the frailties of men kept too long at battle pitch with no fighting. His mistress was stretched near to breaking with tension. The padded robe she wore under her armor was wringing wet with sweat. She had been stubborn, and had overseen the action while standing directly in the sun. He kept his voice mild as he said, 'You should take every opportunity you can to sit down and rest, my Lady.' As example, he pointedly removed his helm and sank cross-legged on the nearest cushion. 'Action could break out at moment's notice, and little good you will be to your people if you are worn out or in a faint from the heat.' He scratched his chin, unable to fully silence his own gnawing worry. 'Though it is certainly obvious to everyone that the magicians are conspicuous by their absence.'
'A bad sign,' Mara allowed. 'Hokanu's guess is that they deliberate over a united ultimatum. If either Jiro or I engage our forces directly, they will act, be sure of that.' She let the maid peel off her underrobe, and gestured for a dry replacement. 'I'll bathe later, when the smoke has settled and things have a chance of staying clean.'
Lujan rubbed at a bruised elbow, but broke off the motion as Kamlio handed him water. He drank deeply, his eyes turned toward the command map unrolled on the bare earth beside the table. Stones weighted the corners, and the middle held whorls and lines of colored tiles that displayed the disposition of every faction's forces up to the latest report. The spoiling impatience that ate at his Lady was shared by every man in the ranks. Action was needed, Lujan knew, to keep their wits sharp, and to prevent rash moves born of frustration. Even a small engagement would serve, focusing attention and discipline to keep the troops whetted to keenest edge. He considered the map in depth, then pulled his sword to use as a pointer. 'It's clear that a group of neutrals has set up a defensive position along the eastern branch of the river Gagajin, between the fork north of the Great Swamp and the city of Jamar. They could march west and harry Jiro's flank, but more likely they'll be satisfied to wait and declare for the winner at the last.'
Mara spoke around the efforts of the maid, who sponged and dried her face, then slipped on her clean robe. 'What are you thinking? A diversion? If we could stir them up and make them move around, could we confuse things enough to hide an advance by a few of our companies?'
'Keyoke suggested we might take them captive, steal their armor and banners, then slip a company of our men north under their false identity.' Lujan's mouth quirked in amusement. 'Not at all honorable, Lady, but there are men of yours who are loyal enough not to care.' His eyes held frank admiration for Mara's slim fitness, and for the blisters she bore without complaint. 'But the question came down to what forces we could break away to start the skirmish that would not be obvious to our enemies.'
‘I could arrange that, I think,' offered a velvet-toned voice. A shadow emerged out of the blown smoke, poised in the gap of the doorway. As always, Arakasi's appearance had been silent. Accustomed as Mara was to his unexpected arrivals, she barely masked her flinch. Kamlio, taken unawares, spilled the water crock over the map. Counters washed awry in the flood, and water pooled ominously in the hollow that represented Kentosani. Movement in the tent was arrested as Arakasi caught sight of her for the first time since she returned from Thuril; his eyes widened for an instant, showing depths that beseeched. Then he recovered cool control and his gaze flicked back to the map. Fast as reflex, he kept talking. 'The spilled water has nicely summed up the situation we have building. Lady, did you get my reports?'
'Some of them.' Mara touched Kamlio's hand, and urged her to leave, or sit down. 'Let the maid take care of mopping up,' she murmured kindly. Kamlio had never looked more like a gazen caught vulnerable under thin cover; and yet Thuril had changed her. She did not turn sullen and stiff, but gathered her courage and sat.
Arakasi took a quick breath, and his eyebrows twitched quizzically. Then, all business, he knelt by the table and laced his hands in plain view on top, as if, with other eyes watching, he dared himself to fidget or shake. He did not look tired, Mara judged, but simply harried, and he wore no disguise beyond a plain black robe edged with white. Although communications had passed between them since her return from the South, this was the first chance he had to make a personal appearance since the Emperor's assassination. 'Lady, it is as we feared. The Inrodaka and their two vassals were in league with Jiro; their declarations of neutrality were feigned. The siege engines were hidden in the forests, and are now moving toward Kentosani.'
'Where?' Lujan asked crisply.
Arakasi caught the drift of the Force Commander's concern. 'Southwest of the Holy City.' He summed up the worst. 'There are traditionalists from Neshka Province involved as allies, and to the north, the Inrodaka have sent out flanking troops that will certainly harry Hokanu's march south. He has better numbers; he will not be stopped, but will suffer losses and be delayed.'
'Allies from Neshka?' Mara said. 'These we can fight.' To Lujan, she asked, 'Could the garrison from my estate by Sulan-Qu march to the west and intercept?'
