Mighty Hammer Down

by David J Guyton

  Chapter 13

  Tannis was furious. He could not believe that his men had lost the Vindyri assassin. The woman in the pit looked a little like her, and she was bruised and bloodied, but it was not the right girl. They had told him that they found her running in the halls with the sword she had stolen from a guard, the guard he left to watch her in his office at the Star Legion barracks. When that guard saw the woman they captured, he insisted that it was her and he demanded that he be allowed to punish her. His pride was obviously damaged, as was his nose. But instead of granting him the privilege of punishing his attacker, he was sent to the pit himself for a week for losing such an important prisoner. Tannis's plans were turning to sand, slipping from his fingers, and he didn't have time to get all the information he needed.

  He knew there was something wrong with the whole situation, but he couldn't see the entire picture. Nothing seemed to line up like it should, and at every turn he ran into walls. He hoped that this meeting would bring some light to his dilemma, and that many minds would see things that a single mind might miss. He waited silently for the Commanders of all the Legions at a desk outside his office in the large circular room at the Star Legion barracks. There were riders speeding word to the other military leaders in other cities, but there was not much news to deliver. He could only tell them that he feared war was coming, and that all men should be alert and on guard.

  He had arranged for Andrew to be brought to the barracks so that the Emperor could speak with him if he desired. He was taken to one of the nicer rooms and given food and wine, and told that anything he needed would be brought to him if he asked. It seemed he was a kind man, but a frightened one. Tannis didn't think it was because he had malicious intentions and was nervous, but rather that he saw the Medoran army stir like a giant hornets nest shortly after his arrival. Nervousness was to be expected.

  As he waited, he used the time to finish the reports he had neglected for the last two days. It didn't matter if war was coming or not, Medora was a busy place and countless things needed to be done if the Empire was going to function properly. Most things like laws, trade regulations, discrepancies over ownership, etc were managed by others beneath him, but he insisted that any matter that involved the army in any way be brought to his desk so that he could check it as well. He also sent anything non-military directly to the Emperor. Aside from that, there was always the matter of keeping track of payments to the troops. A large blue book was always on his desk waiting for final approvals for payments and expenditures.

  The Emperor finally walked in from the far corridor with seven men behind him. Each Commander of the seven Legions had been called to this meeting to be informed of the latest events and to allow them to state their opinions and ideas on the matter. He knew each of the men and what they did, but he cursed himself as he looked at them and realized he was somewhat unsure of most of their names. He decided to call them by rank instead of by name. They all sat down at the long table that had been brought into the room and faced their General. The Emperor remained standing off to the side.

  "Gentlemen, thank you for coming so quickly," Tannis said as he stood. "By now you have been informed of the Vindyri troops marching west. Our suspicions concerning the matter have been confirmed. The Vindyri army moves."

  "Did they dispatch riders with a declaration of war?" one of the men asked.

  "No, there has been no formal declaration of any kind, but do not assume that that means they do not intend to attack. It is foolish to expect a nation to allow us such a courtesy."

  "Is there proof of hostility?" another man asked. Tannis knew this particular man's name.

  "Well, Commander Soterus, some proof escaped these very walls two days ago. Perhaps you remember the Vindyri you released?"

  The heavy-set man looked embarrassed and his eyes darted around at the other men. "It was a mistake, General. I assume responsibility for my actions. Whatever punishment you see fit will be carried out immediately."

  "We don't have time for that now, Soterus. I need everyone together and actively preparing for this war. To answer your question, no, there is no proof of hostility, and in fact just last night an Ambassador from Vindyrion came with an explanation for the movement of troops."

  "Sounds suspicious to me," the Fire Legion Commander stated as he put his elbows on the table. "Seems like they are trying to calm us before a strike." The men nodded their heads at the comment.

  Tannis put his hands behind his back and began pacing. "That is certainly a possibility, but I think we need to look deeper into the matter. I don't think they are so foolish as to consider us so easy to trick. I think that either their plan is much broader, or the Ambassador speaks the truth. Regardless of what the actual truth is, I do believe that the Ambassador believes his own words."

  "The King may be feeding him lies," Soterus said.

  "That was my first thought. There is no way to know yet. We have no information out of Vindyrion except for this man. No scouts have returned, and the Vindyri assassin is missing. She is probably too far from Brinn for us to ever catch her now."

