by Guy Antibes
“Ready?” Mistokko said as he had already made the most of a lunge. He quickly recovered and now advanced, his blade swinging for Shiro’s head.
Shiro merely grinned and slipped to the side, tapping the side of Mistokko’s chest with the flat of his blade. Both men laughed, followed by nervous laughter from their audience.
~
The feel of Besseti, Besseth in the language of the continent, took some getting used to. Shiro walked the cobbled streets of Grianne. With nearly three hundred fellow Ropponis to quarter, he had to rely on renting out a farmer’s field. The man probably made more doing that than planting crops, which he still could do as soon as they left.
Shiro met with his two closest councilors, Chika and Tishi.
“We will have to organize in a military fashion,” Shiro said. “Do we have anyone amongst us that has that kind of experience?”
“I do,” Tishi said. She smiled and waved her hand dramatically. Suddenly, a man now sat in the place of the woman. “Tishiaki at your service. Former sorcerer and commander of the armies of Hirodo, Lord of Norida.”
Chika blinked many times. “You were Tishi? I’ve heard of Tishiaki. It seems that there was a woman involved who committed suicide and Tishiaki followed her in death. But he didn’t, did he?”
All along, Shiro had thought Tishi had made her appearance different to hide her age like others did. It wasn’t a strong woman that hid behind the occluded disguise. Tishiaki didn’t stand as tall as Chika, but he was broad.
Tishiaki laughed. “Living among all of those women…” He shook his head. “I think Sumi had an inkling that something wasn’t right with me. How right she was. Now, on Besseti—”
“Besseth,” Shiro corrected.
“I can resume my old identity. Most of our warriors are women, but you don’t have to tell them where I came from. I materialized here in Grianne. It’s the truth, you know.” Tishiaki grinned, unlike Ashiyo, who had the air of a cynic. Tishiaki continued on in the direct manner that defined Tishi. “I can order the camp, and between Chika and I, we can divide the troops into companies and squads and five squads of seven to a company. Four companies to a combat group. That leaves us with twenty or thirty for logistics and cooking.”
“Sounds good to me. You’ve been thinking about this?” Shiro said.
“I have. Chika and I have been discussing organizational strategy all the way from the valley. We mix up the warriors and the sorcerers. I’ve often thought of what an integrated unit might be like with many more sorcerers than warriors,” Tishiaki said. “Chika agrees that we can teach tactics to bring out the best of both.”
Shiro turned to Chika.
“Jealous that we got together?” She smiled and put her hand on Tishiaki’s left wrist. “Shiro, I want you to know that Tishiaki has seen more of me than you have.” It was obvious that Chika had no issues with the new command structure and he knew that meant the both of them had spent time together plotting against him.
“Good for the both of you. I guess that you didn’t know about Tishiaki’s identity any more than I did. Now I might be… or Tishiaki might be jealous of me.”
“I can’t think what of,” Chika said.
“Neither can I,” Tishiaki said, “young woman.”
Chika reddened a bit at the quick put-down and that made Shiro smile. Tishiaki’s hair now just showed wisps of gray. He hoped that Tishiaki’s integrity was the same as Tishi’s. Shiro wondered about trust, but if he trusted Tishi enough to run the entire White Rose Society, why couldn’t he trust Tishiaki?
“Then let’s get the camp organized. I’ll leave it to you two, since I already have, it seems. Pick your company commanders and squad leaders. I’m taking Shinku into Grianne proper and make contact with the person who showed interest in hiring us. He speaks the language here better than the rest of us. Doesn’t he, Tishiaki?”
The older man raised both of his hands defensively. “I only know what few phrases I learned on the boat.”
“Ship,” Shiro said. “Mistokko is captain of a ship.”
Tishiaki only nodded and smiled.
~
The food seemed so heavy. Shiro had never eaten so much meat with his meals before. He longed for the rice and fresh vegetables of his home, but he’d have to get used to it all. So would the rest of his people. Pipe smoke filled the tavern, making Shiro’s eyes water.
“Why do they burn the leaves of that plant?” Shiro said just as Shinku pulled out a pipe of his own. He groaned. “Not you, too.”