Arakasi interrupted, uncharacteristically blunt. 'The troops are too close to Kentosani already. You could only harry the rear guard, and maybe force them to turn a few companies to engage us. That would thin out the forces left for the siege, but not stop them.'
'And the lands of your birthright would be left stripped too thin to be defended effectively,' Lujan added. He frowned in furious thought. 'Your original bargain with the cho-ja Queen gives you two companies of warriors. They would be adequate to repulse any independent force who tried looting or raiding, but not Jiro's army if he chooses to concentrate Anasati effort in that direction.'
'The magicians forbid such a move,' Mara countered, leaning to one side to allow the maid to pass with towels to soak up the puddles on the tactical map. 'My estates by Sulan-Qu should be sacrosanct.' She tapped her fingers together in painful decision. 'Kentosani must be our first concern. If Jiro wins the golden throne, all of our causes are lost. We have only the toy maker's plans to foil him. And if our plot there is successful, many of the enemy will die when the siege engines are set into play. That will make numbers of troops critical. Pare them down, and Jiro might not have enough men left to scale the walls before Hokanu can win through. No, the estates by Sulan-Qu must be risked. The unknown to be feared is the Assembly. What will the magicians do if we strip the Acoma lands by Sulan-Qu and engage these tradionalists from Neshka Province?'
'No man can know,' Arakasi allowed. As if he were not aware of Kamlio watching his every move, he helped himself from the tray of refreshments brought in when Mara's maid finished with the cleanup. 'But it is my guess that there the Lord of the Anasati may have outsmarted himself. He has taken best care that his supporters from Neshka appear to be acting on their own. If Jiro wins the throne, and the Assembly accuses him afterward of overly ambitious action, he has left himself a convenient appearance of noninvolvement. He can demur, and say that the alliance was formed out of popular opinion, and his bid for the imperial crown was not his doing at all, but one launched by traditionalists in his behalf as the most worthy candidate.' Between bites of bread, the Spy Master added, 'Mistress, your opposition to such a move might be encouraged by the Assembly as a natural balance of power.'
'The Sulan-Qu property might be sacrificed on such a supposition,' Lujan warned. He stirred through sopped counters with his sword, to bare that section of the map.
Mara's exasperation showed as she said, 'We are like two duelists who have been told that certain moves will cause the judge to strike the offender down, yet not told which moves they are.'
Arakasi set aside his crust to manipulate the pieces into fresh positions, and under his hands, an ominous clot of assorted colors fanned out toward Kentosani. 'Jiro may command the more critical position for assault on the Imperial Precinct, but we are a larger force with more resources.'
Mara took up his unfinished thought. 'We have deep support from Lord Hoppara of the Xacatecas, but he is mewed up in Kentosani. His office gives him no leave to act without an Emperor, save to defend, and Isashani in Ontoset can only send Xacatecas forces to him to catch up with events.' Mara sighed. 'Politically, we are disadvantaged. There are more who favor a return to the old Council than who stand with us. No, this will not be a drawn-out war. Either we win decisively, and early, or Jiro will gain a broader base of supporters.'
Lujan fingered his sword edge, as if annoyed by the nicks that had yet to be sharpened out following the morning's minor action. 'You fear desertion and betrayal?'
'I do not fear them,' answered Mara, 'but should we falter, I expect them.' As order was restored to the map, she chewed her lips and decided. 'We must threaten the siege, at any cost. The estates by Sulan-Qu must be risked. Lujan, how should we proceed?'
The Acoma Force Commander gathered up his sweat-damp helm. 'We can ask our friend Lord Benshai of the Chekowara to begin moving northward toward your old estates, but keep him on the western bank of the river. Let Jiro wonder if he goes to reinforce our garrison there, or if he will continue on to the Holy City.'
Mara gave back a smile of fierce satisfaction. 'Tempt him to commit even a fraction of his Anasati troops to hamper House Chekowara, and his hand will be tipped for the Assembly to read.'
'Should Jiro move across the river to intercept him, Benshai will run like a frightened calley-bird,' Arakasi said drily. 'His house servants say behind his back that Benshai mumbles words of cowardice in his sleep.'
Mara sighed. 'If we're lucky, Jiro doesn't know that.'
Now Arakasi spoke, an edge of frustration to his tone. 'Jiro certainly knows. His adviser Chumaka might as well have his ear by the Lord of the Chekowara's fat mouth, listening to his every breath. My agents have proof that he kept Clan Hadama in disarray through the years he served as Clan Warchief. Despite his rich robes and stern-looking soldiers, he is all appearance and no substance. No, he might march resolutely up the river, but the first suggestion of an Anasati attack will send Benshai of the Chekowara running south. Jiro will know the moment your estates near Sulan-Qu are unguarded since half of Benshai's courtesans are Chumaka's spies.'