  "Well what did the Ambassador have to say?" asked the Wind Legion Commander as he leaned back in his chair and rested his hand on the pommel of his sword.

  "He claims that the Vindyri are in fact headed west, however they do not attack. They retreat from their own eastern border from war with Bhoor-Rahn."

  In a room full of Nobles, such a statement would cause a loud, nervous chatter. These warriors looked shocked, but made no sound. They looked at each other and then focused again on Tannis. The Bhoors were a distant people that no one knew much about, and no Commander in the room had ever ridden to war against them. The only two present who had fought any Bhoors were Tannis and the Emperor, and that was many years before. Although the Vindyri were willing to accept the Bhoors into their nation, Medorans were not. From the violent wars of the past, they had learned their lessons and remembered them well. Nothing good came from the land, not an invention, not a single productive citizen, no trade, no gold; nothing of value to anyone. The Bhoors were bent on spreading oppression and committed to forcing their way of life on the peoples of the world. They had been beaten back into their land several times in the past, left to suffer alone with no trade or help from the people to their west. Neither Medora nor Vindyrion noticed that they had been growing and preparing for war for nearly 20 years. There was no way to determine how powerful they were or how many men fought in the army, but unfortunately the Vindyri were probably going to find out.

  After a long silence, Commander Soterus cleared his throat and spoke. "Does he tell us this so that his people do not get squeezed between the hammer of the Bhoors and the anvil of Medora? Or does he wish for us to come to his aid?"

  "His claim is that the King calls upon us as a friend and ally to help them in their time of need. If the story is true, I respect the decision made to fight the Bhoors without asking for assistance first. However with our scouts having gone missing, there is no reason we should trust the Vindyri. Who else could have captured or killed them?"

  The Earth Legion Commander answered Tannis's question. "It is possible that the Bhoors living in Vindyrion made moves against our scouts there. They might have done this in order to make us believe that the Vindyri killed them and are coming to wage war against Medora. It is in the best interest of the Bhoors to make us believe that Vindyrion is our enemy."

  "And it is in the best interest of the Vindyri to keep Medora as an ally," the Water Legion Commander said. "I am beginning to believe the Ambassador really does tell the truth." He crossed his arms as if the statement closed any argument.

  "I agree that makes the best sense," the Emperor said as he walked before the table to address the men. "This is all very confusing, but I think that was the intention of those who orchestrated these events. We must remember that the Vindyri have stood between us and Bhoor-Rahn for many years. They are an ally even if they protected us unwillingly. Our trade with th
em has made them prosperous and happy. Even though we encounter rebel Vindyri from time to time, I cannot imagine that they would turn their backs on us and coax us into war in this way. I believe they really are in danger and need our help if they are going to survive."

  "And what of the Vindyri assassin sent for General Tirinius?" one of the men asked.

  The Emperor stroked his chin as he thought. "It seems to me that it was a rash move based on rather shallow ideas meant to shake the foundations of the military. I think an assassin would be better used if he -or she--is aimed at the leader of a nation, not its military. To kill an Emperor might topple the Empire, although that is not likely here in these times. But to kill the General, especially one so respected, would probably only enrage the army and unleash the full wrath upon the opposing nation. I think the Vindyri know us well enough to know our beliefs, and if it was their intent to destroy us, I think they would have sent the assassin to kill me, not General Tirinius. It is more likely that the Bhoors have somehow convinced this Vindyri woman to come to Medora and kill Tannis, so that we would assume that King Weryn of Vindyrion sent her, and the full wrath of the Medoran army would be directed at the Vindyri. This would crush them from both sides. They would have no chance of survival."

  "That all makes sense," Tannis said as he leaned on the desk. "It might not all be true, but we don't have much time to react if we intend to assist the Vindyri. Are there any suggestions?"

  Commander Soterus spoke up. "It would be foolish to send a large portion of the army so far from Medora. I think we should send 1000 soldiers to assist in battle and send riders with them to speed news back and forth."

  Tannis shook his head. "I agree that we must not send a large number, but if half of the Vindyri army retreats, then a massive force follows them. I would not send any less than 20,000 men."

  "General Tirinius, that's a quarter of a Legion!" Commander Soterus said, "You would risk such a number?"