“It’s cheap in Besseth, that’s why. Only lords in Roppon do this. I can sit here and smoke and dream that I’m a nobleman.”
“The air doesn’t smell so noble and it’s not just from the smoke,” Shiro said. The people of Besseth didn’t seem to bathe as often as the Ropponi, either.
“Get used to it,” Shinku said. He put on a white Ropponi cloth hat. “This is the signal for our contact. I thought it would be a good idea to get some food in our bellies, first.”
Shiro had to agree with the sailor. They didn’t have to wait long until a man, wrapped in a cloak sat at their table.
“Are you from the Ropponi ship?”
Shiro nodded. Shinku translated and Shiro had heard the words correctly. He didn’t smile in front of the man, but he was pleased that some of the language had seeped into his skull.
“I have three hundred or so in my band. Sorcerers and warriors. We are a unique group and wish to be compensated adequately.”
The man rubbed a stubbled chin. The Besseti certainly had more facial hair and all were taller than his company. “I’ve been out to see your people. They look very disorganized. My people won’t pay top dollar for rabble.”
Shiro bristled at the man’s dismissive tone after Shinku translated. “They aren’t rabble. I just added a notable commander to my staff and we are re-ordering my people. We have to train to fight among the Besseti.”
“Bessethians,” Shinku corrected.
“Bessethians, then. I also have a good feeling for what they are worth. The captain that brought us here instructed me about the relative value of your gold.”
The man rose from his chair. “I’ll make my offer after you’ve demonstrated your effectiveness. I’ll be out at your camp in one week. Then you better show me something astonishing. I’ll not be happy wasting my time traveling so far south.”
Shiro rose and bowed. “My name is Shiro of Koriaki. This is my translator, Shinku, formerly of theWicked Wind. I would like to know to whom I speak.”
The man’s eyebrows rose after Shinku translated. “I am Captain Harlance Beech of Duke Happly’s personal guard. That man in the dark corner over there is Peleor, the Emperor of Dakkor’s chief wizard. He will help assess the level of magic your people possess. I remind you that we will be at your camp in a week’s time. Do not bother to contact us before then.” He turned without any physical kind of acknowledgement. He whispered something to Peleor as the pair walked out of the inn.
~
“I don’t trust them,” Shiro said when he had returned to the camp. “They didn’t even bow after our conference had ended.”
“Bessethians don’t bow,” Shinku said. “They shake hands like this.” Shinku took Chika’s hand and moved up and down. Shiro would have to see that in town in order to believe Shinku.
“The wizard, does he seem strong?” Tishiaki asked. “Can they teleport?”
“We won’t let him know we can do so. Mistokko warned us about the weaker Affinity on this continent. I want both of you to test your people’s talent. I know most of the sorcerers can teleport on Roppon, but they might not be able to do that here. That might be a good test of strength.”
Chika laughed. “We’ve already tested everyone. Two-thirds could teleport on Roppon, but less than half here. All but a few can levitate at least three feet above the ground and those who can, have been tested at throwing fire. The lower Affinity doesn’t seem to affect that ability. Capabilities have changed
on Besseth and it affects our people in different ways. I seem unaffected.”
“Good,” Shiro said. “I don’t want any of our employers to know we can teleport. A little levitation, deflection and any other offensive spells should be adequate. Come up with a demonstration just enough to impress.”
Tishiaki bowed. “We will. What is your next step?”
“Shinku and I need to find a few native speakers who know some Ropponi and are willing to travel north with us. Our lack of language skills puts us at a deep disadvantage. It’s not that I don’t trust Shinku, but I’m not sure how much nuance is missed in translation. I know I have more studying to do. We also need to come up with some uniforms. I’ll leave that to you two, as well. Something simple. Perhaps red cloaks and gray clothes? We need to be distinctive, but not ostentatious. We are in a strange land, indeed. We’ll have to get used to their food and their habits. Every man has a pipe and smokes.” Shiro waved his hand in front of his face, dissipating pretend smoke.
