The Hunter's Gambit

by Nicholas McIntire

  He melted into a throng of people moving like molasses through the streets of Mornj, slowly making his way towards the gray prominence of the garrison in the distance.

  With the rain slowing traffic to a near crawl, it took Aleksei the better part of an hour to reach the garrison. As he stepped under the broad awning that welcomed the coaches and mounts of arriving officers, a guard stepped up to him.

  “Your business, sir?”

  Aleksei pushed back his hood and looked the man in the eyes, “I’m here to see Colonel Balwick.”

  The man seemed surprised at the directness in Aleksei’s voice. “And your name, sir?”

  “Aleksei Drago.”

  The guard coughed in surprise, then looked Aleksei up and down. The Knight frowned impatiently.

  “Um, of course, Sir. Begging your pardon, Sir. F…Follow me.”

  Aleksei nodded and gestured for the man to lead the way. He followed the guard through the poorly lit corridors, noting the disheveled state of the soldiers in the halls. It was a far cry from the order of Kalinor, and the smell of sour ale and sweat was almost enough to make him sick.

  After walking what seemed leagues of hallways, the guard stopped before a heavy iron-bound door. “Here we are, Sir. Would you like me to announce you?”

  Aleksei smiled, “No, I can introduce myself. Thank you, soldier.”

  The guard saluted reverently, then vanished into the maze of corridors. Aleksei sighed, wondering if he’d be able to find his way out. He turned his mind back to the matter at hand and knocked on the door once before pushing it open.

  Inside, the office was brightly lit. A fire blazed furiously in the hearth against the far wall, and tallow candles burned in sconces on the walls to either side. A large oak desk dominated the center of the room. An imposing, well-built man was seated behind it, bald head bent as he studied a sheaf of paper.

  He looked up in surprise as the door shut firmly.

  “What do you want?” he demanded gruffly.

  “Colonel Balwick?” Aleksei asked calmly.

  “Yes, I’m Balwick. Who are you?”

  “I’m your Lord Captain.”

  The Colonel stared at him for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Oh, that’s rich. Might as well say you’re the Prince of bloody Ilyar.”

  Aleksei sighed and walked forward, sweeping off his cloak and folding it over one of the wooden chairs that sat before the desk. His epaulets clearly marked his rank in gold. “You are in charge of the forces in Mornj, are you not?”

  Balwick frowned, “Listen, I don’t know what sort of game this is, but I’m a busy man.”

  Aleksei arched an eyebrow, “I should say you are. So busy that you can’t follow orders from your commanding officer.”

  Balwick’s face darkened.

  Aleksei leaned forward across the desk, “I’ve sent five sets of orders to this garrison. Four pigeons and one man. I have been met with silence each time. Tell me why.”

  The Colonel stood in what Aleksei assumed was an attempt to intimidate him by size.

  Aleksei straightened.

  The man’s voice dropped to a dangerous pitch. Aleksei felt the Mantle begin to tingle. “You’re asking some very dangerous questions, Lord Captain. If you aren’t careful you’re going to upset some very dangerous people, understand?”

  Aleksei watched the man as he slowly advanced around the desk and towards him. “I’d stop where you are.”

  The man smirked in response. He kept advancing.

  Aleksei’s arm shot out and caught the officer by the throat. Balwick tried to surge forward, to press his obvious size advantage, but he couldn’t move.

  Aleksei looked him in the eye, “I’d order you to answer my questions, but my orders don’t seem to have much effect, do they?”

  He slammed his knee into Balwick’s crotch, stepping to the side as the man doubled over and bringing his elbow down on the back of the man’s head.

  The Colonel collapsed onto the floor and Aleksei placed his boot against the man’s neck. “Why weren’t my orders followed?”

  “Was…told not to.” Balwick wheezed.

  Aleksei pressed harder, “By?”

  “Can’t…say.”