  "To destroy Bhoors, yes. The more of them that are dead, the better. In addition to that, we will take 80 percent of the spoils, and we will demand a large payment from the Vindyri as well. We will take whatever amount we decide is large enough to be significant, but small enough to allow them to maintain their economy so that their trade with us will not be interrupted. Such a price is worth sending 20,000 men."

  "But 80 percent of spoils in Bhoor-Rahn is 80 percent of dirt and wind," one of the men said as the others laughed.

  "Yes it's true that they are known to have very little, but the Ambassador claims that they do hold some wealth now. I find it very hard to believe that they could raise an army large enough to send the Vindyri running if they had nothing but dirt and wind to pay their soldiers." The men all nodded at the remark. He was thankful that all of the information the men had offered was making sense and that his puzzle was finally coming together.

  "So what are your orders, General Tirinius?" asked Commander Soterus.

  "As punishment for losing the Vindyri assassin, you will lead 20,000 of your men to the front lines of the battle. You will leave at once and return with the spoils when you have crushed the enemy. Is that understood?"

  Commander Soterus bowed his head deeply, speaking in a quiet voice. "As you command, General Tirinius."

  "The rest of you are to each send a band of assassins to the corners of Medora looking for the Vindyri that Commander Soterus lost. Go to Rommus and have him equip them with his finest blades. The army will pay him for the weapons as soon as the books have been gone over and the expenses have been added. For now I will give him 20 gold pieces for his trouble. You all have your orders, now go."

  The men all stood and saluted, then left through the same corridor they came in. Tannis sat in his chair and put his head in his hand in thought.

  The Emperor came to lean on the desk in front of him. "I know these are troubling times, my friend, but we have done this before. We will do what needs to be done to keep harm far from our people."

  "I know that, Emperor. But long ago when we fought the Bhoors, it was a different world. Now they hide among their own enemies. The Vindyri embrace them and assume they are a just and fair people. They have no idea what sort of monster they unleashed in their own land."

  Piro's eyebrows drew together as he stared at the floor. "Perhaps, Tannis, the Bhoors they have befriended truly are decent people. Just because we believe they are all a certain way does not make it true. There are plenty of different types of people here in Medora, so one would be wrong to assume that we are all the same here."

  "I understand what you are saying, Emperor, but it's different here. Here a man is free to do what he decides is best. He can do whatever he chooses so long as it does not harm another citizen. In Bhoor-Rahn they are all mindless sheep. There are no individuals, searching for what's best; there is only the mass of servants to the Zidaoz. They are all unquestionably loyal because they believe their leader speaks directly to Oderion -or whatever it is they call him--and that he is immortal."

  "Perhaps you are right my friend. There is no way to know the hearts of men, let alone men far beyond the horizon. Soterus will go and crush the Bhoors and when he returns, he will inform us of their intentions as best he can."

  Tannis drummed his fingers on his desk. "I only hope that he can kill the Zidaoz as well. They will never understand anything except a terrible defeat. After thinking more on the matter, I am considering sending more troops into the center of Vindyrion so that it will not take long to send for reserves. I am willing to send another 20,000 men to aid Soterus if he needs it."

  "40,000 men," the Emperor said slowly. "We have not seen numbers like that ride to battle in a long time."

  "But we have seen many more than that. 20 years ago almost all available troops were sent to war from all seven Legions."

  "Yes but as you said those were different times, Tannis. I was beginning to think that the world was becoming too civilized for war."

  Tannis stared into the eyes of his Emperor. "When all men believe that, the truly evil among us will see the opportunity to strike at that weakness."

  The Emperor smiled. "I know, Tannis. Trust that I believe the same as you do. If we ever fail it will not be because I have forced a softer view on my army and my people. I want nothing more than safety and prosperity for all Medorans, but I am getting older, and it is easier for me to think that the world is less violent than it used to be. I know that things do not change so quickly, and that men are driven by the same desires as they were 500 years ago, but age it seems has softened my heart as well as my muscles."

  "Well I hope that such a thing does not happen to me. I still feel rage. I still desire to conquer those who oppose us. I still bleed, as the Vindyri woman recently proved."

  "What will you do if we are able to catch her?" asked Piro.

  "Well I have no desire to kill her if that's what you mean. I would kill a woman if doing so would save my life or the life of someone I care for, but not for revenge. I would question her until I knew what was going on, and then I would lock her away for the rest of her life."

  The Emperor laughed. "Tannis Tirinius not interested in killing his assassin? Perhaps you are already softening, my friend."

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