“Shinku and I will take a few of our logistical people and acquire supplies from this list.” Shiro rolled up the parchment. No scroll sticks in Besseth. “I’ll try to hire some people for cultural and language training.”
~~~
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
~
SHIRO EMERGED FROM THE TENT he shared with Shinku and looked out at the re-organized camp. The tents were arranged so that a squad’s tents circled a cooking fire and wider streets separated the companies. In the middle of the grounds, Tishiaki had created a large training yard. Smaller training yards were cleared outside the camp proper. It looked more orderly than the hodgepodge that Chika had permitted in the valley of the White Rose.
He expected Captain Beech at any time. He had learned that the second names of Bessethians were surnames rather than locations like on Roppon. He heard the sound of horses and turned to see the two men riding from the track that led to the road bordering the farm and their camp and summoned on of the locals to translate. He kept Shinku by his side to make sure the translations were correct.
“Shiro Koriaki,” Beech said. “You weren’t properly introduced to Peleor.”
Both men dismounted. Shiro bowed once to each of them. Peleor stuck his hand out and Shiro took it as Shinku had instructed. He felt a thread of power emanate from the man, but threw up a shield. Perhaps the sorcerer tried to assess his power. Shiro hadn’t heard of such a thing before, since the Guild used magic globes to assess Affinity potential. Peleor’s eyebrows rose as he slipped the shield into place.
“I would not think it polite to assess another sorcerer without permission,” Shiro said.
Peleor cleared his throat and said, “Our practices are not the same.”
Shiro didn’t know if it was an apology or not. “Our sorcerers have varying talents and capabilities. If you wish to assess, please ask them. I will not grant you permission to examine me,” Shiro said. He wouldn’t let this man know of his powers nor would he test him with the Sunstone.
“Of course. I will ask. I can sense that there are many sorcerers in our midst.”
“Seven out of ten have some Affinity.”
“That many?” Beech said, as he looked around the camp. “That’s over two hundred battle mages. I had no idea.”
“Indeed,” Peleor corrected. “On Roppon, their approach to magic is more benign than on Besseth and Dakkor. There are few battle mages on their isles.”
Shiro didn’t catch all that Peleor said and asked Shinku for a translation. “Perhaps,” he said, “I’m not experienced in the ways of other continents.”
“But do you know how to fight?” Beech said.
“We do with our power and with our weapons,” Shiro said, needed no translation for the question.
“Your language has improved.”
Shiro grimaced. “Not without a great deal of study this week,” he said. “I will understand more in the coming weeks. So will my people. I have hired townspeople to teach us more of your language.”
“Don’t bother,” Beech said. “We don’t want them too smart do we?” The man chuckled as he glanced at Peleor.
Shinku translated. Shiro didn’t quite understand the nuance at first and then it sunk in that the Captain wanted his people as ignorant as possible. His level of trust of the man plummeted, but for now, they needed time to get acclimated and learn as much as they could. The Red Roses were mercenaries after all.
“What do you call your company?” Peleor said.
“We are the Band of the Red Rose.” Shiro said, making up the name as he looked upon a passing squad dressed in their newly crafted dark red cloaks. They still wore the clothes they brought from Roppon underneath.
“Not quite an army, eh? Well let’s see what they are.”
Shiro lifted his chin and raised his right finger. Tishiaki and Chika joined them.
“These are my two group commanders, Tishiaki, formerly Commander of the Hirodo Armed Forces and Chika, formerly of Lord Udishi’s guard. This is Captain Harlance Beech in the service of Duke Happly and Sorcerer Peleor from the Dakkoran Empire.”
Beech eyed Chika up a down like a piece of meat. The Captain was nearly a head taller than she and only a few of their forces had men approaching Beech’s height. “I’d cross swords with her any day.”
“You’d lose,” Shiro said. “She’s a powerful swordsman and expert with a staff as well.”
Chika rose a foot into the air so she could look down at Beech, who backed up a step. “Perhaps we will some day get that opportunity,” she said and glided back down.
“I wouldn’t underestimate any of the Red Rose’s, Captain,” Peleor said and turned to Shiro. “You’ll have to teach me that trick.”
