“I’m glad to see the effect the uniform has,” Alec told him as he returned the salute. “We need to remember the reputation of the Guard, and go out and raise it even higher if possible. Will the colonel’s staff meeting begin soon?”
“That’s where we’re scheduled to be in twenty minutes,” Ellison replied. “And it’s not just the uniform; the Duke announced yesterday that he has removed Elgin as heir to the throne and stripped him of all the prerequisites and honors that go with noble rank. And of course Airmed is dead now too, so you are officially in possession of Boston Palace. It’s been a long time since a member of the nobility was an officer in the Guard.”
Alec stood silent, again left unsettled by the notion that he had risen to some type of prominence he was unsuited for. He’d never looked for success in that way, and didn’t feel that he had truly earned it.
“How many will we have present at the meeting?”
“I believe there will be twelve. The colonel, yourself and Captain Elcome, and all the lieutenants,” Ellison reported.
“Will we have reports on supplies and suppliers?” Alec asked.
“I told Captain Elcome the colonel wanted to hear such reports,” Ellison said, carefully neutral.
Alec looked at his friend for a moment, wondering what his tone implied about Elcome’s report.
“Will there be a report on personnel numbers and status?” Alec asked.
“Yes,” Ellison said.
“Thank you, Ellison,” Alec told him. “I’m going to the infirmary for a bit,” and he left to go check supplies.
A few minutes later Ellison knocked on the infirmary door as Alec inventoried the back room. “It’s time to go, sir.”
“Then let’s go watch Colonel Ryder start putting things in place for the Guard,” Alec said, and they walked across the yard to the armory.
Ellison and Alec walked crisply into the armory, where he had spent so many hours practicing his swordsmanship. The assembled officers were standing in a cluster, carrying out three or four conversations among themselves as Alec entered and started walking towards them. When Alec was little more than halfway across the room one of them happened to notice his approach, and the formal uniform he wore. “Attention, commander present,” he heard a woman’s voice say, and a moment later the officers spread out and formally saluted Alec.
He took enough steps to reach the group, then paused and looked at them all for a moment. He returned the salute, and said, “At ease everyone.”
Just then Colonel Ryder entered the building. All saluted again, and Alec turned and also saluted. Ryder walked up to the group, observed Alec for several long seconds, and then returned the salute to the group. “A very nice appearance, Captain,” he said to Alec. “It reflects well on our future,” he cryptically spoke.
“I appreciate seeing all of you here today. As you may know, we have a lot on our hands, trying to prepare the Guard for war at a time when we’re already at war, and in a sense recovering from the losses of war. Our job is to get started on recruiting and restoring the Guard to recover from our losses and absences.”
“I expect,” Ryder resumed, walking down in front of the group on the left, and then strolling over to the right, starting to pace now with some apparent nervous energy, “I expect to begin the process of rebuilding and preparing so that the Guard provides the Duke with a solid base to work with and build on. Our Duke does not have the luxury of time to wait; he needs us and the army to begin now to prepare ourselves. That’s the message you need to hear, understand, pass along to our troops, and begin to act upon.”
“This morning I want to review our readiness, so that we all know our strength and weaknesses,” the colonel told them.
“Ellison, can you share with us how many fully training Guard members we have now, how many recruits, and how many of each are here at the palace?”
Ellison calmly began to recite the numbers. “We have 197 active members of the Guard, with 17 recruits currently being trained. There are 74 active members present and assigned to the palace currently, a dozen and a half assigned to Lord Kelvin on a trip out of the duchy, and 105 assigned still to the eastern front.”
“That is not nearly enough to make the Guard useful in this war, or wars. We need to at least double our regimental strength, and hopefully more than double it. We need, at a minimum, to have three full strength battalions so that we can have one at the palace or with the Duke, one battalion in the east, and one battalion ready to battle the usurpers in the north,” Ryder explained.