  The Knight dropped into a crouch next to the big man and drew his knife, “Really? Ain’t that a funny thing, because if you don’t tell me I’m going to cut out your tongue. And then you won’t be able to say anything at all, now will you? Should I prove how capable I am?”

  “N…no!” Balwick shouted.

  Aleksei smiled, “Good. I’m glad you see the logic here. Who told you not to obey my orders?”

  “M…Malak.” Balwick spat.

  Aleksei frowned, “Hugo Malak? Lord of Relvyn?”

  “Y…yeah.” the man gasped.

  Aleksei stood and regarded the Colonel with disgust, “Get up.”

  The man pulled himself to his feet, his eyes scared. Aleksei thought that, for the first time, Balwick actually recognized who he was.

  “You wouldn’t really have done it, would you, Sir?” Balwick asked, rubbing his throat.

  Aleksei frowned as he sheathed his knife, “What?”

  “Cut out my tongue?”

  Aleksei shrugged dismissively, “Well, that depended completely on you, didn’t it? You told me the truth, so I didn’t have to resort to any…primitive means of persuasion. I expect when even the lowest people are given the choice they’ll opt for the truth.”

  The Colonel nodded emphatically, as though to imply that he had been planning on telling Aleksei all along.

  “Now then,” the Lord Captain said calmly, “I’ll give you an hour before I send the guards after you. If they catch you, you’ll face a court marshal and a hanging for attempted assault on your commanding officer, among other things. If I were you, I’d get going.”

  It took a moment for Aleksei’s words to sink in. Balwick’s eyes widened, “But Sir,”

  “Your hour has begun. I recommend you make the most of it.”

  The big man stared at him a moment longer, then turned and hurried out the door.

  Aleksei sighed.

  He’d ridden hard to get here in a timely manner, and now he found there was much to be done before the garrison was in any condition to deploy troops. The sudden lack of a commanding officer made it all the more difficult.

  Aleksei opened the door of the office and stepped out into the hall. A young Legionnaire was hurrying by, trying to avoid notice.

  “Soldier, I would speak with you.” Aleksei said kindly.

  The young man straightened and saluted Aleksei awkwardly, “Yes, Sir.”

  Aleksei watched the soldier as he stepped back into the office. The young man looked ill trained, his actions mimicked rather than learned. Aleksei made a mental note to look into the training schedule. No doubt it required a bit of adjustment.

  “At ease, soldier.” Aleksei said, sitting behind the massive desk and folding his hands, “Colonel Balwick has just been discharged. Tell me, who was his second-in-command?”

  The young man looked confused, unsure how to answer the question. When he finally ventured forth an answer, it was tentative.

  “I believe Major Rysun was the second-in-command, Sir. But he hasn’t been in the garrison for several months now.”

  Aleksei nodded, “Very well. Does anyone know where he is at the moment?”

  The soldier looked increasingly uncomfortable, “Aye, Sir. The Major spends his days at The Black Adder on Market Street.”

  Aleksei frowned, “This place is an inn?”

  “A tavern, Sir.”

  The Knight considered for a moment before sighing to himself. “Alright, bring me the Master of Arms and the Master of Stables. Tell them that Lord Captain Drago would have a word with them.”

  The young man’s eyes widened, “T…The Master of Arms, Sir?”

  “And the Master of Stables. I want them both in this office
in half an hour.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Well, off you go then.” Aleksei said, waving towards the door.

  The young man stood there for a moment, then hurried from the room.

  Aleksei buried his face in his hands, closing his eyes against what he knew was brewing into a fearsome headache.

  While part of him wanted to ride for Kalinor as fast as he could and deal with Malak, his more pragmatic side said that this garrison had to be cleaned up and its soldiers brought up to task or there would be no point in sending them anywhere.

  He busied himself with the papers scattered across the desk, arranging them and trying to gain a sense of the state of the garrison. From the reports people had been sending Balwick, it became clear that there were capable people down here, they were simply being ill-used or ignored.