Chika merely nodded. Shiro would rather not teach any techniques to Peleor. He didn’t trust either of the men.
“Tishiaki, would you escort our guests to the parade ground and our demonstration?”
Shiro let them go, standing with Chika and Shinku, watching their retreating backs.
“Reminds me of my father’s men,” Chika said.
“Peleor will make the decision, not Beech. We will have to find out what influence the Dakkoran emperor has on Besseth. Mistokko gave me the impression that the Dakkoran’s hadn’t meddled with Bessethian affairs, but I think otherwise.”
Chika kicked at the dirt beneath her feet. “I don’t trust either of them.”
Shiro turned to his sailor. “What do you think Shinku? Could you go into town, while these men are here and get a feel for what is happening? Whose side on Besseth is Duke Happly on? There isn’t an emperor on Besseth, just a bunch of independent countries. Mistokko thought we could always find someone willing to hire us since there are incessant border disputes and the wars never last very long.”
“Willingly. I’ll need some money,” Shinku said.
Shiro took out his purse and plunked out a gold piece. “That will even buy you a room in Grianne should you be physically unable to return tonight.”
Shinku quickly left them, grinning.
“What do you think he will find?” Chika said as her eyes followed Shinku’s retreat from the camp.
“Maybe nothing, but I sense a lot of conflict stirring about and I need more perspective.”
Chika said, “You don’t have it all figured out, do you? Are we making a mistake?”
“I only wish I knew.” Shiro patted Chika on the shoulder. “It’s time we joined Tishiaki and our guests.”
The six best squads just finished the marching steps Tishiaki taught them. Shiro thought they looked sharp, but then he couldn’t judge. His few days working with the Sekkoro palace guard never included one day of marching drill. Shiro had sufficient confidence in his swordsmanship and use of other weapons, but he’d never marched.
“Now I’d like to see the two commanders fight,” Beech said.
Tishiaki’s face turned red. “I cannot meet your request,” he said. “An old war wound to my shoulder. I cannot swing a sword o
r plow a field,” he glanced at Shiro.
Shiro glanced at Tishiaki and discovered the fuzzy border running down his right arm. So that’s why Tishiaki became Tishi. He’d never noticed what Tishiaki did with his right arm, but something was wrong with it.
“How can you lead your unit into battle?”
Tishiaki had no reply, but Shiro spoke up. “I can do so.”
“You can fight me, then,” the Captain said. “I’ve never fought a Ropponi blade before.”
Shiro didn’t dare show Peleor the Sunstone Sword. “Tishiaki? Can I use yours? I left my own sword in the tent.”
Tishiaki pulled his sword and sheath out of his sash with his left hand. Did he even have a right? Shiro drew the blade and examined the edge. Tishiaki had brought a very expensive, well-made sword across the Middle Sea with him. Shiro tested the weight. A little light compared to the Sunstone Sword, but Shiro learned on his father’s Ropponi-style weapon.
Beech pulled out his own blade. Even the grinding sound as it left its sheath sounded heavy and ponderous. Beech waved it around a bit. Perhaps all of the Bessethian weapons were built this way. He’d have to adjust his tactics. A blade-to-blade parry might damage Tishiaki’s sword. He would have to use just a bit of power in the match. That might even impress Peleor, if he kept it to a minimum.
After a few moments of limbering exercises, not quite forms practice, but enough to get his blood flowing and his mind in tune with his weapon, Shiro stepped into the open area. He waited as Peleor whispered into Beech’s ear.
“No blood?” Shiro said.
Beech nodded, but said, “Unless it’s inadvertent, of course.”
“Of course. How do you start a sparring match such as this in Besseth?” Shiro said. “In Roppon, we bow to each other and then pause in a martial pose.”
“I can bow, but I don’t pose,” Beech said. The man could not wipe the grin off of his face.
Shiro bowed to Beech and struck a defensive pose. His opponent laughed, a barely concealed sneer and then he struck out with a blow designed to knock off Shiro’s head. The man moved so slowly that Shiro easily dodged the blow and ignored the opportunity to strike first with the large opening that Beech presented.