“We will begin recruiting this week to find the men and women suitable for serving with us as assets for the Guard, and I will ask all of you to contribute to the recruitment activities. That is something we will begin scheduling tomorrow.”
“Captain Elcome,” Ryder directed his next question, “Do we have sufficient supplies to meet the needs of our future growth?”
Elcome stepped forward, a heavyset man in his late forties. His usual ebullience, which Alec enjoyed, seemed lacking. “No, we don’t, but as long as it will take to recruit that heavily, we’ve got time to prepare.”
Alec looked at the man, and blurted out a question without thinking about the appropriate protocol. “Where will we order supplies from, and how long will it take to receive them?”
“We can receive, and you’re talking about an impossibly large target, but we could receive a hundred Stronghold blades in six months or so,” Elcome said, answering Alec’s question in a calmer tone.
“It’s not impossibly large; it’s what we must do,” Alec told Elcome, feeling a slight sense of aggravation with the man. “And how would you acquire swords from Stronghold? We’re at war with them. Shipping on the river may be disrupted at any time by the junta in Oyster Bay to cut off our needs. The Locksforts of Stronghold brought all those mercenaries here to try to kill our Duke. What alternative suppliers of blades can you find that we can rely on in wartime? Think about that and we can begin to address the need,” Alec told him, his mind racing through the questions and objections before he could prevent himself from uttering them out loud.
Elcome looked unconvinced of Alec’s scenario, but said nothing to contradict him.
“What is the state of our other supplies? How quickly could we outfit a battalion of one hundred to dispatch them to battle if necessary?” Colonel Ryder asked, redirecting the topic.
“We drew our stores down pretty far when we sent the group out east, and with the disruption of the attack on the palace, we haven’t begun to re-supply,” Elcome answered. “We’re nearly empty now.”
“We need to build up our stocks immediately so that we’re prepared for anything the Duke needs us to do,” Ryder said. “Set about today restocking us fully so that we can send another expedition out as quickly as the Duke needs us to.”
“I’ll need a bigger budget,” Elcome protested.
“We don’t have a regular cavalry in the Guard, do we?” Alec asked the group at large, again blurting out what rose to the top of his mind.
“No sir,” a voice answered.
“It seems to me we have to be prepared for any eventuality, and that means being able to send our troops out fast over long distances, with high mobility in some circumstances. I think we should begin establishment of at least two squads of mounted Guards, trained to fight from the saddle,” he explained, looking at Colonel Ryder while speaking to the group.
“That’s an idea worth exploring. You and I can discuss it after this,” Ryder said. “In the meantime, I will work out schedules for recruiting and training, and will expect all of you to be involved. Ellison will post those schedules,” he told them. “War is coming to our Duchy, and our role will be critical in making sure that we win the battles that erupt on our borders. My door will be open every morning for any of you who have suggestions on how to make the Guard an even better fighting force. Thank you all, you’re dismissed,” the colonel told them.
Low voices began to rise as small gr
oups walked out of the armory into the bright square. “Captain, wait,” Alec heard Imelda’s voice say as he began walking behind Ryder towards the door. They stopped and turned.
“Do you have time for some fencing practice?” she asked Alec with a smile, a feature he had seldom seen on her face in his presence, one which he thought brightened the room. “I haven’t seen you here in a few days, although the last time I saw you with a sword in hand I didn’t notice that you needed any practice.”
“I think I have time,” Alec said. He looked at Colonel Ryder for direction.
“I’d encourage you to spend some time with your blade, and with your fellow officers,” Ryder said. “As a matter of fact, I suspect I should also make time to fence with every officer and Guardsman we have to learn what our capabilities are,” he said. “But I think all will benefit more if I assign you to fence with every officer and evaluate them for me. Alec. I’ll see you back in the office when you’re done, so we can discuss the cavalry option.”
“Captain,” Imelda began when she and Alec were alone and heading to the equipment room.