  Aleksei took out a pen, slowly creating a list of names on a piece of parchment. As he read through the reports, he noted the placement of each man and the nature of the report. Some of them were downright rubbish, but others were quite valuable.

  Worthwhile or not, though, the name went onto his list. He needed to know the men he had at his disposal, and which of them he could count on.

  After what seemed only moments there was a knock at the door. He looked up from his reports expectantly, “Come.”

  The door opened and the soldier hurried in, saluting again, “Lord Captain, the Master of Arms and the Master of Stables are here to see you.”

  Aleksei nodded, “Show them in, soldier.”

  The man stepped aside to allow two older men into the room. They each studied Aleksei warily.

  He looked at the Legionnaire, “Thank you, that will be all for the moment.”

  The young man saluted again, then hurried out.

  “Gentlemen,” Aleksei said, rising from his chair, “thank you for answering my summons on such short notice. I apologize if I distracted you from your duties, but I thought it best to inform you that there has been a change in the leadership of this garrison.”

  One of the men raised a snowy eyebrow, “Where is Colonel Balwick, Sir?”

  Aleksei smiled pleasantly, “Colonel Balwick has been relieved of his post, Master…?”

  “Apologies, Sir.” The man said hastily, “My name is Stewart.”

  Aleksei nodded, “Master Stewart, the Colonel has been discharged and will not be returning. I am in command of this garrison until such a time as I deem it in accordance with my standards and appoint a commander. I was hoping you and Master…?”

  The other man seemed surprised that he was being addressed, “Walsing, Lord Captain.”

  “That you and Master Walsing would help me with this garrison. This post has been run with leniency and neglect. Let me make it clear that I will change both of those habits, starting now. But I need your help to do that. Are you up to it? Or do I need to appoint new officers to your posts?”

  The men shared an alarmed glance, then shook their heads.

  “My Lord Captain, both of us are more than willing to aid you in whatever way you see fit.” Stewart said earnestly.

  Aleksei smiled, “Good. Master Stewart, if you could draw up a training schedule for the men and bring it to me by this time tomorrow? Master Walsing, a list of the animals that occupy your stables and their exercise rotations. And I’ll need lists of inventory and any pieces of equipment in need of repair or replacement from both of you. Are there any questions?”

  The two men shook their heads.

  “Very well, you’re dismissed.”

  They saluted smartly. As they left, Aleksei thought he noticed both men walking a touch straighter than when they’d arrived. He smiled, encouraged by the response he’d received.

  Aleksei stood and snatched his cloak from the chair. Now that Walsing and Stewart were busy with his logistics, he had something urgent to take care of.

  The rain had picked up since he’d been outside last, and Aleksei pulled his hood up against the warm wet of the autumn storm. He stopped at the edge of the large awning and turned to one of the guards.

  “Do you know the direction of Market Street?”

  The guard nodded, “It’s up that ways a bit. Follow Tin Street for a few blocks and you’ll run right into it.”

  Aleksei smiled his thanks and hurried out into the rain.

  The throng of people had thinned in the past hour, and now the streets were clogged with traders and farmers trying to get out of the city before dark. Aleksei caught himself feeling a touch homesick as he spotted an old farmer and his wife sitting on their ramshackle cart.

  That life seemed so far away from him now, as though it had been lived by someone else completely. Despite the privilege his position now afforded him, he found himself missing that simplicity, that surety.

  He found Tin Street and turned left, walking smoothly through the thoroughfare of kiosk shops and fruit carts. As he walked, he had the vague sense that he was being watched, but when he stopped to examine one of the carts he could see no one tracking him through the thinning crowds.

  You’re just being paranoid. He chastised himself. No one even knows you’re here.

  Aleksei resumed walking, finding Market Street and a moment later spotting the sign for The Black Adder. It reminded Aleksei of the inn he had stayed in on his first trip to Keiv-Alon.

  He pushed his way into the common room and found it so full of smoke he could hardly see. The sound of raucous laughter and the stink of burned mutton and old beer provided a fog of their own. Aleksei regarded the room with a degree of disdain. This was the preferred haunt of the man he sought? It did not bode well.

