Devan Chronicles Series: Books 1-3

by Mark E. Cooper

  “Athione is more defensible,” Jihan was saying. “But perhaps Elvissa would be better. Yes, if she falls, Purcell can retreat into Tanjung to continue the fight.”

  “You’re talking as if we’ve already lost!”

  “Not at all,” Jihan said with a smile for her. “I have told you of my training, Ahnao, and you know me better than anyone. I look at all the possibilities and try to choose the best one for victory. Because I do this, does not mean I am unaware of the possibility of defeat. Sending you and our child to Purcell is a precaution.”

  “A precaution? When will you know if it changes to a necessity?”

  Jihan shrugged. “Who can say? If the clans defeat Navarien, none of this will be necessary. If I stop them short of the border, then none of this is necessary. One thing is necessary however, you will be on your way to Elvissa the moment I know a siege is inevitable.”

  “All right,” she said faintly.

  She would die without him, but she would not disobey him when doing so might risk their son’s life.

  * * *

  A few days after his conversation with Ahnao, Jihan had visitors. Senior Captain Echion came to him with the news.

  Echion was a good captain for Malcor. He was well respected by the men and an old hand with the guardsmen’s life. He had been that very rare commodity: an honest sergeant during Athlone’s lordship of Malcor. When Jihan turned the cronies out of the fortress, Echion was raised.

  Since then the man had overseen the construction of the training camp while Jihan accompanied Keverin to Denpasser. When he saw how good a job Echion had done, he promoted him to senior captain on the spot, a post that had remained empty from Jihan’s father’s time as lord. Echion had proven well able to cope with his new position. As Malcor’s senior captain, he was second in authority to Jihan himself.

  Jihan continued the lunge he was practising, but a moment later he called hold. Niall smiled in rueful relief. He was grateful for the respite. All of the men were in good shape, but Niall was sweating heavily and obviously needed a break. Jihan always needed three or four partners when he practised. He found it too easy to become accustomed to a particular man’s style; as a result, he would begin anticipating his opponent’s moves. That was no way to train, hence the partner changes.

  He dried what little sweat there was upon his face and Echion took the opportunity to approach.

  “We have visitors my lord,” Echion said slowly.

  Jihan smiled. The man had spoken slowly and deliberately. He was trying hard not to allow his peasant origins to show. He was still new to his position and was not yet confident enough to speak at a normal pace. It was all foolishness of course, but the men expected it. All guardsmen had a peasant background of course. They were recruited from the towns and villages nearby, not from the nobles. In Jihan’s opinion, that was a cursed good thing. He had met the other lords of Deva just last year and found most of them to be useless for anything except looking pretty, and he was less inclined to hold himself aloof than most noblemen. His lady had been a peasant living in the nearby town of Brai, a fact the lords had made plain they disapproved of. He couldn’t care less.

  “Go on.”

  “Lord Dylan’s party will arrive at midday. He has the recruits with him.”

  He raised an eyebrow at that. Dylan was the heir to the throne. It was something of a surprise to hear that he was escorting the recruits personally.

  “How do they look? The recruits I mean.”

  “About as you would expect, my lord, though I confess to some surprise. Delin reports they’re marching in formation. Apparently they aren’t as good as they could be, but when I questioned that, Delin admitted he was impressed with the effort they were putting in.”

  Jihan nodded. That boded well for his training efforts. If the new men were motivated it would be that much easier to turn them into legionnaires—the first legionnaires for the first legion in Deva’s history.

  “How many would you say there are?”

  Echion shrugged. “Not near enough to build a legion my lord. Delin estimates around three thousand recruits with roughly another hundred or so guardsman under royal colours.”

  Royal colours meant they were marching under the crescent moon. That was to be expected with Dylan leading; he was the heir to the throne and therefore entitled to ride under the crescent moon alone.