“When there’s no reason to be formal, you should call me Alec, Imelda,” he told her, hoping to maintain the less frigid relationship that had developed when she had treated his arrow wound.
“Alec, please tell the colonel I said thank you for that meeting,” Imelda told him as he removed his jacket and they strapped on their equipment. “I know that among the lieutenants, he told us what we needed to hear: that we’re not beaten or quitting or planning to sit and hide in the Palace. We will be warriors for the Duke, and the best warriors in the Dominion. That is what we want to hear, and you’ll have no problems from us working as hard as possible to achieve that goal.”
“I would like to volunteer to lead your cavalry squad,” she added as they walked back out to the practice room. “I would also like to learn to fence left-handed.”
“How well do you know horses?” Alec asked her as they began to spar, Alec using his right hand and Imelda using her left.
“I was raised on the eastern plains; I know care of horses very well. I’ve done a lot of vermin hunting from horseback with a bow, and that I think will be the best use of the horses in terms of actual fighting, and getting off the horse to fight with swords when needed to finish up the battle. Ow!” Imelda interrupted herself as Alec landed a hard thrust to her midsection.
“You’ve got to keep that left hand up and active, even while you’re talking,” Alec told her. “Or stop talking and concentrate when you’re fighting.”
“Switch hands for now and use your right, so you can concentrate on your discussion. I’d like to hear more,” he told her.
Imelda flipped the blade and began a concerted attack with her right hand, causing Alec to step back, and then step again to regain his balance for defense, still using his right hand.
“Do you know who you’d want for your squad leaders, or any cavalry members you want to recruit from the present Guard members?” Alec asked.
“You expect to put forty to fifty in the cavalry?” Imelda asked.
“That’s about right, assuming the colonel assents,” he agreed.
“I know one who would make a good squad leader, that’s Pember, and I know four or five right off the top of my head I’d request right now to have. We’ll have to recruit the rest,” she answered as she fought off Alec’s effort to push her into a corner. “The youths from the eastern clans would pay for the opportunity to fight in a force like that, instead of herding livestock across the plains.”
He garnered his strength and pressed her one more time, forcing his blade against hers to immobilize it and then thrusting his body against hers to move her to the corner, taking advantage of his greater weight. He was aware of the contours of her body under the padding. “You’ll have the easiest time recruiting cavalry from the boys and girls in the countryside of any of us, I predict,” Alec said, then grunted in pain as she raised her knee half-heartedly into his groin.
He wobbled back and lowered his sword. “Pax?” he said.
“Alec!” a voice called from the doorway.
“Yes?” Alec called, not taking his eyes from Imelda now.
“All right, pax,” Imelda agreed, lowering her sword.
Alec looked to his right, where Bethany and Cassie stood watching. He stepped back away from Imelda, feeling self-conscious.
“There’re your bright flowers, Alec,” Imelda said as she shook his hand. “Is the cavalry mine?” she asked holding his hand in a tight grip.
He looked at her uncertainly, still feeling the discomfort of her last blow and the memory of their bodies pressed together. “You’re the first to ask, but I have to talk to Colonel Ryder about this idea to see if he accepts it as suitable,” he told her as he motioned the girls over. “All other things being equal, you’ll be first. And out of curiosity, when did you become a lieutenant so quickly?”
“It’s thanks to you,” Imelda laughed. “The duke thanked me by giving me the promotion for tending you when you were wounded. I think the fact that Colonel Ryder had assigned me along with Ellison to take him away from the city also made him believe he could trust me with leadership,” she added more seriously.
“I trust you too, I think,” Alec told her, and released her hand as the other girls arrived.
“It’s later than I realized,” Alec said to them. “Let me go clean up and change, and we’ll be on our way.”
The three of them left the armory a few minutes later, Alec back in his uniform as they went to the commander’s office.
“Ellison, is the colonel available for some introductions?” he asked in the antechamber.
“Just a moment,” the aide said. After sticking his head into the colonel’s office for a moment he motioned them in.