  The man at the bar was thin and wiry. He reminded Aleksei of a weasel.

  “I’m searching for an officer of the Legion.” Aleksei said, pushing a silver mark across the bar. “A Major Rysun.”

  The innkeeper nodded, “Aye, he’s in the corner.”

  Aleksei followed the man’s gaze to where a solitary man sat at a table with a flagon of ale. The man was watching him.

  He made his way to where the Major sat, smiling with as much sincerity as he could muster. “You’re Rysun?”

  The man nodded, running a hand through his rough black hair, “I am. Who wants to know?”

  Aleksei pulled a chair to the table and sat, “My name is Aleksei Drago. I’m searching for the Major Rysun who was second-in-command to a Colonel Balwick.”

  Rysun’s lip curled contemptuously, “That would be me, then. So what’s the charge going to be? Desertion? Insubordination? Do I get a trial or are you just going to string me up?”

  Aleksei regarded the man calmly, “Let me ask you something. You’ve heard of me, yes?”

  The other man nodded cautiously, “You have a certain reputation.”

  “Does my reputation mark me as an unfair man? Unjust?”

  Rysun looked away from Aleksei’s gaze, “No, Sir.”

  Aleksei spread his hands on the table, “Then why would you immediately assume that you were going to be treated unfairly?”

  The Major turned suddenly defiant, “Because that seems to be the way of things in Mornj at the moment, what with Balwick running things and all. Justice doesn’t figure much into his vocabulary.”

  The Lord Captain quirked a smile, “That’s why I dismissed the man. If he’s smart, he’s halfway to Keiv-Alon by now, and watching over his shoulder to make sure I don’t change my mind and decide to hang him after all.”

  Rysun’s eyes widened, “Balwick’s not in command?”

  Aleksei leaned forward, “I don’t appreciate it when my subordinate officers attack me. I tend to kill people when they try. Balwick got off easy.

  “But you, you are still an officer of the Legion, unless you’ve decided you’d like to desert. If such is the case, then I will of course have to take you through the tribunals for processing.

  “If, however, you felt persecuted or abused by your commanding officer and though
t that by hiding out here,” Aleksei indicated the smoky room around them, “you might avoid future mistreatment, then I think we can come to some sort of understanding.”

  Rysun regarded him suspiciously, “Meaning?”

  Aleksei shrugged, “I understand the motives for your actions. But just because I understand them doesn’t mean I’ll ignore them. It was wrong of you to run from your duty as a Major in Her Majesty’s Legion. You abandoned your men to the mercy of an unfit officer. I’d prefer that you’d written me and made your case. I can hardly make sensible decisions if my information is faulty.”

  “But why are you even bothering with me?” Rysun demanded.

  “Because this garrison needs a commander and I don’t have the time to correct all the problems in this place. But if I determine that you are a good man, an honorable man, it will save the trouble of training someone else to do the job you should be doing in the first place.

  “The Legion needs every good man it can get, but we gain nothing if we throw away every one who makes a mistake. No one is perfect, and I don’t hold people to such expectations. I do, however, expect that you will be answerable to your men for leaving them to the mercy of a brigand while you drowned your sorrows in ale.”

  Rysun sighed, “I understand, Sir. May I ask what my punishment is to be, then?”

  “It will be far more difficult for you to regain the respect of your men than to deal with any punishment I could dream up. Let that be your penance for your desertion, and we’ll leave it at that.”

  The Major stared at him.

  “I’ll give you a day to gather yourself. At sunset tomorrow I want you back in the barracks. You will be shaven, washed and look as an officer of the Legion is expected to. Failure to appear at the directed time will result in me coming after you. I assure you that you don’t want that. Do you understand?”

  Rysun paused for a moment, then nodded, “Yes, Sir.”

  Aleksei smiled, “Good. Then I’ll see you tomorrow. Good day, Major.”