  Jihan dismissed Echion and his sparring partners and went to change. He found Ahnao overseeing preparations for greeting Dylan so he left her to that and made sure the camp was ready for its new inhabitants. The storerooms had food enough, but the racks intended for weapons and sets of armour were bare. It was a worry, but again the King had promised supplies would be forthcoming. Until they did, he would have to use weapons from the fortress, which meant some of his own men would go without. That would cause an unacceptable drop in Malcor’s strength, but what could he do? He had to make a decision now that some of the recruits were here. He would reduce patrols south, east, and west, while doubling them to the north where the true danger lay. That way, he would free up men to train the recruits and weapons for them to use as well.

  At midday, Jihan was standing just outside the doors to the citadel with Ahnao on his arm waiting to greet Dylan. Echion was nearby and would be taking charge of the recruits for the first few days. Jihan would rather be doing that than playing host to royalty, but his duty was clear. He was always careful to do his duty.

  Dylan finally appeared riding through the gates flanked by his captain and guardsmen. Thank the God he had sense enough to leave the recruits outside! Jihan, with Ahnao by his side, stepped forward. He bowed while Ahnao curtsied.

  “My lord of Malcor, you and your beautiful lady are well I trust?” Dylan said handing his reins to the stable hand. All along the lines horses were quietly led away leaving Dylan free to look around at the largest fortress ever built.

  “We are very well your highness, and you?” Jihan said.

  “Much better for seeing you,” Dylan said clasping hands with Jihan. “If I might take the liberty?” Dylan said kissing Ahnao fondly upon her cheek.

  Ahnao blushed at this sign of royal favour. Neither Jihan nor Ahnao knew Dylan particularly well.

  Jihan gave himself a shake and introduced Captain Echion. “If you will permit?”

  “Certainly, I have every confidence in whomever you choose,” Dylan said then looked to the captain who was obviously intent on leaving as soon as politeness allowed. “My thanks, Echion. You will find them a good bunch, a little over eager if anything, but that’s to the good when training is in the offing don’t you think?”

  “I do, Highness. I’m sure they’ll lose some of their enthusiasm when the real work begins,” Echion said with a small smile.

  Dylan laughed. “Not too much I hope!”

  Jihan was impatient to hear Dylan’s news. “You know the plan, Echion, but see to the comfort of Lord Dylan’s men first would you?”

  “Yes my lord,” Echion said and took his leave.

  Jihan led Dylan into the citadel. “I have a suit of rooms for your comfort your Highness. Would you prefer to refresh yourself first or—”

  “Call me Dylan, Jihan. I’ve only been a king’s son for a season or so and already I’m tired of all the bowing and scraping. We never really went in for that kind of thing at Meilan.”

  Jihan laughed. “I must admit Keverin and now you have surprised me by your easy manners, but I confess I do prefer less pomp myself. It comes from having Athlone for a father I suspect.”

  “Oh?”

  “He was very aware of his exalted position as Lord Protector of the north. He always made certain that everyone knew his power. My mother and me most of all—” Jihan broke off as those times again rose up in his memory to darken his day.

  Ahnao gave his arm a gentle squeeze to wake him from his remembrances.

  “—talk first I think,” Dylan was saying.

  Jihan had missed the first part but he inf
erred that Dylan wished to speak privily before refreshing himself. He thought his study was the best place for such a discussion, and so he led the way there.

  He seated Ahnao in the best armchair and offered wine, but she declined; her stomach was still not completely well. He frowned; he was unsure if that was normal, and he disliked taking the healer’s word on the matter. If Julia had been here he would have had no hesitation, but as she wasn’t… perhaps he could talk to one of the older sergeants, one with lots of children. Devin came to mind. Yes, he would ask Devin whether he recalled his consort being ill for this long a time.

  He sat opposite Dylan and waited for his guest to speak first. Dylan savoured his wine for a moment then began.

  “This is very good, Jihan.”

  He had thought Dylan wanted to talk about important matters not make small talk. He kept his face bland not showing his annoyance.

  “I’m glad you like it, Highness. I can let you have a couple of cases to take back to Devarr if you think your father would like it?”

  “I think he would enjoy this very much. The cellars at the palace were ransacked as you know. The wines he restocked it with aren’t the best in my humble opinion.”