An underlying vehemence in Arakasi's tone caused Kamlio to straighten. Almost, she drew breath to address him, before a flush swept her cheeks. She glanced down in painful embarrassment.
Mara noticed, slightly ahead of Lujan. She touched her Force Commander's wrist beneath the table to still the discussion of weighty matters, and force the cross-current of tension between Spy Master and ex-courtesan to develop into reaction.
Arakasi spoke first, a ring like barbarian iron beneath his soft-spoken manner. 'I don't like the Lord of the Chekowara's habits.' His distaste was plain as he added, 'Young girls who are spies are a specialty of Chumaka's. Mara was once nearly killed by such a one. Her name was Teani.' He paused, his eyebrows tipped upward in inquiry. 'If you want to know anything of my thoughts, on this or any other subject, you have only to ask. Only, please leave off staring at me as if I were a book scroll, or a puzzle, or some sort of talking pet.'
Kamlio started to her feet, confusion on her face. 'I don't think of you that way.' She seemed breathless, as if she had been running. She started to bow, her mouth parted to ask Mara's leave to depart; but the bland expression on her mistress's face gave her no promise of quarter. She blinked, raised her chin, and looked at the Spy Master in wide-eyed vulnerability. 'I don't know what to ask you. I don't know what to think of you. But you frighten me to the depths of my heart, there is truth.' Her soft almond eyes filled with tears, 'I am scared and I don't know why.'
For an instant the Spy Master and the girl confronted each other in tortured confusion. Lujan stayed riveted, his hand too tight on his sword.
After an unbearable second, Mara realised she must be the one to break the tension. 'Kamlio, you fear because at last you know what it is to have something to lose. Go now, and find cold water, and wash your face.' As if the girl had been bound by invisible strings that had been cut, she bowed in grateful relief and hurried off around the curtain into privacy.
At the wounded look on Arakasi's face, Mara gave a youthful grin. 'You're winning,' she whispered. 'The girl has let you see into her feelings.'
Arakasi let his wrists fall limp across his knees. Strained and transparent with hope, he said, 'You think so?'
Lujan burst into a broad laugh and gave the Spy Master a comradely clap on the shoulder. 'Man, take my word for it. Most of us endure this nonsense when we are still in boyhood, but your youth seems to have arrived later than most. Lady Mara's right. You'll have the lass in the blankets if only you're willing to show her a bit of you that needs her help.'
Arakasi sat with his brows peaked in comic puzzlement. 'What?'
'She has to see that you need her,' Mara offered.
When the Spy Master's mystified expression failed to clear, Lujan said, 'Gods, she's never seen you make a mistake. You killed tong assassins, and lived; you made love in her master's bed, and if you sweated, it was in passion rather than fear. You touched her in ways few men could, I would wager, which means you were the first person alive who saw into her feelings. That frightened her because it meant that her beauty or her training failed, or that you were too smart to succumb to her allure. A man in her arms is not supposed to be left with the wits to think beyond his stiff organ. So she's scared. None of her skills will avail her where you are concerned. She can wear no mask for protection. She is offered a man who can understand her, but whose feelings she can't read in return. Bedroom pleasures she's bored with, because caring for a man is outside her experience. She'll have to be led and shown. But for that, she must lose her awe of you. Try
tripping on a stone and falling at her feet one day, and see if she doesn't jump down beside you and start doctoring your skinned knees.'
Mara said, 'For a lout who takes advantage of women, you can be surprisingly insightful, Lujan.'
While the Force Commander grinned, Arakasi said, 'I'll think on it.'
'If you think even once with a woman, you're lost.' Lujan grinned. 'At least, no one I know has ever fallen in love for logic'
'Lujan's right,' Mara encouraged, innately aware of the truth. Hokanu and she shared perfect understanding, a harmony of body and intellect. But with the headstrong, outspoken Kevin, who had argued with her, and sometimes made her scream in frustration, she had known passion that the years had not dimmed. For a moment her heart quickened at his memory — until a gust of smoky air swirled through the tent, reminding her of battle and the weight of today's problems that demanded immediate attention. 'Send for our Adviser for War,' she said. 'We must make plans for every contingency and do one thing until matters come to a head: stay alive.'
The tent fell silent for a moment before anyone moved; wind carried the noise of an armed camp in the throes of what could all too soon become a great war, or else a circle of cinders at a stroke from the Great Ones of the Assembly.
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Empire - 03 - Mistress Of The Empire Page 62