“Colonel, I’d like you to meet two of my friends who escaped from Ingenairii Hill. This is Bethany, and this is Cassie,” he explained, and then let the civilities flow.
“What prompted you two young ladies to come to such a boring place as the Guard quarters?” Ryder asked.
“We’ve been here before, when we came to visit Alec in the infirmary,” Cassie said.
“We can’t resist seeing a man in uniform,” Bethany said with a smile, looking at Alec.
“If the uniform was known to have such an effect, we’d have no problem recruiting new members, would we Alec?” Ryder joked. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both and to welcome you to Goldenfields. I hope our city shows you hospitality, and that we can soon rectify the problems that drove you from Oyster Bay, not that I want to give you any excuse to leave our city,” he added.
After further light chatter, Ryder indicated that it was time to move on. “I must go visit the Duke now. He always finds pleasure in the company of attractive women; Alec, would you like to bring your guests to meet the Duke?”
As they prepared to walk over to the palace, the Colonel spoke to Ellison. “Can you give me a list of all the officers? I want to set up rotation for sword work with them so I can judge their effectiveness, and then I’ll assign them for recruiting and training,” he said. “Here, schedule them in this order, twenty minutes each starting at dawn tomorrow, and put Elcome on the schedule immediately after that to discuss supplies and suppliers.”
“I’ll be in lunch with the Duke, introducing him to Alec’s friends,” the colonel added as they opened the door.
“Ellison, when you were taking the Duke away from the palace during the rebellion, how well did everyone ride their horses? Were there any potential cavalry members in that lot?” Alec inquired before he stepped outside.
“Only three or four did not ride well, and the rest all did fine,” Ellison replied.
“How did Imelda do?” Alec followed.
“Ah,” Ellison murmured. “She rides like she was born to it.”
“Very good. Thank you,” Alec said and they left the building on their way to the Palace.
“Well, how did your visit w
ith Merle go this morning?” Alec asked Cassie.
“He wasn’t able to spend time with us, but scheduled me for tomorrow morning,” she replied. “Alec, do you really think that I could have ingenaire powers from you?”
“You’re the one who gave me the idea, Cassie. After you recovered, you said it felt like a little part of me was left inside you, and that set me to wondering. I asked Ari to test you, but there turned out not to be time. It may be a wild goose chase for all I know, but I think we ought to check,” he answered, as they walked up a hall to the main stairwell in the palace.
They arrived outside a meeting room, and the Guard at the door opened it to allow them to enter. Inside, the Duke was finishing a meeting with an army officer and an advisor Alec didn’t recognize, while three Guards served as bodyguards. Ryder, Alec, Bethany, and Cassie took a seat along the wall, waiting to be recognized.
“Come up here, DR, Alec, and meet some folks,” the Duke called out. “And bring your guests with you, please.”
They walked to the front of the room. “Colonel Ryder, Alec, this is Colonel Mount, presently in command of the regular army in the area of the city, and this is Mr. Greene, an advisor to Noah Rastall. Gentlemen, you both know Colonel Ryder. Colonel Mount, this is Captain Alec, newly second in command of the Duke’s Guard, and noted ingenaire.”
“Thank you, your Grace,” Alec said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both, and I look forward to working with you.”
“Duke Toulon, I would like to introduce two friends of mine who have come with the others from Oyster Bay. This is Cassie, who is training to be a wonderful healer, and this is Bethany, an apprentice ingenaire from the water house, and a friend of mine,” he said, looking momentarily at Bethany with a smile.
“Alec, your devotion to the Duchy is all the more commendable, if it means that you leave the opportunity to spend time with such beauties in order to serve in the Guard. At your age I would have had an easy decision to make on where to spend my time, and it wouldn’t have involved a sword in my hand,” the Duke said, rising to take the hand of each girl.
The Loss of Power: Goldenfields and Bondell Page 6