  Jihan nodded and sipped his own wine. “Forgive me for being blunt, Dylan, but do you have news of import for me?”

  “There’s nothing to forgive. As I said, I prefer directness between us.” Dylan finished his wine and gently placed the empty glass on the side table. “I have disturbing news from almost every quarter I’m afraid.”

  “Disturbing?”

  “I should probably say worse than disturbing, frightening even, but it wouldn’t do for me to admit that, especially not when I’m representing the King.”

  “Explain.”

  “General Navarien has three legions at his command and is intent upon subjugating the clans and then us. Keverin is lolling about in Denpasser when he should be ruling Athione and protecting the western border—” Dylan raised a hand to stop Jihan’s protest. “I know he has a reliable man in Marcus, but the fact remains Keverin is not doing his duty to Athione or Deva.”

  “Are you talking about replacing him as Lord Athione?” Jihan asked intently.

  “Not yet.”

  Yet? That didn’t sound good. It wasn’t good for Keverin, but worse, it wasn’t good for Deva. If Keverin was successfully ousted, Julia would leave with him.

  “If you think to remove Keverin, you will receive no help from Malcor.”

  Dylan’s face hardened for a moment before going blank again. “Keverin is my father’s friend, and yours I know, but Deva’s welfare comes before friendship.”

  Surely Dylan did not truly believe Deva’s welfare was best served by replacing Keverin. Jihan frowned as he remembered an argument he had witnessed in Devarr. Keverin had been angered when Gylaren ordered three thousand cavalry to Devarr, but would not send them in pursuit of Julia’s kidnappers. Purcell had pointed out that the king had the entire kingdom to think of, not just one person. Because of this, he could not do as Kev wished. Keverin had rebutted by saying that without Julia, the sorcerers would take Athione easily, and therefore Deva was in jeopardy without her. Neither Jihan nor Purcell were fooled into thinking Keverin’s concern was for Athione alone, but that did not make his words less true.

  “Friendship is important to me, Dylan, but I do take your meaning. Even so, you should not think to strengthen Deva by removing Keverin. Among other things you would lose Julia’s aid in defending us against the Hasians.”

  “As I said, Keverin has not been removed,” Dylan said dismissively and changed the subject. “Now the news to the east is not good either. Although it does not affect us directly from a military point of view, my father is still very concerned. Tanjung hit Japura hard last year. With the loss of Talayan, the Matriarch had little choice but to retaliate in force. The Tanjuners have been pushed way back on the defensive. If things keep going the way they are Vexin will lose his capital.”

  “If that happens, he’ll lose the confidence of his lords and from there his position as emperor.”

  “Yes exactly. The Japurans have stayed within the same borders for their entire history… well, we assume they have. They haven’t moved since the Founding, but what precisely this all means to us is anyone’s guess. My father is concerned as I said. He has made a few inroads on the problem of trade, and I can see that more will come in the future, but war in the east will likely ruin his current efforts.”

  Jihan could see that. Deva was in a poor position where trade was concerned. High quality metal goods had always been the bedrock of Devan trade, but now they had nothing anyone wanted. The larger mines had been closed well before the last master smith left Chulym. Gylaren could sell ores to Japura, but the smaller mines were not producing anywhere near their capacity. The good quality ores had always come from the larger mines in any case; they were deeper than the smaller ones and dated from the Founding. The Founders had their magic to seek out the best ore, and succeeding generations of miners had simply followed them into the mountain’s bones. Trade was a long term problem; one Jihan felt ill equipped to deal with. He did feel able to deal with current concerns however.

  “All I know of trade is what little I have picked up from my tenants and farmers. The merchants always laugh at my attempts to understand their business. I do understand matters of war though.”

  Dylan nodded. “We know this. I have brought three thousand recruits to you. The rest will arrive in smaller groups throughout this year, but I expect you to have enough for a full Hasian-sized legion before the summer closes.”

  “That is good news, but what of weapons and armour?”

  “That’s not a concern for the group I brought with me; they have what they need with them, but the future is more difficult. Father has put the supply situation squarely into my hands while he tries to solve the trade problem. I have a few ideas, but how I’ll supply your second legion, I have no idea. Perhaps trade will have resumed by then. I can hope so anyway.”

  Jihan was not concerned about the second legion; he had yet to build the first one! Ahnao had remained silent while Dylan spoke, but now she took charge.

  “Well, if further discussion will wait a little, Jihan, I think Dylan might like to freshen up before dinner.”

  Jihan and Dylan nodded.

  “I will show you to your rooms, Dylan,” Ahnao said rising to her feet.

  Dylan stood and offered his arm to Ahnao and they left together.

  Jihan was grateful to her for taking Dylan off his hands. He felt an urgent need to find Echion and investigate Dylan’s claims that weapons and armour were indeed no longer a concern. He made his way through the corridors nodding occasionally to guardsmen as they snapped to attention as he past. A quick ride to the camp should reassure him that all was well. With this in mind, he was soon riding through the gate toward the camp.

  He found the camp a boiling chaos of shouting and shoving men, but it wasn’t a fight he was seeing. This was the result of trying to integrate three thousand young men into a new way of doing things—the soldier’s way. Jihan called a man over to hold Jezy while he went to speak with Echion who was standing to one side of what was to be the parade ground.

  “Is it as bad as it looks?”

  “Not quite, my lord,” Echion said with a smile. “Our lads can work around the confusion well enough for now.”

  “They shouldn’t have to,” he said and walked toward the centre of the confusion.

  Men were rushing back and forth carrying long crates that Jihan assumed held swords. Where Dylan had found them was a mystery, but he was glad to have them. Other crates he assumed held armour, but when a recruit dropped one, he found something else.

  “Shirts?”

  “And boots my lord,” Echion said. “Some of them have armour, others trousers. The long ones are swords; some have daggers in as well. The list goes on. Everything we could want is here, except a full compliment of recruits that is.�
�

  “Dylan has promised us the rest in smaller groups. We should have enough by the end of summer, but we’re not waiting around. I want the men to assemble before me right now. Tell them to drop whatever they are doing and tell our captains to stand with me. All clear?”

  “Yes lord!” Echion said and trotted off to get the captains working.

  Jihan waited as his captains yelled at the sergeants and the sergeants yelled at the recruits. When that didn’t work, they began shoving the recruits into rudimentary ranks. Echion finally returned with the captains and Jihan was able to hear himself think.

  “My name is Jihan, lord of Malcor and lord Protector of the north,” he began in his best parade ground voice. “You are recruits for Deva’s first standing army. I’m sure you have all heard how good the Hasian legions are. I will train you to be as good, and hopefully, better than they. It will take time and hard work, but if you are willing to give it your all, you will become the best!”

  He walked along the first rank trying to guess which of the recruits would make good sergeants. It was a purely intellectual exercise at this stage.

  “With these aims in mind I want you all to realise that you are now under orders,” he said stopping next to Echion in the centre. “My sergeants, my captains, and I will be obeyed without question. Any Malcoran guardsmen tasked with training you will be obeyed similarly. This camp has been built to house you and others like you; you will treat it with respect. Anyone found wantonly damaging this camp will be thrown out and chased off my lands. Is that clear?”

  Jihan waited. There were a few nods and murmurs indicating it was, but by no means was it an adequate response.

  “I said is that clear!” he roared.

  “Yes lord!” came back the shouted response.

  He nodded accepting what he had received as the best he was likely to get. Not everyone had entered into the spirit of the thing, but it was their first day. Time would tell.

  “Good! I am taking you at your word. I am a man who believes in honourable conduct. I expect to receive it from those I have dealings with. This includes all of you!” He waited a moment for that to sink in. “Now, if any of you during the course of your training believes he was treated underhandedly or unfairly, you will first go to senior captain Echion, who will judge if your case should be brought before me. I believe my men are honest and true. In the unlikely event I find that indeed you were treated badly, I will give similar treatment to your alleged tormentor. That I swear!”